Located Inside Of The Tub Patents (Class 4/568)
  • Patent number: 11173502
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a showerhead with a plurality of modes. The showerhead includes an engine defining a plurality of fluid channels or pathways. Two modes or mode apertures are in fluid communication with a first fluid channel, and another mode or mode aperture is in fluid communication with a second fluid channel. Additionally, the present disclosure is related to a method of producing a massaging spray mode for a showerhead. The method includes fluidly connecting a plurality of nozzles to a fluid source wherein each of the first plurality of nozzles are opened substantially simultaneously, and fluidly disconnecting the first plurality of nozzles from the fluid source wherein each of the nozzles within the first plurality of nozzles are closed substantially simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Cacka, Leland C. Leber, Michael J. Quinn
  • Patent number: 11096475
    Abstract: A surface attachable washing apparatus enables easy control of water flow through a molded body member. A valve assembly, disposed interiorly within the body member, is actuated by simple depression of an overlying portion of an obverse surface of the molded body member, to toggle a valve assembly between each of a closed position and an open position. Water flow is therefore controllable by manual pressure to alternately emit and prevent water flow sprayed through each of a plurality of outlets. At least one suction cup enables selective positioning of the molded body member upon a surface distally situated relative to an existing water outlet to which the apparatus is connected. A user may therefore position the apparatus at a desired height in the bath room, for example, to correspond with a child who can then easily control of the water flow during bath time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Daniel Jacob Lentz
  • Patent number: 9655477
    Abstract: A super deluxe bather for infants and toddlers for a comfortable, relaxed and safe bath. The super deluxe bather includes a soft mesh placed on a seat of the super deluxe bather and a frame that adjusts for sitting position and lying position of a child. Further, the super deluxe bather includes a headrest that is adjustable based on the size of the child. Furthermore, the super deluxe bather includes a plurality of armrests to support the arms of the child and a base portion. Moreover, the super deluxe bather includes folds and locks of the super deluxe bather for easy convenient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: Judy Addesso
  • Patent number: 8992450
    Abstract: A portable hydro massage device for submersion in a body of water containing a female user, i.e. a bathtub, provides a local massage to the labium region and a focused stimulant to the female user's clitoris thereby resulting in a superior sensation to the entire body promoting an overall euphoric state and calming effect. The apparatus employs a saddle shaped housing, where the buttocks are placed, and a saddle horn for controlling the stimulus. Disposed within the midsection of the saddle horn is a hydro jet with a driven flow from a circulating water pump that draws suction from the main body of water. The hydro jet is adjustable in pressure and a method is provided for aeration of the water discharged to allow for a rhythmic pulsation effect. The saddle horn may be held and the lower body positioned as needed to focus the discharged stream from the hydro jet to the desired point of the pelvic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: David Heilman
  • Patent number: 8918925
    Abstract: A lifting rod assembly is connected to the support arm and has a body unit, a lifting rod and a friction piece. The body unit has a sleeving hole penetrating from front to back and a connecting hole penetrating the sleeving hole from inside to outside, the sleeving hole is sleeved out of the support arm; the thread of the upper end part of the lifting rod is mounted in the connecting hole of the body; and the friction piece is mounted in the upper end part of the lifting rod and adaptive to the support arm, the compressing level between the friction piece and the support arm can be controlled though the screwing level between the lifting rod and the connecting hole of the body unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Xiamen Solex High-Tech Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huasong Zhou, Huasheng Peng, Hua Yao, Renzhong Li
  • Patent number: 8747374
    Abstract: An emergency eyewash unit includes a pair of water discharge ports oriented to produce a pair of upwardly directed, diverging water streams for inside-out flush flow of contaminants from a person's eyes. These eyewash streams can be combined with a plurality of smaller upwardly directed facewash streams for flushing contaminants from a person's face. The eyewash and/or facewash streams are produced by an eyewash body adapted for rotatable mounting onto a water supply conduit, with a locking clip normally preventing undesired rotational disassembly. The eyewash body may be used in combination with an overhead emergency shower which, in one preferred form, includes a shower spray head carrying multiple flow control and flow shaper elements to produce a substantially uniformly dispersed shower spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Haws Corporation
