Patent Grant
11771269
The present disclosure is generally directed to chairs and, in particular, toward shower chairs including ergonomic features.
Shower chairs are designed to provide people of all abilities with the opportunity to shower or bathe while seated. As can be appreciated, the ability to rest while cleaning may be beneficial to most people and especially to those who may be undergoing physical therapy, who may have limited strength, or who may have some type of disability.
Conventional shower chairs, however, fail to address a number of needs and desires associated with a wide range of users. Most shower chairs have been designed with basic molded plastics and cheap round aluminum tubing. These basic utilitarian designs result in a sterile medical scaffolding construction and there are few, if any, options for different colors, functions, supports, or arrangements of the shower chair.
Moreover, these traditional designs require complex and cumbersome adjustments between users of different sizes. For instance, the overall seat height of these shower chairs must be adjusted beforehand to fit a particular height of a user. This process generally includes individually setting a length of each leg of the shower chair. Once the length is set, each of the legs must be separately locked and/or fastened in place. When the height of users of the shower chair varies between uses, this repeated seat-height adjustment process can be tedious and painful. As a result, an uncomfortable “middle” height may be permanently set for the shower chair. Because this middle height may be too high for one user and too short for another user, the safety and comfort of each user is sacrificed in the process.
It is with respect to the above issues and other problems that the examples presented herein were contemplated. The present disclosure provides a shower chair having a clean, modern, and elegant construction that comprises a number of enhanced comfort, safety, and support features. These features include, but are in no way limited to, ergonomic contact surfaces, a removeable backrest, an integrated carry handle, a concealed retractable shower sprayer holder, smooth sloped washdown faces, comfort rounded seat and backrest, wide gripped nonslip feet, and/or the like. In some examples a shower chair is provided having a quick seat-height adjustment system and/or optional moveable/removeable arm rests.
In one aspect, a shower chair includes a leg assembly, comprising: a first leg frame disposed on a first side of the shower chair; and a second leg frame disposed on a second side of the shower chair opposite the first side, the second leg frame spaced apart a width from the first leg frame, wherein the first leg frame and the second leg frame each comprise a front leg tube and a rear leg tube and a seat contact tube joining the front leg tube to the rear leg tube; a lower support crossbar connected to a bottom surface of the seat contact tube of the first leg frame and the second leg frame and spanning the width; a seat pan comprising a seating side and a frame attachment side disposed opposite the seating side, wherein a portion of the seat pan on the frame attachment side is connected to an upper surface of the seat contact tube of the first leg frame and the second leg frame; and a backrest comprising a first end detachably connected to the lower support crossbar offset a distance from the seat pan on the frame attachment side and extending from the lower support crossbar past the seating side of the seat pan toward a second end of the backrest disposed at a rear of the shower chair.
Examples of the shower chair above may include one of the following features or any combination thereof. The seat pan comprises a sloped surface angled downward from a first point at a front of the shower chair to a second point at the rear of the shower chair. The backrest comprises a sloped arcuate surface disposed adjacent the first end and angled downward from the rear of the shower chair toward the front of the shower chair. A first gap is disposed between the seat pan at the backrest at the second point, and wherein a second gap is disposed between the first end of the backrest and the lower support crossbar providing an unrestricted water flow path for the shower chair running from the seat pan at the front of the shower chair toward the rear of the shower chair and then from the backrest at the rear of the shower chair toward the front of the shower chair in a space between the seat pan and the first end of the backrest. The first leg frame and the second leg frame each comprise an angled tube joined with and extending from the rear leg tube, and wherein the shower chair further comprises: an upper support crossbar disposed at the rear of the shower chair and spanning from the first leg frame to the second leg frame, wherein the upper support crossbar comprises a first post connected to the angled tube of the first leg frame and a second post connected to the angled tube of the second leg frame. The first post is disposed at least partially inside the angled tube of the first leg frame and a second post is disposed at least partially inside the angled tube of the second leg frame, and wherein an axis of the first post is arranged orthogonal to an axis of the upper support crossbar spanning from the first leg frame to the second leg frame. A portion of a rear surface of the backrest contacts the upper support crossbar, wherein the backrest comprises at least one mount hook that hooks onto the upper support crossbar, and wherein the first end detachably connected to the lower support crossbar is attached via at least one fastener. The first leg frame and the second leg frame each comprise a front leg attached to the front leg tube and a rear leg attached to the rear leg. The front leg tube and