Bathing aid

Abstract

A bathing aid device comprises adjustments to accommodate varying user body shapes and sizes and may be used in conjunction with most, if not all, bathtubs. The bathing aid device, when used as described, allows for more complete and safer bathing for those incapable of bathing themselves. The device includes a kneeling platform for being placed beside a bathtub, a column assembly, which extends from the kneeling platform to a position above and preferably slightly forward relative to the bathtub wall, and which holds a preferably pivotal clavicle-region support. The user leans on the clavicle-region support, and, because of its location relative to the bathtub and the user's upper chest, and because of its small dimensions, the support is especially comfortable and effective. The user need not rest on the device with her/his elbows, arms, shoulders, or breasts, and, instead, the user is well supported high up on her body and can easily reach around the device to assist an infant, bather, or pet inside the bathtub. The preferred column assembly is quickly and easily removable, without loosening any fasteners, in order to move the assembly out of the way before the user rises or lifts a child out over the bathtub wall.

1 . A bathing aid device comprising:
 a lower portion for resting on a floor beside a bathtub, the lower portion having a front extremity and a rear extremity;   a column assembly extending upwards from the lower portion and having a distal end, wherein the column assembly comprises a generally horizontal portion that places the distal end forward from the front extremity of the lower portion;   a support cushion pivotally connected to said distal end at a pivot point that is forward relative to said front extremity of the lower portion, the support cushion being for supporting a user's upper chest over the wall of said bathtub.   
   
   
       2 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein said column assembly comprises a single upright column that bends at about 90 degrees. 
   
   
       3 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein substantially the entire support cushion is forward of said front extremity. 
   
   
       4 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein said support cushion is less than or equal to 10 inches wide and less then or equal to 8 inches long, for bearing against the clavicle region of a user's upper chest. 
   
   
       5 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein a lower end of said column assembly is slidably received in said lower portion, and wherein the column assembly is not fastened to the lower portion so that the column assembly is liftable up away from the lower portion for removal from the lower portion. 
   
   
       6 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion has an upper surface and said column assembly is connected to the lower portion by being received in a hole in said lower portion, and wherein no fastening structure for connecting the column assembly to the lower portion protrudes up from the upper surface of the lower portion. 
   
   
       7 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein said column assembly is adjustable in length to raise and lower the support cushion relative to the lower portion. 
   
   
       8 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein said column assembly is adjustable in length near said distal end to move said support cushion forward and rearward relative to the lower portion. 
   
   
       9 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein said support cushion is freely pivotal on said column assembly. 
   
   
       10 . A bathing aid device as in  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion comprises a cushion for receiving the knees and lower legs of a user. 
   
   
       11 . A combination of a bathing aid device and a bathtub, wherein:
 the bathing aid device comprises a base for resting on a floor beside a wall of said bathtub, the base having a front extremity and a rear extremity, and the front extremity being at or near the bathtub wall;   a column assembly extending upwards from the base and having a generally horizontal distal end, wherein the column assembly curves over the bathtub wall to place the distal end above the wall;   a support cushion pivotally connected to said distal end at a pivotal connection, the support cushion being adapted to supporting a user's upper chest generally over or in front of the wall of said bathtub.   
   
   
       12 . A combination as in  claim 11 , wherein the bathtub wall has a top surface, and the distal end is above and distanced from said top surface so that the distal end does not touch the bathtub, and wherein an upper surface of the support cushion is 5-10 inches above said top surface. 
   
   
       13 . A combination as in  claim 11 , wherein the pivotal connection of said support cushion to said distal end is 2-8 inches forward from the front extremity of the bathing aid device. 
   
   
       14 . A combination as in  claim 11 , wherein the bathtub wall has a central vertical plane and said pivotal connection is up to 6 inches forward from the central vertical plane of the bathtub wall. 
   
   
       15 . A combination as in  claim 11 , wherein the bathing aid device does not have wheels. 
   
   
       16 . A combination as in  claim 11 , wherein the column assembly is connected to the base by a lower end of said column assembly being slidably inserted in a hole in said base, wherein the device comprises no connection means for connecting the column assembly to the base other than said slidable insertion in said hole. 
   
   
       17 . A combination as in  claim 16 , wherein the base has an upper surface and wherein the hole is defined by a hole wall in said base and said hole wall does not extend up above the upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       18 . A combination as in  claim 11 , wherein the base has an upper surface and the column assembly is connected to the base by a lower end of said column assembly being slidably inserted in a hole in said base, wherein the device comprises no connection structure above said upper surface of the base for connecting the column assembly to the base. 
   
   
       19 . A combination as in  claim 11 , wherein said base comprises a cushion. 
   
   
       20 . A combination as in  claim 11 , wherein said base comprises a cushion substantially over the entire top of the base. 
   
   
       21 . A combination of a bathing aid device and a bathtub, wherein:
 the bathtub wall has an outer wall surface, a top surface, and a central vertical plane;   the bathing aid device comprises a pedestal for resting on a floor beside the outer wall surface of said bathtub, the pedestal having a front extremity and a rear extremity, and the front extremity being at or near said outer wall;   a column assembly extending upwards from the pedestal, over and above the bathtub wall to place a distal end of the column assembly above said top surface of the bathtub wall;   a clavicle support cushion connected to said distal end on or forward relative to said central vertical plane;   wherein said column assembly and said clavicle support cushion are sized and located relative to the base so that, when a user kneels on said base behind the column assembly and leans over onto the clavicle support cushion, the clavicle support cushion bears against the user's clavicle area between the user's shoulders, so that the user can reach forward around said clavicle support cushion without said support cushion interfering with movement of the user's shoulders or arms.   
   
   
       22 . A combination as in  claim 21 , wherein the clavicle support cushion is pivotally connected to said distal end. 
   
   
       23 . A combination as in  claim 21 , wherein the clavicle support cushion is sized not to contact the user's breasts. 
   
   
       24 . A method of using a bathing aid device with a bathtub, the method comprising:
 providing a bathtub with a wall having an outer wall surface, a top surface, and a central vertical plane;   providing a bathing aid device and resting the bathing aid device beside the bathtub wall outer wall surface, the device comprising a pedestal with a front extremity at or near the outer wall surface, a column assembly extending up from the pedestal and over the top surface of the bathtub wall, and support cushion connected to a distal end of the column assembly and positioned over the top surface forward from the front extremity of the pedestal;   wherein the method further comprises a user of the device kneeling on said pedestal and leaning over the bathtub wall and placing the user's clavicle upon the support cushion so that the support cushion bears against the user's clavicle between the user's shoulders and support cushion does not bear against the user's breasts, wherein the user reaches forward around said clavicle support cushion without said support cushion interfering with movement of the user's shoulders or arms.   
   
   
       25 . A method as in  claim 24 , further comprising leaning back off of the clavicle support cushion and removing the column assembly by lifting it out of a hole in the pedestal.