Bathtub shower safety bar

Abstract

A bathtub shower safety bar for protecting the user from slipping or falling within a shower or a bathtub while bathing. The bar can be adjustable by having a bar slide within a bar.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable.REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

[0002] Not Applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The applicant is aware of U.S. patent publication 2008 / 0222790 that issued Sep. 18, 2008, to Grant in which there is disclosed an assist means to aid users of bath and shower facilities. The device uses suction cups at terminal ends along with a tension means to support the device in a bath or shower.

[0004] U.S. design patent D999,912 S that issued Sep. 26, 2023, to Schjoberg et. al., deals with a toilet support which is a body surrounding stainless steel grab bar to assist elderly handicapped persons.

[0005] U.S. Patent publication 2020 / 0154950 that published May 21, 2020, in the name of Chet Millerd deals with a walk-in bath with mounted support bars and support ledges.

[0006] A search on Amazon shows lift up grab bars for bathroom use.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is a bathtub shower safety bar. The safety bar comprises an attachment bracket. The attachment bracket comprises a first vertical channel that has two side walls and a first back wall. The first back wall has at least one back wall opening for a fastener for attaching the first vertical channel to a vertical wall. The side walls each have a second opening and a common pin through the second openings and an elongated bar that has a first end, and a second end for the pin. The bar is rotatable around the pin.

[0008] There is a receiver bracket. The receiver bracket comprises a second vertical channel that has two sidewalls and a second back wall. The second back wall has at least one back wall opening for a fastener for attaching the second vertical channel to a vertical wall opposite the attachment bracket, and in a horizontal line with the first vertical bracket.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0009] FIG. 1 is a full side view of a shower stall with the device of this invention installed from wall to wall.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a full top view of a shower stall with the device of this invention installed from wall to wall.

[0011] FIG. 3 shows a full side view of the bathtub shower safety bar installed from wall to wall.

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a full top view of a bathtub shower safety bar installed from wall to wall.

[0013] FIG. 5 shows a full side view of the bathtub shower safety bar with an attachment bracket and a receiver bracket on opposite terminal ends.

[0014] FIG. 6 shows a view in perspective of the receiver bracket.

[0015] FIG. 7 shows a view in perspective of the attachment bracket.

[0016] FIG. 8 shows a full side view of the attachment bracket with the safety bar installed.

[0017] FIG. 9 shows a full side view of the safety bar.

[0018] FIG. 10 shows a full top view of the safety bar.

[0019] FIG. 11 shows a full view in perspective of the receiver bracket with locking mechanism.

[0020] FIG. 12 shows a full top view of the receiver bracket with safety bar pin unengaged.

[0021] FIG. 13 shows a full top view of the receiver bracket with safety bar pin engaged.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the bathtub shower safety bar 2 installed in a shower from the side. The present invention is a bathtub shower safety bar 2. The safety bar 2 comprises an attachment bracket 4. The attachment bracket 4 comprises a first vertical channel 6 that has two side walls 8,10 and a first back wall 12. The first back wall 12 has at least one first opening 14 for a fastener for attaching the first vertical channel 6 to a vertical wall 16 (shown in FIG. 3). The side walls 8,10 each have a second opening 18,20 (20 shown in FIG. 2) and a common pin 22 through the second openings 18,20 and an elongated bar 24 that has a first end 26 and a second end 28 for the pin 22. The bar 24 IS rotatable around the pin 22.

[0023] There is a receiver bracket 32. The receiver bracket 32 comprises a second vertical channel 34 that has two sidewalls 36,38 and a second back wall 40. The back wall 40 has at least one fourth opening 42 for a fastener for attaching the second vertical channel 34 to a vertical wall 16 opposite the attachment bracket 4 and in a horizontal line with the receiver bracket 34.

[0024] Shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 is a safety bar 2 wherein the receiver bracket 34 further comprises a latch 44 for locking the elongated bar 24 in place, for example an indexing plunger lock.

[0025] The safety bar 2 has an overall length of 3½ feet to 7 feet and the length is adjustable.

