AU592890B2

AU592890B2 - Shower stool

Info

Publication number: AU592890B2
Application number: AU78223/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Nicholls
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-09-10
Filing date: 1987-09-09
Publication date: 1990-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-09
Also published as: AU7822387A

Description

I

592890 Form PATENTS ACT 1952-1973 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Class: Int. CI: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Published: SPriority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT DAVID NICHOLLS 10 WintertQn Drive, Glen Waverley Victoria, 3150 DAVID NICHOLLS Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: JOHN L.DAVIES C00 P.O.Box 436 -39 Cheviot Rd Mt.Waverley, Vic. 3149 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: SHOWER STOOL The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-* *Note: The description is to be typed in double spacing, pica type face, In an area not exceeding 250 mm in depth and 160 mm in width, on tough white paper of good quality and it is to be inserted inside this form.

11710/76-L C. J TiPouon. Commonweallh Governmenl Pnnler, Canberra This invention relates generally to bathroom fittings and equipment in the form of physical aids and more particularly is concerned with a shower stool which will enable a person to be seated while taking a shower and especially while washing his or her feet.

Taking a shower can be physically difficult and hazardous for anyone when standing on one leg and bending over to wash ones feet, but in the case of elderly persons or those who have suffered injury are handicapped or afflicted with such conditions as arthritis, it becomes well nigh an impossible feat. It is usually necessary t. to stabilize one self when washing the feet by placing ones hand or other part of the anatomy on the shower wall.

It is an object of this invention to provide a 4 15 shower stool for a shower recess for sitting upon when S taking a shower and washing ones feet.

.The invention resides in a shower stool for a shower recess to facilitate washing of the feet while seated on the stool in contact with the floor of the shower during showering, the stool comprising a stable seat platform resting upon or supported by three support legs spaced at three points of a triangle and which in use, are rigidly fixed to the seat platform which has at least two straight-edged sides each with portions thereof mutually at right angles with a cut-off corner between the said sides which are adapted to be placed against adjacent corner walls of the shower recess, the legs being horizontally spaced inwardly from the at least two straight-edges sides of the -2-

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seat at a distance sufficient to clear any curved radius between a floor and walls of a shower recess, the cut-off corner clearing any curved radius at a corner bttween adjacent walls of a shower recess.

Preferably, the second or shelf platform is provided on the above described shower stool at a level below the seat platform and also at a le'vel above any curved radius between the floor and walls of the shower I recess, and wherein the sides of the shelf platform do not project beyond the sides of the seat platform, the sides of the shelf platform being in vertical alignment with the sides of the seat platform.

"Preferably, all three legs of the shower stool are mutually, vertically disposed with respect to the seat l 15 and shelf platforms, each leg is tubular and is an intero ference fit in a cylindrical blind hole under the seat 0 platform.and also through cylindrical holes extending S^ through cylindrical holes in the shelf platform to enable 0 the shower stool to be manufactured, delivered and sold in kit form.

r cPreferably, the above described shower stool includes a seat platform and a shelf platform below the seat platform, both platforms being in the shape of an oblong irregular hexagon, notionally formed by cutting off two adjacent corners from a rectangle between one long side and two shorter sides adjacent the said one long side to form two further sides each at 45 degrees with respect to the said long side and short sides to achieve two angled S-3sides mutually at right angles to each other which are adapted to clear two walls of a shower recess adjacent a V corner thereof, when the corner is curved. 44hc lz.: -h~f ~esE~i~d ppripher&l ;4a1l, $th; C0 C t -3aand which overhang or extend horizontally, o wrLy beyond the base line between three 1 o keep the legs clear of any curved radL etween the floor and walls of a shower Preferably, the bottom of each leg is provided with a smooth, but non-slip surface, or means, or device.

Preferably, the lower shelf is recessed with a ;S peripheral wall and the floor of the recess is provided with drainage holes therein for drainage of soap, nail brushes, flannels and the like.

An example of a practical arrangement of the jinvention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shower stool constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the shower stool.