    Inventors: Victor C. Strandberg, Ian T. Roberts, Joshua D. Linn
  • Patent number: 8662463
    Abstract: A temporary bracket includes a mounting bracket, an absorbing dish, and a placing member. The mounting bracket includes a mounting body. A mounting opening is defined in the mounting body. The mounting opening includes a wide part and a narrow part communicating with the wide part. The absorbing dish includes a suction cup for sucking a surface, a neck portion extending from the suction cup, and a securing portion extending from the neck portion. The neck portion is disposed in the narrow part. The securing portion is used for extending into the wide part and moves to the narrow part to enable the neck portion to be disposed in the narrow part. The placing member is secured to the mounting bracket for supporting an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Lung Chen, Chuan-Kai Chang, Tsung-Te Tai
  • Patent number: 8566973
    Abstract: A pet wash kit enables a user to outfit a shower head for washing pets adjacent the shower head. The pet-washing kit and/or apparatus comprises a head-to-funnel interface device, a funnel structure, and a length of conduit. The interface device comprises conduit-engaging and head-engaging portions for respectively receiving adjacent portions of a shower head assembly. The funnel structure has a water inlet, a water outlet, and structure for engaging the interfacing device for removably attaching the funnel structure to the shower head assembly. The length of conduit is attachable to the water outlet and extendable therefrom. The funnel structure receives water from the shower head assembly, and the length of conduit directs water away from the funnel structure for enabling a user to selectively discharge water via an optionally nozzled end of the conduit for washing a pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Peter G. Duczak
  • Patent number: 8448270
    Abstract: A movable support seat for a shower head includes a holding member to receive a removable shower head; a moving member moving vertically along a post and being used to receive the holding member; the moving member having a body disposed to the post, at least one movable retaining paw axially fixed to the body, a resilient element installed to a predetermined position of the retaining paw to actuate the paw portion to elastically engage with a peripheral outer surface of the post and to position the moving member to the post such that when a pressing portion of the retaining paw is pressed, first or second abutting wall of the retaining paw disengages from the post so that the moving member is adjusted freely on the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp.
    Inventor: Chao-Ta Yang
  • Patent number: 8191185
    Abstract: A holder device may be attached to a water outlet tube which is extended from a wall, without drilling holes in the wall, and includes a housing having an inlet attached to the water outlet tube, and two or more outlet ports for coupling to a shower head and a sprayer nozzle, a base having a spring-biased latch for clamping the pipe to the base, a seat slidably attached onto the pipe for adjustably and removeably supporting the sprayer nozzle. The housing includes a casing having a chamber for receiving a valve stem, and a spring-biased valve member received in the valve stem to control the water to flow out through the outlet ports of the housing, and a knob secured to the valve stem to rotate the valve stem relative to the casing and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Pi Kuang Tsai
  • Patent number: 8176578
    Abstract: A bath includes in or associated with an upper wall or rim section of the bath at least one water connection, a neck water outlet fitting 2 interchangeably connectable to the water connection to when connected direct a flow of water generally centrally on to the neck and/or upper back of a bather reclining against the adjacent bath wall, and a shoulders water outlet fitting or fittings 15 interchangeably connectable to the water connection to when connected direct a flow of water on to the shoulders or front shoulder regions of a bather reclining against the adjacent bath wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Kohler New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: John Hatrick-Smith, David Gordon Arthur Crichton
  • Patent number: 8104111
    Abstract: A shower device is proposed that features a fixed-installation housing. This housing can, for example, stand up from the floor and may extend beyond normal human body size. The housing is fitted with a shower arm that can be moved out of an inactive position. In the inactive position, the surface of the shower arm lies flush with the surface of the housing. The jet discharge area of a shower head arranged in the shower arm faces inwards, so that it is only possible to see a flat surface on the exterior of the housing. Through pressure on this surface, a catch mechanism is released and this causes the shower arm to move out of the housing. This is accomplished via a drive mechanism, which may feature a spring, for example. Extension is performed at a relatively slow speed, which can be achieved using a damper device. The shower arm moves to a position in which the now-visible jet discharge disc of the shower head can be used as an overhead shower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hansgrohe AG
