U.S. patent application number 14/016589 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-20 for walk in bathtub having outward opening door and entry facilitative seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to Safety Tubs Company, L.L.C.. The applicant listed for this patent is Safety Tubs Company, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Robert Buete, Robert Jensen, Alison J. Lyons, Kalpesh Nanji, Addiel Sital.
Application Number | 20140075665 14/016589 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50272902 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140075665 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sital; Addiel ; et
al. |
March 20, 2014 |
Walk In Bathtub Having Outward Opening Door and Entry Facilitative
Seat
Abstract
Described herein is a walk-in tub having an outward opening door
that includes a walk-in bathtub having an outward opening door. The
tub includes a body, which defines a cavity and at least one access
wall which itself contains an entry surface that extends laterally
away from the cavity. The entry surface defines a doorway or portal
that is in communication with the cavity to facilitate lateral
ingress to and egress from the cavity by a bather. Also
contemplated with the scope of the invention are door sealing
assemblies that serve to seal the door against the access wall.
Inventors: |
Sital; Addiel; (Keller,
TX) ; Nanji; Kalpesh; (Frisco, TX) ; Buete;
Robert; (Southlake, TX) ; Jensen; Robert;
(East Brunswick, NJ) ; Lyons; Alison J.;
(Morristown, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Safety Tubs Company, L.L.C. |
Piscataway |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Safety Tubs Company, L.L.C.
Piscataway
NJ
|
Family ID: |
50272902 |
Appl. No.: |
14/016589 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61701308 |
Sep 14, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/556 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/006 20130101;
A47K 3/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/556 |
International
Class: |
A47K 3/00 20060101
A47K003/00 |
Claims
1. A walk-in bathtub having an outward opening door comprising a
body defining a cavity for containing a liquid and having an access
wall with an entry surface that extends laterally away from the
cavity, the entry surface defining a portal in communication with
the cavity to facilitate lateral ingress to and egress from the
cavity by a bather and including an adapting surface having a
closure face positioned along the perimeter of the portion of the
portal that is submerged when the cavity contains the liquid, the
adapting surface defining at least one bolt recess positioned
adjacent to the portal, the bolt recess having a proximal portion
that communicates with the portal and a distal portion that
communicates with the proximal portion by an intermediate portion,
the longitudinal width (W.sub.d) of the distal portion being lesser
than the longitudinal width (W.sub.p) of the proximal portion; the
outer lateral edge of proximal portion being the nearer to the
portal than the outer lateral edge of the distal portion; a door
including a submergible portion, wherein the submergible portion
has a perimeter face that is shaped to be complementary to the
shape of the portal and is opposable against the closure face along
substantially the entire length of the closure face, the door being
pivotally connected to the body at a position such that the door
can be pivoted between a closed position in which the submergible
portion of the door is substantially contained within the portal of
the body and the perimeter face of the door is opposed against the
closure face and an open position in which the door is positioned
outside the portal sufficiently to permit lateral ingress into and
egress from the cavity by the bather; a gasket fixed to at least
one of the access wall and the door and positioned such that it is
opposed against both the wall and the door when the door is in the
closed position; and at least one bolt slidably attached to the
door and positioned engageably with the bolt recess, whereby when
the door is pivoted within the portal, the bolt can be slidably
engaged into the proximal portion of the bolt recess and when the
bolt is slidably extended within the bolt recess from the proximal
portion to the distal portion thereof, sequential engagement of the
bolt with the intermediate and distal portions of the bolt recess
will urge the door laterally into the closed position.
2. The tub of claim 1, further comprising a seat positioned within
the cavity.
3. The tub of claim 2, wherein the tub further includes a water
fixture connected therewith and wherein the seat is disposed to
facilitate a bather facing the fixture while seated in the
seat.
4. The tub of claim 2, wherein the seat includes a seating surface
having a first portion nearer the fixture than a second portion of
the seating surface.
5. The tub of claim 4, wherein an edge of the seating surface
defines a perimeter that is in the form of an S-curve.