IFigure 3 is a top plan view of the shelf below t seat.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1, a shower stool for use in a shower recess and b adapted to fit snugly into a corner thereof, so that one can sit upon the stool when washing ones feet. The stool i comprises a top platform member 10, forming a seat constructed of any suitable rustproof material, such as wood or plastic and which is in the shape of an oblong hexagon, notionally formed by cutting off two corners from a rectangle at 450 to achieve two angled sides 11, 12, mutually at right angles to each other and which are adapted to contact two walls of a shower recess adjacent the corner thereof and this is achieved even if the corners are radiused, because the short edge 13 is cut back with respect to the corner. The seat member is supported by three legs 14, 15, 16, which in this example are preferably 38mm pvc tubes. Rubber feet 17 stoppers are placed in the lower ends of the tubes, the tops of which fit into circular recesses formed in the underside of the seat. The tubular 0. legs pass down through the leg-stabilizing structurally o member or shelf 18 which is a lower platform of similar material of construction and of matching outline to the upper or seat platform. The legs pass through the bottom of the shelf 18 to raise the shelf a short distance above the curved radiused junction of a shower base and wall line and each of the six edges of the seat and the shelf over-hangs or extends horizontally, outward for a distance beyond the leg line to ensure that the legs clear the walls of a shower and allow supporting contact of the straight edges of the structure with the shower walls and to ensure that each leg is capable of clearing the curved radius junction between shower walls and base. Preferably, the shelf is recessed with a well 19, defined bya walled perimeter the width of which is thickened where each leg passes therethrough as shown more clearly in Figure 3. Drainage ©holes 21 are also provided in the shelf recess, as shown also in Figure -4- 0 In this embodiment, each of the tubular legs is an interference fit in the respective blind holes under the seat and extending through the shelf, so that the shower stool may be manufactured, delivered and sold compactly stacked in kit form with the legs stacked inside the shelf recess and the seat stacked on top of the shelf.

0 0 0 0 0 et S0 0 6 It St t *1 i I

Claims

1. A shower stool for a shower recess to facilitate washing of the feet while seated on the stool with feet in contact with the floor of the shower during showering, he stool comprising a stable seat platform resting upon or supported by three support legs spaced at three points of a triangle and which, in use, are rigidly fixed to the seat platform which has at least two straight-edged sides each with portions thereof mutually at right angles with a cut-off corner between the said sides, which are adapted to be placed against adjacent corner walls of the shower recess, the legs being horizontally spaced inwardly from the at least two straight-edged sides of the seat at a distance sufficient to clear any curved radius between a floor and walls of a shower recess, the cut-off corner clearing any curved radius at a corner between adjacent walls of a shower recess.

2. A shower stool according to claim 1 wherein a second or shelf platform is provided at a level below the seat platform and also at a level above any curved radius between the floor and walls of the shower recess, and wherein the sides of the shelf platform do not project beyond the sides of the seat platform.

3. A shower stool according to claim 2 wherein the sides of the shelf platform are in vertical alignment with the sides of the seat platform.

4. A shower stool according to any preceding claim where-in all three legs are mutually vertically disposed with respect to the seat and shelf platforms.

A LU 4Z -6r- 7 r A shower stool according to any preceding claim and which includes a seat platform and a shelf platform below the seat platform, both platforms being in the shape of an oblong irregular hexagon, notionally formed by cutting off two adjacent corners from a rectangle between one long side and two shorter sides adjacent the said one long side to form two further sides each at 450 with respect to the said long side and short sides to achieve two angled sides mutually at right angles to each other which are adapted to clear two walls of a shower recess adjacent a corner thereof, when the corner is curved. 0,

6. A shower stool according to any one of claims 2 to ,o 5, wherein the lower shelf has a recess formed by a o0 peripheral wall. o

7. A shower stool according to claim 6 wherein the floor of the recess is provided with drainage holes for drainage of soap, nail brushes, flannels or the like.

8. A shower stool according to any preceding claim, wherein each leg is tubular and is an interference fit in a cylindrical blind hole under the seat platform and also through cylindrical holes extending through cylindrical holes in the shelf platform to enable the shower stool to be manufactured, delivered and sold in kit form.

9. A shower stool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 13th day of October, 1989 DAVID NICHOLLS By My Patent Attorney: JOHN L.DAVIES CO. 1/.