    Inventors: Juergen Gross, Elvira Mangold
  • Publication number: 20110283450
    Abstract: A bath collapsible seat for persons requires bathing in sitting position and for persons, which takes a regular shower or bath comprises: a wall mounting unit rigidly attached to a bathroom wall, a seat assembly pivotally attached to said wall mounting unit to provide moveable between vertical and horizontal positions, where said seat assembly in vertical position not prevented the bather to take regular shower or bath, a water supply means, and means for bathing accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Abram Fainberg
  • Patent number: 8057413
    Abstract: A foot water-spouting device includes a foot-front water spouting section for spouting water toward the front side of a user's foot and a water-spouting section direction moving mechanism for reciprocating the destination of water spouting of the foot-front water spouting section along a longitudinal direction of the foot. A plurality of spouts may be arranged side-by-side in the foot instep width direction for each of the right and left feet. The pressure of water spouting at a water arrival point may be changed based on or the water spouting amount may be changed based on movement of the water arrival point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Yumiko Katsukawa, Takahiro Suzuki, Hirotomo Suyama, Yasuo Hamada
  • Patent number: 7774871
    Abstract: A personal hygiene cleansing device is disclosed which attaches to the wall of a shower or bath stall and to the water supply at a shower head in the stall. The device is adjustable to meet the height and other personal requirements of the user. Two generally vertically oriented, rubber coated bars are adjusted to a proper height and spacing for a user. When the height and the spacing between the two vertical bars is correct, pushing a users' buttocks against the vertical bars causes the cheeks of the buttocks to be spread exposing the area to a vertical fan shape water spray from a spray head that is part of the device. The rubber piping on the generally vertical bars prevent the bars from slipping along the skin of the buttocks to maintain maximum spreading of the cheeks of the buttocks. Spray water with or without soap exits the elongated spray head to cleanse or rinse the rectal or genital area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Arsenault
  • Patent number: 7748649
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a novel water discharging apparatus capable of rapidly enhancing an outer appearance and a cleaning property and enjoying a plurality of water discharging configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Fujii, Shoji Miura, Yoshihiro Kiyofuji
  • Publication number: 20100088816
    Abstract: A washing apparatus and method is disclosed that is adapted to be disposed within a bathtub or shower stall, the apparatus includes a base having a first side and a second side that is adjacent to a bathtub floor or a shower stall floor. Further included in the apparatus is an open receptacle that is disposed adjacent to the base first side, with the base first side having a user foothold area adjacent to and external to the open receptacle. Also included in the apparatus is an extension member having a distal end portion with a handle and an extension member proximal end portion that extends from the base first side. The receptacle further includes a plurality of washing bristles disposed on an interior of the receptacle and a manually operated reservoir for selectively dispensing soap adjacent to the bristles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Brian David Rollins
  • Patent number: 7448403
    Abstract: A faucet includes a faucet body, and a switching device including a switching valve mounted on the water outlet pipe of the faucet body, and a control valve adjustably mounted on the switching valve and connected to a shower head. Thus, the valve seat of the control valve is rotated to change and control the water outlet modes of the faucet exactly, thereby enhancing the switching function and working efficiency of the faucet. In addition, the faucet body only needs to provide a single screw bore for mounting the switching device without having to provide two screw bores which have to align with each other, thereby facilitating fabrication of the faucet, and thereby decreasing the costs of fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Horng Lai Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Dang Shien
  • Patent number: 6802089
    Abstract: A sliding rail consisting of two standards reciprocally defining a slotting wherein there is housed a shower support, into which there is obtained a recess intended to partly house a block forming a sliding guide for the support on the slotting. The sliding being allowed by the horizontal pivoting of the support relative to the block and by the consequent insertion or removal of the teeth provided on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Sanicro S.r.l.