6. The tub of claim 2, wherein the seat is fixed to the body.
7. The tub of claim 2, wherein the seat is integral with the
body.
8. The tub of claim 1, wherein the closure face of the adapting
surface is positioned such that it generally faces away from the
interior of the cavity.
9. The tub of claim 1, wherein the adapting surface has a generally
rectangular lateral cross section, with the closure face being
positioned on a wall facing in a direction generally opposite the
interior of the cavity.
10. The tub of claim 1, wherein the gasket is fixed to at least one
of the perimeter face of the door and the closure face of the
wall.
11. The tub of claim 1, wherein the gasket is fixed using an
adhesive.
12. The tub of claim 2, wherein the submergible portion of the door
that is opposable against the closure face contains a channel and
the gasket is fixed to the door by inserting a collar of the gasket
into the channel.
13. The tub of claim 1, wherein the gasket is compressible.
14. The tub of claim 1, wherein the gasket is made a material
comprising at least one of a rubber, an elastomer, a thermoplastic,
a foam, and a polymer or copolymer.
15. The tub of claim 1, comprising at least two bolts and a
corresponding number of bolt recesses.
16. The tub of claim 1, wherein the bolt has a substantially flat
face.
17. The tub of claim 1, wherein the bolt is contained at least
partially within the door and extends through the perimeter face
thereof.
18. The tub of claim 1, wherein the bolt extends in a direction
substantially perpendicular to the perimeter face of the door.
19. The tub of claim 1, wherein the bolt is operably attached to an
actuator connected to the door.
20. The tub of claim 1, wherein the actuator is operable by the
bather while within the cavity.
21. The tub of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a lever,
whereby the actuating force exerted upon the bolt is greater than
operating force exerted by the bather upon the actuator.
22. The tub of claim 1, wherein the cavity defined by the body has
a generally level rim and a floor and wherein the portal extends
from the rim substantially to the floor.
23. The tub of claim 1, wherein the door does not extend
substantially above the rim when the door is in the closed
position.
24. The tub of claim 1, wherein the portion of the body that
defines the cavity is unitary with the portion of the body that
defines the bolt recess.
25. The tub of claim 1, further comprising a frame that rigidly
supports the body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/701,308,
filed Sep. 14, 2012, entitled "Walk In Bathtub Having Outward
Opening Door and Entry Facilitative Seat," the entire disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Walk-in bathtubs generally include higher tub walls,
seating, and a side door, allowing the user to walk in to the tub
from the side and sit down without having to climb down into a low
bath tub or to elevate oneself over a tub wall. Walk-in tubs are
well suited for individuals who have physical limitations that make
it difficult or dangerous to climb into and out of a regular, low
bathtub or to stand up in a shower for extended periods of time.
Such limitations might include physical disabilities or simply the
reduced strength, balance and range of motion that may occur with
age. In addition, because the footprint of the walk-in tub can be
reduced relative to the footprint of a traditional, lower,
reclining-style tub, the tubs can be installed in smaller spaces,
for example, allowing urban apartment dwellers to have a bathing
tub, instead of merely a shower stall.
[0003] Many conventional walk-in tubs are configured so that door
of the tub (which allows ingress and egress) opens inwardly,
allowing the tub design to take advantage of the hydrostatic
pressure of the water to press the door against the doorway to help
seal the door.
[0004] However, an inward opening door requires significant
physical maneuvering by the bather to situate him/herself in the
tub and close the door. For example, the bather must enter the tub,
remain standing and back himself or herself up sufficiently against
the far wall of the tub to avoid obstructing the pathway of the
door as it is closed. In addition, because the doors opened
inwardly a significant distance between the faucet fixture and the
tub seat had to be maintained to avoid obstruction by the fixture
of the door. Disadvantageously, the necessary separation between
the fixture and the seat made it difficult for a bather sitting on
the seat to reach the fixture (creating a safety hazard) and also
placed design limitations on the reduction of tub footprint and the
type, style and nature of fixture used.