the rear leg tube each comprise a slot-shaped receptacle, wherein a first end of the front leg is disposed in the slot-shaped receptacle of the front leg tube, and wherein a first end of the rear leg is disposed in the slot-shaped receptacle of the rear leg tube. A second end of the front leg disposed opposite the first end of the front leg comprises a front compliant foot, and wherein a second end of the rear leg disposed opposite the first end of the rear leg comprises a rear compliant foot. An offset distance from the first end of the front leg relative to the seat contact tube is adjustable by a first spring pin disposed in the front leg that is engaged with a corresponding first receptacle of a first series of receptacles disposed in the front leg tube, and wherein the first series of receptacles are disposed in a surface of the front leg tube that faces the rear of the shower chair. An offset distance from the first end of the rear leg relative to the seat contact tube is adjustable by a second spring pin disposed in the rear leg that is engaged with a corresponding second receptacle of a second series of receptacles disposed in the rear leg tube, and wherein the second series of receptacles are disposed in a surface of the rear leg tube that faces the rear of the shower chair. The seat pan comprises a first side surface extending from the frame attachment side in a direction away from the seating side, wherein the seat pan comprises a second side surface extending from the frame attachment side in the direction away from the seating side, wherein the first side surface and the second side surface are disposed at the front of the shower chair and inside an overall seat width of the seat pan. A first side shield attached to the bottom surface of the seat contact tube of the first leg frame, wherein the first side shield extends from the bottom surface of the seat contact tube of the first leg frame in a direction away from the seat pan, wherein the first side shield extends from the front leg tube of the first leg frame to the rear leg tube of the first leg frame; and a second side shield attached to the bottom surface of the seat contact tube of the second leg frame, wherein the second side shield extends from the bottom surface of the seat contact tube of the second leg frame in a direction away from the seat pan, wherein the second side shield extends from the front leg tube of the second leg frame to the rear leg tube of the second leg frame, wherein an outer side surface of the first side shield is coplanar with an outer side surface of the first side surface, and wherein an outer side surface of the second side shield is coplanar with an outer side surface of the second side surface. A sprayer holder, comprising: a first end configured to be inserted into one of a receptacle disposed in the a first side surface and a receptacle disposed in the second side surface; and a second end comprising a clamp configured to receive a shower sprayer. The sprayer holder further comprises a hinge arranged between the first end and second end allowing the sprayer holder to move from a retracted position under the seat pan to an extended position disposed apart from the seat pan.
In another aspect, a shower chair includes a leg assembly, comprising: a first leg frame disposed on a first side of the shower chair; and a second leg frame disposed on a second side of the shower chair opposite the first side, the second leg frame spaced apart a width from the first leg frame, wherein the first leg frame and the second leg frame each comprise a front leg tube and a rear leg tube and a seat contact tube joining the front leg tube to the rear leg tube, and wherein the first leg frame and the second leg frame each comprise a tube joined with and extending from the rear leg tube, in a direction away from the front leg tube; a lower support crossbar connected to a bottom surface of the seat contact tube of the first leg frame and the second leg frame and spanning the width; a seat pan comprising a seating side and a frame attachment side disposed opposite the seating side, wherein a portion of the seat pan on the frame attachment side is connected to an upper surface of the seat contact tube of the first leg frame and the second leg frame; and an upper support crossbar disposed at a rear of the shower chair and spanning from the first leg frame to the second leg frame, wherein the upper support crossbar comprises a first post connected to the tube of the first leg frame and a second post connected to the tube of the second leg frame.
Examples of the shower chair above may include one of the following features or any combination thereof. A backrest comprising a first end detachably connected to the lower support crossbar offset a distance from the seat pan on the frame attachment side and extending from the lower support crossbar past the seating side of the seat pan toward a second end of the backrest disposed at the rear of the shower chair. The seat pan comprises a sloped surface angled downward from a first point at a front of the shower chair to a second point at the rear of the shower chair, wherein the backrest comprises a sloped arcuate surface disposed adjacent the first end and angled downward from the rear of the shower chair toward the front of the shower chair, wherein a first gap is disposed between the seat pan at the backrest at the second point, and wherein a second gap is disposed between the first end of the backrest and the lower support crossbar providing an unrestricted water flow path for the shower chair running from the seat pan at the front of the shower chair toward the rear of the shower chair and then from the backrest at the rear of the shower chair toward the front of the shower chair in a space between the seat pan and the first end of the backrest.
