Deep soaking tub and shower with side entry door

Abstract

A deep soaking tub and shower combination apparatus having a side entry door and a built-in seat with armrests to allow a person to enter from the side through a hinged door with a seal that becomes tighter as the tub fills. The door has a rotating locking mechanism with a plurality of locking dogs and a lockable handle. The apparatus provides a safer tub and shower for the elderly and those persons with a limited range of bodily movement.

1 . A deep soaking tub and shower combination apparatus with a side entry door comprising: 
 a unitary body having a front sidewall with a predetermined height, a left sidewall coextensive in height with the front sidewall, a rear sidewall having a height commensurate with said left sidewall height and a depth commensurate with an elevated seat, a floor between said seat and the front sidewall, and a right sidewall forming a door frame extending from adjacent the front sidewall to adjacent the seat;    a shower head connected to a flexible cord extending from the upper extension of said left wall and a water valve proximate the elevated seat;    a removable water-tight door fitting said door frame;    a drain hole and stopper in said floor, and proximate the rear sidewall and seat; and    an overflow/drain stopper element positioned adjacent an uppermost height on the left sidewall and above the drain hole.    
   
   
       2 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat has armrests on both sides thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable door has a U-shaped configuration, a front side, a rear side, and round bottom corners, a topmost horizontal ledge, and a watertight sealing strip adjacent its peripheral edge on three sides on the front side of the door.  
   
   
       4 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 3 , including a plurality of hinges on one vertical edge.  
   
   
       5 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the hinges are lift-off hinges to allow emergency access when the tub is drained.  
   
   
       6 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the hinges permit the door to swing only inward.  
   
   
       7 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 1 , including a door locking mechanism.  
   
   
       8 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the door locking mechanism comprises a rotatable vertical lock rod.  
   
   
       9 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the vertical lock rod has a plurality of horizontal and equidistantly spaced locking dogs.  
   
   
       10 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the vertical lock rod is confined by horizontal braces positioned on the front side of the door adjacent the locking dogs.  
   
   
       11 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the locking dogs abut a vertical metal strip on an openable side of a doorjamb.  
   
   
       12 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the vertical lock rod has a pivotable handle at its upper end.  
   
   
       13 . The combination apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the pivotal handle has a short leg extending downward as a locking peg to fit within a hole in the topmost door ledge to secure the door in a closed position.  
   
   
       14 . A locking device on a door having a horizontal top panel comprising: 
 a door having a horizontal top ledge panel, a vertical right edge, a vertical left edge, and a rounded bottom edge;    a vertical lock rod positioned adjacent the vertical right edge and extending through the top ledge of the door; and    a plurality of locking dogs spaced equidistantly on said lock rod;    whereby rotation of said vertical lock rod secures the door in a door jamb.    
   
   
       15 . The locking device according to  claim 14 , wherein the locking dogs comprise a body having planar top and bottom sides, a circular aperture, a separation forming two legs of unequal size and shape, and a hex screw penetrating said two legs for adjusting the circular aperture to secure the body on a rod.  
   
   
       16 . The locking device according to  claim 14 , including a handle rod secured on the vertical rod above the horizontal top ledge panel.