REMOVABLE CLOSURE FOR A BATHTUB HAVING A WALK-THROUGH

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bathtubs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Ingress and egress to and from a standard bathtub can be difficult for infirm persons. Bathtubs with doors formed in the sidewalls thereof are known in the prior art. This reduces the problems associated with ingress and egress, but these tubs can be relatively costly to purchase, and renovation of a bathroom to replace an existing tub with a tub of this type has associated inconvenience. It is known to convert a standard bathtub into a bathtub having a walk-through by providing a cutout in the bathtub and bonding an insert to the tub. However, while this reduces the problems associated with ingress and egress at relatively low cost and with little inconvenience, it results in a tub which is no longer fully-functioning. In long term situations, this can be a sensible compromise. However, where are there additional able-bodied family members in a home who still wish to bathe, or in nursing homes or the like, where the occupier of a room can change relatively frequently, conversion of a tub to a walk-through tub to accommodate an earlier occupant can be problematic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A closure for a bathtub having a walk-through forms one aspect of the invention.

[0004] The walkthrough is of the type which is bound by a generally U-shaped structure having a central sill portion and jamb portions projecting upwardly and from opposite ends of said sill portion.

[0005] The closure comprises an exterior insert and an interior insert. The exterior insert, in use, is disposed exteriorly of the U-shaped structure. The interior insert, in use, is disposed interiorly of the U-shaped structure and releasably secured to the exterior insert to seal against the U-shaped structure to permit the bathtub to be filled to a height above the sill portion.

[0006] According to other aspects of the invention, the inserts can be connected to one another by fasteners which provide, when the inserts are operatively positioned on opposite sides of said U-shaped structure, for the selective movement of the inserts relative to one another between: an open configuration, at which configuration, the inserts are spaced apart from one another so as to permit the closure to be lifted from the U-shaped structure; and a closed configuration, for use. Further, each fastener can include a handle which pivots a camming surface to provide for said movement of the inserts between the open and closed configurations.

[0007] A closure for a bathtub having a walk-through forms another aspect of the invention. The walkthrough is of the type which is bound by a generally U-shaped structure having a central sill portion and jamb portions projecting upwardly and from opposite ends of said sill portion. The U-shaped structure has a width greater than that of the sidewall of the bathtub such that the U-shaped structure defines opposed, generally U-shaped protuberances respectively projecting interiorly and exteriorly from the tub sidewall.

[0008] The closure comprises an exterior insert and an interior insert. The exterior insert, in use, js disposed exteriorly of the U-shaped structure. The interior insert, in use, is disposed interiorly of the U-shaped structure and releasably secured to the exterior insert to seal against the U-shaped structure to permit the bathtub to be filled to a height above the sill portion.

[0009] A conversion system for use with a bathtub forms yet another aspect of the invention. The bathtub has a cut-out corresponding to a portion of the tub sidewall that has been removed, said portion including a length of the ledge of said bathtub. The system comprises a generally U-shaped insert and a closure.

[0010] The generally U-shaped insert is, in use, disposed in the cut-out and bonded to the sidewall to define a walk-through in said bathtub. The U-shaped insert has a central sill portion and jamb portions projecting upwardly and from opposite ends of said sill portion in use.

[0011] The closure includes an exterior insert and an interior insert. When the U- shaped insert is in use, the exterior insert can be positioned at an operative position whereat it is disposed exteriorly of the U-shaped insert and the interior insert can be positioned at an operative position whereat it is disposed interiorly of the U-shaped insert. The interior insert is adapted to be releasably secured to the exterior insert when the interior and exterior inserts are operatively positioned. When the closure is in use, the exterior and interior inserts are operatively positioned and releasably secured to one another and the interior insert is sealed against the U-shaped insert to permit the bathtub to be filled to a height above the sill portion.

[0012] The invention permits a walk-through bathtub to be relatively conveniently converted into a full-depth bathtub, and vice versa, at relatively low cost.