[0005] Prior art attempts to make walk-in tubs with outward opening
doors have been made, but because of the challenges associated with
achieving a watertight seal, most doors require significant
physical strength to close and seal the doors, a disadvantage
particularly as walk-in tubs bathers tend to be older and infirm.
Many prior art designs rely upon large diameter sealing gaskets
that require substantial physical force to cause the gasket to be
tightly compressed between the door and the tub sidewalls to ensure
that the closed tub does not leak. Prior art attempts have been
made to use mechanical arrangements to reduce the amount of
physical force necessary to compress the gasket and seal the door,
but such designs can be improved upon.
[0006] There remains a need in the art for a walk-in tub having an
outward opening door that can be sealed with relative ease and
which provides safer ingress and egress for the bather.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In an embodiment of the invention, a walk-in tub having an
outward opening door is described. Such tub allows for easy and
safe ingress and egress by the bather, is capable of being designed
so the bather can easily reach the water fixtures while partially
or wholly supported by the seat in the tub, contains a seat
designed to further facilitate easy ingress/egress from the tub and
bears a door that is sealable by the bather without application of
significant physical force and, in most cases, may be opened or
closed by the bather while he/she remains in the safer, seated
position.
[0008] In an embodiment, the invention includes a walk-in bathtub
having an outward opening door. The tub includes a body, which
defines a cavity for containing a bathing liquid, such as water.
The tub body has at least one access wall which itself contains an
entry surface that extends laterally away from the cavity. The
entry surface defines a doorway or portal that is in communication
with the cavity to facilitate lateral ingress to and egress from
the cavity by a bather.
[0009] The entry surface of the access wall includes an adapting
surface having a closure face that is positioned along the
perimeter of the portion of the portal that is submerged when the
cavity contains the liquid, the closure surface defining a bolt
recess positioned adjacent to the portal. The bolt recess has a
proximal portion that communicates with the portal and a distal
portion that communicates with the proximal portion by an
intermediate portion.
[0010] In an embodiment, the lateral width of the distal portion of
the bolt recess (W.sub.d) is less than the lateral width of the
proximal portion (W.sub.p) and the outer lateral edge of distal
portion being the nearer the cavity than the outer later edge of
the proximal portion.
[0011] The tub includes a door, which also has a submergible
portion, wherein the submergible portion has a perimeter face that
is shaped to be complementary to the shape of the portal and is
opposable against the closure face along substantially the entire
length of the closure face, the door being pivotally connected to
the body at a position such that the door can be pivoted between a
closed position in which the submergible portion of the door is
substantially contained within the portal of the body and the
perimeter face of the door is opposed against the closure face and
an open position in which the door is positioned outside the cavity
and the portal sufficiently to permit lateral ingress into and
egress from the cavity through the portal by the bather.
[0012] The tub includes a gasket that is fixed to at least one of
the wall and the door and positioned such that it is opposed
against both the wall and the door when the door is in the closed
position; and at least one bolt slidably attached to the door and
positioned engageably with the bolt recess, whereby when the door
is pivoted within the portal, the bolt can be slidably engaged into
the proximal portion of the bolt recess and when the bolt is
slidably extended within the bolt recess from the proximal portion
to the distal portion thereof, sequential engagement of the bolt
with the intermediate and distal portions of the bolt recess will
urge the door laterally into the closed position.
[0013] In an embodiment, the tub of the invention includes a seat
positioned within the cavity, and which may include a seating
surface having a first portion nearer a water fixture than a second
portion of the seating surface.
