US3396412A - Bathtub - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1968 1..v R. FRANCOM BATHTUB Filed July 2, 1965 I NVENTOR. LAWREIIC! II. FRANLOM Anon/v5) United States Patent 3,396,412 BATHTUB Lawrence R. Francom, 15277 Sobey Road, Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Filed July 2, 1965, Ser. No. 469,079 9 Claims. (Cl. 4-173) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sunken fiberglass bathtub having a bottom wall with rigidifying galvanized strips disposed in the wall. A pair of upright surfaces integrally formed with the bottom wall and a pair of horizontal surfaces integrally formed with the upright wall provide a head and arm rest. A pump chamber is formed in the interior wall of the tub with faucets being mounted on top of the chamber. A pump within the pump chamber receives water from the tub through a drain in the pump chamber wall and pumps this water through an adjustable valve into an imbedded conduit which leads to a nozzle recessed in the head rest. The pump water is mixed with air in the recessed nozzle through a remote air vent, and is sprayed over the neck and shoulders of the body.

The present invention relates in general to bathroom fixtures, and more particularly to a bathtub.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved bathtub.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sunken bathtub. v

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub that can be installed with facility with-out sacrificing durability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub in which the conduits therefor are molded within the tube at the time of construction thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bathtube in which a compartment is formed in the bathtub to accommodate a pump.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub with a step and body support and with a nozzle for spraying water disposed adjacent the step and body support.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bath tub embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bathtub shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the fiberglass or plastic bathtub of the present invention which, in the preferred embodiment, is made from sheets of moldable plastic or fiberglass material. The bathtub 10 is partially sunken into a floor F or a suitable supporting surface so that the bottom 'wall 11 thereof is below the floor level. In addition, adjacent upright walls 12 and 12' of the bathtub 10 are in flush engagement with adjacent walls W and W respectively.

It has been found that fiberglass or plastic is a desirable mat rial from which to mold a bathtub, because of its good heat retaining characteristics. However, such fiber- 3,396,412 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 "ice glass or plastic has greater flexibility or yieldability than is desired for a bathtub. According to the present invention, rigidifying or stiffening straps 13, 14 and 15 in the form of galvanized straps are disposed within the bottom wall 11 of the bathtub 10. In this manner, the bottom wall 11 and the fiberglass or plastic bathtub 10 are sufficiently rigidified to withstand the weight of a person standing within the bathtub 10. The bathtub 10 also includes adjacent Walls and 21 which face the walls 12 and 12, respectively. Along the upper edges of the walls 12 and 12' are rim flanges or lips, whereby the surrounding wall whether it be wallboard or tile can be mounted thereon in flush fitting relation, thereby, in effect, mounting the bathtub 10 within the surrounding walls and below the floor level.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bathtub 10 is formed with a step 25 having a riser or vertical wall 26, a horizontal wall or body rest 27, and a second riser or vertical wall 28. In this manner, a person can conveniently step into or step out of the bathtub 10. Adjacent to the step 25 is a triangular prism support having a vertical wall 31 that joins the upright wall 26 of the step 25 and a horizontal wall 32 that joins the horizontal wall 27 of the step 25. Through the foregoing arrangement, a person sitting on the bottom wall 11 with the back of the body against the upright wall 26 can rest the head on the horizontal wall 25 and an arm on the horizontal wall 32.

Embedded in their entirety within the bathtub 10 during the molding of the fiberglass or plastic sheets are suitable plumbing conduits or pipes -44. At the discharge end of the pipe 40 is a suitable nozzle 45, which fits within a recessed area of the upright wall 26 of the step 25. The nozzle does not project outwardly from the seat 25, but is capable of ejecting a water spray outwardly therefrom. A remote air vent inlet 49, preferably mounted from the wall W receives air by being exposed from and projected from the wall W The air received by the air vent inlet 49 is conducted through a pipe 50 and the embedded pipe 44 into the nozzle 45. Hence, the water discharged from the nozzle 45 is in the form of an aerated jet or spray. It is to be observed that the nozzle 45 is mounted within the upright wall 26 of the step 25 to spray water onto the parts of the body, such as the neck and the shoulder.

Integrally formed with the walls 20 and 21 of the bathtub 10 is a pump and fixture chamber or compartment 55, which accommodates a conventional pump and motor 56 of the type used for swimming pools. Suitable tubes, such as copper pipes 57 and 58 connect the pump 56 to the embedded circuit 43. The pump 56 is connected to a suitable time switch, not shown. lnterposed between the pipes 57 and 58 is a manually operated flow control valve 59 for controlling the flow of water through the pipe 57, and, hence, through the nozzle 45. Adjacent the valve 59 are disposed water faucets or taps 60 and 61, which control the fiow of hot and cold water into the tub 10. A drain opening 62 is formed in the bottom wall 11. Through an inlet 56a, the pump and motor 56 drains Water from the tub 10 and discharges the water through a conduit 64 into the conduits 58 and 57 for recirculation by discharging the water out of the nozzle 45.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fixtures 60 and 61 are built into the raised walls of the chamber and are mounted above an overflow opening 63, which is formed in the wall 21. Thus, the raised compartment 55 for the the overflow opening 63 adjacent to the rim of the wall 21 and above the threshold of the tub 10.

When the valve 59 is opened, water flows through the valve 59, the conduit 57, conduit 43, conduit 42, conduit 41 conduit 40 and is discharged from the nozzle 45. Water under pressure controlled by the pump and motor 56 flows over the path above described for recirculation and is drawn from the tub through an inlet 56a of the pump and motor 56. The conduit 64 interconnects the output of the pump and motor 56 with the conduit 58. This action provides a jet stream recirculating flow of waterout of the nozzle 45 for the comfort of the user of the bathtub 10.

