Abstract:
A bathing seat assembly for mounting on a bathtub includes a seat mounted on a turntable set on rails supported by a frame with adjustable legs engaging the floor next to the bathtub and the bottom of the bathtub. The bathing seat assembly also includes an arm and back rest mounted on the seat with front mounted stirrups for leg support and spray apertures in the arm and back rest to aid in bathing. The seat is lockable in position on the turntable and the turntable is lockable in position on the rails. The turntable with mounted seat can travel on the rails from a position outside the bathtub to directly over the bathtub and vice versa. The mounted seat can rotate on the turntable allowing the person to be bathed to sit with their back to the bathtub and then rotated to be in line with the bathtub. A bathing system using the bathing seat assembly is also disclosed.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/836568 (“the &#39;568 application”) filed Aug. 9, 2006. The &#39;568 application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a seat and system for bathing the sick and infirm who lack the mobility and ability to perform daily living functions. 
         [0003]    As people grow older many become invalids due to the ravages of age or disease. Such people need help performing their daily functions, one of which is bathing. Bathing a person who has limited control of his or her bodily functions can be extremely difficult for the caregiver. Although many individuals can still walk with difficulty, they cannot raise their legs high enough to enter a conventional bathtub or maneuver safely while in the tub. In many instances, where the person is infirm because of age, the caregiver is the spouse who is probably also old and not strong. Thus, any device which will assist the caregiver is welcome and necessary. 
         [0004]    At present there are available several versions of a static seat made to sit in a bathtub. However, none of these seats provide for a person unable to step into a conventional tub. Another disadvantage to the currently available seats is sanitation. An invalid seated on such a seat cannot be washed in soiled body areas without standing up. For a person unable to stand, this negates the purpose of the bath. Grab bars and rails are available for mounting in shower and bath stalls but these devices are of no use for a person unable to stand or walk. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The inventive bathing seat assembly and system allows a person to be easily and thoroughly bathed with a showerhead mounted on a hose. The inventive assembly and system requires no lifting, or sliding, of the person to be bathed. The inventive assembly and system allows a caregiver of limited physical strength to bathe an infirm person, to remove that person from the bath and easily clean the assembly and bathtub afterwards. 
         [0006]    It is an object of this invention to provide an invalid bathing seat assembly and system for mounting over a conventional bathtub comprising a seat rotatably mounted on a lockable turntable wherein said turntable is mounted on rollers riding on a set of rails supported by four adjustable height legs, two in the bathtub and two outside the bathtub. The seat shall have arm and back rest and the arm rests shall have front posts to accept a set of stirrups to support the legs of the user in a raised position, preferably slightly above the horizontal to allow the legs to pass over the rim of the bathtub when the seat is rotated on the turntable. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the invention that the assembly be manufactured from non-corrosive material such as stainless steel for ease of cleaning and durability. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the invention that the arm and back rests be fitted with spray apertures to facilitate the bathing of the person. 
         [0009]    In using the inventive assembly, the person to be bathed would be seated on the seat while facing away from the bathtub with the seat being parallel to the rails, and the turntable locked to prevent movement. Once seated, the legs would be placed in the stirrups. The turntable would then be unlocked and rolled with seat and seated person on the rails to a position over the bathtub. In this position, the seat is then turned on the turntable with the person facing the shower end of the bathtub and the turntable is then locked. Once in this position, the person can be easily bathed with a shower hose. The only portions of the body which cannot be reached while seated are those in contact with the toilet seat, all of which can be easily washed when the bather leaves the seat. The opening in the seat allows soiled areas of the body to be cleaned while seated. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the inventive bathing seat assembly. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the lower portion of the inventive assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the lower portion of the inventive assembly. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the seat frame assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the seat assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the seat assembly. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the seat mounted on the turntable over the rails. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross section of the seat assembly taken in the direction of arrows  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the stirrups. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the left stirrup. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    A perspective view of the inventive bathing seat assembly  1  is depicted in  FIG. 1 . While not shown, the inventive assembly would be placed over the side of a bathtub with the left rear leg  4  and right rear leg  5  in the bathtub and the left front leg  6  and right front leg  7  on the floor next to the bathtub. It should be noted that the right and left designations correspond to the right and leg legs of the person seated. Legs  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7  are adjustable in length with leg adjustment slots  8  and retractable pins not shown. In this way, differences in elevation between the bottom of the bathtub and the floor can be accommodated. In addition, Legs  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7  are all fitted with feet  9  of a suitable non-skid, non-scratching material such as synthetic rubber or plastic. The left legs  4  and  6  are affixed to the left leg frame  2 , and the right legs  5  and  7  are affixed to the right leg frame  3 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the seat  10  is positioned to receive a person from outside the bathtub with the seat  10  at a right angle from the normal longitudinal axis of the bathtub. A left stirrup  17  and a right stirrup  18  are also shown in an upright position in line with the seat  10 , although it would be expected that the stirrups  17  and  18  would be rotated outwardly when the person sat in the seat  10  and then rotated inwardly to receive the person&#39;s legs on the left stirrup support plate  21  and the right stirrup support plate  22 . The stirrups  17  and  18  are supported on the front arm support rods  15  of the upper arm and backrest frame  13  by mounting pins  23  riding in mounting brackets  24 . The mounting pins  23  are affixed to the left and right stirrup support flanges  19  and  20 . The mounting brackets  24  are provided with a vertical aperture to receive the mounting pins  23  allowing horizontal rotation of the stirrups  17  and  18 . 
