Reversible Shower Seat

Abstract

The invention is directed to a reversible seat for use in a shower. The seat having an integral handle for moving the seat from a closed position to an open position and a means for retaining the seat in a closed position in either a standard orientation or reversed orientation.

1 . A reversible shower seat for use in a shower stall comprising:
 an enclosure having a back wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls on the back wall and spaced from each other, a hinge receiver formed in each of the two sidewalls;   a seat comprising a top, a bottom, a hinge, a back edge, a first front edge, a second front edge and a first sitting portion, the first sitting portion on the top, the hinge on the seat adjacent the back edge, the hinge movably connected to the hinge receiver, the hinge between the back edge and the first front edge; and   a handle on the seat, the handle between the first front edge and the second front edge.   
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the seat further comprises a first retainer, a first side and a second side, the first retainer on the first side, the enclosure further comprising a first lock on the first sidewall, and a second lock on the second sidewall, one of the first lock or second lock adapted to matingly and releasably receive the first retainer when the seat is in a closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a top finger grip on the top. 
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 3 , wherein the seat further comprises a second sitting portion on the bottom, the handle further comprising a bottom finger grip on the bottom. 
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 2 , wherein the enclosure further comprises a second retainer on the second side, the second retainer disposed to matingly receive one of the first or second locks in the sidewalls of the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 1 , further comprising a first lock on the first sidewall and a first retainer and second retainer on the seat, the first retainer on a first side of the seat, the second retainer on a second side of the seat, the first lock adapted to matingly and removably receive one of the first retainer or second retainer when the seat is in a closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 2 , further comprising a second retainer on the second side spaced a first distance from the hinge, the other of the first lock or second lock adapted to matingly and releasably receive the second retainer. 
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein the bottom further comprises a second sitting portion between the first side and the second side, whereby the seat is reversible. 
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 8 , wherein, the seat further comprises a second retainer on the second side, the second retainer disposed to matingly receive one of the first or second locks in the sidewalls of the enclosure, each of the first and second locks disposed a predetermined distance from the hinge, the second retainer spaced the first distance from the hinge. 
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein the handle further comprising a top finger grip on seat top and a bottom finger grip on the bottom. 
     
     
         11 . A reversible shower seat for use in a shower stall, the shower seat having a reversible “L” shaped seat pivotally mounted in an enclosure comprising an open box enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, an open front and two sidewalls, the top wall on the back wall, the bottom wall on the back wall and spaced from the top wall, the two sidewalls on the back wall, spaced from each other, the top wall, bottom wall, and two sidewalls defining a seat opening adjacent the back wall, the reversible “L” shaped seat comprising a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first front edge, a second front edge and a back edge, the first and second side on the back edge, the first front edge on the first side, the second front edge on the second side, the first front edge spaced from and generally parallel to the second front edge, the top on the back edge and the first and second front edges, the bottom on the back edge spaced from the top, the bottom further on the first and second front edges spaced from the top the reversible shower seat comprising:
 a means for holding the seat in a closed position on the enclosure; 
 a means for holding the seat in an open position having the top oriented in a generally horizontal position, the means for holding the seat in the open position on the enclosure; 
 a hinge on the reversible “L” shaped seat adjacent the back edge, the hinge pivotally connected to the enclosure; and 
 a handle on the reversible “L” shaped seat intermediate first side and the second side, the handle on the first front edge and extending to the second front edge. 
 
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of supports in the seat intermediate the top and bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position further comprises a plurality of locks in the enclosure, a retainer on one of the first side or second side of the seat, the retainer disposed to releasably engage one of the plurality of locks to hold the seat in the closed position 
     
     
         14 . The invention of  claim 13 , wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position further comprises a plurality of retainers in the seat, at least one of the plurality of retainers adapted to engage at least one of the plurality of the locks in the closed position wherein the seat is held in a generally vertical orientation. 
     
     
         15 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position is reversible. 
     
     
         16 . The invention of claimed  12 , wherein one of the top or the bottom is formed of metal, the supports having a top member welded to one of the top or bottom. 
     
     
         17 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position further comprises a first retainer on the first side extending away from the seat, a second retainer on the second side, a lock on each sidewall, the first and second retainer positioned a first distance from the hinge, each lock positioned a second distance from the hinge receiver, the first and second distances being predetermined to matingly engage a one of the first and second retainers in a respective lock when the reversible “L” shaped seat is pivotally moved about the hinge from the generally horizontal, open position, to the generally vertical, closed position having the top or the bottom of the seat adjacent the back wall. 
     
     
         18 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein the handle further comprises a top finger grip on the top and a bottom finger grip on the bottom. 
     
     
         19 . The invention of  claim 11  wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position further comprises a lock on the enclosure, the lock on one of the two sidewalls, the lock adapted to releasably engage the seat in the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . A shower seat for use in a shower stall comprising:
 a flanged enclosure having a back wall surrounded by a top wall, a pair of sidewalls and a bottom wall, the back wall on the top wall and bottom wall, the top wall and the bottom wall spaced from each other, the sidewalls each extending from the top wall to the bottom wall the sidewalls spaced from each other, a plurality of seat locks on the enclosure;   a reversible “L” shaped seat having a back edge, a first side, a second side, a first front edge, a second front edge, a top and a bottom, the first side on the back edge and the first front edge, the second side on the back edge in spaced relation and generally parallel to the first side, the second side also on the second front edge, the top on the first side and second side, the bottom on the first side and the second side, the top held in spaced relation to the bottom, a retainer on each of the first and second side;   a hinge on the seat, the hinge pivotally attached to the enclosure, a retainer on the seat, the retainer adapted to engage a respective one of the plurality of locks on the enclosure, whereby the retainer releasably holds the seat in the closed position; and   a handle intermediate the first side and the second side, the handle on the first front edge and extending to the second front edge.