    Inventor: Serafino Cropelli
  • Patent number: 6782567
    Abstract: A fountain water toy generally for use in a bathtub or pool is described. The toy generally comprises an at least partially submersible pump that is fluidly coupled with a fountain amusement assembly. The assembly includes one or more spouts through which water is streamed. Interchangeable characters heads or other fanciful representations are provided to place over the spouts such that when in operation water streams from the character heads. In one preferred embodiment, the amusement assembly comprises a faceplate assembly that removably mounts to a vertical surface such as the wall of a bathtub enclosure. The faceplate assembly of this preferred embodiment is fluidly connected to the pump through tubing. The pump is powered by a low voltage battery power source and as such there is no threat of shock or serious injury should the batteries that are normally sealed within the pump housing become exposed to the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Linda Austin, Anne Argent
  • Patent number: 5978983
    Abstract: A portable showering cabinet for use by non-ambulatory, aged, or other persons unable to use conventional showering and hygienic home care facilities, particularly useful for a private home, hospitality industry, residential schools, general and specialized hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and bedside care in a nursing home. The showering cabinet system provides daily hygienic care for disabled, with or without minimal assistance from a caregiver, eliminating the need for a caregiver to help a disabled person enter a shower stall and eliminating the need for a caregiver to perform the showering of the individual. The portable cabinet includes a water supply system that attaches to existing hot and cold water supply cabinets and a manually movable cabinet that has casters, allowing it to be moved easily and quickly along a floor surface to a bedside, and an improved access auxiliary seat to insure safe entrance by the patient into and out of the enclosure from a seated position on the outside of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventors: Carl J. Queen, deceased, Donna Queen, Administratrix
  • Patent number: 5966752
    Abstract: A baby bath including a tub and a showerhead. The baby bath also includes a hose capable of connecting to a water source allowing for a flow of water. The hose may be located in a circumference of the tub or connected to the showerhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Fatima Abugideiri
  • Patent number: 5878446
    Abstract: A whirlpool jet extension system that includes a flexible hose that is connectable to one of the jet nozzles of the whirlpool bath. The flexible hose is easily connected to and detached from one of the jet nozzles of the whirlpool bath and has one or more user positionable suction cup securing assemblies for allowing a user to aim the discharge stream from the flexible hose in a desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel J. McCann
  • Patent number: 5441529
    Abstract: A therapeutic bathing device for cleansing the skin of impurities through the incorporation of ozone into a water spray bath consisting of heated demineralized ultra pure water. The bathing device consists of a two piece enclosure having a top portion which encompasses a lower portion which further operates as a catch basin allowing the recycling of the water. A flow of water through jets incorporated into an inner side wall of the top portion and lower portion directs the purified water toward an occupant placed in a reclined position directly over the catch basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Inventor: Erwin Dorsch
  • Patent number: 5333324
    Abstract: Structure for neck and shoulder massage in a hydrotherapy hot tub consists of a pillow element against which a person's head rests with a cavity in the pillow element through which a stream of fluid is directed toward the person's neck. The structure includes a surface interposed in the stream of fluid to deflect the stream to impinge on the person's neck downward at an adjusted acute angle thereto. Another form of the structure includes wing portions extending over the shoulders of a person whose head and neck are at the pillow element with conduits and nozzles at spaced intervals directing streams of fluid downward from the undersides of the wing portions onto the shoulders of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventor: John Pinciaro
  • Patent number: 5329651
    Abstract: A bathing apparatus is designed specifically for aged or infirm bathers to improve their independence. A conventional tub and shower enclosure is modified by a modular system including a pivotal support bar member which can move to a position projecting outwardly from the rear wall of the shower enclosure to enable the bather to stand at the bath. The bar member includes a lower horizontal bar against which the stomach of the bather rests and an upper bar spaced away from the stomach which can be grasped by the hands of the bather. A swivelling showerhead is mounted on the rear wall and includes a handle allowing a flooding type shower head to be moved back and forth over the head of the bather. A transfer chair can be provided which is mounted on a vertical post at one corner of the bathtub and includes an arm projecting horizontally outwardly from the post which can swivel around the post. A chair is canti levered downwardly and forwardly from the arm and swivels on the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Fiat Products Ltd.