[0014] Also contemplated with the scope of the invention are door
sealing assemblies that serve to seal the door against the access
wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of various embodiments of the invention, may be better
understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For
the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the
drawings various embodiments. It should be understood, however,
that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and
instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the walk-in
bathtub of the invention, including body, door and gasket;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tub showing the door in
a closed position;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tub with the door
removed;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a front view of the tub of FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
invention where the door is in a closed position in which a frame
that rigidly supports the body is included;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a close up top plan view of the door opposed
against the access wall, such that the gasket is compressed,
thereby sealing the space between the door and the access wall;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a gasket of an
embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a gasket of an
embodiment of the invention, such gasket including a collar with an
arrow head protrusion;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a non-integral bolt recess
for use in an embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 is an additional perspective view of a non-integral
bolt recess for use in an alternative embodiment of the
invention;
[0026] FIG. 11, including FIGS. 11A to 11D, shows various views of
the non-integral bolt recess of an embodiment of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a representation of the fixation of a collared
gasket to a door by insertion of the gasket into a pre-worked
groove on the surface of the door;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a view of a door in an embodiment of the
invention, showing an exemplary actuator;
[0029] FIG. 14, including FIGS. 14A and 14B, illustrates an
embodiment of the actuator showing the bolt in each of a locked and
an unlocked position;
[0030] FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate an embodiment of the actuator
showing the bolt in each of a locked and an unlocked position;
[0031] FIG. 17 illustrates a handle having a locking mechanism
contained therein that may be included in an embodiment of the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 18 illustrates components of the embodiment of the
locking mechanism of FIG. 17; and
[0033] FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of the locking mechanism
shown in FIG. 18 in greater detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The figures and description provided herein detail
embodiments of a walk-in tub having an outward opening door and a
set designed to facilitate safer and easier ingress/egress. The
outward opening door pivots between an open and a closed position,
allowing a bather to step in or out of the tub. The door is capable
of being closed and sealed by the bather with relative ease and
while safely in a seated position or while at least partially
supported by the seat. Sealing of the doors is achieved when one or
more of the slidable bolts is/are first extended into a proximal
portion of a bolt recess, then sequentially engaged into the
remainder of the bolt recess, thereby urging the door against the
access wall, allowing for compression of a gasket between the door
and the access wall of the tub.
[0035] The invention in some embodiments will be described with
reference to the drawings herein. In the specification, words such
as "inner" and "outer," "upper" and "lower," "superior" and
"inferior," "distal" and "proximal", "inwardly" and "outwardly,"
and "upwardly" and "downwardly," and words of similar import are
used for assisting in the understanding of the invention when
referring to the drawings and absent a specific definition or
meaning otherwise given by the specification for such terms should
not be considered limited to the scope of the invention.
[0036] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the tub 100 (in this
embodiment) includes a body 102 that defines a cavity 104. In an
embodiment, the body 102 includes generally planar upright side
walls 146 joined at their outermost edges to form approximately 90
degree angles. However, in some embodiments is may be desirable
that one or more of the sidewalls 146 is curved or bowed, and/or
may join the other side wall(s) to form obtuse or acute angles. In
an alternative, the body 102 may be configured to have a
non-uniform or fanciful shape (in plan view), such as for example,
a heart shape, a circular shape, or an ovoid shape.
[0037] The body 102 may be of any dimension. In some embodiments,
it may be preferred that the body is capable of holding about 20 to
about 40 gallons of water for a single bather tub. The dimension
may be smaller, for example, if one is designing for a smaller end
use space or larger, as desired, for example, if a tub having
multi-bather capacity is required.
[0038] In addition, in some embodiments, the wall of the body may
extend upwardly about 3-4 feet (conventional walk-in tub height), 5
feet or 8 feet or more, for example, if the tub is intended to be a
component of a fully or partially enclosed bathing capsule or stall
installation.
[0039] The body 102 is affixed at its lower extreme to a floor 148.
One or more openings for drains or jets (not shown) may be included
in the floor 148 and/or the sidewalls 146, the permit the entry or
drainage of water or air.
[0040] A seat 150 may be located in the interior of the body 102.
The seat 150 may be manufactured as a separate unit and fixed in
the tub 100 or it may be formed integral with the body 102. In some
embodiments, to facilitate ease of entry into the tub, the seat 150
may have a seating surface 158. In addition, the tub may include
one or more water fixtures, such as, for example, hot or cold water
faucets or a handheld showerhead. In a preferred embodiment, the
water fixtures may be located in that portion of the sidewall(s)
that is opposite the seat, such that a bather sitting in the tub
would be facing the water fixtures and able to reach and adjust the
fixtures while supported by at least a portion of the seat.
