US3334360A - Collapsible bed bath - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1967 J. 5. HOXENG ETAL COLLAPSIBLE BED BATH 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1965 Mult- JUL/0N 5 Ho XEN 6 3527/44 J. Ma Cnery Caz/204.1. J2 C4 55 INVENTOZS ATT'O RMEYS Aug. 8, 1967 J. 5. HOXENG ETAL 3,334,360

COLLAPSIBLE BED BATH Fil y 6 5 Sheets-$heet L-t JUL/4N S, Hows/v6 85277-00 J. Mc (427V CHEQOLL CASS IN VENTOQS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,334,360 COLLAPSIBLE BED BATH Julian S. Hoxeng, 1020 S. Elm, Moorhead, Minn. 56560; and Bertha J. McCarty and Carroll J. Cass, both of 1903 Longwood Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90016 Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,560 12 Claims. (Cl. 4177) This invention has to do generally with bathing facilities for invalids and more particularly with collapsible bathtubs for use in conjunction with a bed upon which an invalid is supported.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible bathtub including supporting framework for use in bathing invalids confined to bed.

Another object is to provide novel means readily capable of being assembled about an invalid or patient in bed to provide a bathtub whereby the patient or invalid can be partially submerged in water without leaving the bed.

A further object is to provide a completely collapsible bathtub structure of the type indicated which can be stored in a relatively small space when collapsed and which can be readily assembled and disassembled by a single person.

Still another object is to provide a novel supporting structure independently of a bed on which the invalid lies for partially supporting a bathtub made of flexible, water proof sheet material in position on a bed.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of apparatus embodying the invention in partially assembled condition with the bathtub member lying over a bed;

- FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the structure fully assembled;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of one end of the apparatus, partly in section, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 4 is an exploded plan view of the flexible sheet of which the tub is formed and of the rails used therein;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of one end of the device on the same scale as FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional plan View on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views on lines 8-8 and 9-9, respectively, of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary isometric view of a modifica tion;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view on line 1111 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on line 12-12 of FIG. 11, but on a larger scale.

More particularly describing the invention, in general the collapsible bathtub and its supporting structure includes a bathtub 11 which is placed on and has its lower wall resting upon -a bed 12 on which the patient or invalid (not shown) rests. Numeral 14 generally designates a tub-supporting frame which rests or stands upon the floor independently of the bed.

With reference to the tub-supporting frame 14, this comprises a pair of upright posts 15 and a detachable top bar 16 connecting the same. Each of the posts includes a floor plate 17 and this is preferably fitted with glides 18 for convenience. Hingedly secured at 19 to the plate is a lower post member 20 and this receives an upper post member 21 which telescopes therein. The lower member is provided with a series of holes 23 in two of its opposite side walls, the holes in one wall being in register with those in the other for the reception of a pin 24. The up- 3,334,360 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 per member also has a series of similar holes 23- to adjust the height of the upper member 21 with respect to the floor by limiting the distance it can telescope within the lower post member 20. Preferably the parts 20 and 21 are made of tubular stock which is substantially square in cross section.

The upper post member 21 is formed to provide a hanger 26 spaced somewhat below its upper end. This comprises two triangular-shaped plates 27 welded or otherwies secured to opposite sides of member 21 and extending longitudinally thereof in a common plane. The plates are provided with three integral upwardly concave ledges or supports 28 which extend laterally with respect to the plane of the plates. As will later appear, the hangers support the walls of the assembled tub.

When the parts are assembled the top bar 16 which comprises a main section 30 and two end sections 31 at right angles thereto, is positioned to receive the upper ends of the upper post members 21. Preferably the top bar is made in two parts with a pin 32 in the end of one fitting into the end of the other and the parts detachably secured by a catch 34.

The frame may also support an electric water pump 36 shown as having hoses 37 and 38 attached to it.

The tub itself is formed in part of a flexible sheet of plastic or waterproof fabric, designated generally by 36, which is generally rectangular. The sheet is formed at each side to provide an open-ended hem 37. At each end the sheet is formed to provide two outer open-ended herns 38' and two inner herns 39, the inner herns being somewhat shorter than the outer ones with' the fabric being recessed therebetween. At each corner a webbing strip 40 is provided which extends longitudinally beyond the ends and each strip is provided with a grommet 41.

For the purpose of forming the sheet into a tub and suspending its upper edge from the tub-supporting frame, we provide two side rails 42 which are preferably of substantially square tubular cross section. These are received in the hems 37, respectively. At their ends, the rails are provided with closed end sections 43 and laterally projecting circular pins 44.

We also provide two end rails 45 which are shown as being formed of tubular stock of cylindrical cross section. These are received in the end herns of the tub sheet and in turn receive the pins 44 of the side rails. The end rails are provided with holes 47 adapted to recieve upwardly projecting pins 48 on the outermost ledges 28 of the hangers.

In the use of the apparatus, assuming that a patient or the same as is used in changing sheets on an invalids bed. Thus the tub sheet is disposed beneath the invalid and over the bed much as is shown in FIG. 1. The side and end rails are then inserted and joined and the end rail supported upon the hangers 26. The ends 50 of the tub sheet are folded around as shown in FIG. 6 and the webbing strips 40 secured to the uprights by fitting them over an outstanding button-headed pin 52 thereon. After this the tub may be filled partially with water by means of a hose 38 from a suitable source. After the patient has been bathed a pump 36 on the frame may be brought into operation to remove the water from the tub through the hose. The tub and parts are then disassembled.