    Inventors: Steve G. Mardero, Brian D. Prystupa
  • Patent number: 5276926
    Abstract: A bathenette seat for bathing a baby is provided where the seat has a headrest with an opening which is sized and shaped to accept the back of the head of the baby being bathed so as to allow the washing of the back of the baby's head without allowing soap to get into the baby's eyes or ears. The bathenette further includes a leg support spaced from the headrest and a sprayer located on the leg support. The sprayer is positioned to spray water on the baby reclining in the seat. The bathenette also includes a height adjustment mechanism to vary the position of the headrest and a band around the opening of the headrest to further support the baby's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Raquel Lopez
  • Patent number: 5228150
    Abstract: A patient bathing apparatus includes an upper and lower semi-cylindrical shell, wherein the shell is mounted to a matrix of nozzles respectively within each shell, the nozzles in fluid communication with a fluid source to direct a bathing spray onto a patient. A heater assembly is mounted at a rear distal end of the shells to direct heated drying air onto the patient subsequent to a bathing event. Valve means is provided within the lower shell to cease flow of water thereto to provide for spraying of a lower portion of an individual patient in situations limited to spraying a respective top or bottom surface of the patient only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Milton B. Parker
  • Patent number: 5185893
    Abstract: A water tap having a hot water intake hole and a cold water intake hole respectively connected to a water passage and controlled by a knob through two plungers, said water passage having a first water outlet at the top connected to a shower head and a second water outlet at the bottom attached with a water outlet pipe, a water flow direction control to alternatively guide flow of water to flow from said hot or cold water intake hole or from said hot and cold water intake holes through said first or second water outlet, and a shower switching control unit to stop flow of water from said shower head when said shower head is hung on a shower head holder or to let flow of water dishcarge through said shower head when said shower head is removed from said shower head holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventor: Kuang-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 5161265
    Abstract: A nozzle with sucker comprises a nozzle body having a jet hole for hot water, a sucker attached to a rear face portion of the nozzle body and adapted to fix the nozzle body to the surface of a wall of a bathtub by suction, and an angle adjusting member for adjusting the angle of the nozzle body compared to the surface of hot water in the bathtub. Thus, the nozzle can be easily attached to and detached from the wall surface of the bathtub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Mikiya, Kuniaki Shibuya
  • Patent number: 5146639
    Abstract: A combination bath tub spout is provided for allowing three distinct water flow paths to achieve three different functions. The first path allows the spout to fill a bath tub. The second path diverts the flow of water to a shower head. The third path directs the flow of water to an upwardly directed nozzle at the end of the spout. The nozzle can be used as a bidet spray for washing a person's genitals, or alternatively be used in conjunction with a douche hose attachment as an effective method of douching for women. The three paths are achieved by a rotatable diverter or valve that rotates between three predetermined positions; a bath tub fill position, a shower diverted position, and an upwardly directed nozzle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Wilbur Krause
  • Patent number: 5093942
    Abstract: An extendible and retractable spa jet in the retracted position resides in the side wall of a hydrotherapy tub or shower stall and is connected to, and operated by, the existing pressurized water and/or air supply. In the retracted position it serves as a conventional fixed jet. When desired, it may be pulled outwardly from the side wall of the hydrotherapy tub or shower stall and used as a hand-held massage device to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at localized areas of the body not possible with fixed spa jets and shower heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: Harold Lang
  • Patent number: 5063621
    Abstract: A bath chair for supporting a bather relative to a supply of water. The bath chair includes a body having a seat portion for supporting the bather's buttocks, and having a back portion for supporting the bather's back. The body preferably has a plurality of apertures through the seat portion for allowing water to pass therethrough and a plurality of apertures through the back portion for allowing water to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Inventor: Ceola Sellars
  • Patent number: 5033131