[0013] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front, side, top isometric view of a prior art walk-through tub;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 ;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1 ;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a closure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the structure in encircled area 5 of FIG. 4;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 5;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the structure of FIG. 5;

[0021] FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIG. 5;

[0022] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the structure in encircled area 9 of FIG. 4;

[0023] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 9;

[0024] FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the structure of FIG. 9;

[0025] FIG. 12 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIG. 9;

[0026] FIG. 13 is a front, side, top isometric view of the structure of FIG. 4 in use with the structure of FIG. 1 ;

[0027] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 13;

[0028] FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the structure of FIG. 13;

[0029] FIG. 16 is an enlarged front view of the structure of encircled area 16 in FIG. 13;

[0030] FIG. 17 is an enlarged rear view of the structure of FIG. 16;

[0031] FIG. 18 is an enlarged top view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 14;

[0032] FIG. 19 is a front view of the structure of FIG. 18;

[0033] FIG. 20 is a sectional view along 20-20 of FIG. 19; and

[0034] FIG. 21 is an exploded view of a structure similar to that of FIG. 13;

[0035] FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 13 of another exemplary embodiment of the closure in use with a tub;

[0036] FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22, with handle portions of the closure pivoted outwardly;

[0037] FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 23, with the closure elevated above the tub;

[0038] FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of the closure of FIG. 22;

[0039] FIG. 26 is a view of the structure of FIG. 25 from another vantage point;

[0040] FIG. 27 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 25;

[0041] FIG. 28 is a view along section 28-28 of FIG. 27;

[0042] FIG. 29 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 25, with the handles shown pivoted outwardly;

[0043] FIG. 30 is a view along section 30-30 of FIG. 29;

[0044] FIG. 31 is a front perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 25;

[0046] FIG. 32 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 25;

[0047] FIG. 33 is a bottom view of the structure of FIG. 25; and

[0048] FIG. 34 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIG. 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] With general reference to FIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a closure, is illustrated, and is designated by general reference numeral 20.

[0050] The closure 20 comprises an exterior insert 22A and an interior insert 22B. With reference to FIGS. 4-12, each of the inserts 22A ₁ 22B includes a main body portion 24A.24B, an inset or hollow portion 26A.26B and a plurality of protuberances 100A.100B. The main body portion 24A.24B has a substantially C-shaped profile defined by a cover portion 28A.28B and a lip 30A.30B and a flange 32A.32B which extend therefrom. The inset or hollow portion 26A.26B extends from the cover portion 28A.28B between the lip 30A.30B and flange 32A.32B.

[0051] In each insert, the protuberances extend from the inset portion in the same direction as that in which the inset portion extends from the cover portion. The interior insert 22B has a U-shaped dual gasket 34 extending from the cover portion 28B around the bottom and sides of inset portion 26B. An interiorly-threaded bore 36 is defined in the end of each protuberance 100B. A bolt passage 38 extends through each protuberance 100A and exits through inset portion 26A. The flange 32B of the interior insert 22B has a cut-away 4OB on an upper surface 42 thereof. The flange 32A of the exterior insert 22A has a cut-away 4OA on a lower surface 44 thereof. Each of the exterior insert 22A and the interior insert 22B is an injection-molded ABS plastic product. The dual gasket 34 may be molded contemporaneously with the interior insert 22B or can at a later point be press-fit into a pre-made groove or secured by adhesive or the like.

[0052] The closure 20 is for a bathtub 50 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. This tub 50 is of a type known in the prior art and has a walk-through 52. Walkthrough 52 is bound by a generally U-shaped structure 54, specifically, a threshold insert, having a central sill portion 56 and jamb portions 58 projecting upwardly and from opposite ends of said sill portion 56. As best seen in FIG. 2, the threshold insert 54 has a width greater than that of the sidewall 60 of the bathtub such that the threshold insert 54 defines opposed, generally U-shaped protuberances 62,64 respectively projecting interiorly and exteriorly from sidewall 60.

