CA1258952A

CA1258952A - Recessed cavity and cover for bathtubs and the like

Info

Publication number: CA1258952A
Application number: CA000472192A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Harvey E. Diamond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-20
Filing date: 1985-01-16
Publication date: 1989-09-05
Also published as: DE3501080A1; IT8535550V0; AU3778785A; ES292794U; IT1199932B; BE901527A; FR2558364A1; JPS60203219A; FR2558364B1; IT8547567A1; GB2153667A; IT8547567A0; ES292794Y; GB2153667B; GB8501362D0

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a novel form of recessed cavity and cover therefor, for use with bathtubs and the like, especially whirlpool baths, and in particular, for use as an overflow recessing device or means.

In the prior art, overflow devices have projected from the bathtub wall. Such overflow devices thus present an obstruction and danger to a bathtub user.

The invention herein recesses the overflow device behind the plane of the bathtub wall, and the recess is provided with a complementary cover so that the recess in the wall, in effect, can be made flush with the wall of the tub.

The covered recess is provided with a secondary drain means so that any water entering the covered recess will readily drain therefrom.

Description

8~

~?r,'`ESSED CAVITY AND COVER
FOR BATHTUBS AI~D THE LIKE

~U~MARY OF THE INVE~TIO~

~ he inven~ion is directed to a novel rorm of recessed cavLty and cover therefor, for use with bathtubs and the like~ especially whirlpool baths, and in particular, for use as ~ overflow recessing device or means.

In the prior art, overflow devices have projected from the bathtub wall. Such overflow devices thus present an obs~ruc~ion ~nd danger to a bathtub user.

~he invention herein recesses the overflow device beh nd the ~lane of the bathtub wall, and the recess is provided with a complementary cover so that the recess in the wall t in e~fec~, can be made flush with the wall of the tub.

The covered recess is provided with a secondary drain means so that any water entering the covered recess will readily drain therefrom.

P~3-5 ~s~9~;~

~P~IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
.

FIG~RE 1 is ~ perspective view of my invention showing t`ne recess ~ithout the cover;

FIGURE 2 is a similar perspective view as that of FIGURE 1 but with a cover in place; and FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the placement of the recess and cover in a bathtub.

, 2 ~ ~. ... .

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I~ETAI[..,D DESCRI~TIC~l OF T~E INVENTION

In the ~re~erred embodiment, an overflow valve of conventional construction is designated by the numeral 10 The overflo~ valve is shown in a recess or cavity 12 of a bathtub wall 14. The recess 12 has a drain channel or groove 16 formed at the lower surface wall 17 thereof. The recess 12 is furt`ner provided with a hinged cover 20 which overhangs the recess. The in-place cover 20 lies flush with the adjacent bathtub wall 14 and permits a user to lie comfortably against the bathtub wall and cover 20, if de-sired, when the cover 20 is in place -- especially important in whirlpool bathtubs and other bathtubs where the entire wall area of the tub ~ay be used by one or more persons.

The cover 20 is hinged at its upper end 21 by hinge pins 23 for access to the overflow valve 10. The drain channel 16 is not obstructed by the in-place cover 20.

The recessed area 12 may contain apparatus such as valves, soap dishes, fluid jets, etc. in addition to the overflow valve, shown herein.

.

~25~395;~

Various modifications will suggest thems~lves to those skilled in the art. Hence, I intend to be bound only by the claims which follow.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A bathtub, defining continuous free-form contoured top and interior side and end wall surfaces thereof, comprising:

(a) a recess formed in the bathtub end and top all surfaces, which recess includes a bottom wall and a back wall, and opens into one end of the bathtub interior and the top portion thereof, the bathtub end and top wall surfaces including portions defining an opening therein substantially coextensive with the recess opening;

(b) a drain channel formed in the recess bottom wall and bathtub end wall surfaces;

(c) a recess cover pivotally mounted in the top wall of the bathtub proximate the top of the back wall of the recess, adapted to be pivotable relative to the recess, between an opened position thereof extending upwardly and outwardly away from the bathtub interior side wall, and a closed position thereof, overlying and covering the recess while not covering the drain channel, so as to be flush with, and continue the free-form contour of, the bathtub top and interior end wall surfaces adjacent the recess; and (d) means for pivotally mounting the recess cover in the top wall of the bathtub proximate the top of the back wall of the recess so as to enable the cover to be pivoted between recess opening and closing positions thereof.

2. A bathtub a in claim 1, in which the opened recess cover position, to which the recess cover is adapted to be pivotable, and to which the pivotally mounting means are adapted to enable the recess cover to be pivoted, is stable position.

3. A bathtub as in claim 1, which includes a drain, and a valve for controlling the flow of water through the drain, and in which the recess further includes a back wall, in which the bathtub further comprises a drain valve handle, connected to the drain valve, and mounted in the recess back wall so as to project into the recess in a generally horizontal direction from the recess back wall towards the interior of the bathtub, adapted to be covered by the recess cover upon closing thereof, and to be accessible to the user for controlling the flow of water through the drain upon opening of the recess cover.

4. A bathtub as in claim 1, in which the cover includes opposed side edges and a back edge thereof, and has an opening in each of the opposed side edges proximate the back edge thereon, and in which the recess cover pivotally mounting means comprise a pair of opposed aligned pins projecting from the sides of the bathtub top wall opening proximate the top of the back wall of the recess, adapted to engage the cover side edge openings for enabling the cover to pivot thereabout.

5. A bathtub as in claim 1, in which the recess cover pivotally mounting means are adapted to enable the recess cover to be pivotally movable into an opened position projecting beyond the extended open position thereof.

6. A bathtub as in claim 4, in which the cover side edge openings and the cover-mounting pivot pins extend generally horizontally.

7. A bathtub as in claim 5, further comprising a pair of tubular sleeves mounted in the sides of the top wall opening-defining portions in the end wall of the bathtub proximate the top of the back wall of the recess, and in which the cover pivotally mounting means comprise a pair of rods, extending through the sleeves, each including an upper extending enlarged head portion and a lower depending portion, the upper extending portions of which are adapted to be reciprocally movable in the sleeves between cover-opened positions extending and projecting from each of the sleeves, means for pivotally connecting the upper extending end of each rod to the recess cover, and means for retaining the lower depending portions of the rods in the sleeves and for biasing the rods, in the cover-opened positions thereof, so as to extend from the sleeves.

8. A bathtub as in claim 7, in which the enlarged head portions at the upper ends of each of the pair of rods have an opening therein, the recess cover having a channel in each of the opposed side edges thereof proximate the cover back edge, and slots in each side of the back edge thereof generally complementary in shape and location to the enlarged head portion of each of the pair of rods, the rod enlarged head portions being interfittable in the cover back edge slots, the openings in the rod enlarged head portions being alignable with the channels in the recess cover, and in which the pivotally connecting means further comprise a pair of pins, each adapted to extend through the cover channels and rod head openings, for pivotally connecting the rods to the recess cover.

9. A bathtub as in claim 7, in which each of the pair of rods has an opening extending transverse to the length thereof proximate the lower depending end thereof, and in which the rod biasing means comprise pins insertable in and extendable from the rod transverse openings, and springs extendable about the rods between the tubular sleeve and the end extending pin.

\

10. A bathtub as in claim 7, in which the pivotally connecting pins extend generally horizontally, and in which the rods extend generally vertically.