Patent Application
20240341540
Modern bathtubs and showers have existed for over 150 years. There are many types of bathtub and shower inserts that increase the comfort of the bating experience and promote safety while bathing. Some of these inserts are inserts that are meant to replace the floor surface of the tub or shower and are intended for the user to sit or stand atop of while bathing or showering. These inserts often sit on the floor of the tub or shower. Other inserts make use of the walls of the tub in order to be situated in the tub or shower. Still other inserts are secured in the bathtub or shower by extending beyond the limits of the bathtub or shower e.g. they include supportive feet that rest on the floor outside the tub or shower. Such inserts may include features that promote anti-slip, allow for aromatic release, or include passageways within the insert enabling water jetting or other features that improve the bathing experience. Some inserts may include a mechanism for draining the water in the tub or shower. Many of these inserts are adjustable in height and to a lesser extent width to accommodate different depth tubs, water levels and user heights.
However, even with these inserts there is still a risk for a bather to drown while bathing. The present disclosure discusses a portable floor insert that is adjustable in height and width. The height of the portable floor insert can be adjusted to accommodate different water levels and drain flow rates to reduce the risk of drowning. This feature makes the present disclosure especially advantageous for the elderly or those with health conditions affecting balance. In addition, the width can be adjusted so that the portable floor insert can be securely placed in most modern bathtubs and showers, jacuzzi tubs and pools. The present disclosure also discusses a plurality of passageways arranged on the insert to allow drainage of water through the insert at a faster rate than the average shower drain. This further reduces risk of drowning.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a portable floor insert that reduces drowning risk to a bather. The portable floor insert provides a height and width adjustable platform for a bather to stand on while using the shower or bathtub. The portable floor may include a platform having a top surface with an outer periphery sized to fit within a bathtub or shower. The insert may also include a bottom region extending downwardly away from the top surface. One or more horizontal engagement members may be secured to the bottom surface. The one or more horizontal engagement members may include a first opposing end and a second opposing end. The one or more horizontal engagement members may be adjustably configured to extend beyond the outer periphery. This allows a user to adjust the width of the insert to fit different sized baths and showers. The one or more horizontal engagement members may extend so as to engage the side walls of the tub or shower. One or more vertical engagement members may extend downwardly from the bottom region so as to create legs or feet upon which the platform is supported. These vertical engagement members may be selectively adjustable. This allows the user to adjust the height of the insert. The horizontal and vertical members may allow for the height and width of the platform to be completely customizable, and therefore, the insert can be used in a variety of settings, such as shows, walk in showers, bathtubs, jacuzzi tubs and pools. The one or more vertical engagement members may engage the floor of the bathtub on one end. One or more fluid transport passageways e.g. channels, holes may extend from the top surface through the bottom region allowing water to drain through the platform. The passageways may direct water towards a drain.
In yet another embodiment, the portable floor insert may comprise gripping pieces on the horizontal members. The gripping pieces are arranged to strengthen the engagement of the horizontal members with the walls of the tub. The gripping pieces may comprise suction cups, elastomeric caps or other material that has a high coefficient of friction with most shower or tub wall material. Similarly, vertical members may comprise gripping feet that may comprise suction cups or elastomeric caps. Like the gripping pieces the gripping feet may also comprise another material that promotes engagement with typical shower and tub surfaces, such as tile, plastic and vinyl.
In another embodiment, the platform comprises a non-slip surface. The non-slip surface may have a coefficient of friction high enough to allow a bather to stand securely on the platform without a high risk of falling.
In yet another embodiment, there is provided an opening arranged to provide access to a shower or bathtub drain. The opening is oriented approximately over the shower or bathtub drain to allow for easy access to the drain for cleaning, maintenance and repair. The opening may also have a door or cover to close the drain when not in use.
In still another embodiment, there is provided a level mechanism. The level mechanism is arranged to cause the height of each of the vertical members to automatically or manually be adjusted to provide a level surface for a bather to stand on. In other words the level mechanism orients the platform so it is relatively parallel to the plane the bather is standing on. In certain embodiments the level mechanism comprises load sensors and control circuitry to adjust the vertical members. In other embodiments the level mechanism comprises springs that cause the vertical members height to adjust.
In another embodiment, the plurality of passageways on the platform allows for drainage of water through the platform to take place faster than a typical shower drain would allow. This ensures that the bather is never exposed to a pool of water when standing on the portable floor insert and, therefore, reduces the risk of drowning compared to when the bather bathes without the portable floor insert.
In another embodiment the platform comprises a plurality of components that interlock through a locking system. The locking system may comprise biscuits and rods, rods and slots or other mechanisms that allow components of the platform to slide together with ease. Separating the platform into multiple components also allows the horizontal and vertical members to be installed for maximum adjustability. In addition, because the portable floor insert is not limited to one piece the portable floor insert is easy to install and remove. Furthermore, the biscuits, rods or slots may be arranged to allow the dimensions of the platform to be adjusted to accommodate different sized tubs or showers or to position the insert in different locations within the tub or shower.
