Bathing chair

Abstract

A bathing chair is provided that swivels on a fixed base and includes a leg support assembly. The combination of the leg support and the swiveling action of the chair allows a disabled or handicapped bather to comfortably enter and/or exit a bathtub or a shower stall without the aid of another person. The leg support also allows the legs of the bather to clear obstacles, such as the ledge of a bathtub or the lip of a shower stall, without the aid of another person. The bathing chair also includes a single support assembly that is capable of supporting the bathing chair and a bather without the need for any additional support structures. The need for only a single support assembly to adequately support the chair provides a bathing chair that is sturdy, lightweight and simple to install.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bathing chair for bathing in a bathing area comprising: 
 a seat; and    a seat support assembly extending from the seat and adapted and configured for securing the bathing chair to a floor of the bathing area.    
     
     
         2 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat support assembly comprises a single support member.  
     
     
         3 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the seat support assembly is attached to an underside of the seat.  
     
     
         4 . A bathing chair according to  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the seat support assembly is attached to substantially the middle of the underside of the seat.  
     
     
         5 . A bathing chair according to  claim 4 , wherein the seat support assembly is a support tube having a thickness of at least 2 inches, the support tube attached by a flange to substantially the middle of the underside of the seat.  
     
     
         6 . A bathing chair according to  claim 5 , wherein the support tube is generally S-shaped.  
     
     
         7 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat support assembly extends from the seat and mounts to the floor of the bathing area at an offset measured in a direction substantially parallel to a docking ledge of the bathing area when the bathing chair is in a bathing position.  
     
     
         8 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat support assembly extends from the seat and mounts to the floor of the bathing area at an offset measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to a docking ledge of the bathing area when the bathing chair is in a docking position.  
     
     
         9 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising a leg support assembly moveably attached to the seat.  
     
     
         10 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat is rotatable around a substantially vertical axis.  
     
     
         11 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising a swivel assembly for rotating the seat around a substantially vertical axis.  
     
     
         12 . A bathing chair according to  claim 11 , further comprising a swivel assembly including a substantially horizontal base plate and an upper plate pivotally mounted on the base plate at an angle of up to 30 degrees in relation to the base plate.  
     
     
         13 . A bathing chair according to  claim 12 , wherein the angle ranges from about 2 degrees to about 15 degrees.  
     
     
         14 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one floor mount support for attaching the bathing chair to the floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         15 . A bathing chair according to  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of floor mount supports for attaching the bathing chair to the floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         16 . A bathing chair according to  claim 14 , wherein the floor mount supports are offset from the seat support assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to a docking ledge of the bathing area.  
     
     
         17 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one suction cup assembly for attaching the bathing chair to the floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         18 . A bathing chair according to  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of suction cup assemblies for attaching the bathing chair to the floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         19 . A bathing chair according to  claim 17 , wherein the suction cup assemblies are offset from the seat support assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to a docking ledge of the bathing area.  
     
     
         20 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising a backrest attached to the seat.  
     
     
         21 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising a seatbelt attached to the seat.  
     
     
         22 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising a product holder supported on the bathing chair.  
     
     
         23 . A bathing chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shower sprayer supported on the bathing chair.  
     
     
         24 . A bathing chair for bathing in a bathing area comprising: 
 a seat; and    means for securing the bathing chair to a floor of the bathing area.    
     
     
         25 . A bathing chair according to  claim 24 , wherein the means for securing the bathing chair to the floor of the bathing area is a seat support assembly extending from an underside of the seat to the floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         26 . A bathing chair for bathing in a bathing area comprising: 
 a seat; and    a leg support assembly moveably attached to the seat.    
     
     
         27 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , wherein the leg support assembly is pivotally attached to the seat.  
     
     
         28 . A bathing chair according to  claim 27 , wherein the leg support assembly pivots around a substantially horizontal axis.  
     
     
         29 . A bathing chair according to  claim 28 , wherein the leg support assembly pivots throughout an angle of rotation of at least 40 degrees.  
     
     
         30 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , wherein the leg support assembly is moveable from a first position to a second position that is vertically higher than the first position.  
     
     
         31 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , wherein the leg support assembly is moveable to a raised position when the bathing chair is in a docking position, and is moveable to a lowered position when the bathing chair is in a bathing position.  
     
     
         32 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , wherein the leg support assembly includes one or more handles for raising and lowering the leg support assembly.  
     
     
         33 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , further comprising a seat support assembly having a first end attached to an underside of the seat.  
     
     
         34 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , wherein the seat is rotatable around a substantially vertical axis.  
     
     
         35 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , further comprising a swivel assembly for rotating the seat around a substantially vertical axis.  
     
     
         36 . A bathing chair according to  claim 35 , further comprising a swivel assembly including a substantially horizontal base plate and an upper plate pivotally mounted on the base plate at an angle of up to 30 degrees in relation to the base plate.  
     
     
         37 . A bathing chair according to  claim 36 , wherein the angle ranges from about 2 degrees to about 15 degrees.  
     
     
         38 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , further comprising at least one floor mount support for attaching the bathing chair to a floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         39 . A bathing chair according to  claim 38 , further comprising a plurality of floor mount supports for attaching the bathing chair to the floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         40 . A bathing chair according to  claim 38 , wherein the floor mount supports are offset from the seat support assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to a docking ledge of the bathing area.  
     
     
         41 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , further comprising at least one suction cup assembly for attaching the bathing chair to a floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         42 . A bathing chair according to  claim 41 , further comprising a plurality of suction cup assemblies for attaching the bathing chair to the floor of the bathing area.  
     
     
         43 . A bathing chair according to  claim 41 , wherein the suction cup assemblies are offset from the seat support assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to a docking ledge of the bathing area.  
     
     
         44 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , further comprising a backrest attached to the seat.  
     
     
         45 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , further comprising a seatbelt attached to the seat.  
     
     
         46 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , further comprising a product holder supported on the bathing chair.  
     
     
         47 . A bathing chair according to  claim 26 , further comprising a shower sprayer supported on the bathing chair.  
     
     
         48 . A bathing chair for bathing in a bathing area comprising: 
 a seat; and    means for adjustably supporting the legs of a bather.    
     
     
         49 . A bathing chair according to  claim 48 , wherein the means for adjustably supporting the legs of the bather is a leg support assembly moveably attached to the seat.  
     
     
         50 . A bathing chair for bathing in a bathing area, the bathing area including at least one ledge, comprising: 
 a seat; and    a leg support assembly moveably attached to the seat.    
     
     
         51 . A bathing chair according to  claim 50 , wherein the leg support assembly is moveable to a substantially raised position above the at least one ledge of the bathing area.  
     
     
         52 . A bathing chair according to  claim 50 , wherein the bathing chair is rotatable around a substantially vertical axis of rotation.  
     
     
         53 . A bathing chair according to  claim 52 , wherein the leg support assembly is moveable to a raised position when the bathing chair is rotated to a docking position, and the leg support assembly is moveable to a lowered position when the bathing chair is rotated to a bathing position.