In yet another aspect, a shower chair kit includes a first leg frame that defines a first side of the shower chair; a second leg frame that defines a second side of the shower chair opposite the first side, wherein the first leg frame and the second leg frame each comprise a front leg tube and a rear leg tube and a seat contact tube joining the front leg tube to the rear leg tube, and wherein the first leg frame and the second leg frame each comprise a tube joined with and extending from the rear leg tube, in a direction away from the front leg tube; two front legs that interconnect with the front leg tube of the first leg frame and the front leg tube of the second leg frame, respectively; two rear legs that interconnect with the rear leg tube of the first leg frame and the rear leg tube of the second leg frame, respectively; a lower support crossbar that connects to a bottom surface of the seat contact tube of the first leg frame and the second leg frame and, when connected maintains a width distance between the first leg frame and the second leg frame; a seat pan comprising a seating side and a frame attachment side disposed opposite the seating side, wherein a portion of the seat pan on the frame attachment side connects to an upper surface of the seat contact tube of the first leg frame and the second leg frame; an upper support crossbar comprising a first post that connects to the tube of the first leg frame and a second post that connects to the tube of the second leg frame; and a backrest comprising a first end that detachably connects to the lower support crossbar at a position offset a distance from the seat pan on the frame attachment side and that, when attached, extends from the lower support crossbar past the seating side of the seat pan toward a second end of the backrest, wherein the backrest comprises a handle aperture disposed adjacent the second end.
In one aspect, a shower chair includes a leg assembly, comprising a structural beam extending a width from a first end to a second end; a seat assembly, comprising: a front seat tube having a front set of adjustment posts having a first series of adjust holes disposed therein; and a rear seat tube having a rear set of adjustment posts having a second series of adjust holes disposed therein; and a seat-height adjustment mechanism attached to the structural beam between the first end and the second end, wherein the seat-height adjustment mechanism comprises: a height adjustment handle; and a plurality of bands each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each band is attached to the height adjustment handle and the second end of each band is attached to a locking pin; wherein the locking pin of each band selectively engages with a respective adjust hole of the first series of adjust holes and second series of adjust holes, and wherein the locking pins are simultaneously moveable between an engaged state and a disengaged state by movement of the height adjustment handle.
Examples may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the leg assembly further comprises a first leg frame attached to the first end of the structural beam, and a second leg frame attached to the second end of the structural beam. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the seat assembly further comprises a seat pan attached to the front seat tube and the second seat tube. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the front set of adjustment posts and the rear set of adjustment posts engage with respective seat tube receiving holes in the leg assembly. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein each band of the plurality of bands have a length disposed within respective translation grooves of the structural beam. Aspects of the above shower chair may further comprise a sprayer holder comprising a first end configured to be attached to one of the front seat tube or rear seat tube, and a second end configured to receive a shower sprayer. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the sprayer holder further comprises a hinge between the first end and second end allowing the sprayer holder to move from a retracted position to an extended position. Aspects of the above shower chair may further comprise a backrest. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the backrest is attached to the rear seat tube. Aspects of the above shower chair may further comprise an armrest. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the armrest is attached to the rear seat tube and is configured to rotate relative to the seat assembly.
In another aspect, a shower chair includes a shower chair, comprising: a leg assembly, comprising: a structural beam extending a width from a first end to a second end; a first leg frame attached to the first end of the structural beam; and a second leg frame attached to the second end of the structural beam; a seat assembly, comprising: a front seat tube having a front set of adjustment posts having a first series of adjust holes disposed therein; a rear seat tube having a rear set of adjustment posts having a second series of adjust holes disposed therein; and a seat pan attached to the front seat tube and the second seat tube; wherein the front set of adjustment posts and the rear set of adjustment posts engage with respective seat tube receiving holes in the leg assembly; and a seat-height adjustment mechanism attached to the structural beam between the first end and the second end, wherein the seat-height adjustment mechanism comprises: a height adjustment actuation handle; and a plurality of bands having a length disposed within respective translation grooves of the structural beam, wherein each band in the plurality of bands has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each band is attached to the height adjustment handle and the second end of each band is attached to a locking pin; wherein the locking pin of each band selectively engages with a respective adjust hole of the first series of adjust holes and second series of adjust holes, and wherein the locking pins are simultaneously moveable between an engaged state and a disengaged state by movement of the height adjustment handle.
