Swivel Seat System

Abstract

A swivel seat system comprising a base assembly, further comprising at least one first leg extending downward from a base plate, at least one second leg extending downward from the base plate, and a clamp plate assembly; a swivel assembly attached to an upper surface of the base plate; and a seat attached to an upper surface of the swivel assembly. The clamp plate assembly further comprises a clamp plate, a gear, a shaft extending downwardly from a center bore of the gear, an elongated handle extending outwardly from the shaft, and a rack coupled to the clamp plate, wherein the gear engages the rack via a plurality of teeth on the gear. The clamp plate assembly is structured and arranged to slide linearly along the bottom surface of the base plate by rotating the elongated handle

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a seat system for use when getting in and out of a tub. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hot tub swivel seat system to allow a handicapped user to more easily get into and out of a hot tub, or similar high-walled tub.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly, hot tubs and both regular and garden bathtubs are used for handicapped persons for therapy. However, it can be difficult for handicapped persons to get into and out of a normal hot tub or various types of bathtubs due to the high walls of the tub enclosure. Also, typical bathtubs are getting deeper with a great difference between the ground outside the bathtub and the bottom of the bathtub itself. In a similar vein, hot tubs typically sit on the ground and have very high walls to allow a person to fully submerge. An individual who may require a wheelchair, a walker, or other assist device to facilitate movement may find it difficult to enter or exit a bathtub or hot tub. Various types of seating devices assist and support individuals within a bathtub or shower, but not a hot tub.

Some bathtub seating devices take the form of a bench that is positioned between the sidewalls of the bathtub. These benches may be supported by a plurality of legs extending to a bottom of a bathtub. Such benches provide a seating surface on which an individual may be placed. Some bench type seats are designed to be more simply supported on the top of the sidewalls of the bathtub and may include devices for engaging opposing sidewalls of the bathtub.

To facilitate the manner in which an individual may be positioned on a bath chair or seat, other types of bench supports may include a portion that is either mounted directly over a sidewall of the bathtub or cantilevered outwardly therefrom to provide initial support for an individual being assisted. By initially seating an individual on a cantilevered seat, the individual may thereafter be moved so that his or her legs are brought inwardly to the bathtub while their weight is supported by the seat thereafter. The individual may then be shifted along the bench within the confines of the bathtub.

Some types of prior art structures are permanently installed adjacent the bathtub or hot tub enclosure. Other types of portable seating devices are supported both along the bottom of the bathtub and by an adjacent floor structure.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a more efficient way to allow a handicapped or disabled person to carefully enter into and out of a bathtub or hot tub with different levels of floor surfaces inside and outside the tub enclosure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for providing a swivel seat system for a handicapped individual to enter a high sidewall tub enclosure comprising a seat, a swivel assembly, and a base assembly. The base assembly further comprises at least one first leg extending downward from a base plate inside of the tub enclosure, at least one second leg extending downward from the base plate outside of the tub enclosure, and a clamp plate assembly on a bottom surface of the base plate.

The clamp plate assembly further comprises a clamp plate, a gear, a shaft extending downwardly from a center bore of the gear, an elongated handle extending outwardly from the shaft, and a rack coupled to the clamp plate. The gear engages the rack via a plurality of teeth on the gear to move the clamp plate linearly along the bottom surface of the base plate. The swivel assembly is attached to a top surface of the base plate and a seat is attached to a top surface of the swivel assembly. The clamp plate assembly is structured and arranged to slide linearly along the bottom surface of the base plate to engage an outside sidewall of the tub enclosure. The seat rotates on the swivel assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Swivel Seat System according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the Swivel Seat System according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base assembly of the Swivel Seat System according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detail bottom view of the base assembly for the Swivel Seat System according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is provided for purposes of explanation, but not limitation, of the present invention. Specific details set forth in the following embodiments provide for a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details described in the preferred embodiments are not limitations required to practice the present invention, and the present invention may be practiced in embodiments that depart from those described.

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a swivel seat system 100 preferably for a tub-type enclosure such as a hot tub, bathtub, or other type of enclosure with a sidewall 105. The swivel seat system preferably comprises a base assembly 110, a swivel assembly 112, and a seat 114. The seat 114 is preferably attached to a top surface of the swivel assembly 112, and the swivel assembly is preferably attached to a top surface of the base assembly 110. The base assembly 110 preferably further comprises at least one first leg 120 extending downward from a base plate 126, at least one second leg 122 extending downward from said base plate 126, and a clamp plate assembly 140.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the base plate 126 is preferably configured to sit on top of the sidewall 105 with a rear edge of the base plate facing inside the tub enclosure and a front edge of the base plate facing outside the tub enclosure. The at least one first leg 120 is preferably configured to extend downwardly from the rear edge of the base plate 126 to secure the swivel seat system 100 inside the tub enclosure. The at least one second leg 122 is preferably configured to extend downwardly from the front edge of the base plate to secure the swivel seat from outside the enclosure.

The at least one first leg 120 is preferably adjustable in length from one foot in length to over four feet in length. Additionally, the at least one second leg 122 is preferably adjustable from one foot in length to over four feet in length.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom surface of the base plate 126 is preferably configured to have a rear section 128 of the base plate extend further downward creating a vertical face which preferably contacts a tub enclosure inner sidewall. The bottom surface of the base plate and the vertical face are preferably covered with a padding material, such as neoprene, or other waterproof padding material.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the bottom surface of the base plate 126 preferably further comprises a pair of clamp rails 130 extending downward from the base plate 126 and preferably located on a front corner of the base plate. Alternately preferably, the base plate extension is a separate block that is removably attached to the bottom surface of the base plate 126.