[0041] In an embodiment, at least a first portion of the seating
surface 158 is nearer to the water fixture (or the sidewall in
which the water fixture is intended to be fixed); this facilitates
ease of entry into the tub, and permits most bathers to reach and
adjust the fixtures while supported by at least a portion of the
seating surface. In some embodiments, an edge 156 of the seating
surface defines a perimeter that is in the form of an S-curve or a
W-form.
[0042] Regardless of the configuration of the body and/or the seat,
it includes an access wall 106. The access wall 106 contains an
entry surface 108 that extends away from the cavity in a
substantially lateral plane and defines a doorway or portal 110
that is in communication with the cavity 104. The portal 110
permits egress and ingress of the bather to the cavity 104 when the
door is in an open position. It may be preferred that the portal
extends from a generally level rim of the body to a substantially
planar floor 148, such that the lowermost portion of the entry
surface is substantially co-planar with the floor.
[0043] In some embodiments it may be desirable that the lateral
width of the entry surface (W.sub.es) is minimized so that a bather
need only take a small step forward to enter the cavity.
Alternatively, in some embodiments it may be desirable that the
lateral width of the entry surface (W.sub.es) is 8 to 12 inches, so
that the bather can place his foot on the surface when entering or
leaving the tub. The entry surface may contain anti-slip devices,
drainage channels or vents, and/or any other components as
desired.
[0044] The entry surface 108 includes an adapting surface 112 that
contains a closure face 114 that is positioned at least along the
perimeter of the portion of the portal 110 that is submerged when
the cavity 104 contains a liquid. By "submerged", it is meant that
portion of the portal (or door or other component) that is located
in a plane that is beneath a hypothetical plane defined by the
horizontal surface of the water in the cavity, regardless other
whether such portion is in direct contact with the water. In an
alternative, it may be preferred that the closure face 114 of the
adapting surface 112 is positioned such that it generally faces
away from the interior of the cavity 104 or that the adapting
surface 112 has a generally rectangular lateral cross section, with
the closure face 114 being positioned on a wall facing in a
direction generally opposite the interior of the cavity 104.
[0045] Referencing FIGS. 1-5, the walk-in tub includes a door 132
that includes a submergible portion 132. The door 132 includes a
perimeter face 136 that is configured to be complementary to the
shape of the portal 110. The perimeter face 136 of the door 132 is
opposable against the closure face 114, against substantially the
entire length of the closure face 114. In an embodiment, the door
132 is pivotally connected to the body 102 in a position such that
the door 132 can be pivoted between and open and a closed position.
Such pivotal connection may be achieved by any means known or to be
developed in the art, and may include straps, hinges, rotating
bars, and the like. Other means of connection may include those
described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/761,257, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The door
may be fixed to open in the standard manner (i.e., so that the
bather passes behind the inside face of the open door when entering
the tub) or in the so-called "suicide door" configuration.
[0046] In an embodiment, when the door is in the closed position,
the submergible portion of the door 132 is substantially contained
within the portal of the body 102 and the perimeter face of the
door 132 is opposed against the closure face 114. When the door 132
is in an open position, the door is located outside the portal 112
sufficiently to permit lateral egress into and ingress from the
cavity 104 by a bather.
[0047] Also included in the walk-in tub of the invention is a
gasket 138. The gasket 138 may be fixed to the access wall 106 or
to the door 132 or to both. The gasket 138 is fixed such that when
the door 132 is in a closed position, the gasket 138 is opposed
against both the wall and the door, as is shown in, for example,
FIG. 6. In an embodiment that may be preferred, the gasket is fixed
along substantially the entire length of the perimeter face of the
door. In another embodiment, the gasket is fixed along
substantially the entire length of the closure face of the of the
access wall. Alternatively, the gasket may be fixed along a portion
of the perimeter face and along a complementary portion of the
closure face.
