US 5,343,576 AGranted

Combined bathing seat and back rest member

AssigneeKohler Co.

InventorsTodd D. Dannenberg, Thomas C. Jorsch, Peter W. Swart, Larry H. Panzer

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A combined seat and back rest assembly for a bathing enclosure wherein a combined seat and back rest member is hingedly positioned in the enclosure so that it is contained within the enclosure when the seat and back rest member is in a seating position. In a preferred manner, there is a recess in a wall of the enclosure and the hinges for connecting the seat and back rest member are located therein along with the seat and back rest member when in the back rest position. Also preferably, there is a spring biased hinge to provide positive retention of the seat and back rest member in the seating or back rest position. The seat and back rest assembly is particularly suited for a bathing enclosure with an entrance door.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A tub having a combined seat and back rest assembly, said tub having an enclosure defined by side walls, a bottom wall, and an upwardly open interior cavity, at least one of said side walls being an end wall and two of said side walls adjacent thereto having ledges to provide arm rests, the assembly comprising:

a combined seat and back rest shelf which is pivotably mounted in the cavity adjacent said end wall of the cavity so that a seating surface of said combined seat and back rest shelf is contained within said cavity when said combined seat and back rest shelf is in a first position so as to form a seat;
hinging means mounting said seat and back rest shelf to said end wall, said hinging means being operatively connected to permit pivotal movement of said combined seat and back rest shelf from said first position to a second position where said combined seat and back rest shelf provides a back rest;
and
a recessed portion in said end wall of said tub to receive said hinging means and said shelf when the shelf is in said second position, said recessed portion being defined by two opposed peripheral walls that are stepped inwardly from the side walls on both sides of the tub and a portion of said end wall defining a ledge said hinging means being located entirely within said recessed portion in said end wall said recessed portion being of such a size so as to receive said seat and back rest shelf whereby there is provided a generally smooth back rest surface form the tub bottom up along the shelf and generally smooth side walls adjacent and immediately above the arm rests when the seat is in the second position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/078,800Filed 16 Jun 1993 · continuation
Priority: 18 Jun 1991
Granted: 6 Sep 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A47K 3/125
Separate seats or body supports: body supports
A47K 3/006
Baths; Showers; Appurtenances therefor: doors to get in and out of baths more easily
A47K 3/122
Separate seats or body supports: seats
A47K
Sanitary equipment

Family

Serial717,230Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Jun 1991
Serial825,432Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Jan 1992
US 5,343,576 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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