Adaptation to an assistive device

• US 9,107,787 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian J. Wechter
• Original Assignee: Brian J. Wechter
• Inventors: Wechter, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US13/441,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20120192351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 297/119, 297/124, 297/129, 297/344.18, 297/354.13, 297/107, 297/108, 297/109, 297/233, 297/248, 108/69, 108/71, 457/81, 456/01, 457/11, 457/31, 457/9, 460/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/00 Chairs adapted for special purposes features relating to vertical adjustability A47C3/20; convertible chairs A47C13/00; chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons A61G5/00; operating chairs, dental chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/00 Foldable, collapsible or dismountable chairs of tubular metal type A47C5/10; children's foldable chairs A47D1/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/122 Seats specially adapted for showers A47K3/282
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1003 mounted on or in combination with a bath-tub

Abstract

A transfer bench adapted to facilitate the movement into and out of an enclosure, such as a bathtub, by persons having limited mobility. In one embodiment, a transfer bench comprises a first seating section, a second seating section rotatably coupled to said first seating section and configured to rotate from and between a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, wherein the second seating section cannot rotate more than about 90 degrees from the horizontal position, a first plurality of legs configured to support the first seating section, a second leg configured to support the second seating section, and a back support member extending from a side of the first seating section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second seating section.

Claims

1. A transfer bench comprising:

a first seating section;

a second seating section rotatably coupled to said first seating section and configured to rotate from and between a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, wherein the second seating section cannot rotate more than about 90 degrees from the horizontal position;

a first plurality of legs configured to support the first seating section;

a second leg configured to support the second seating section; and

a back support member extending from a side of the first seating section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second seating section; and

a handle extending from the second seating section on a side of the second seating section opposing the first seating section, the handle comprising a release mechanism for releasing at least the second leg from a locked position to a rotatable position.

2. The transfer bench of claim 1, wherein the back support member comprises at least one back support arm for connecting the back support member to at least one back support arm receiving means on a bottom side of the first seating section.

3. The transfer bench of claim 2, wherein the back support member is removable.

4. The transfer bench of claim 3, wherein the back support member may be interchanged between a first side of the first seating section and a second side of the first seating section, the first and second sides being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second seating section.

5. The transfer bench of claim 1, further comprising:

a primary handle extending from the first seating section on a side of the first seating section opposing the second seating section.

6. The transfer bench of claim 1, wherein the second leg is rotatable from a first position being substantially perpendicular to the second seating section, to a second position being substantially flat against a bottom surface of the second seating section.

7. The transfer bench of claim 6, wherein the second leg rotates from its first position to its second position as the second seating section rotates from its substantially horizontal seating position to its substantially vertical seating position.

8. A bathtub assembly comprising:

a bathtub having an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a tub having a floor surface and sidewalls; and

a transfer bench comprising;

a first seating section;

a second seating section rotatably coupled to said first seating section and configured to rotate from and between a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, wherein the second seating section cannot rotate more than about 90 degrees from the horizontal position;

a first plurality of legs configured to support the first seating section, the first plurality of legs affixed to the tub;

a second leg configured to support the second seating section;

a back support member extending from a side of the first seating section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second seating section; and

a handle extending from the second seating section on a side of the second seating section opposing the first seating section, the handle comprising a release mechanism for releasing at least the second leg from a locked position to a rotatable position.

9. The transfer bench of claim 8, wherein the back support member comprises at least one back support arm for connecting the back support member to at least one back support arm receiving means on a bottom side of the first seating section.

10. The transfer bench of claim 9, wherein the back support member is removable.

11. The transfer bench of claim 10, wherein the back support member may be interchanged between a first side of the first seating section and a second side of the first seating section, the first and second sides being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second seating section.

12. The transfer bench of claim 8, further comprising:

a primary handle extending from the first seating section on a side of the first seating section opposing the second seating section.

13. The transfer bench of claim 8, wherein the second leg is rotatable from a first position being substantially perpendicular to the second seating section, to a second position being substantially flat against a bottom surface of the second seating section.

14. The transfer bench of claim 13, wherein the second leg rotates from its first position to its second position as the second seating section rotates from its substantially horizontal seating position to its substantially vertical seating position.

15. A transfer bench comprising:

a frame having a slidable rail positioned thereon, the frame having a first section and a second section;

a slidable seating section affixed on the slidable rail for sliding from the first section to the second section;

the second section rotatably coupled to said first section and configured to rotate from and between a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, wherein the second section cannot rotate more than about 90 degrees from the horizontal position;

a first plurality of legs configured to support the first section;

a second leg configured to support the second section, the second leg being rotatable from a first position being substantially perpendicular to the second seating section, to a second position being substantially flat against a bottom surface of the second seating section, the second leg adapted to rotate from its first position to its second position as the second seating section rotates from its substantially horizontal seating position to its substantially vertical seating position; and

a back support member extending from a side of the first section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second section.

16. The transfer bench of claim 15, wherein the back support member may be interchanged between a first side of the first section and a second side of the first section, such first and second sides being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second section.