[0048] The gasket is preferably made of a compressible and/or
elastomeric material. Suitable materials may include, for example,
rubber, plastic, elastomers, and/or polymers or copolymer material.
In some embodiments, it may be desirable that the selected material
is latex-free. The gasket may be hollow or solid and may have a
cross section of shape. In an embodiment, however, it may be
preferred that the gasket is hollow and has a substantially
circular cross section.
[0049] The gasket may be fixed to the door or the access wall by
any mechanism known or developed in the art. In an embodiment, the
gasket is fixed by adhesive. Alternatively, the gasket includes a
collar or series of tabs or similar structures that can be fitted
into a groove or channel present on the surface to which the gasket
is fixed, for example, as is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 8, a
gasket 138 having a collar 144 with an arrowhead protrusion 168 is
shown.
[0050] The door 132 also includes at least one bolt. The bolt may
be any configuration known or to be developed in the art, although
those having a substantially circular, oval, or square shape in
cross section may be preferred in some embodiments. It may be
preferred that the face of the bolt is substantially flat, with or
with out a beveled edged. However, rounded, bull-nosed, pointed,
and or tapered faces may also be used in various embodiments.
[0051] The bolt is slidably attached to the door. Preferably, it is
positioned engageably with the bolt recess that is defined by the
adapting surface. The adapting surface 114 defines at least one
bolt recess 120, although in some embodiments, depending on the
size and shape of the portal 110, the adapting surface may define,
for example, about two, about three, about 4 or about 5 to about 25
bolt recesses.
[0052] Turning to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, each bolt recess 120 is
configured to engage a bolt and includes at least three portions: a
proximal portion 122 that communicates with the portal 110 and a
distal portion 126 that is in communication with the proximal
portion 122 by an intermediate portion 124 (that is, the
intermediate portion 124 is disposed between the proximal 122 and
the distal 126 portions). The longitudinal width (W.sub.p) of the
proximal portion is greater than the longitudinal width (W.sub.d)
of the distal portion. The bolt recess 120 is situated so that the
outermost lateral edge 130 of the proximal portion 122 is nearer to
the portal than the outer lateral edge 128 of the proximal portion
126. In an embodiment, it may be preferred that the bolt is a
substantially cylindrical bolt; in such circumstance, it may be
preferred that the distal portion 126 defines a space that is
circular in cross section and has a diameter only slightly larger
than the diameter of the cross section of the corresponding
substantially cylindrical bolt.
[0053] The bolt recess 120 (in whole or in part) may be formed
integral with the body 102, or it may be formed (in whole or in
part) as a separate piece or pieces and fixed within the closure
face 114. FIGS. 9-11 show an exemplary bolt recess 120 that is
formed separately from the body 102 of the tub 100 that is intended
to be used with a substantially cylindrical bolt 140. In the
Figures, outermost lateral edge 130 of the proximal portion 122
defines a hole 152 that is substantially oval shaped in cross
section and the outer lateral edge of the distal portion 126
defines a space that is circular in cross section. The diameter of
the circular cross section of the lateral edge 126 is slightly
greater than the diameter of the cylindrical bolt. For example, it
may be about 0.2% to 0.5% greater or about 1% to about 5% greater
in diameter.
[0054] With reference to FIG. 13, the bolt 140 is slidably attached
within the door 132, although it may be located on the outside or
on the inside of the door, if desired. The bolt may be contained at
least partially within the door, and slidably extends through the
perimeter face 136 of the door. For example, the bolt(s) 140 may
extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the
perimeter face of the door.
[0055] It may be preferred that the bolt is operably attached to an
actuator that is connected to the door, for example, an actuator
that may permit the bather to extend and/or retract the bolt while
remaining at least partially supported by the seat or while in the
cavity of the body. The actuator that is connected to the door may
be within the door, or on the outside or the inside of the
door.
[0056] The actuator may be any known or to be developed in the art.