Further examples may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. Aspects of the above shower chair may further comprise a sprayer holder comprising a first end configured to be attached to one of the front seat tube or rear seat tube, and a second end configured to receive a shower sprayer. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the sprayer holder further comprises a hinge between the first end and second end allowing the sprayer holder to move from a retracted position to an extended position. Aspects of the above shower chair may further comprise a backrest. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the backrest is attached to the rear seat tube. Aspects of the above shower chair may further comprise an armrest. Aspects of the above shower chair may include wherein the armrest is attached to the rear seat tube and is configured to rotate relative to the seat assembly.
In some examples, the shower chair described herein may include an enhanced look and feel over conventional shower chairs. The shower chair may include a rounded seat pan and backrest providing a softer contoured look and more comfortable contact surfaces. Additionally or alternatively, the leg frames of the shower chair may be made from a continuous, uninterrupted length of bent metal tubing. The metal tubing may be radiused at corners along the length providing a smooth surface. For instance, the metal tubing may be slot-shaped having two linear sides and two radiused sides. The metal tubing may be hollow providing a slot-shaped receptacle that can receive similarly shaped legs. In addition to providing a delicate appearance and a strong construction, these seat pans, backrests, leg frames, and legs allow for various finishes, coatings, and/or colors. In one example, the seat pan and backrest may be made (e.g., molded or otherwise formed) from a white plastic or composite material and the leg frame and/or legs may be finished with a satin nickel, copper, antique brass, or other coating. In some examples, the leg frames and/or legs may be plated, anodized, painted, or powder coated to match any color or visual appearance. Among other things, these colors and finishes may be selected to match the colors and finishes associated with hardware (e.g., faucets, sinks, handles, attachments, covers, etc.) and/or other objects in the bathroom of a user.
In one example, the overall seat height may be adjusted and set using a single lever-, or button-, actuated cable system. For example, a user may actuate a single height adjustment handle to simultaneously retract, or unlock, the locking pins from each seat-height adjustment bar attached to the seat of the shower chair. The height adjustment handle and/or the locking pins may be spring-biased in a locking, or extended, position. When the user releases the height adjustment handle, the locking pins may return (e.g., under spring force, etc.) from the retracted position into an extended position. Once actuated, a user may grip the seat of the chair via an integrated drainage aperture, or hole, in the seat, and simply pull or push the seat (e.g., up or down, respectively) into a desired height position. The seat assembly may click and lock into place at predetermined intervals where a hole in the seat-height adjustment bars align with a respective locking pin in the leg assembly, or base, of the shower chair. When aligned, the locking pins may extend into respective holes of the seat-height adjustment bars locking the overall height of the seat relative to the floor. The height adjustment handle may be arranged at a rear of the shower chair under a structural beam portion of the leg assembly. Among other things, this protected rear position prevents accidental seat-height adjustment of the shower chair while in use.
In some examples, the shower chair may include an integrated shower sprayer holder. The shower sprayer holder may be attached to a side surface, or side facing surface, of the seat pan disposed on an underside of the seat pan. The shower sprayer holder may include a first end sized to be inserted into, and retained by, a receptacle disposed in the side surface of the seat pan. The first end may include a locking element that engages with a corresponding element in the seat tube. The shower sprayer holder may comprise a second end having a hook that receives a handle, hose, or other portion of a shower sprayer. In some examples, the shower sprayer holder may comprise a hinge disposed between the first end and the second end. The hinge may allow the shower sprayer holder to move from a retracted position (e.g., concealed under the seat pan) to an extended position (e.g., exposed from beneath the seat pan) where the hook is available to hold a shower sprayer. When not required, the shower sprayer holder may be maintained in the retracted position or removed completely from the seat tube of the seat assembly. An optional plug may be inserted into any side surface receptacle that is not accommodating the shower sprayer holder.
The terms “seatback” and “backrest” may be used interchangeably herein to refer to the upright portion of the seat extending from the seat pan of the shower chair that may contact the back of a user when in use.
In some examples, the shower chair may be used, or arranged, in one or more configurations including, but in no way limited to, an “armchair” configuration, a “chair” configuration, and a “stool” configuration. The armchair configuration may include a seat pan, a backrest, and one or more armrests. The chair configuration may include a seat pan and a backrest, but may exclude one or more armrests. Although described as having three different configurations, it should be appreciated that variations of these configurations may be employed by the shower chair described herein. For example, while the stool configuration may exclude the backrest, a variation of the stool configuration may include one or more armrests. Other variations and/or combinations of features may be made within the scope of this disclosure.