In FIGS. 10-12 we show a modification of the frame structure wherein a special post structure is provided at one end for use in straddling the head end portion where it is impossible or impractical to place the post structure beyond the head end of the bed, as where the bed is against the wall. In these figures, the frame is designated generally by numeral 60 and this includes the top bar 16 and post 15, both of which are the same as previously described, and a special dual post assembly 61. The latter is designed to straddle a bed and includes two lower post members 62, these each being hingedly mounted on a foot plate 63. A U-shaped frame member 64 of tubular stock receives the posts in its legs 65, respectively, the arts telescoping and being adjustable by spaced registering holes 66 and pins 67. The base of frame member 64 has a centrally disposed, upright 70 over which a hanger 71 fits, the latter having a center tube 72, triangular plates 73 and the upwardly concave hanger ledges 74. One end of the top bar 16 receives the upper portion of the center tube 72 of the hanger.

T-he tub is suspended from the frame 60 in the same manner as from the frame 14, however, in this case, the structure 61 straddles or bridges the bed near one end.

Although we have illustrated and described a preferred form of our invention, we contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a collapsible bed bath for use in bathing an invalid in bed, a bathtub formed of flexible sheet material folded to provide a bottom wall adapted to rest upon the bed, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls extending upwardly therefrom, rails secured to the upper edge portions of said side and end walls, a tub-supporting frame standing on the floor and including an upright post at each end free of the bed, a hanger on each post, said rails being detachably connected to and supported by said hangers.

2. The collapsible bed bath set forth in claim 1 in which means is provided to enable vertical adjustment of said hangers.

3. The collapsible bed bath set forth in claim 1 in which the posts of the tub-supporting frame each include a pair of telescoping members and means for securing the same in a selected telescoped position.

4. The collapsible bed bath set forth in claim 1 in which said tub-supporting frame includes a top bar detachably connected to and extending between the upper ends of said posts.

5. In a tub-supporting frame, a post structure comprising a foot plate, a lower post member mounted at its lower end on said plate, an upper post member, said post members being telescopically associated, means carried by one of said upper and lower post members for limiting the telescopic relationship thereof to a selected amount, and a hanger carried by said upper post member, said hanger including plate means extending laterally of the post member to two sides thereof and means thereon providing a cradle-like support extending normal to the plane of said plate means.

6. The post structure set forth in claim 5 in which said lower post member is hingedly mounted on said foot plate.

7. In a tub-supporting frame for use as described, a pair of posts, each post including a foot plate, a lower post member hingedly mounted on the plate, an upper post member telescopically associated with the lower post member, and adjustable means limiting telescopic relation of the upper and lower post members, a top bar detachably connecting the upper ends of said upper post members, and hanger means on each upper post member, said hanger means, in each case, extending laterally of the post and including a cradle-like support means normal thereto, and extending toward the other post.

8. In a collapsible bed bath, a bathtub member formed of a generally rectangular waterproof sheet having openended hems at its margins, rails received in said hems, said rails having means detachably securing the same together at their adjacent ends, the rails at the ends of said sheet being substantially shorter than the width of the sheet, and a tub-supporting frame including an upright post at each end of the bathtub member and a top bar above the bathtub member connecting the upper ends of the posts, said posts each having a hanger including a horizontal trough-like means receiving the rail at the adjacent end of the bathtub member whereby the edge portions of the bathtub member are suspended from said frame.

9. The collapsible bed bath set forth in claim 8 in which the material at each corner of the bathtub member is folded to form a double-walled flap and in which the flap is folded back upon the end wall of the bathtub member resulting from its suspension and is secured to said frame.

10. A bathtub member comprising an elongated generally rectangular waterproof sheet formed to provide an open-ended hem at each side margin, said sheet being formed to provide open-ended hem means at each end thereof spaced inwardly a substantial distance from the sides of the sheet, and an apertured strap at each corner of the sheet'extending longitudinally thereof beyond its ends.

11. In a tub-supporting frame for use as described, a pair of post structures, each post structure including a U-shaped frame with the legs thereof inverted, a pair of lower post members telescopically connected to the said legs and having means for limiting telescoping thereof, an upright, centrally disposed, central post on said U-shapedframe, and a hanger carried by said central post, and a connecting bar extending between the upper portions of said post structures.

12. In a tub-supporting frame having a post adapted to stand on the floor at one end with a tub hanger means thereon, and having a top bar extending laterally from the post, a dual post structure at the other end of said frame and connected to said bar at a distance from said post, comprising a pair of laterally spaced lower post members, a U-shaped frame having its legs telescoped with said lower post members, respectively, said U-shaped frame having a horizontal main section between its legs provided with a centrally disposed upright, and a tub hanger detachably mounted on said upright, said top bar being detachably connected to said hanger.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 815,338 3/1906 Parish et al. 2l1178 X 1,015,448 1/1912 Madden 211-177 X 3,172,539 3/1965 Rulf 211-177 X 3,246,346 4/1966 Schmidt 4-177 FOREIGN PATENTS 104,977 5/ 1924 Switzerland.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. I. GROSS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A COLLAPSIBLE BED BATH FOR USE IN BATHING AN INVALID IN BED, A BATHTUB FORMED OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL FOLDED TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM WALL ADAPTED TO REST UPON THE BED, A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS AND A PAIR OF END WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, RAILS SECURED TO THE UPPER EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE AND END WALLS, A TUB-SUPPORTING

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