Walk-in bathtub with minimal entry threshold

Abstract

A walk-in bathtub is disclosed with a minimal entry threshold height that provides enhanced convenience and safety for physically challenged and / or elderly users. The walk-in bathtub couples directly to a floor drain and does not include water jets or plumbing beneath the tub, thereby allowing the bottom of the tub to rest directly on the floor without being supported by a metal frame. The entry threshold height is less than four inches, preferably less than three inches, and more preferably less than two inches above the floor. The distribution of the tub weight over the floor surface makes it safer to use on weak or compromised floors. The reduced height of the tub allows it to easily pass through conventional doorways, and the reduced weight of the tub allows it to be easily carried and installed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention generally relates to bathtubs, and more specifically to walk-in bathtubs.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Taking care of personal hygiene needs can be extremely difficult and frustrating for a senior citizen, or for anyone with physical challenges. One of the most difficult and hazardous aspects of personal hygiene for an elderly, infirm, or handicapped person is bathing, since a conventional shower requires a user to stand for an extended period of time, while a conventional bathtub requires a user to step over the side of the bathtub wall, lie down, stand up, and step over the side again. It is not surprising therefore that bathing-related injuries and deaths are quite common for individuals with physical challenges, and that on average at least one person dies each day while using a bathtub or shower.[0003]One approach to making bathing safer and more convenient for the elderly and the physically challenged is a so-called “walk-in bathtub...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]A walk-in bathtub is claimed which is not suspended above the floor by a frame, and which therefore has a minimal entry threshold height, making it much safer than conventional walk-in bathtubs for use by physically challenged and / or elderly users.

[0011]Because the walk-in bathtub of the present invention rests directly on the floor, the weight of the bathtub is distributed over a large area, thereby making it much safer than conventional walk-in bathtubs for use on weak or structurally compromised floors. Supporting the entire bottom of the bathtub on the floor also provides enhanced structural stability, resulting in reduced wear on the tub and a greater feeling of security for the user.

[0012]The height of the present invention is also reduced compared to conventional walk-in bathtubs, thereby allowing the present invention to fit more easily through conventional doorways. In addition, because the present invention does not require a metal supporting frame, the cost of the present invention is reduced compared to conventional walk-in bathtubs. The present invention is also lighter than conventional walk-in bathtubs, making it easier and safer to transport and install. Because the present invention does not include a metal frame, the shape and / or dimensions of the tub can be significantly modified during installation so as to adapt to custom site requirements.

[0013]Because the present invention rests directly on the floor rather than being supported by a conventional metal frame, the walk-in bathtub drain is at the same height as the drain of a conventional bathtub for which the plumbing at the installation site was designed. This maximizes the rate of water drainage and reduces the waiting time for a user to leave the tub after finishing a bath.

[0014]In preferred embodiments of the present invention that include water and / or air circulating jets, all of the jets are located on the sides of the tub. This is in contrast with conventional walk-in bathtubs that require space beneath the tub to accommodate water and / or air jets mounted beneath the tub. Excluding jets on the bottom of the tub also avoids breakage of jets by users stepping on them, and thereby avoids resulting leaks and repairs.

Problems solved by technology

Taking care of personal hygiene needs can be extremely difficult and frustrating for a senior citizen, or for anyone with physical challenges.

One of the most difficult and hazardous aspects of personal hygiene for an elderly, infirm, or handicapped person is bathing, since a conventional shower requires a user to stand for an extended period of time, while a conventional bathtub requires a user to step over the side of the bathtub wall, lie down, stand up, and step over the side again.

However, walk-in bathtubs can be costly to manufacture, and can be difficult to transport and to install due to their height and weight.

It is often difficult to bring a walk-in bathtub through a conventional doorway, sometimes making it necessary to temporarily enlarge the size of a doorway or even to cut a temporary hole in a wall so as to bring a walk-in tub into an installation room.

In addition, some desirable installation sites cannot safely accept a walk-in bathtub, because all of the weight of the tub, including the weight of a user occupying the tub and of water filling the tub, is focused onto small areas of the floor beneath the legs of the metal frame.

This can be a significant problem for weakly constructed or structurally compromised floors.

Walk-in tubs also tend to drain very slowly.

When the drain in the bottom of the tub enclosure is connected to the floor drain, this adds as much as nine inches of vertical height to the drain plumbing, causing an improper mixture of air and water to flow down the drain.

The result is slow drainage as compared to a conventional bathtub, forcing a user to remain in the walk-in tub for an extended period of time after finishing a bath, since the walk-in tub door cannot be opened until all of the water has drained out of the tub.

Walk-in tubs can also be difficult to install due to irregularities in the installation site.

The walls may not be perfectly vertical or perpendicular, there may be pipes or other features protruding from a wall, or the available space may simply be slightly too small for the tub.

Although the polymeric materials used in constructing the tub enclosure of a walk-in tub allow for slight adjustments, the metal frame severely limits the degree to which the shape and / or dimensions of the tub can be modified during installation so as to adapt to any custom site requirements.

Although this configuration provides space for air and / or water jets mounted below the floor of the tub, it poses a significant risk, and a physical and emotional challenge, for the elderly and / or other physically challenged individuals when entering and leaving the tub.

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