US20170245694A1

US20170245694A1 - Bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility

Info

Publication number: US20170245694A1
Application number: US15/443,271
Authority: US
Inventors: Yang Liu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-02-26
Filing date: 2017-02-27
Publication date: 2017-08-31

Abstract

A bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility may include a counter and a cabinet. The bathroom vanity can be used by both normal and handicapped users. In one embodiment, when the cabinet is moved away from the counter, a space is created underneath the counter for the wheelchaired user to operate the wheelchair to enter it. The height of the counter can be determined according to the height of the wheelchair and the user. Also, the pipes connected to the faucet of the counter can be all hidden in the wall so there is no obstacle in front of the user when the wheelchair is moved into the space. Since the wheels are disposed underneath the cabinet, the cabinet can be easily moved back to its original position underneath the counter, even for the wheelchaired user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/300,664, filed on Feb. 26, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bathroom vanity, and more particularly to a bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One or more basins or sinks are often mounted in countertops found in lavatories, kitchens and similar settings. Particularly in a lavatory or bathroom, such a combination of a sink and countertop is sometimes known as a “vanity.” The conventional structure of a sink installation of this type comprises a flanged basin that rests in an opening in a horizontal panel functioning as the countertop. The countertop is generally relatively thick, e.g., 2 to 4 cm., and can be made of stone (e.g., marble or granite) or simulated stone product, and can be solid or laminated. A variety of materials are available which can receive or be combined with attachable basins, integral basins, backsplashes, bull noses and other features.
Such a countertop is typically supported on a cabinet having walls or doors that extend vertically downward from a point flush with the lateral edge of the countertop or leaving only a slight overhang. This structure presents accessibility problems for wheelchair occupants.
Moreover, as the rights of the handicapped have received greater support, restrooms and their components have evolved to become more handicap accessible. A handicap-accessible or “ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant” restroom will typically have wider than ordinary doors which allow a wheelchair to pass through, and at least one oversize toilet stall with grab bars for use by the handicapped. Truly handicap-accessible restrooms have other features including a ramp or lift device to access the restroom and shower in a wheelchair, and placement of water valves and other restroom accessories at a height by which they may be reached from a wheelchair. Recent emphasis has been placed on making public facilities accessible to handicapped persons, including persons in wheelchairs. However, most homes, hotel rooms, apartments, and the like are for non-handicapped people, unless such buildings are specifically constructed for handicapped persons.
Additionally, a person may unexpectedly become seriously handicapped while living in a house or apartment which was not constructed, or inadequately constructed, to accommodate seriously handicapped persons. This happens, for example, when a person sustains a debilitating injury, becomes frail due to age, is struck with illness, or the like. When this occurs, it is often quite difficult and expensive to radically modify an existing building to include bathroom facilities for accommodating the newly handicapped person.
Thus, it is desirable to construct a handicap-accessible bath facility in a home or building that can be easily installed when needed and remove it later. Such a need arises when a person is either terminally ill or temporarily both of which happen fairly often. U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,402 (the '402 patent) provides a handicap-accessible bath facility which can be relatively easily and inexpensively installed when a person becomes :handicapped but which can also be relatively easily and inexpensively removed when it is no longer necessary to have such a facility. However, instead of removing the entire handicap-accessible bath facility as disclosed in the '402 patent, it may be more desirable for a bathroom vanity that can be used by normal people and with minor alteration, it can also be used by handicapped people.
Various bathroom vanities with wheelchair accessibility have been developed to provide ample room for wheelchair access to the sink. However, even with adequate room to approach the sink, for a person constrained to a wheelchair, the simple task of washing one's hands can become quite arduous when one is forced to unduly reach and strain to use the faucet assembly located on the rearward ledge of the sink. This is particularly the case if the user has any weakness or handicap in the arms. Also, most vanities with wheelchair accessibility lack aesthetic value because it needs an enlarged space underneath the sink for the wheelchair, and the sink may have to separate with the cabinet or even without the cabinet, as shown in FIG. 1.
Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved design for a bathroom vanity to provide wheelchair accessibility without sacrificing the aesthetic value thereof to overcome the problems presented above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bathroom vanity that can be used by both normal and handicapped people without sacrificing its aesthetic value.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bathroom vanity having a counter and a cabinet right underneath, and the cabinet can be easily moved away to create a space for wheelchaired users.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bathroom vanity having a counter and a cabinet right underneath, which can be considered an integrated single unit.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant bathroom vanity.
In one aspect, a bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility may include a counter and a cabinet. In one embodiment, the counter may include a top surface and a basin. The counter may also include a front surface and two side surfaces. The cabinet, which is located underneath the counter and against an adjoining wall, may include a plurality of drawers/doors and a plurality of wheels disposed at a bottom portion of the cabinet. In one embodiment, the wheels may further include a locking unit to lock the wheels to prevent further movement of the cabinet. With the wheels, the cabinet can be easily moved away from the counter when needed. In one embodiment, the cabinet may be moved through a remote control device. The cabinet also has two cabinet side surfaces, and front surfaces of the drawers can be considered the front surface of the cabinet.
In an exemplary embodiment, the bathroom vanity can be used by wheelchaired users. When the cabinet is moved away from the counter, a space 400 is created underneath the counter for the wheelchaired user to operate the wheelchair to enter it. The size of the counter and the height of the counter to the floor can be determined according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is important to note that the pipes connected to the faucet of the counter can be all hidden in the wall so there is no obstacle in front of the user when the wheelchair is moved into the space. For old houses where the pipes cannot be hidden, an accommodating space can be created on the backside of the cabinet to accommodate the pipes. Since the wheels are disposed underneath the cabinet, the cabinet can be easily moved back to its original position underneath the counter, even for the wheelchaired user. In one embodiment, the cabinet can also be placed next to the counter after use.
In another embodiment, the bathroom vanity can be used by normal people who can stand. More specifically, the cabinet can be disposed right underneath the counter, wherein the side surfaces can be substantially aligned with the cabinet side surfaces, as well as the front surface of the counter and the front surface of the cabinet. Namely, when the cabinet is right underneath the counter, the entire bathroom vanity is considered a single piece with high aesthetic value. In another embodiment, the counter can be longer than the cabinet, so the cabinet can be disposed anywhere underneath the counter.
In a further embodiment, a normal user can also use the vanity when the cabinet is moved away from the counter. The cabinet can be moved right next to the counter, so the user can decorate the bathroom by putting some decorations on a top surface of the cabinet, which can also increase the aesthetic value of the vanity as well as the bathroom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art disclosing a wheelchair accessible work surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematic view of a bath vanity with wheelchair accessibility in the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of the bath vanity with wheelchair accessibility having a movable cabinet in the present invention.