As provided above, the stool configuration may include the seat pan but may exclude the backrest and one or more armrests. The stool configuration may provide a user with greater movement and access to portions of their upper torso while cleaning. The shower chair may be changed from an armchair or chair configuration (e.g., having the backrest) to a stool configuration (e.g., without the backrest) or vice versa. When in the armchair or chair configurations, the shower chair may be changed into the stool configuration by, for instance, at least detaching the backrest from the seat assembly. In one example, the backrest may be attached to an underside of the seat pan. The attachment may comprise a pin-in-keyhole connection, a thumbscrew attachment, a quarter-turn lock attachment, or some other fastened (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.) attachment.
The preceding is a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide an understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the disclosure and its various aspects, examples, and configurations. It is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure but to present selected concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other aspects, examples, and configurations of the disclosure are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below. All examples and features mentioned above can be combined in any technically possible way.
Numerous additional features and advantages are described herein and will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following Detailed Description and in view of the figures.
Before any examples of the disclosure are explained, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other examples and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Further, the present disclosure may use examples to illustrate one or more aspects thereof. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the use or listing of one or more examples (which may be denoted by “for example,” “by way of example,” “e.g.,” “such as,” or similar language) is not intended to and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The ensuing description provides examples only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the described examples. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
The claims of the instant application are not limited to the ornamental designs of the various articles and examples shown in the accompanying figures. Moreover, the figures are not intended to illustrate the only available ornamental designs of the various articles and examples described herein. As can be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, numerous alternative design options are available for the disclosed articles that could achieve the same functionality as described and/or claimed herein.
Various aspects of the present disclosure will be described herein with reference to drawings that may be schematic illustrations of idealized configurations.
The coordinate system 102, as shown in the figures, includes three-dimensions comprising an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis. Additionally or alternatively, the coordinate system 102 may be used to define planes (e.g., the XY-plane, the XZ-plane, and the YZ-plane) of the shower chair 100. These planes may be disposed orthogonal, or at 90 degrees, to one another. While the origin of the coordinate system 102 may be placed at any point on or near the components of the shower chair 100, for the purposes of description, the axes of the coordinate system 102 are always disposed along the same directions from figure to figure. In some examples, reference may be made to dimensions, angles, directions, relative positions, and/or movements associated with one or more components of the shower chair 100 with respect to the coordinate system 102. For instance, the width of the shower chair 100 may be defined as a dimension along the X-axis, the height of the shower chair 100 may be defined as dimension along the Y-axis, and the depth of the shower chair 100 may be defined as a dimension along the Z-axis of the coordinate system 102. Additionally or alternatively, the width of components of the shower chair 100 may be defined as a dimension along the X-axis, the height of the components of the shower chair 100 may be defined as dimension along the Y-axis, and the depth of the components of the shower chair 100 may be defined as a dimension along the Z-axis of the coordinate system 102.