In operation, the flow control valve 59 is opened and the pump 56 is turned on through an electrical switch, not shown, for operation to draw water thereon through an inlet 56a and discharging the water through the pipe 64. Said inlet 56a is fitted in a watertight manner in the front wall of the chamber '55, but the inlet opening is exposed to the interior of the bathtub to communicate with the interior of said bathtub to drain water therefrom. Water under pressure flows through the pipes 58, 57, 43, 42, 41 and 40 and is discharged for recirculation through nozzle 45. An aerated spray or jet is provided through the air vent 49 communicating with the nozzle 45 through the conduits 50 and 44.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A bathroom fixture comprising a fiberglass bathtub, said bathtub comprising a bottom wall and an upright wall integrally formed with said bottom wall and a horizontal wall integrally formed with said upright wall and spaced above said bottom wall, said upright wall and said horizontal wall forming a step and a rest upon which a portion of the persons body may be supported, said upright wall being formed with a recessed area, said bathtub being formed with an integrally formed pump chamber, a nozzle disposed within the recessed area of said upright wall for discharging water into said bath, a conduit embedded in its entirety in said fiberglass bathtub for conducting water to said nozzle, and a pump mounted within said pump chamber for drawing water from said bathtub and communicating with said conduit for pumping water under pressure through said conduit for recirculation by said nozzle.

2. A bathroom fixture comprising a bathtub, said bathtub being formed with an integrally formed pump chamber extending to a higher elevation than adjacent walls of said bathtub, valve means fixedly secured to said pump chamber, and a pump mounted within said pump chamber and communicating with said valve means.

3. A bathroom fixture comprising a fiberglass bathtub,

said bathtub comprising a bottom wall and an upright wall integrally formed with said bottom wall and a horizontal wall integrally formed with said upright wall and spaced above said bottom wall, said upright wall and said horizontal wall forming a step and a rest upon which a portion of a persons body may be supported, said upright wall being formed with a recessed area, said bathtub being formed with an integrally formed pump chamber, a nozzle disposed within the recessed area of said upright Wall for discharging water into said bathtub, a conduit embedded in its entirety in said fiberglass bathtub for conducting water to said nozzle, a pump mounted within said pump chamber for drawing water from said tub and communicating with said conduit for pumping water under pressure through said conduit for recirculation through said nozzle, an air conduit embedded in said fiberglass bathtub and communicating with said nozzle, and venting means with an opening removed from said bathtub connected to said air conduit for supplying air to said nozzle to be mixed with the water discharged from said nozzle.

4. A bathtub comprising a bottom wall on which a person may sit with legs extended, a first upright wall against which said person may place his back integrally formed with said bottom wall, a first horizontal wall integrally formed with said first upright wall and spaced above said bottom wall, said first upright wall and said firsthorizontal wall forming a step and a rest upon which the head of said person may be supported, a second upright wall disposedcontiguous with said first upright wall and said bottom wall, and a second horizontal wall integrally formed with said second upright wall and disposed contiguous with and at even height with said first horizontal wall, said second upright wall and said second horizontal wall forming a rest upon which an arm of said person may be supported. a

5. A bathroom fixture comprising a bathtub, said bathtub comprising a bottom wall and an uprightwall integrally formed with said bottom wall and a horizontal wall integrally formed with said upright wall and spaced above said bottom wall, said upright wall and said horizontal wall forming a step and a rest upon which a portion of a persons body may be supported, said upright wall being formed with a recessed area, said bathtub being formed with an integrally formed pump chamber, a nozzle disposed within the recessed area of said upright wall for discharging water into said bath, a conduit imbedded in its entirety in said bathtub for conducting water to said nozzle, and a pump mounted within said pump chamber for drawing water from said bathtub and communicating with said conduit for pumping water under pressure through said conduit for recirculation by said nozzle.

6. A bathroom fixture comprising a bathtub, said bathtub comprising a bottom wall and an upright wall integrally formed with said bottom 'wall and a horizontal wall integrally formed with said upright wall and spaced above said bottom wall, said upright wall and said horizontal wall forming a step and a rest upon which a portion of a persons body maybe supported, said upright wall being formed with a recessed area, said bathtub being formed with an integrally formed pump chamber, a nozzle disposed within the recessed area of said upright wall for discharging water into said. bathtub, a conduit imbedded in its entirety in said bathtub for conducting water to said nozzle, a pump mounted within said pump chamber for drawing from said tub and communicating with said conduit for pumping water .under pressure through said conduit for recirculation through said nozzle, an inner conduit imbedded within said bathtub and communicating with said nozzle, and venting means with an opening removed from said bathtub connected to said air conduit for supplying air to said nozzle to be mixed with the water discharged from said nozzle. I

7. A bathroom fixture comprising a bathtub, the interior wall of said bathtub being formed with an integrally formed pump chamber, and a pump mounted within said chamber, said pump chamber extending to a higher elevation than adjacent walls of said bathtub.

8. A bathroom fixture as claimed in claim 7 and comprising faucet means mounted on the upper portion of said pump chamber.

9. A bathroom fixture as claimed in claim 8 and comprising a drain mounted on the lower portion of said pump chambers for admitting water into said pump for recirculation into said bathtub.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 580,367 4/1897 Buick 4-173 2,058,188 10/1936 Stanton 4-173 (Other references on following page) 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Additon 4173 More 4-15O Thompson 4173 Cowley 4-173 X Beardsley 4173 Jacuzzi 4-180 X Strand 4-173 6 2,820,228 1/1958 Rodman 4173 3,263,678 8/1966 Everston.

FOREIGN PATENTS 5 1,298,722 6/1961 France.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primaly Examiner.

H. J. GROSS, Assistant Examiner.

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