FIG. 3a illustrates a schematic view of the bath vanity with wheelchair accessibility having a movable cabinet from another view angle in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.
All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes reference to the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the terms “comprise or comprising”, “include or including”, “have or having”, “contain or containing” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
In one aspect, referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 3 a, a bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility 200 may include a counter 210 extending from an adjoining wall 300 with a predetermined height from the floor, and a cabinet 220. In one embodiment, the counter may include a top surface 211 and a basin 214. The counter may also include a front surface 213 and two side surfaces 212 and 212′. The cabinet 220, which is located underneath the counter 210 and against an adjoining wall 300, may include a plurality of drawers/doors (221, 222) and a plurality of wheels 223 disposed at a bottom portion of the cabinet 220. In one embodiment, the wheels 223 may further include a locking unit to lock the wheels 223 to prevent further movement of the cabinet 220. With the wheels 223, the cabinet 220 can be easily moved away from the counter 210 when needed. In one embodiment, the cabinet 220 may be moved through a remote control device. The cabinet 220 also has two cabinet side surfaces 224 and 224′, and front surfaces of the drawers 221 and 222 can be considered the front surface of the cabinet 220.
In an exemplary embodiment, the bathroom vanity 200 can be used by wheelchaired users. When the cabinet 220 is moved away from the counter 210 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3 a, a space 400 is created underneath the counter 210 for the wheelchaired user to operate the wheelchair to enter it. The size of the counter 210 and the space 400, and the predetermined height of the counter 210 to the floor can be determined according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is important to note that the pipes connected to the faucet of the counter 210 can be all hidden in the wall so there is no obstacle in front of the user when the wheelchair is moved into the space 400. For old houses where the pipes cannot be hidden, an accommodating space can be created on the backside of the cabinet 220 to accommodate the pipes. Since the wheels 223 are disposed underneath the cabinet 220, the cabinet 220 can be easily moved back to its original position underneath the counter 210 as shown in FIG. 2, even for the wheelchaired user. The cabinet 220 can also be placed next to the counter 210 after use as shown in FIG. 3.
Still referring to FIG. 2, in another embodiment, the bathroom vanity 200 can be used by normal people who can stand. More specifically, the cabinet 220 can be disposed right underneath the counter 210, wherein the side surfaces (212, 212′) can be substantially aligned with the cabinet side surfaces (224, 224′), as well as the front surface 213 of the counter 216 and the front surface of the cabinet 220. Namely, when the cabinet 220 is right underneath the counter 210, the entire bathroom vanity is considered a single piece with high aesthetic value. In another embodiment, the counter 210 can be longer than the cabinet 220, so the cabinet 220 can be disposed anywhere underneath the counter 216.
In a further embodiment, a normal user can also use the vanity 200 when the cabinet 220 is moved away from the counter 210. As shown in FIG. 3, the cabinet 220 can be moved right next to the counter 210, so the user can decorate the bathroom by putting some decorations on a top surface 225 of the cabinet 220, which can also increase the aesthetic value of the vanity 200 as well as the bathroom.
Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility comprising:

a counter extending from an adjoining wall with a predetermined height and a receiving space created therebelow, having a counter front surface and two counter side surfaces; and

a cabinet located at the receiving space underneath the counter, having a cabinet front surface, two cabinet side surfaces and a plurality of wheels underneath the cabinet,

wherein the cabinet is configured to move away from the counter to enable a wheelchair user to enter the receiving space, and the cabinet can be moved back after the wheelchair user leaves, and the bathroom vanity appears as one unit when the counter front surface is substantially aligned with the cabinet front surface, and each cabinet side surface is substantially aligned with corresponding cabinet side surface.

2. The bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 1, wherein the cabinet includes a plurality of wheels disposed at a bottom portion thereof.

3. The bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 2, wherein each wheel has a locking unit to lock the wheels to prevent further movement of the cabinet.

4. The bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 3, wherein the cabinet includes one or more drawers.

5. The bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 1, wherein the predetermined height of the counter to the floor and size of the receiving space are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

6. The bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 1, wherein the counter includes a top surface and a basin.

7. An ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility comprising:

8. The ADA-compliant bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 7, wherein the cabinet includes a plurality of wheels disposed at a bottom portion thereof.

9. The ADA-compliant bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 8, wherein each wheel has a locking unit to lock the wheels to prevent further movement of the cabinet.

10. The ADA-compliant bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 9, wherein the cabinet includes one or more drawers.

11. The ADA-compliant bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 7, wherein the counter includes a top surface and a basin.