Apparatus for supporting a person having enhanced portability and method of using same

Abstract

An apparatus and method for supporting a person in a bathtub or shower. The apparatus comprising: an elongated base, comprising a tapered yoke operably coupled to a first end of the elongated base and a stabilizer operably coupled to a second end of the elongated base. The apparatus comprising a rotatable and/or slidable chair, wherein the rotatable and/or slidable chair is operably coupled to the same end of the elongated base as the tapered yolk. The method comprising: providing an apparatus having a rotatable and/or slidable chair, wherein some of the components may be foldable, such as a foldable seat, a foldable back, foldable legs, and a plurality of arms. Folding the foldable components of the slidable and/or rotatable chair make transporting easier and safer because the apparatus is more compact when the foldable components are in the folded position.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a slidable pivot connector;   a frame; and   a rotatable and/or slidable chair, wherein the slidable pivot connector is between the rotatable and/or slidable chair and the frame.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the back of the rotatable and/or slidable chair is foldable. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein a joining device operably couples the back and the seat of the apparatus, so that the seat folds to meet a plane of the first surface of the rotatable and/or slidable chair. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein an angle formed between the back and the first surface is 100°. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the angle formed between the back and the first surface is from about 80° and 170°. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the slidable pivot connector is a ball in a socket. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the rotatable and/or slidable chair has a weight from about 6 lbs. to about 10 lbs. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the rotatable and/or slidable chair is made of hollow moldable plastics selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride (PVC), high or low density polypropylene, high or low density polyethylene, polystyrene, silicone rubber, silicone elastomer, organic elastomer, viton, sanoprene and ethylene propylene diene monomer EPDM. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , comprising:
 foldable legs operably coupled to the frame, forming angles DAE, CBF, BCH, GDA, at the joints between the legs and the plane ABCD, wherein the angle is between about 0° and 180°.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the angle is about 105°. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the frame has collapsable legs that either sit directly on the bottom inside surface of a shower or bath tub or that straddle walls of a shower or bath tub and supports the rotatable and/or slidable chair. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the slidable pivot connector comprises: a rotatable mount operably coupled to the rotatable and/or slidable chair; and a base supported by blocks. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the blocks are selected from the group consisting of non-metallic pillow blocks. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the non-metallic pillow blocks are made of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, rubber and flexible plastic. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the blocks have a central lumen, wherein the outer diameter of the frame tubes of the frame is less than or equal to the diameter of the central lumen of the blocks, so that the blocks slide along the frame tubes when the frame tubes are inserted within the lumen of the blocks therein. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the seat of the rotatable and/or slidable chair of the apparatus has a wider front edge than an edge adjacent to the back of the rotatable and/or slidable chair, and a flared front edge, extending the front edge between about 15 inches and about 25 inches. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a rotatable and/or slidable chair: comprising
 a seat; 
 a back; and 
 a plurality of arms; and 
 a frame and a slidable pivot connector supported by the frame, wherein the slidable pivot connector supported by the frame are operably coupled to the rotatable and/or slidable chair. 
   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the slidable pivot connector is a ball and socket connector. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the slidable pivot connector is a lazy susan or a pin-in-slot connector. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the slidable pivot connector is between the rotatable and/or slidable chair and the frame. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , the slidable pivot connector comprising:
 a rotatable mount,   a rotatable base or carriage, supported by blocks; and   a bearing between the rotatable mount and the rotatable base or carriage for rotating the rotatable base or carriage.   
     
     
         43 . A kit, comprising:
 a bathtub or shower;   a slidable pivot connector;   a frame; and   a rotatable and/or slidable chair, wherein the slidable pivot connector is between the rotatable and/or slidable chair and the frame.