Patent Application
20150327728
The disclosure relates to handle devices and more particularly pertains to a new handle device for positioning across an opening into a bathtub bathing facility providing a handle to support a person when needed.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a bathing facility having a pair of opposed faces. Each of a pair of rails is coupled to an associated one of the opposed faces. Each of a plurality of apertures is positioned in an associated one of the rails. A handle is elongated and comprises a medial section and a pair of outer sections. Each of the outer sections is insertable into a selectable one of the apertures in an associated one of the rails wherein the handle is positionable at a selectable position extending between the rails.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
Each of a plurality of apertures 32 is positioned in an associated one of the rails 22. Each of the apertures 32 extends through the interior wall 30 of the associated rail 22. A handle 34 is elongated having a medial section 36 and a pair of outer sections 38. Each of the outer sections 38 is insertable into a selectable one of the apertures 32 in an associated one of the rails 22 wherein the handle 34 is positionable at a selectable position extending between the rails 22. The handle 34 may be positioned substantially horizontal extending transversely between the rails 22. Each of the outer sections 38 is retractable relative to the medial section 36 wherein opposed ends 40 of the handle 34 are selectively disengageable from the apertures 32 by retraction of the outer sections 38 of the handle 34.
Each of a pair of alignment plates 42 is positioned in an associated one of the rails 22. Each outer section 38 extends through an associated one of the alignment plates 42. The flanges 28 retain each respective alignment plate 42 in the associated one of the rails 22. Retraction of each outer section 38 may be limited to prevent each outer section 38 from disengaging from the associated alignment plate 42. Each of a pair of slots 44 extends through the medial section 36 of the handle 34. Each of a pair of grips 46 is coupled to an associated one of the outer sections 38 of the handle 34. Each grip 46 has a neck 48 extending through an associated one of the slots 44 such that each grip 46 is slidable relative to the medial section 36 of the handle 34.
Each of a pair of biasing members 50 urges an associated one of the outer sections 38 outwardly relative to the medial section 36 of the handle 34. Each of a pair of chambers 52 is positioned in the medial section 36 of the handle 34. Each biasing member 50 is positioned in an associated one of the chambers 52. Each outer section 38 comprises a shaft 54 extending into an associated one of the chambers 52 through an associated hole 56. Each outer section 38 further comprises a head 58 positioned in the associated one of the chambers 52. The head 58 has an outer edge 60 offset from the hole 56 wherein the head 58 is prevented from passing through the associated hole 56. Thus, the head 58 of each outer section 38 is retained in the associated chamber 52. Sizing of each chamber 52 may restrict the length of retraction of the respective outer sections 38 of the handle 34. Alternatively, the restriction may be achieved by the length of each slot 44. Each outer section 38 may further comprise an end cap 62 having a hemi-spherical outer surface 64 facilitating insertion of the outer section 38 into the selectable one of the apertures 32.
In use, the grips 46 are manipulated to retract the outer sections 38 of the handle 34 allowing the handle 34 to be positioned at a desired height relative to the bathing facility 12. The handle 34 is secured to the rails 22 by insertion of each outer section 38 into a selected one of the apertures 32 as the grips 46 are released. The biasing members 50 prevent disengagement of the handle 34 from the rails 22 allowing the handle 34 to be used for support by a person positioned in or near the bathing facility 12.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