    Abstract: An infant or small child stands on an adjustable height platform within a containment in the form of a hollow support while being showered with water, via a flexible hose or tube from an existing water supply, to a shower spray nozzle adjustably affixed to the shower containment's sidewall. The shower spray nozzle adjusts vertically to direct water spray at various levels on the infant or small child's body. The shower spray nozzle is easily removable for hand held use and even more precise control of the water spray. The invention is adapted for support on a single rail of a conventional bathtub, and adjustable to fit various width tub rails. The invention alternatively stands on three legs providing for use in a conventional shower stall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Inventor: Jack R. Paden
  • Patent number: 5027450
    Abstract: An extendible and retractable spa jet in the retracted position resides in the side wall of a spa or tub and is connected to, and operated by, the existing pressurized water and/or air supply. In the retracted position it serves as a conventional fixed jet. When desired, it may be pulled outwardly from the side wall of the enclosure and used as a hand-held massage device to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at localized areas of the body not possible with fixed spa jets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: Harold Lang
  • Patent number: 5001787
    Abstract: A combination bathtub/shower facility comprised of separately prefabricated shower and bathtub units which are structurally interconnected in such a manner as to maintain the structural, watertight, and aesthetic integrity of the facility. The bathtub and shower units are prefrably of unitary molded construction, e.g. of molded fiberglass construction. The shower unit includes a base portion, and preferably further includes vertically upwardly extending shower walls which are integrally formed with the shower base portion. Alternatively, separately prefabricated shower wall panels may be secureably mounted to the shower base portion. In a presently preferred embodiment, the interconnection of the bathtub and shower units is accomplished by connection facilities which are integral with or easily affixable to the side of the shower base portion which is disposed adjacent to a side wall of the bathtub unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Kimstock, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger J. Lynch
  • Patent number: 4984313
    Abstract: A bubble-bath apparatus producing a directable jet of bubble-charged water; the apparatus which may be hand-held or may be mounted on a wall of a bath tub, the apparatus comprising handles to facilitate handling by bathers; adjustable suction cups to allow mounting on nonplanar surfaces; an extendible air intake to allow the apparatus to function at various depths; an air intake head to reduce the level of noise emitted through the air intake; a water intake plate formed so as to produce a slight reduction in water pressure immediately below the apparatus, thereby increasing the stability of the apparatus when placed on the bottom of the bath tub; a motor to drive a water pump; a water pump; a mixing chamber to mix the air and water drawn in; and an adjustable jet nozzle to allow the discharged water to be directed in a desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Hara Health Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zenzaburo Hara
  • Patent number: 4951329
    Abstract: A hand-operated shower head is designed for mounting to the inner wall of a bathtub, with a squeeze pump for drawing water from the bathtub and forcing it up through a length of flexible tubing through a decorative shower head at the top. The device is useful for the amusement of a child while taking a bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Century Products Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Shaw
  • Patent number: 4933999
    Abstract: A massage-action shower head comprising a housing provided with a hot water entrance, a plurality of bores through which hot water is showered and a hole through which mixture of hot water and air is jetted, a first passage line formed in said housing and being capable of communicating the hot water entrance with the plural hot water showering bores, a second passage line formed in said housing and being capable of communicating the hot water entrance with the hot water jetting hole, an air introducing means provided in said housing to supply air from outside to said second passage line, and a changeover means provided under water for communicating said hot water entrance with at least one of the first and second passage lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Mikiya, Kuniaki Shibuya
  • Patent number: 4924535
    Abstract: An apparatus positionable within a bathtub for discharging a jet stream of warm water, as sucked from the bathtub, having air bubbles mixed therein to cleanse and massage a part of the human body. The apparatus includes a main body for emitting the jet stream and a source of electricity positioned outside the bathtub. The main body is set directly within the bathtub. The pumping mechanism within the main body sucks liquid from the bathtub through an inlet and through a special filter, sucks the surrounding environment through an air inlet, mixes these within a mixing part, and discharges the mixture through an emitting nozzle as a high-speed jet stream. The emitted mixed fluid is discharged directly to a part of the bathing human body to massage and stimulate the body. The stimulus upon explosion of the included bubbles makes it possible to cleanse the body part efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Fuji Iryoki, Kabushiki Kaisha Japan Health