The shower chair 100 is assembled such that the first leg frame 116A is disposed on a first side 112A of the shower chair 100 and the second leg frame 116B is disposed on an opposite second side 112B of the shower chair 100 separated by a width (e.g., measured along the X-axis). In some examples, a lower support crossbar 130 may connect to and span from the first leg frame 116A to the second leg frame 116B at least partially maintaining the separation between the first and second leg frames 116A, 116B. The lower support crossbar 130 is attached between the front leg tubes 150 and the rear leg tubes 154 of each leg frame 116A, 116B. More specifically, the lower support crossbar 130 may be attached to a bottom surface of the seat contact tube 152 of each leg frame 116A, 116B. As illustrated in
Each leg frame 116A, 116B may comprise a tube 126 that extends from the rear leg tube 154 in a direction away from the front side 112C of the shower chair 100. In some examples, the tubes 126 may be angled such from the rear leg tubes 154 to extend to above a seating side 168A of the seat pan 104 at the rear side 112D of the shower chair 100. The upper support crossbar 128 may be connected to each of the tubes 126 disposed at the rear side 112D of the shower chair 100. When connected, the upper support crossbar 128 may span from the first leg frame 116A to the second leg frame 116B. Details of this connection are described in greater detail in
The shower chair 100 may be used with or without the backrest 108. The backrest 108 is shown in a particular configuration (or shown to have a particular shape/design), but it should be appreciated that this is one of many possible configurations/shapes/designs. In some examples, the backrest 108 may include a handle aperture 110 disposed adjacent a top (e.g., second end 172B) thereof. The handle aperture 110 may serve as a handle for carrying the shower chair 100. When the backrest 108 is detached from, or not used with, the shower chair 100, the upper support crossbar 128 may serve as a carry handle, support, and/or structural member of the shower chair 100. When the backrest 108 is attached to, or forms a part of, the shower chair 100, at least a portion of the backrest 108 may contact the upper support crossbar 128. This contact may provide rigidity across the width of the shower chair 100 and/or prevent the backrest 108 from flexing past the upper support crossbar 128 in a direction from the front side 112C toward the rear side 112D of the shower chair 100. In one example, the backrest 108 may be hooked onto the upper support crossbar 128 via at least one mount hook 140 disposed on the backrest 108 at the rear side 112D. In addition to offering additional constraints for the backrest 108 (e.g., preventing vertical movement along the Y-axis, forward movement along Z-axis, etc.), the mount hook 140 and upper support crossbar 128 interface may provide other advantages. For instance, during assembly the backrest 108 may be first hooked onto the upper support crossbar 128, via the mount hooks 140, and then positioned and fastened to the lower support crossbar 130 at the first end 172A of the backrest 108 (e.g., via at least one fastener 122). Among other things, this hook-and-fastener assembly approach allows the backrest 108 to be attached and detached from the shower chair 100 quickly and easily by a single person. The mount hook 140 may be formed from the backrest 108 and/or separately affixed to the backrest 108. The fastener 122 may correspond to a pin (e.g., in a pin-in-keyhole connection), a thumbscrew, a quarter-turn locking fastener, a threaded fastener (e.g., bolt, screw, etc.) and/or the like. In one example, the fastener 122 may pass through the first end 172A of the backrest 108 at least into the lower support crossbar 130. The fastener 122 may connect to threads, threaded inserts, nuts, or standoffs, and/or other mating fastener features that are disposed in the body of the seat pan 104.
As illustrated in
The seat pan 104 may contact each leg frame 116A, 116B at least at a respective seat contact tube 152 of leg frame 116A, 116B. Specifically, the seat pan 104 may rest on the upper surface of the seat contact tube 152 of each leg frame 116A, 116B. The seat pan 104 may comprise one or more molded features that locate, orient, and/or clip onto a portion of each leg frame 116A, 116B. These molded features may include, but are in no way limited to, tabs, grooves, protrusions, depressions, receptacles, etc., and/or combinations thereof. The seat pan 104 may be fastened to each leg frame 116A, 116B via one or more fasteners 122. For example, the fastener 122 may pass from a bottom surface of the seat contact tube 152 through the seat contact tube 152 of each leg frame 116A, 116B and into a body of the seat pan 104. Similar to the connection of the backrest 108, the body of the seat pan 104 may comprise one or more receiving threads, threaded inserts, nuts, or standoffs, and/or other mating fastener features that interconnect with the fastener 122.
As shown at least in
Referring to
The feet 124 may be made from a compliant material and provide a nonslip interface with a floor 174. The floor 174 may correspond to an interior of a bathtub, a shower pan, tiled area, and/or some other washdown or bathroom surface. In one example, the foot may be made from a nonslip grip material (e.g., rubber, silicone, urethane, etc.) and/or include one or more nonslip features (e.g., sipes, suction cups, grip protrusions, etc.). The foot 124 may insert into an end of each leg 120, wrap around the end of the leg 120, and/or combinations thereof.
