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Bathing aidRelated Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Tubs, Convenience Accessories, Support For User, Static, Body Type, Seat, Supported By Tub, OnlyBathing aid description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070180609, Bathing aid. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The general field of the invention comprises structures that can support a person accessing the inside of an enclosure. More specifically, the field of the invention comprises structures that can support an attendant bathing an occupant of a bathing enclosure, such as a bathtub. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Parents and other caregivers are often required to reach into an enclosure to attend to a child or patient in need of comfort, handling, washing, or treatment. A parent bathing a child in a bathtub and a nurse attending to a patient in a therapeutic spa are two typical examples of situations where the caregiver must reach into an enclosure while firmly maintaining a position outside the enclosure. [0003] However, reaching into a tub to attend to a child or patient and typically handling the child or patient can result in undue strain upon the muscles of the arms, back, and legs. This concern for the comfort of the caregiver is likely to only become more acute as the population ages and the number of patients needing assistance increases, as well the age of the caregiver increases. [0004] Prior art devices have been provided in an attempt to address this problem, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,575 issued to Terry [herein "Terry"]; U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,418 issued to Goodman, et al. [herein "Goodman"]; and U.S. Pat. No. RE 37,346 issued to Frawley [herein "Frawley"] all disclose some type of support device for a person attending to a bather in a tub. However, each of these references is limited to providing the support pad directly upon the tub rim. For example, Terry provides a pad supported upon the tub rim; Goodman provides a pad mounted directly upon the rim; and Frawley also provides a pad mounted directly upon the rim. [0005] In addition, though some of these references disclose that the height of the support pad be adjustable, none of the above-cited references disclose or suggest that this height be adjustable to other than the height of the tub rim. That is, none of these references disclose or suggest that the supporting surface be provided where it is most needed, that is, supporting the torso, upper torso, or chest, for example, to free hands and arms of the user and to support the weight of the user above a user's center of gravity. For example, without such support, the stability of the attendant may be jeopardized; for instance, the parent may fall headlong into the bathtub. In addition, the cited prior art does not provide a support pad mounted on an adjustable extension above the tub rim. Furthermore, none of the above references disclose that the angle of the support pad be variable; moreover, the angle of orientation of the prior art support surfaces cannot be adjusted since the prior art support surfaces are typically mounted directly to the ledge of the bathtub. [0006] Thus, there is a need in the art for a support structure that can be used by a person accessing the inside of an enclosure, for example, a bathtub, that provides adjustable support to the user where it is most needed: to the torso or upper torso. Aspects of the present invention provide such a device that addresses the deficiencies of the prior art and provides advantages compared to the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Aspects of the present invention include support structures or bathing aids that assist a user in attending to a person or object located inside an enclosure, for example, a parent washing a child in bathtub or a healthcare provider attending to a patient in a therapeutic spa. Aspects of the invention allow the user to access the inside of the enclosure from the outside of the enclosure, for example, while kneeling. Aspects of the present invention can minimize muscle strain, enhance the user's ability to manipulate the contents of the enclosure, and enhance the positional stability of the user. [0008] For example, one aspect of the invention is a support structure adapted to support a person accessing the inside of an enclosure, the enclosure having a vertically-extending sidewall, the support structure comprising or consisting of a frame adapted to engage the vertically extending sidewall; at least one post vertically extending from the frame, the post having a first end mounted to the frame and a second end; a cushioned support pad mounted to the second end of the post, the cushioned support pad adapted to support the person while the person accesses the inside of the enclosure. In one aspect of the invention, the vertically extending post comprises a vertically adjustable post. In another aspect, the cushioned support pad is adapted to support the person by contacting the torso of the person, for example, the midsection, chest, or upper torso. The enclosure may be bathtub, a basin, a spa, or a pool, among other enclosures. [0009] Another aspect of the invention is a bathing aid adapted to support a person kneeling on the floor adjacent a bathtub and bathing an occupant of the bathtub, the bathtub having a vertically extending sidewall having an upper ledge, the bathing aid comprising or consisting of a frame adapted to engage the vertically extending sidewall; at least one post vertically extending from the frame, the post having a first end mounted to the frame and a second end; a cushioned support pad mounted to the second end of the post, the cushioned support pad adapted to support the torso of the person while the person bathes the occupant of the bathtub. In one aspect, the vertically extending sidewall of the enclosure may include an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the frame may engage the inner surface and the outer surface of the vertically extending sidewall. In another aspect, the cushioned support pad may be pivotally mounted to the second end of the post and the pivotally mounted cushioned support pad may further comprise means to fix the orientation of the cushioned support pad. [0010] A further aspect of the invention is a method for attending to an object or occupant of an enclosure using the device described above. This method may comprise or consist of providing the above support structure; mounting the support structure to a wall of the enclosure; leaning over the wall of the enclosure and engaging the cushioned support pad wherein to provide at least some load to the support structure; and attending to the object or occupant of the enclosure. In one aspect, the attending may comprise washing the occupant of the enclosure, for example, a child or a patient. In another aspect, attending may comprise washing or servicing an object or component, for example, servicing an automotive component or manipulating objects on an assembly line. Other uses of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art. [0011] These and other aspects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bathing aid according to one aspect of the invention. [0014] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the bathing aid shown in FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 3 is right-hand elevation view of the bathing aid shown in FIG. 1. [0016] FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the bathing aid shown in FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the cushioned support pad mounting to the post according to another aspect of the invention. [0018] FIG. 6 is a right-hand elevation view of the bathing aid shown in FIG. 1 illustrating a typical use according to one aspect of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support structure or bathing aid 10 according to one aspect of the invention as bathing aid 10 would typically be mounted to an enclosure 12, for example, to a bathtub, basin, spa, or pool. As shown, bathing aid 10 includes a frame 14 adapted to engage a vertically extending sidewall 16 of enclosure 12, at least one post 18 vertically extending from frame 14, and a cushioned support pad assembly 20 mounted to post 18. FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of bathing aid 10 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is right-hand elevation view of bathing aid 10 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the bathing aid shown in FIG. 1. Continue reading about Bathing aid... Full patent description for Bathing aid Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Bathing aid patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Bathing aid or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Quick connection, and liquid supply system provided therewith Next Patent Application: Sink lining system and method therefor Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Bathing aid patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.40727 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
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