[0053] The closure 20 is shown in use in FIGS. 13-20. Herein, the exterior insert 22A is disposed exteriorly of the threshold insert 54 and against the protuberance 64 (neither visible) projecting exteriorly from the tub sidewall 60. The interior insert 22B is disposed interiorly of the threshold insert 54 and releasably secured to the exterior insert 22A by fastening bolts 66 which extend through the screw passages 38 of the exterior insert 22A into the threaded bores 36 of the interior insert 22B. This brings dual gaskets 34 of interior insert 22B into operative position whereat same follow and are sealingly disposed against protuberance 62 projecting interiorly from tub sidewall 60.

[0054] The interior insert 22B thus forms an extension of the tub sidewall 60, to occlude the walkthrough 52 and permit the bathtub 50 to be used in the manner for which it was originally designed, i.e., it permits the bathtub 50 to be filled to a height above the sill portion 56. When so filled, the water pressure exerts an upward (buoyant) and outward force on the interior insert 22B. The outward force is, of course, countered by tub sidewall 60, against which interior insert 22B effectively rests by virtue of the connection between the threshold insert 54 and the tub sidewall 60, best seen in FIG. 20. The upward force is countered by a mechanical engagement between the closure 20 and the threshold insert 54, specifically, by the lips 30A.30B, which project under the sill portion 56 so as to restrain the closure 20 against potential upward motion.

[0055] It is known that threshold inserts of the general type illustrated in use in FIG. 1 have heretofore been provided in varying shapes and sizes. This closure 20 accommodates slight variations without any necessary modifications, since the cutaway 40A.40B portions provide for the flanges 32A.32B to meet in a half-lap joint, best seen in FIG. 20, which can accommodate changes in the width of the threshold insert 54 while still providing an extension of the bathtub ledge that is neat in appearance (the flanges 32A.32B also restrain the closure 20 against downward motion).

[0056] Where the closure 20 is to be used with a threshold insert 54 of larger-than- normal width, it may be desirable to provide spacers 68 between the protuberances 100A, 100B and through which the fasteners 66 pass, as shown in FIG. 21 , to minimize any unsupported space therebetween and avoid the potential for the connecting bolts 66 to be overtightened and pull through the inset portion 26A.

[0057] Similarly, if the threshold insert 54 with which the closure 20 is to be used is of smaller-than-normal height, it may be desirable to position spacers on the underside of the flanges (not shown), so as to ensure that the gasket 34 is properly positioned.

[0058] It will be understood that various changes in parts, including changes in size and shape and other substitutions, may be made.

[0059] For example, only, whereas a double gasket is shown, a single gasket, or three or more gaskets, could be provided instead.

[0060] Additionally, although in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the threaded bores are defined in molded-in inserts 102 of relatively tougher material than the balance of the closure 20, as best seen in FIG. 20, this is not necessary. The threaded bores could readily be defined in the plastic material which forms the closure.

[0061] Similarly, whereas flanges are shown on the closure illustrated, same could readily be removed. Further, whereas the inserts illustrated include inset or hollow portions, which has aesthetic appeal and minimizes plastic utilization, these could readily be avoided.

[0062] Further, whereas the description thus far describes a closure for use with a bathtub of the type having a threshold insert already installed, it should be understood that the closure could be sold as part of a conversion system which includes a closure and a threshold insert, for use with a tub. A purchaser of the system could remove a portion of the tub sidewall, including a length of the ledge of said bathtub, and bond or secure the threshold insert in a conventional manner to the sidewall to define a walkthrough in said bathtub. The manner in which the bathtub sidewall is partially removed, the construction of the threshold insert and the manner in which the threshold insert is secured to the tub sidewall could all be as known in the prior art, for example, as described in United States Patent Nos. 6,061 ,846 and 6,212,704, issued to Peterson on May 16, 2000 and April 10, 2001 , respectively. Thereafter, when it was desired to reconfigure the bathtub for normal bathing, the closure sold as part of the system could be put into use, as previously described herein.

[0063] Moreover, whereas the closure is described to be constructed largely out of injection-molded ABS, other plastics and other molding processes, such as blow molding, rotational molding and reaction injection molding can be utilized.