The portable floor insert can be manufactured by CNC, molded or casted. One preferred method of manufacture is CNC because it allows for the precises measurements needed for the locking system. Furthermore, the accuracy of CNC means the portable floor insert can be produced at low cost and with minimal waste. The insert may be manufactured from a single sheet of material or from a plurality of materials and then assembled. The flexibility of the manufacturing process allows the product to be built for a wide variety of bathing areas.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the technology will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the technology.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:
Embodiments are described more fully below in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the system and method. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
As shown in
The platform 100 may exist in a variety of thicknesses. The thickness of the platform may be suitable to hold heavier weights such as the weight of a wheelchair, obese individuals or several individuals at once e.g. in a communal shower. The thickness of the platform may be reduced to promote portability of the insert.
Preferably, the fluid transport passageways 114 are arranged to allow water to flow through the platform faster than the average shower drain allows water to drain from a tub or shower. This is to lessen the likelihood of drowning if a bather falls in the shower or bath if the platform is arranged to be positioned above the water level in the shower or tub.
In some embodiments the fluid transport passageways may be holes. The holes may comprise of circular geometry. The holes may also comprise incisions of other geometries that may form a pattern. These patterns may provide an aesthetically appealing surface. They may also increase the coefficient of friction enough to make the top surface 104 non-slip. This will reduce the likelihood of a bather falling in the shower or tub when a bather stands on the platform.
As shown in
As shown in
The vertical engagement members are preferably adjustable to sit above the typical water level, at least 10 millimeters, in a shower or tub with a drain with a typical flow rate while the shower is running. A typical flow rate May 2.5 gallons per minute. The adjustability also allows for the height of the platform to be adjusted to accommodate different size bathtubs. The adjustability of the vertical engagement members also allows for the height to be adjusted so that a shorter user can rest above water while soaking in a bathtub.
Preferably the vertical engagement members 402 are outfitted with one or more level mechanisms. The level mechanisms are arranged to allow the one or more vertical engagement members to be set to a height so that the top surface is oriented parallel to a surface of the shower or tub, such as the floor. This allows the user to stand on the platform 100 without the fear of falling caused by an incline. In some embodiments the level mechanism may take the form of compression load cells or other sensors fixed on the distal end of the one or more vertical engagement members. The load cells may be connected to control circuitry which causes the height of the vertical engagement members to adjust when there is a difference in sensor readings across multiple vertical engagement members. The level mechanism may also take the form of springs that are arranged to allow the platform to be adjusted to a parallel position relative to the bottom of the bathers feet when the bather stands on the platform 100.
In an embodiment, the platform 100 comprises a first interlocking half 600 and a second interlocking half 602. The first interlocking half 600 comprises a first side edge 604. As shown in
In some embodiments the biscuits are arranged in a pattern. The biscuits may have a geometry that may be triangular, ovular, circular, polygonal or some other geometry. This allows the biscuits and slots to be arranged in an aesthetically appealing pattern.
In other embodiments, the platform 100 may comprise a non-slip material having a coefficient of friction high enough to prevent slipping. The coefficient of friction may be between 0.3 and 1. The non-slip material may comprise rubber, elastomer, plastic or another polymer and may take the form of sheets covering part or all of the area of the top surface 104.
In other embodiments the platform 100 may comprise a plurality of other materials for such as gel pads, foam, rubber or silicone or other materials. These materials may provide a massaging effect to the user when they come into contact with the platform or otherwise enhance user comfort.
In an embodiment there is an opening 900 in the platform oriented to allow access to the tub or shower drain 902. The opening 900 may be covered by a door or other cover. The opening 900 allows access to the tub or shower drain for maintenance, repair, and cleaning.
A method of using the insert is discussed next. In one implementation the insert is used as a bathtub safety device. The bather adjusts the vertical engagement members 402 to the desired height. The bather then places the insert into the bathtub. The bather then adjusts the horizontal engagement members 102 to lock onto the walls of the bathtub. The bather, who may be incapable of standing in the tub or holding their head above the water level, then climbs into the bathtub and sits on the top surface 104 of the platform 100. The platform 100 supports the buttocks and legs of the bather as they recline against the back wall of the bathtub. The passageways 114 prevent water from collecting above the platform 100. The bather is, therefore, at reduced risk of drowning than they would be had they sat on the floor of the tub.
Next a method of making the insert is discussed. The platform 100 is extruded from a single piece of plastic. The extruder is designed to cut passageways 114 into the platform 100. The platform 100 is then cut to form the first interlocking half 600 and second interlocking half 602. The horizontal engagement members 102 and vertical engagement members 402 may be welded, screwed or otherwise mechanically fastened to the platform 100. Alternatively, the members may be fitted into the body of the platform 100 though holes sized to fit the members and may be optionally secured with screws or other method of fastening. Similarly, the vertical engagement members 402 are connected to the bottom region 106 using screws or other fasteners. In this implementation, the horizontal engagement members 102 and vertical engagement members 402 include telescopic rods. The biscuits 603 and rods 601 are formed on the top surface of the platform by heating up the platform 100 so as to soften it and pressing the top surface 104 with a press having the desired geometry of the biscuits 603 and or slots 601. A non-slip silicone material is cut to the dimensions of the platform 100 and applied to the top surface 104 using an adhesive.
Although the above embodiments have been described in language that is specific to certain structures, elements, compositions, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the technology defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, elements, compositions and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed technology. Since many embodiments of the technology can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63435167 | Dec 2022 | US |