[0026] The safety bar 2 where the first elongated bar 24 has a handle 48 mounted on it. The described safety bar 2 where the brackets 4,32 and elongated bars 24,25 are all manufactured from metal. The described safety bar 2 where the metal is aluminum. The described safety bar 2 where the adjustability of the elongated bars 24 and 25 are two slidable bars, one within the other allowing for a variety of lengths. The safety bar 2 further comprises a set screw 54 (FIG. 2) for joining or securing the two slidable bars 24 and 25.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows the bathtub shower safety bar 2 installed in a shower from the top. The safety bar 2 comprises an attachment bracket 4. The attachment bracket 4 comprises a first vertical channel 6 that has two side walls 8,10 and a first back wall 12. The first back wall 12 has at least one first opening 14 for a fastener for attaching the first vertical channel 6 to a vertical wall 16. The side walls 8,10 each have a second opening 18,20 and a common pin 22 through the second openings 18,20 and an elongated bar 24 that has a first end 26 and a second end 28 for the pin 22. The bar 24 rotatable around the pin 22.

[0028] There is a receiver bracket 32. The receiver bracket 32 comprises a second vertical channel 34 that has two sidewalls 36,38 and a second back wall 40. The back wall 40 has at least one fourth opening 42 for a fastener or attaching the second vertical channel 34 to a vertical wall 16 opposite the attachment bracket 4 and in a horizontal line with the receiver bracket 32.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows the bathtub shower safety bar 2 installed in a bathtub from the side. The safety bar 2 comprises an attachment bracket 4. The attachment bracket 4 comprises a first vertical channel 6 that has two side walls 8,10 and a first back wall 12. The first back wall 12 has at least one first opening 14 for a fastener for attaching the first vertical channel 6 to a vertical wall 16. The side walls 8, 10 each have a second opening 18,20 and a common pin 22 through the second openings 18,20 and an elongated bars 24, 25 that has a first end 26 and a second end 28 for the pin 22. The bar 24 is rotatable around the pin.

[0030] There is a receiver bracket 32. The receiver bracket 32 comprises a second vertical channel 34 that has two sidewalls 36,38 and a second back wall 40. The back wall 40 has at least one fourth opening 42 for a fastener for attaching the second vertical channel 34 to a vertical wall 16 opposite the attachment bracket 4 and in a horizontal line with the receiver bracket 34.

[0031] The safety bar 2 further comprises a latch 44 for locking the elongated bar 25 in place. The safety bar 2 is adjustable. The safety bar 2 has an overall length of 3½ feet to 7 feet and the safety bar 2 has a has a handle 48 mounted on it.

[0032] The safety bar 2, the brackets 4 and 32, and the elongated bars 24,25 are all manufactured from metal. Preferred for the bar is aluminum. The safety bar 2 further comprises a set screw 54 for joining the two slidable bars 24,25.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the bathtub shower safety bar 2 installed in a bathtub from the top. The safety bar 2 comprises an attachment bracket 4. The attachment bracket 4 comprises a first vertical channel 6 that has two side walls 8,10 and a first back wall 12. The first back wall 12 has at least one first opening 14 for a fastener for attaching the first vertical channel 6 to a vertical wall 16. The side walls 8,10 each have a second opening 18,20 and a common pin 22 through the second openings 18,20 and an elongated bar 24 that has a first end 26 and a second end 28 for the pin 22. The bar 24 rotatable around the pin.

[0034] There is a receiver bracket 32. The receiver bracket 32 comprises a second vertical channel 34 that has two sidewalls 36,38 and a second back wall 40. The back wall 40 has at least one additional opening 42 for a fastener for attaching the second vertical channel 34 to a vertical wall 16 opposite the attachment bracket 4 and in a horizontal line with the receiver bracket 34.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows the bathtub shower safety bar 2 from the side with the attachment bracket 4 and receiver bracket 34. The attachment bracket 4 comprises a first vertical channel 6 that has two side walls 8, 10 and a first back wall 12. The first back wall 12 has at least one first opening 14 for a fastener for attaching the first vertical channel 6 to a vertical wall 16. The side walls 8,10 each have a second opening 18,20 and a common pin 22 through the second openings 18,20 and an elongated bar 24 that has a first end 26 and a second end 28 for the pin 22. The bar 24 rotatable around the pin 22.