In some examples, the surfaces of the seat pan 104, the backrest 108, and/or other components of the shower chair 108 may be sloped, inclined, or angled relative to a horizontal reference plane (e.g., the floor 174, the upper surface of the seat contact tube 152, etc.). These angled surfaces may be configured to allow water to drain off of the shower chair 100 to the floor 174. The seat pan 104 is shown in a particular configuration (or shown to have a particular shape/design), but it should be appreciated that this is one of many possible configurations/shapes/designs. In one example, the water may be directed to drain off of the shower chair 100 toward a center of the shower chair 100 and/or in a direction of a drain on the floor 174. The seat pan 104 may include a radiused front portion that simultaneously serves a comfort edge for a user and as a drainage surface. As illustrated in
Referring now to
As shown in
The leg frame 116 comprises a tube 126 that extends from the rear leg tube 154 in a direction away from the front side 112C. In some examples, the tube 126 is angled and may extend in a direction away from the legs 120 and feet 124 of the leg assembly. The tube 126 may be hollow and/or comprise a tube receptacle 308 that is sized to receive a portion of the upper support crossbar 128. For example, the tube receptacle 308 may be sized to receive the posts (e.g., the first post 504A or the second post 504B described in conjunction with
As provided above, the leg 120 may be adjusted by pushing a spring pin 146 into a first receptacle of the series of receptacles 118 and then sliding the leg 120 relative to the leg frame 116. When the spring pin 146 aligns with a second receptacle in the series of receptacles 118, a protruding dome portion of the spring pin may force into the second receptacle locking the leg 120 in the new position. Since the leg frame 116 and the leg 120 are noncircular, the user does not need to work to maintain rotational orientation between the leg 120 and the leg frame 116 when adjusting. Rather, the shape of the leg 120 and the shape of the leg frame 116 (e.g., leg tubes 150, 154) provide a keyed nonrotating arrangement. As can be appreciated, this keyed nonrotating arrangement allows for quick and easy adjustment of each leg 120. The legs 120 are shown in particular configurations (or shown to have a particular shape/design), but it should be appreciated that this is one of many possible configurations/shapes/designs. In some examples, an open end of the front and rear leg tubes 150, 154 may include an anti-rattle sleeve 312 disposed therein. The anti-rattle sleeve 312 may provide a bearing surface between the leg 120 and the front and rear leg tubes 150, 154. Additionally or alternatively, the anti-rattle sleeve 312 may fill a gap between the front and rear leg tubes 150, 154 and a respective leg 120. In some examples, the anti-rattle sleeve 312 may be made from plastic, resin, polyoxymethylene, thermoplastic, etc., and/or other nonmetallic material. In one example, the anti-rattle sleeve 312 may be made from bronze, aluminum-bronze, and/or some other bearing metal material.
The sprayer holder 132 may have an extended state and a retracted state. In the extended state, a second end 608 of the sprayer holder 132 including clamp 612 (e.g., one or more of a hook, finger, etc.) may be revealed from beneath the seat pan 104 of the shower chair 100 (e.g., as shown in
The seat assembly 1015 may comprise front and rear seat tubes 1023A, 1023B, a seat pan 1004, a backrest 1008, and seat tube end caps. In some examples, the seat pan 1004 may attach to a tubular framework formed by the front seat tube 1023A and the rear seat tube 1023B. The front seat tube 1023A may comprise two vertical posts that bend and join to a front crossbar extending a width (e.g., measured along the X-axis) of the shower chair 1000. Similarly, the rear seat tube 1023B may comprise two vertical posts that bend and join to a rear crossbar extending a width of the shower chair 1000. In addition to the rear crossbar, the rear seat tube 1023B may comprise a backrest attachment bar extending from one vertical post of the rear seat tube 1023B to the other vertical post of the rear seat tube 1023B. In some examples, this backrest attachment bar may include attachment pins that engage with receiving features of the backrest 1008. When engaged, the attachment pins may fasten the backrest 1008 to the backrest attachment bar. Open ends of the rear crossbar may be covered, or sealed, with end caps 144. In some examples, both open ends of the front crossbar may be covered, or sealed, with end caps 144. In one example, at least one open end of the front and/or rear crossbar may receive a sprayer holder 1023. The front seat tube 1023A and the rear seat tube 1023B may be connected to one another by seat tube end caps 1019 attached to a lower end (e.g., an end closest to the floor, etc.) of the vertical posts of the front and rear seat tubes 1023A, 1023B. The upper end of the front and rear seat tubes 1023A, 1023B may interconnect (e.g., fasten, lock, etc.) with the underside of the seat pan 1004. The floor may correspond to an interior of a bathtub, a shower pan, and/or some other washdown surface. Additional details surrounding the seat assembly 1015 are described in conjunction with
The leg assembly 1013, or base, may comprise two leg frames 1016 interconnected to one another via a structural beam 1017. Each of the leg frames 1016 may comprise a length of rectangular tubing (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel, etc.) that are bent such that ends of each leg frame 1016 are facing the floor. Each end of a leg frame 1016 may include a foot 124. The foot 124 may be made from a nonslip grip material (e.g., rubber, silicone, urethane, etc.). In one example, the foot 124 may insert into the end of the leg frame 1016, wrap around the end of the leg frame 1016, and/or combinations thereof. The leg frame 1016 may include several through-holes 1021 disposed therein that engage with portions of the structural beam 1017. The structural beam 1017 may comprise protrusions that insert into these through-holes 1021. Additional details surrounding the leg assembly 1013 are described in conjunction with