In an embodiment, the actuator may include, for example with
reference to FIG. 13, a member 162 that is operably attached to an
extension bar 164, to which the bolt(s) 140 is operably attached,
either directly or indirectly. In an embodiment, the door may
include a bolt guide 166 through which the bolt is extended and/or
retracted. The bolt guide 166 may be, for example, a sleeve, a ring
or series of rings, a groove or any other mechanism that serves to
guide the bolt in its path to the bolt recess.
[0057] As the tubs of the invention are designed to be used by
older persons who may have reduced upper body strength, it may
desirable in some embodiments to that the actuator includes a
lever, whereby the actuating force exerted upon the bolt is greater
than operating force exerted by the bather upon the actuator.
Actuators that meet one or more of the above-described criteria and
which may be suitable for use in the invention include, for
example, those described in WO 2010/074771 A1; U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,066,316; 3,341,239; 3,863,275; 4,360,935; 4,802,247; 7,299,509;
and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0102746,
the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0058] In what may be a preferred embodiment, referencing FIGS.
14-18, the actuator includes a handle 200 operably connected to one
or more bolts 140, such that locking of the door 132 within the
portal perimeter 116 may be actuated by disposing the handle 200
from an unlocked position 201 to a locked position 202. In the
unlocked position 201, the bolts 140 are not disposed within the
bolt recess 118 (not shown). The bolts 140 are connected via one or
more extension or tie members 300 with the handle 200, preferably
to a distal end 210 thereof, which is connected to a proximal end
230 of the handle by way of an intermediate portion 220.
[0059] In this embodiment, the handle 200 may have a pivotal
mounting 250 positioned thereon, such as at or near the distal end
210 or along the intermediate portion 220, and the handle 200 may
be pivotally mounted at the pivotal mounting 250 so that movement
of the proximal end 230 of the handle 200 in one direction causes
the handle 200 to pivot about the pivotal mounting 250, thereby
urging the distal end 210 in the direction opposite the direction
of movement of the proximal end 230. The position of the pivotal
mounting may be selected to take advantage of leveraging
principles, so that force applied to the handle at its proximal end
230 may be transmitted by the handle 200 about the pivotal mounting
250 and exerted by the distal end 210 of the handle on another
object or surface (e.g., one or more extension or tie members 300
or one or more bolts 140) as a fraction or a multiple of the force
applied to the proximal end 230. Leveraging principles are well
understood, and substantially any of the numerous structures and
methods known for transmitting force between physical members may
be used to operably connect a pivoting handle 200 with a bolt
140.
[0060] A bolt-actuating handle 200 may have any of a wide variety
of known locking mechanisms 400 associated with it. Locking
mechanisms may, for example, inhibit or prevent unintended or
accidental deployment of the handle 200 from the locked position
202. One example of a locking mechanism 400 is shown in FIGS. 14,
17, 18, and 19.
[0061] FIG. 17 illustrates a handle having a locking mechanism 400
contained therein. The button 410 of the locking mechanism 400 is
positioned on a grip 205 located at or near the proximal end 230 of
the handle 200. The pivotal mounting 250 of the handle 200 is
locate at the distal end 210 of the handle. In FIG. 17, an end of
the stop-engaging portion 435 of the latch 430 of the locking
mechanism 400 may be seen extending beyond the intermediate portion
220 of the handle 200.
[0062] FIG. 18 illustrates parts of this embodiment of the locking
mechanism 400. The button 410 visible in FIG. 17 is operably
connected with a latch 430 by way of a latch-displacing mechanism
20 that physically displaces the latch 430 when the button 410 is
depressed into the handle. In FIG. 18, the latch is in the
non-displaced position (i.e., the button is not depressed), and the
stop-engaging portion 435 of the latch 430 (which, in this
embodiment is carried within the handle with the stop-engaging
portion 435 extending therefrom) is positioned such that it engages
with a latch stop 440 that is mounted on a portion of the tub other
than the handle 200 (e.g., on the door 132), such that the handle
200 may not be displaced in the direction of the stop 440 while the
stop-engaging portion 435 is thus deployed. When the button 410 is
depressed, it operates the latch-displacing mechanism 420, which
displaces the latch 430 such that the stop-engaging portion 435
thereof does not engage the stop 440 when the handle 200 is moved
in the direction of the stop 440. Thus, the handle may be moved in
that direction when the button is depressed, but may not be moved
in that direction until the button is depressed. This may prevent,
for example, unintended movement of the handle by a bather moving
within the tub.