         [0022]    Also shown in  FIG. 1  is the lower arm and backrest frame  16 , a front leg frame cross brace  25  and a rear leg frame cross brace  26 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the lower portion of the inventive seat assembly  1  with right leg frame  3 , right front leg  7  and right rear leg  5 . The leg adjustment slots  8  and feet  9  are also shown. In this depiction, right rail  12  is shown affixed to the rear leg frame cross brace  26  and the front leg frame cross brace  25 . Positioned above the right rail  12  is a circular turntable  27  with an outer channel configuration with an upper flange  44  and a lower flange  43 . The upper face  45  of the lower flange  43 , and the lower face  46  of the upper flange  44  are also shown along with the upper face  48  of the turntable  27  and the lower face  47  of the turntable  27 . 
         [0024]    Affixed to the lower face  47  are shown load and hook roller assemblies  28 , intended to travel along the longitudinal axis of the right rail  12 . Although not shown, it is understood that the load and hook roller assemblies  28  would also be affixed to the lower face  47  to travel along the longitudinal axis of the left rail  11 . As depicted, vertical roller support rods  34  extend from the lower face  47 . In  FIG. 2 , only the load rollers  35  on each of the support rods  34  can be, seen because the lower hook rollers  33  are obscured by the right leg frame  3 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows an end view of the lower portion of the inventive seat assembly with left front leg  6  and right front leg  7  connected by front leg frame cross brace  25 . The leg adjustment slots  8  and feet  9  are also shown. In this depiction, the left rail  11  and the right rail  12  are shown affixed to the front leg frame cross brace  25 . The circular turntable  27  is shown positioned above the left rail  11  and the right rail  12  riding on load and hook roller assemblies  28  with vertical roller support rods  34  extending from the lower face  47  of the turntable  27 . One of the load rollers  35   a  is shown riding on the left rail  11  and the right rail  12 . Although not shown it is intended that the turntable  27  be provided with a locking device to secure its position on the left rail  11  and the right rail  12 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the seat frame with an upper arm and back rest frame  13 , a lower arm and back rest frame  16 , rear back rest support rods  14  and front arm rest support rods  15 . Also depicted are stirrup mounting brackets  24 , affixed to the front arm rest support rods  15 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mounting brackets  24  are provided with a vertical aperture to receive the mounting pins  23  allowing horizontal rotation of the stirrups  17  and  18 . 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 5 , a front view of the seat assembly is shown. As shown, the seat  10  is affixed to the upper arm and backrest frame  13  through front support brackets  31  and rear support brackets  32  which are obscured in this view. Likewise, the upper arm and backrest frame  13  is supported by the front support rods  15  and rear support rods  14 , both of which are affixed to the lower arm and backrest frame  16  which is not shown in this view. 
         [0028]    Also shown in  FIG. 5  is more than one spray aperture  29  in the upper arm and backrest frame  13  with a quick connector  30  to provide water under pressure to the spray apertures  29 . It is intended that the spray apertures  29  be directed upward approximately 45 degrees toward the person seated in the inventive bathing seat assembly  1  to assist in bathing and rinsing. As shown, the upper arm and backrest frame  13  is of tubular construction. 