As further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamp plate assembly 140 is preferably further comprised of a clamp plate 142, a gear 144, a shaft 146 extending downwardly from a center bore of said gear, an elongated handle 148 extending outwardly from said shaft, and a rack 150 coupled to the clamp plate 142. The gear 144 preferably engages the rack 150 through a plurality of teeth on the gear. Moving the elongated handle 148 preferably rotates the gear 144 which moves the clamp plate 142 linearly to preferably engage an outside vertical surface of the tub enclosure sidewall.

As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clamp rails 130 preferably further comprise at least one horizontal slot 132 configured to accept the clamp plate 142 and preferably allow the clamp plate to move linearly within said clamp rails 130. Alternately preferably, the pair of clamp rails 130 are individual blocks which are removably attached to the bottom surface of the base plate 126 at the two front corners. The pair of clamp rails 130 would be attached such that the at least one horizontal slot 132 for the pair of clamp plates face inwards toward each other. The rack 150 is preferably positioned along one side within an elongated hole 134 through the center of the clamp plate (FIG. 4), where the gear fits within the elongated hole 134 of the clamp plate.

A method of entering and exiting a tub enclosure, comprising the steps of: placing a swivel seat assembly on top of a sidewall of said tub enclosure; rotating an elongated handle to linearly move a clamp plate against said sidewall of said tub enclosure; extending at least one first leg downward to a bottom surface inside said tub enclosure; extending at least one second leg downward to a ground surface outside said tub enclosure; loading a user into a seat from a first position; rotating said seat with said user to a second position; and unloading said user into said tub enclosure.

The first position of the seat would be where the user's feet are positioned outside the tub enclosure. When rotating the seat on a swivel assembly, the user, or a helper, would raise their legs over the sidewall of the tub enclosure.

In an alternate embodiment, the clamp plate further comprises at least one retention device structured to hold the clamp plate in place against the side of the sidewall. The at least one retention device is preferably a pin extending from the clamp plate into a bottom surface of the base plate.

Claims

1. A swivel seat system comprising: a base assembly, further comprising at least one first leg extending downward from a base plate, at least one second leg extending downward from said base plate, and a clamp plate assembly;a swivel assembly attached to an upper surface of said base plate; anda seat attached to an upper surface of said swivel assembly;wherein said clamp plate assembly further comprises a clamp plate, a gear, a shaft extending downwardly from a center bore of said gear, an elongated handle extending outwardly from said shaft, and a rack coupled to said clamp plate, wherein said gear engages said rack via a plurality of teeth on said gear;wherein a bottom surface of said base plate extends downwardly to form a vertical face; andwherein said clamp plate assembly is structured and arranged to slide linearly along said bottom surface of said base plate by rotating said elongated handle.

2. The swivel seat system of claim 1, wherein said at least one first leg and at least one second leg are adjustable in length.

3. The swivel seat system of claim 1, wherein said base plate further comprises a pad on said bottom surface.

4. The swivel seat system of claim 3, wherein said pad is neoprene rubber.

5. The swivel seat system of claim 1, wherein said clamp plate assembly further comprises at least one retention device to lock said clamp plate.

6. The swivel seat system of claim 1, wherein said clamp plate is configured to include a second vertical face such that a sidewall of a tub enclosure is held in place between said base plate and said clamp plate.

7. The swivel seat system of claim 1, further comprising a pair of clamp rails extending downward from said base plate, wherein said clamp rails further comprise a slot for said clamp plate to slide between.

8. A swivel seat system comprising: a base assembly, further comprising at least one first leg extending downward from a base plate, at least one second leg extending downward from said base plate, and a clamp plate assembly;a swivel assembly attached to an upper surface of said base plate; anda seat attached to an upper surface of said swivel assembly;wherein said clamp plate assembly further comprises a clamp plate, a sprocket, a shaft extending downwardly from a center of said sprocket, an elongated handle extending outwardly from said shaft, and a rack coupled to said clamp plate, wherein said sprocket engages said rack via a plurality of teeth on said sprocket;wherein a bottom surface of said base plate extends downward to form a vertical face along a rear edge;wherein a pair of clamp rails further comprising a horizontal slot extend downward on each corner of a front edge; andwherein said clamp plate assembly is structured and arranged to slide linearly within said horizontal slot along said bottom surface of said base plate by rotating said elongated handle.

9. The swivel seat system of claim 8, wherein said at least one first leg and at least one second leg are adjustable in length.

10. The swivel seat system of claim 8, wherein said base plate further comprises a pad on said bottom surface.

11. The swivel seat system of claim 10, wherein said pad is neoprene rubber.

12. The swivel seat system of claim 8, wherein said clamp plate assembly further comprises at least one retention device to lock said clamp plate against a sidewall of a tub enclosure.

13. The swivel seat system of claim 8, wherein said clamp plate is configured to include a second vertical face such that a sidewall of a tub enclosure is held in place between said base plate and said clamp plate.

14. A method of entering and exiting a tub enclosure, comprising the steps of: placing a swivel seat assembly on top of a sidewall of said tub enclosure;rotating an elongated handle to linearly move a clamp plate against said sidewall of said tub enclosure extending at least one first leg downward to a bottom surface inside said tub enclosure;extending at least one second leg downward to a ground surface outside said tub enclosure;loading a user into a seat from a first position;rotating said seat with said user to a second position; andunloading said user into said tub enclosure.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of locking said clamp plate against said sidewall.