    Inventor: Yoshikiyo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 4872224
    Abstract: A bathtub apparatus is set forth wherein a portable module positionable overlying an associated bathtub rim includes a pump member for recirculating water through an inlet filtration pipe and selectively heating said water as desired. Included is valving for directing such water selectively through a plurality of water jets positioned in a series along a lower portion of said apparatus. The valving allows selective use of soap compartments to effect a directing of a soap solution under force into the bathtub chamber and further enables selective use of a portable spray head storable when not use within a compartment of the bathtub apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Inventors: Fred D. Grimes, Linda D. Grimes
  • Patent number: 4730576
    Abstract: Washing tub into which small animal is put is almost shut with extruding a head of small animal through a head opening, and the small animal is washed and dried by jet water current and warm air in the washing tub, and further height of a footing board can be adjusted depending on height of small animal, a filter is disposed to a drain port, therefore, various small animals are washed efficiently and sanitarily without taking human hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Inventor: Kenji Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 4630599
    Abstract: A hydromassage apparatus produces a whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub having a water inlet, conduit and drain valve control in the end of the bathtub. The hydromassage assembly is adapted to be partially immersed in the bathtub filled with a supply of water and includes a housing having a pair of leg portions positioned adjacent opposing sides of the drain valve control and down the ends of the bathtub. The leg portions have lower portions which are adapted to be immersed in the bathtub when filled with a liquid. The housing also includes an intermediate portion innerconnecting the leg portions. The housing has an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber extending between the lower immersed portions of the legs. The inlet chamber has at least one inlet opening in each of the legs for receiving liquid contained in the bathtub into the inlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Unidyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Perovick, James W. Lang
  • Patent number: 4514868
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a bathtub having a bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls and opposed first and second end walls integrally formed with the bottom wall, the second end wall being angularly inclined outwardly to define an abutment surface against which a person lying in the tub may rest, and water inlet means for filling the tub with a mixture of hot and cold water. According to the invention, the water inlet means extends through one of the sidewalls and is adapted to discharge a flow of hot and cold water along the one sidewall in a direction towards the second end wall so as to impart to the water a circulatory movement as it fills the tub and to thereby uniformly mix the hot and cold water and provide a uniform water mixture having a substantially constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Visinand
  • Patent number: 4456174
    Abstract: A venturi-type mixer that produces an aerated water jet for spas, therapy pools, swimming pools and the like is provided with a pulsating action by means of a rotating flow disturbing blade mounted at the discharge end of the jet nozzle to repetitively intercept the increased velocity stream discharged by the nozzle. The flow disturbing blade has its velocity controlled and adjusted by means of a water-driven turbine rotor journalled upstream of the nozzle and geared to the flow disturbing blade. The amount of projection of the turbine rotor blades into the water stream is varied by changing the relative alignment of non-circular input passage to the jet nozzle with respect to a congruent non-circular input passage from the main water supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Inventor: John S. Neenan
  • Patent number: 4439877
    Abstract: An improved shower arrangement is provided for invalid bathing units and the like, such as those comprising a sit-down bathtub having a lateral opening in one side to permit ingress and egress therethrough, and a vertically slidable door to selectively open and close the bathtub opening. The shower arrangement includes a plurality of fine-spray, wide-angle nozzles mounted along the left and right-hand sides of the bathtub, which collectively produce a gentle, blanket-like mist that completely covers the front of the bather. Preferably, a separate, fan-spray nozzle is mounted on the rear wall of the bathtub, and flows a thin sheet or film of water therealong, which cushions and baths the back and bottom of the seated invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: Silchor
    Inventor: Raymond T. Houle