         [0029]    Also shown on the front of the front armrest support rods  15  are the stirrup mounting brackets  24 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the seat assembly with the same features identified in  FIG. 5 . As depicted the seat  10  is enclosed but a suitable alternative would be an open ended seat. It is intended that the seat  10  be manufactured of stainless steel or other material of similar durability which can be easily cleaned or disinfected. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the seat  10  in position on the turntable  27 , which is riding on the left and right rails  11  and  12 . Also depicted in  FIG. 7  are the locations of the roller support rods  34  that extend vertically from the lower face  47  of the turntable  27  to support the load and hook roller assemblies  28  riding on the left and right rails  11  and  12 , as well as the location of the turntable roller support rods  39  extending vertically from the lower face  49  of the seat  10  to support turntable rollers  41  riding in the turntable  27 , all as more fully described in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 8 , which is a cross section taken in the direction of arrows  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7  shows the details of the rotation of the seat assembly on the turntable  27  and the longitudinal motion of the turntable  27  on the left and right rails  11  and  12 . In addition to a locking device to secure the position of the turntable  27  on the rails  11  and  12 , a locking device will be provided to secure the position of the seat assembly on the turntable  27 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , roller support rods  34  extend vertically from the lower face  47  of the turntable  27 . From each support rod  34 , a horizontal hook roller shaft  37  extends to receive hook roller  35  held in place with a snap ring  38  and a horizontal load roller support rod  37   a  extends to receive a load roller  35   a  held in place with a snap ring  38 . As can be seen, the load rollers  35   a  ride above and the hook rollers  35  ride below the left and right rails  11  and  12 . 
         [0034]    Extending vertically from the lower face  49  of the seat  10  of the seat assembly are at least three turntable roller support rods  39  affixed to a turntable roller shaft  40  supporting a turntable roller  41  which acts as both load and hook roller, held in position by a turntable roller snap ring  42 . As can be seen, the turntable rollers ride in the channel opening of the turntable  27  between the turntable lower flange  43  and the turntable upper flange  44 . Depending on loading, the turntable rollers  41  will be in contact with the upper face  45  of the lower flange  43  or the lower face  46  of the upper flange  44 . Both the load rollers  35   a , the hook rollers  35  and the turntable rollers  41  may be of oil-impregnated metallic material or other suitable non-metallic synthetic material, or roller or ball bearings. 
         [0035]    In  FIGS. 9 and 10 , details of the left and right stirrups  17  and  18  are shown. As previously shown, the stirrups  17  and  18  are fitted with mounting pins  23  attached to the left and right stirrup support flanges  19  and  20 . Extending from the bottom of their respective support flanges  19  and  20  are left and right stirrup shafts  50  and  51  respectively. Mounted over each shaft are left and right stirrup support plates  21  and  22  which may rotate up and away but not down because of the stirrup stops  52 . The support plates  21  and  22  are held on their respective shafts  50  and  51  by retainers  53 . 
         [0036]    Each stirrup is mounted on the seat assembly by simply dropping the mounting pins into the aperture on the stirrup mounting brackets  24 . This arrangement allows the stirrups to be rotated away from the seat to allow a person to sit. Likewise the stirrup support plates  21  and  22  can be rotated up on their respective stirrup shafts  50  and  51  to clear access to the seat  10 . Stirrups can be spread to open bathers legs allowing access to bathe hard to access body parts. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment of the inventive bathing seat assembly, all framing members including the legs  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 , leg frames  2  and  3 , cross braces  25  and  26 , arm and backrest frames and support rods,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , and  16  would be 1″ diameter stainless steel tubing. Support plates  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  31  and  32  would be ⅛″ stainless steel material. The turntable  27  would be fabricated from ⅛″ stainless steel material. 
         [0038]    As apparent from the figures, the system would involve locking the seat assembly on the turntable facing the outside of the bathtub, locking the turntable in its outermost position on the rails and then raising the stirrups out the way. Once so arranged, the person would sit on the seat and then have a stirrup placed under each leg when raised. Once the person is thus seated, the turntable can be unlocked from the rails and rolled over the bathtub and locked. At this point, the seat assembly is unlocked and the seat assembly rotated on the turntable to face in the normal direction along the longitudinal axis of the bathtub facing showerhead or faucets. At this point, the seat assembly is locked to the turntable and the person can be bathed. Once the bath is done, the procedure would be reversed.