[0063] FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of the locking mechanism
400 in greater detail. In FIG. 19, it is seen that the
latch-displacing mechanism 420 includes three components. One or
more toothed track gears 421 are connected with the button, such
that movement of the button 410 causes movement of the track gear
421. The teeth of the track gear 421 mesh with teeth of an
axle-mounted gear assembly 422, such that lateral movement of the
gear track 421 induces axial rotation of the axle-mounted gear
assembly 422. Axle-mounted gear assembly 422 also interacts with an
axle-engaging end 423 of the latch 430 (e.g., by engagement of the
end 423 with the same teeth or different teeth of the axle-mounted
gear assembly 422 as those which interact with the track gear 421).
Engagement between the axle-mounted gear assembly 422 and the latch
430 facilitates button-driven displacement of the latch 430 within
a latch channel 225 within the handle. Thus, when button 410 is
depressed, it causes lateral movement of the track gears 421, axial
rotation of axle-mounted gear assembly 422, and displacement of
latch 430 within the latch channel 225 such that the stop-engaging
portion 435 of the latch 430 is displaced to a position at which it
will not engage a latch stop 440 mounted on the tub.
[0064] FIG. 14 illustrates operation of the handle 200 and locking
mechanism 400 thus described. In FIG. 14A, the handle is disposed
in the locked position 202. Because button 410 is not depressed,
the handle 200 may not be displaced from the locked position 202 to
the unlocked position 201 (i.e., because the stop-engaging portion
435, not shown, engages the latch stop 440 if such displacement is
attempted and prevents such displacement). Similarly, in FIG. 14B,
the handle is disposed in the unlocked position 201. Because button
410 is not depressed, the handle 200 may not be displaced from the
unlocked position 201 to the locked position 202 (i.e., because the
stop-engaging portion 435, not shown, engages the latch stop 440 if
such displacement is attempted and prevents such displacement).
Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the locking mechanism 400
prevents unintended displacement of the handle 200 between the
locked and unlocked position 202 and 201 or to an intermediate
position.
[0065] To close and seal the portal 110, one pivots the door 132
from the open position to the closed position. The bolt or bolts
is/are then approximately adjacent to the proximal portion of the
bolt recess. Referencing FIGS. 11A to 11B, the bolt 142 is then
extended and slidably engaged into the proximal portion 122 of the
bolt recess. When the bolt is slidably extended within the bolt
recess from the proximal portion 122 to the distal portion 126,
sequential engagement of the bolt 140 with the intermediate and
distal portions of the bolt recess urges the door laterally into
the closed position and compresses the gasket. In an embodiment,
this cause the gasket to be compressed between the perimeter face
136 of the door 132 and the closure face 114 of the access wall
106, as is seen in FIG. 6.
[0066] The tub body, seat, door and/or other components (including
the bolt recess) may be formed of any suitable material known or to
be developed in the art, and each part may be formed out of the
same or out of different materials. Suitable materials may include,
for example, poured concrete, stone, wood, plaster, acrylic,
fiberglass, porcelain, ceramic, marble, granite, stainless steel,
aluminum, plastic, or other known materials. Such materials may be
selected and "mix and matched" depending on the end use and/or end
location of the tub. For example, if a tub is to be installed in an
outdoor location, it may be desirable to fabricate it of tiled
covered concrete (in the manner of a swimming pool). Alternatively,
if the tub is to be sold for after market installation in
residential bathrooms or assisted living facilities, it may be
desirable to fabricate the tub body, seat, door and/or other
components from molded acrylic. In most embodiments, it may be
preferred that the material(s) selected are substantially
waterproof, sanitizable, relatively resistant to corrosion and/or
molds or mildew, and not prone to splitting, cracking or
chipping.
[0067] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover
modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *