DEVICE FOR REDIRECTING WATER UNDERNEATH A SHOWER CHAIR

Abstract

The device for redirecting water underneath a shower chair is a shield that is installed on the underside of a shower chair and which redirects the flow of water that passes through the seat of the shower chair. The water is redirected to one side of the chair by the first landing on a water shield which is inclined and causes the water to flow towards the front of the chair. Water reaching the front of the water shield flows into a cylindrical member located at the front of the water shield. The cylindrical member is canted with respect to horizontal and cause the water to flow to a side of the chair.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of math safety devices, more specifically, a device for redirecting the flow of water over the edge of and underneath a shower chair.

[0005] Some individuals may require a shower chair to be placed within a shower stall or bathtub so that they can sit while they bathe or are bathed. In the process of bathing, some of the water that lands on them or on the shower chair may flow over the edge of and along the underside of the shower chair and drip on the floor behind, beside or in front of them. Water that drips behind, beside, or in from of them may land on the bathroom floor outside of the shower stall or bathtub. Water that drips in front of them may land on the shower floor but in an area where they must stand to get out of the shower stall or bathtub. Water in either of these areas may increase the risk of slip and fall accidents.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The device for redirecting water underneath a shower chair is a shield that is installed on the underside of a shower chair and which redirects the flow of water that passes through the seat of the shower chair. The water is redirected to one side of the chair by the first landing on a water shield, which is inclined and causes the water to flow towards the front of the chair. Water reaching the front of the water shield flows into a cylindrical member located at the front of the water shield. The cylindrical member is canted with respect to horizontal and cause the water to flow to a side of the chair.

[0007] An object of the invention is to redirect the flow of water off the edges of and underneath a shower chair to one side of the shower chair.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to easily attach to the edges and underside of a shower chair.

[0009] These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the device for redirecting water underneath a shower chair will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0010] In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the device for redirecting water underneath a shower chair in detail, it is to be understood that the device for redirecting water underneath a shower chair is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the device for redirecting water underneath a shower chair.

[0011] It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the device for redirecting water underneath a shower chair. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure when in use under a shower chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0018] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word "exemplary" or "illustrative" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described herein as "exemplary" or "illustrative" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the word "or" is intended to be inclusive.

[0019] Detailed reference will now be made to a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5.

[0020] The device for redirecting water underneath a shower chair 100 (hereinafter invention) comprises a water shield 200, an angled end 210, a cylindrical member 250, and one or more upper fasteners 220. The invention 100 attaches to an underside 915 of a shower chair 910. When in place under the shower chair 910, the invention 100 diverts the flow of a water 950 such that the water 950 used for bathing is less likely to land in an area where it could contribute to slip and fall accidents, such as outside of exit a shower stall or bathtub 900 or on the a shower floor 905 in front of the shower chair 910.

[0021] The water shield 200 is a planar surface that is used to divert the flow of the water 950 under the shower chair 910. The size of the water shield 200 may be from 50% of the size of a seat portion 925 of the shower chair 910 to 125% of the size of the seat portion 925 of the shower chair 910. Size, in this case, refers to the linear distance along any edge of the water shield 200 or to the surface area of the water shield 200. This range of sizes allows that in some embodiments the water shield 200 may actually be slightly larger than the seat portion 925 of the shower chair 910 and may extend beyond the footprint of the seat portion 925 of the shower chair 910. When installed under the shower chair 910, the water shield 200 is inclined at an angle of inclination 214 with respect to a horizontal surface.

[0022] The angled end 210 of the water shield 200 is located at the top of the water shield 200. The top end of the water shield 200 may be bent to form the angled end 210. The angled end 210 facilitates installation under the shower chair 910 because a bend angle 212 of the angled end 210 matches the angle of inclination 214 of the water shield 200. This means that when the water shield 200 is installed under the shower chair 910 at the angle of inclination 214, the top of the angled end 210 is parallel to the underside 915 of the shower chair 910. The top of the angled end 210 may attach to the underside 915 of the shower chair 910 via the one or more upper fasteners 220.

[0023] The cylindrical member 250 of the water shield 200 is located at the bottom of the water shield 200. The bottom end of the water shield 200 may be bent to form the cylindrical member 250. The cylindrical member 250 is not a closed cylinder--a longitudinal gap 255 exists in the cylindrical member 250. The longitudinal gap 255 is situated on the top side of the water shield 200 and allows the water 950 flowing down the top surface of the water shield 200 to flow into the cylindrical member 250. The cylindrical member 250 is canted with respect to a center line through the cylindrical member 265, and which is not parallel to a top edge 270 of the water shield 200. Canting of the cylindrical member 250 allows the water 950 that flows into the cylindrical member 250 to drain out of the cylindrical member 250 in one direction. Both ends of the cylindrical member 250 are open.

[0024] The invention 100 is secured to the shower chair 910 at the upper end of the invention 100 by the one or more upper fasteners 220. In some embodiments, the one or more upper fasteners 220 may comprise one half of a nylon hook and loop fastener applied to the upper surface of the angled end 210 of the water shield 200 with the other half of the nylon hook and loop fastener applied to the underside 915 of the shower chair 910. As a non-limiting example, the loop side of the nylon hook and loop fastener may be applied to the upper surface of the angled end 210 of the water shield 200 using an adhesive and the hook side of the nylon hook and loop fastener may be applied to the underside 915 of the shower chair 910 using an adhesive. In some embodiments, the one or more upper fasteners 220 may include an adhesive strip that is applied directly to the upper surface of the angled end 210 of the water shield 200, and then pressed against the underside 915 of the shower chair 910.

[0025] As a non-limiting example, double-sided tape may be applied to the upper surface of the angled end 210 of the water shield 200, and then pressed against the underside 915 of the shower chair 910. In some embodiments, the one or more upper fasteners 220 may be an arrangement of nylon straps that attach to the shower chair 910 and to the angled end 210 of the water shield 200 thus holding them together.

[0026] The invention 100 may further comprise one or more lower fasteners 260. The invention 100 may be secured to the shower chair 910 at the lower end of the invention 100 by the one or more lower fasteners 260. In some embodiments, the one or more lower fasteners 260 may comprise separate fasteners for the right side and the left side of the invention 100. In some embodiments, the one or more lower fasteners 260 may comprise one half of a hook and loop fastener applied to the cylindrical member 250 with the other half of the hook and loop fastener applied to a portion of the shower chair 910. In some embodiments, the one or more lower fasteners 260 may be an adhesive strip applied directly to the cylindrical member 250, and then pressed against a portion of the shower chair 910.

[0027] In some embodiments, the one or more lower fasteners 260 may be an arrangement of nylon straps that attach to a portion the shower chair 910 and to the cylindrical member 250 thus holding them together. In some embodiments, the invention 100 may be designed to work with a specific model of the shower chair 910. In those cases, features of the shower chair 910 may engage with features of the invention 100 to hold the invention 100 in place under the shower chair 910. As a non-limiting example, the angled end 210 of the water shield 200 may comprise a hole pattern (not shown in the figures) that engages with hooks (not shown in the figures) on the underside 915 of the shower chair 910 to hold the top end of the invention 100 in place and legs of the shower chair 910 may comprise a ledge that supports the lower end of the invention 100.

[0028] In use, the invention 100 is attached to the underside 915 of the shower chair 910 by attaching the one or more upper fasteners 220 and the one or more lower fasteners 260 to portions of the shower chair 910. Ideally, the invention 100 is installed so that the lowest side of the cylindrical member 250 is on the drain side of the shower stall or bathtub 900. Then, a user sits on the shower chair 910. As the user is bathed, some of the water 950 will run down the user's body or otherwise land on the shower chair 910 where the water 950 may pass through gaps or holes in the shower chair 910 and come to rest on the water shield 200. Due to the bend angle 212 of the water shield 200, the water 950 will run towards the bottom of the water shield 200 and pass through the longitudinal gap 255 in the cylindrical member 250.

[0029] Once inside of the cylindrical member 250, the water 950 will flow towards the lower end of the cylindrical member 250 and exit through an open end of the cylindrical member 250. This may prevent the water 950 from exiting the shower stall or bathtub 900 and landing on a bathroom floor 920 or from landing on the shower floor 905 in front of the shower chair 910.

[0030] With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in FIGS. 1 through 5, include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention.

[0031] It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A water redirecting device comprising: a water shield, an angled end, an elongate member, and one or more upper fasteners; wherein the elongate member has a cross-section, which is shaped as a major section of a circle; wherein the water redirecting device is configured to attach to an underside of a shower chair; wherein the water redirecting device diverts the flow of a water in order to inhibit slip and fall accidents; wherein the water shield is a planar surface that is configured to be used to divert the flow of the water underneath the shower chair; wherein the water shield is configured to be inclined at an angle of inclination with respect to a horizontal surface when installed under the shower chair; wherein the angled end of the water shield is located at a top of the water shield; wherein the top of the water shield is bent to form the angled end; wherein the angled end is configured to facilitate installation under the shower chair in that a bend angle of the angled end matches the angle of inclination of the water shield; wherein the top of the angled end is configured to attach to and be parallel with the underside of the shower chair; wherein a bottom end of the water shield is attached to the elongate member; wherein a longitudinal gap exists in the cylindrical member; wherein the longitudinal gap is situated on the top of the water shield; wherein the longitudinal gap and allows the water flowing down the water shield into the elongate member.

2. (canceled)

3. The water redirecting device according to claim 1 wherein the size of the water shield is configured to be from 50% of the size of a seat portion of the shower chair to 125% of the size of the seat portion of the shower chair.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. The water redirecting device according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member is canted with respect to horizontal; wherein canting of the elongate member allows the water that flows into the elongate member to drain out of the elongate member in one direction; wherein both ends of the elongate member are open.

12. The water redirecting device according to claim 11 wherein the water redirecting device is configured to be secured to the shower chair at the angled end of the water redirecting device by the one or more upper fasteners.

13. The water redirecting device according to claim 12 wherein the one or more upper fasteners comprise one half of a hook and loop fastener applied to the angled end of the water shield with the other half of the hook and loop fastener being configured to be applied to the underside of the shower chair.

14. The water redirecting device according to claim 12 wherein the one or more upper fasteners are an adhesive strip applied directly to the angled end of the water shield and then configured to be pressed against the underside of the shower chair.

15. The water redirecting device according to claim 12 wherein the one or more upper fasteners are an arrangement of nylon straps that are configured to be attached to the shower chair and to the angled end of the water shield thus holding them together.

16. The water redirecting device according to claim 12 further comprising one or more lower fasteners; wherein the water redirecting device is configured to be secured to the shower chair by the one or more lower fasteners.

17. The water redirecting device according to claim 16 wherein the one or more lower fasteners comprise separate fasteners for a right side and a left side of the water redirecting device.

18. The water redirecting device according to claim 16 wherein the one or more lower fasteners is an adhesive strip applied directly to the elongate member and then configured to be pressed against a portion of the shower chair.