# US 8,091,158 B2 · Shower bathing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,091,158 B2 - Document ID: US8091158B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/694,146 - Filed: 2007-03-30 - Published: 2007-10-04 - Granted: 2012-01-10 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-31 - Assignees: Toto Ltd. - Inventors: Minoru Sato; Yutaka Aihara; Tomohisa Kato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8091158B2 ## CPC - A47K 3/282: {Seats specially adapted for showers} - A61H 9/00: Pneumatic or hydraulic massage - A61H 33/6015: {Cascade massage} - A61H 33/6063: {Specifically adapted for fitting in bathtub walls} - A61H 39/04: Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu {or Acupressure}(Massage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00) - A61H 7/001: {without substantial movement between the skin and the device} - A61H 2201/0126: on a wall - A61H 2201/0149: Seat or chair - A61H 2201/1284: using own weight - A61H 2203/0431: in 90°/90°-position, like on a chair - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract A shower bathing apparatus is described as including a seat and a first water discharger provided rearward and upward in relation to the seat. The first water discharger is configured to discharge water in a direction forward of the seat. A water discharge direction from the first water discharger and a positional relationship between the first water discharger and the seat may be adjustable so that the water discharged from the first water discharger is able to reach the seat or forward of the seat. The water discharged from the first water discharger may further flow from above a seat occupant's shoulder to the seat occupant's leg. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shower bathing apparatus for supporting a user in a sitting posture comprising: a seat configured to receive a bottom of the user, the seat including a front edge; a back portion configured to receive a back of the user and including a shoulder region located to support shoulders of the user; and water dischargers solely provided at the back portion and rearward and upward of the seat and having a pair of first water dischargers and a pair of second water dischargers, the pair of first water dischargers being separate from the pair of second water dischargers, the pair of second water dischargers being located outside the pair of first water dischargers, the pair of first water dischargers being provided at the back portion on respective sides of a center of the seat and located upward of the shoulder region and configured to discharge a first continuous water flow from rearward of the seat in a generally horizontal direction toward the front edge of the seat so as to extend beyond the shoulder region and impinge on the seat including the front edge, the pair of second water dischargers being provided at the back portion, located upward of the shoulder region, and located closer to the pair of first water discharges than to the seat surface, which are provided on respective sides of the center of the seat, the pair of second water dischargers being configured to discharge a second continuous water flow from rearward of the seat more downward than the first continuous water flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first continuous water flow is discharged in a generally horizontal direction and arcs forward and down toward the front edge of the seat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat is located above a floor such that water from the first continuous water flow and the second continuous water flow collects on the floor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front edge of the seat is configured to permit legs of a user extend downward. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first water dischargers are adjustable in at least one of a water discharge direction and a water discharge position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of second water dischargers includes two pairs of water dischargers which are located on the back portion and positioned on respective sides of a center of the seat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an average droplet diameter of water discharged from the pair of first water dischargers is larger than an average droplet diameter of water discharged from the second water discharger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an average droplet diameter of water discharged from the pair of first water dischargers is larger than an average droplet diameter of water discharged from the second water discharger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second water discharger is adjustable in at least one of a water discharge direction and a water discharge position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a third water discharger which is different from the pair of first water dischargers and the second water discharger in at least one a water discharge position and a water discharge direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein water discharged from the third water discharger is configured to reach an acromion of the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the third water discharger includes a pair of water dischargers that are provided on the back portion and on respective sides of the seat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the third water dischargers are configured to discharge water obliquely downward and obliquely forward inclined to the center of the seat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the average droplet diameter of water discharged from the pair of first water dischargers is larger than an average droplet diameter of water discharged from the third water discharger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the pair of first water dischargers and the second water discharger is adjustable in a water discharge direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the back portion includes a backrest provided rearward of the seat and sloped relative to a vertical direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The shower bathing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of third water dischargers provided at the back portion on respective sides of a center of the seat, wherein the third water dischargers are configured to discharge shower flow falling from rearward of the user seated on the seat toward an acromion of the user.