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in the side elevation section view of the leg assembly of
The structural beam 1017, and/or the leg assembly 1013, may comprise a seat-height adjustment mechanism 1204. The seat-height adjustment mechanism 1204 may comprise a number of cables, or bands, contained within respective translation grooves that, when moved via the actuation of a single height adjustment handle 1208, simultaneously retract a series of locking pins from adjust holes 118 disposed in the vertical post portions of the front and rear seat tubes 1023A, 1023B. Additional details of the seat-height adjustment mechanism 1204 are described in conjunction with
The seat-height adjustment mechanism 1204 provides users with an ergonomic quick-adjust feature for the seat height of the shower chair 1000. For instance, the user is only required to actuate a single height adjustment handle 1208 to withdraw multiple locking pins 1316 used for adjustment. Additionally or alternatively, when the locking pins 1316 are disengaged, the user can grasp the seat pan 1004 by the adjust aperture 1011 to pull, or push, the seat assembly 1015 to a desired seat height and the pins 1316 automatically engage with adjust holes 118 that are aligned with the locking pins 1316. Among other things, this arrangement requires little effort from a user and allows for quick adjustments. In contrast to conventional systems requiring individual ball-detent leg adjustments, for each of four legs (e.g., four individual adjustments), the present disclosure allows a user to make a single actuation of a height adjustment handle 1208 to adjust the seat height of the shower chair 1000.
The sprayer holder 1032 may have an extended state 1032′ and a retracted state. In the extended state 1032′, a second end of the sprayer holder 1032′ including a hook, clamp, or finger, may be revealed from beneath the seat pan 1004 of the seat assembly 1015. The hook of the second end may be configured to engage with, retain, grasp, or otherwise hold a shower sprayer handle, hose, or other portion. In the retracted state, the second end of the sprayer holder 1032 may be concealed beneath the seat pan 1004 of the seat assembly 1015. The second end may pivot relative to the first end 1433 about a joint, or knuckle, disposed along the length of the sprayer holder 1032 running from the first end 1433 to the second end.
In some examples, the first armrest 1504A may be rotated toward the floor to provide clearance to the shower chair 1000. For example,
The exemplary systems and methods of this disclosure have been described in relation to shower chairs. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the preceding description omits a number of known structures and devices. This omission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of the claimed disclosure. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present disclosure. It should, however, be appreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that additional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts described herein, and, accordingly, other examples are within the scope of the following claims.
The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more examples, configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the examples, configurations, or aspects of the disclosure may be combined in alternate examples, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed example, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred example of the disclosure.
Moreover, though the description of the disclosure has included description of one or more examples, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights, which include alternative examples, configurations, or aspects to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
It is to be appreciated that any feature described herein can be claimed in combination with any other feature(s) as described herein, regardless of whether the features come from the same described example or aspect.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “include,” “including,” “includes,” “comprise,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably.
The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” “or,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together. When each one of A, B, and C in the above expressions refers to an element, such as X, Y, and Z, or a class of elements, such as X1-Xn, Y1-Ym, and Z1-Zo, the phrase is intended to refer to a single element selected from X, Y, and Z, a combination of elements selected from the same class (e.g., X1 and X2) as well as a combination of elements selected from two or more classes (e.g., Y1 and Zo).
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and this disclosure.
It should be understood that every maximum numerical limitation given throughout this disclosure is deemed to include each and every lower numerical limitation as an alternative, as if such lower numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every minimum numerical limitation given throughout this disclosure is deemed to include each and every higher numerical limitation as an alternative, as if such higher numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every numerical range given throughout this disclosure is deemed to include each and every narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numerical range, as if such narrower numerical ranges were all expressly written herein.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/066,555, filed on Aug. 17, 2020, entitled “SHOWER CHAIR WITH ERGONOMIC ADJUSTMENT FEATURES,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety, for all that it teaches and for all purposes.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 63066555 | Aug 2020 | US |