[0064] As well, whereas screws are described and shown in FIGS. 1-21 , other fasteners could be employed in the place thereof, such as quarter turn fasteners or the like. An exemplary closure 20' using quick change fasteners is shown in FIGS. 22-34. This closure 20' comprises an exterior insert 22A', an interior insert 22B' and quick change fasteners 200. Each fastener 200 includes a handle 202, a plate 206, a shaft 208, a nut 212 and a crossbar 214. The handle 202 has a camming surface 204. The plate 206 is carried by the exterior insert 22A'. The shaft 208 has the handle 202 pivotally connected thereto and extends from the handle 202, through a corresponding aperture 211 in the plate 206, to a threaded end 210. The nut 212 is threadingly engaged to the threaded end 210 of the shaft 208 to secure the crossbar 214 thereto. The crossbar 214 carries, at each end, an expansion fastener 216, of the type which can be fitted into a bore and caused to expand in girth, to securely, frictionally engage the bore, through rotation of a bolt. Each of the inserts 22A', 22B ¹ includes a main body

portion 24A',24B\ an inset or hollow portion 26A',26B' and a plurality of protuberances 100A', 100B'. Insert 22B' also includes spacers 101 B'. Each main body portion 24A',24B' has a profile defined by a cover portion 28A',28B' and a lip 3OA', 3OB' and a flange 32A',32B' which extend therefrom. The inset or hollow portion 26A',26B' extends from the cover portion 28A',28B' between the lip 30A',30B' and flange 32A',32B'. In each insert, the protuberances and, as applicable, spacers, extend from the inset portion in the same direction as that in which the inset portion extends from the cover portion. Protuberances 100B' each have a bore 36' defined therein, which bore 36' frictionally receives a respective expansion fastener 216 in use. The interior insert 22B' has a U-shaped dual gasket 34 extending from the cover portion 28B' around the bottom and sides of inset portion 26B ¹ . The flange 32A' of the exterior insert 22A' has a cut-away 4OB' on an upper surface thereof. The flange 32B' of the interior insert 22B' has a cut-away 4OA' on a lower surface thereof. Each of the exterior insert 22A' and the interior insert 22B' is an injection-molded ABS plastic product. The dual gasket 34 may be molded contemporaneously with the interior insert 22B' or can at a later point be press-fit into a pre-made groove or secured by adhesive or the like.

[0065] The closure 20' is shown in use in FIG. 22. The relative position of the inserts 22A', 22B' in use is best seen in FIG. 34. So positioned, the inserts 22A' and 22B' are orientated with the inset portions 26A', 26B' presenting towards one another and spacers 101 B' aligned with the protuberances 100A' nearest flange 32A', flanges 32A' and 32B' are disposed in half-lap relation, the handle 200 is pivotally connected to the shaft 208 and orientated such that the crossbar 214 is drawn towards the adjacent spacers 100A', to hold the insert portions 22A', 22B' in a closed configuration, wherein they are disposed against one another and in gripping relation to the threshold insert (not shown in FIG. 34). To remove the closure 20', handles 202 are pivoted upwardly, as shown in FIG. 23, to rotate camming surfaces 204, thereby to cause the shafts 208 to extend inwardly and the inserts 22A', 22B' to separate to assume an open configuration, at which point, the closure 20' can be lifted and removed from the threshold, as indicated by FIG. 24. To install the closure 20', the procedure can, of course, be reversed.

[0066] As yet another modification, the closure could be used in association with a tub manufactured, rather than retrofitted, with a walk-through, i.e. the U-shaped threshold structure would not be an insert, but would be formed integrally with the tub sidewall.

[0067] If the closure were sold as part of a system, or as an option to a tub manufactured with a walk-through, insets could be provided in the front and rear surfaces of the threshold structure, such that the closure did not protrude beyond the threshold structure in use. Similarly, other forms of mechanical engagement as between the closure and the threshold structure could be provided, such as detents and corresponding recesses on the components, to avoid the need for the lips.

[0068] As well, whereas an expansion fastener is described and shown in Figure 32, it will be evident that a basic screw, such as a 10-32 screw, or other fasteners, could be used to hold the plate in place.

[0069] In view of the foregoing, it should be understood that the invention is limited only by the claims appended hereto, purposively construed.