[0036] There is a receiver bracket 32. The receiver bracket 32 comprises a second vertical channel 34 that has two sidewalls 36,38 and a second back wall 40. The back wall 40 has at least one additional opening 42 for a fastener for attaching the second vertical channel 34 to a vertical wall 16 opposite the attachment bracket 4 and in a horizontal line with the receiver bracket 34.

[0037] The safety bar 2 further comprises a latch 44 for locking the elongated bar 24 in place.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows the receiver bracket 32. The receiver bracket 32 comprises a second vertical channel 34 that has two sidewalls 36,38 and a second back wall 40. The back wall 40 has at least one additional opening 42 for a fastener for attaching the second vertical channel 34 to a vertical wall 16 opposite the attachment bracket 4 and in a horizontal line with the receiver bracket 34.

[0039] The safety bar 2 further comprises a latch 44 for locking the elongated bar 25 in place.

[0040] FIG. 7 shows the attachment bracket 4. The attachment bracket 4 comprises a first vertical channel 6 that has two side walls 8,10 and a first back wall 12. The first back wall 12 has at least one first opening 14 for a fastener for attaching the first vertical channel 6 to a vertical wall 16. The side walls 8,10 each have a second opening 18,20 and a common pin 22 through the second openings 18,20 and an elongated bar 24 that has a first end 26 and a second end 28 for the pin 22. The bar 24 rotatable around the pin.

[0041] FIG. 8 shows the attachment bracket with the safety bar installed. The attachment bracket 4 comprises a first vertical channel 6 that has two side walls 8,10 and a first back wall 12. The first back wall 12 has at least one first opening 14 for a fastener for attaching the first vertical channel 6 to a vertical wall 16. The side walls 8,10 each have a second opening 18,20 and a common pin 22 through the second openings 18,20 and an elongated bar 24 that has a first end 26 and a second end 28 for the pin 22. The bar 24 rotatable around the pin 22.

[0042] FIG. 9 shows the safety bar 2 from the side. The elongated bar 24 has a handle 48 and the adjustability slot 46 that is used for storing the safety bar 2 when not in use.

[0043] FIG. 10 shows the safety bar 2 from the top. The elongated bar 24 has a handle 48. Also shown are the pin 22 and the pin 47 within the adjustability slot 46.

[0044] FIG. 11 shows the receiver bracket 32. The receiver bracket 32 comprises a second vertical channel 34 that has two sidewalls 36,38 and a second back wall 40. The back wall 40 has at least one fourth opening 42 for a fastener for attaching the second vertical channel 34 to a vertical wall 16. Openings 37 in the side walls 36,38 and the pin 39 for securing the elongated bar 24 in place.

[0045] FIG. 12 shows the receiver bracket 32 with safety bar pin 39 unengaged.

[0046] FIG. 13 shows the receiver bracket 32 with safety bar pin 39 engaged.

Claims

1. A bathtub shower safety bar, said safety bar comprising:(i) an attachment bracket, said attachment bracket comprising a first vertical channel having two side walls and a first back wall, said first back wall having at least one first opening for a fastener for attaching said first vertical channel to a vertical wall;(ii) said side walls each having a second opening and a common pin through said second openings and(iii) an elongated bar having a first end and a second end for said pin, said bar rotatable around said pin;(iv) a receiver bracket, said receiver bracket comprising a second vertical channel having two sidewalls and a second back wall, said back wall having at least one fourth opening for a fastener for attaching said second vertical channel to a vertical wall opposite said attachment bracket and in a horizontal line with said first vertical bracket.

2. The safety bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiver bracket further comprises a latch on one terminal end for locking said elongated bar in place.

3. The safety bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated bar is adjustable.

4. The safety bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated bar is not adjustable.

5. The safety bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein the overall length of said safety bar is 3½ feet to 7 feet.

6. The safety bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated bar has a handle mounted on it.

7. The safety bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brackets and elongated bar are all manufactured from metal.

8. The safety bar as claimed in claim 7 wherein said metal is aluminum.

9. The safety bar as claimed in claim 7 wherein said metal is stainless steel.

10. The safety bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjustability of said elongated bar is two slidable bars, one within the other.

11. The safety bar as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a set screw for joining said two slidable bars to enable adjustability.

12. The safety bar as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a spring-loaded bolt for joining said two slidable bars to enable adjustability

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