Roger's EZ Shower

For individuals having issues with breathing, showers can pose a significant hurdle to everyday life. Conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis make it increasingly difficult for individuals to bend over, maneuver, and breath due to the steam produced by a shower. Current solutions revolve around implementing an entirely new shower unit or utilizing a shower chair that only has a marginal effect. Installing a shower unit is not feasible for every individual and a shower chair does not facilitate accessibility. Therefore, there is a need for an easily installable shower accessory that promotes the maneuverability of the user.

The shower apparatus presented herein pertains to a lap-high rolling basin and surface that enhances accessibility and comfort for individuals with breathing difficulties. The apparatus includes an adjustable top surface that allows the user to easily maneuver the showering apparatus to be positioned directly above the user. When engaged the user may be able to access a top surface for supporting washing material, and a basin which eliminates the need to bend over and strain to maneuver the shower. Additionally, the apparatus includes a showerhead cutout so that users can adjust the water flow and direction without the need to reach or strain.

What is presented is a showering apparatus having a stationary frame and a top surface. The stationary frame includes a first support that sits on top of an edge of bathtub and a second support that sits atop an opposite edge of the bathtub. A connecting support extends between the first support and the second support which creates an inner area that is configured to fit the top surface. The top surface has a basin for retaining ware, a cutout for holding a showerhead, and is configured to fit within the inner area.

The first support and second support may include a vertically extendable element allowing the height of the top surface to be adjusted such that it fits the user and bathtub. The top surface and connecting support may have a horizontal extendable element allowing the distance between the first support and second support to be adjusted to fit bathtubs of varying sizes.

The showering apparatus may include an adjustable frame in which two movable supports are attached to the top surface. In a closed configuration the adjustable frame including the top surface occupies the inner area defined by the first support, second support, and connecting support. In an open configuration the adjustable frame including the top surface may be moved such that the adjustable frame and top surface are in an area outside of the inner area. Transitioning between configurations may be aided by a movable element that is attached at the bottom of both movable supports and may include wheels, or slides. The showering apparatus may also include locking elements that allow the showering apparatus to be locked into an open or close configuration.

Those skilled in the art will realize that this invention is capable of embodiments that are different from those shown and that details of the apparatus and methods can be changed in various manners without departing from the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as including such equivalent embodiments as do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, some of the reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding parts through several of the embodiments and figures shown and described. Corresponding parts are denoted in different embodiments with the addition of lowercase letters. Variations of corresponding parts in form or function that are depicted in the figures are described. It will be understood that variations in the embodiments can generally be interchanged without deviating from the invention.

Described herein is a shower apparatus for providing a sink within a bathtub as seen inand. Shower apparatusincludes two supportsconfigured to sit on top of the edge of bathtubat opposite ends. Additionally, shower apparatusincludes a connecting supportthat connects two supports, and a top surfacethat is configured to fit between the two supports. Top surfaceincludes a basinfor retaining water, and a cutout (not shown) for holding a showerhead.

Two supportsboth include a contact surface, a front vertical support, a rear vertical support, and a horizontal supportthat forms a rectangular shape. Contact surfaceis designed to contact the edge of bathtub. Front vertical supportand rear vertical supportextend vertically from contact surfacedefining a height. Both front vertical supportand rear vertical supportmay include extendable elements that allow a user to adjust the height of shower assembly. The extendable element may include springs and pins for locking the front vertical supportor rear vertical support. Horizontal supportextends from front vertical supportto rear vertical support. Connecting supportextends between two supportsand connects to each rear vertical support. Two supportsand connecting supportdefine an inner area in which top surfaceis configured to fit.

Top surfaceincludes a basin, and a cutout for holding a showerhead. Top surfacemay include a flat areaallowing items to be placed on top of top surface. Flat areamay include facetthat may be connected to a water supplying source. Facetmay include controls for flow and temperature that manipulates the water received by facet. Additionally, top surfacemay include showerheadthat is disposed in a cutout. The cutout for showerheadis configured to hold showerheadwhile it dispenses water near basinwhich provides a steady stream of water. Showerheadmay alternatively be attached to top surfaceand connected to a water source. Additionally, showerheadmay be detached from the cutout and utilized as a typical showerhead. Basinis configured to retain water from a water source provided from facetor showerhead. Basinmay include a drain having an open and closed configuration. In an open configuration water that enters basincan flow through the drain such that water is emptied from basin. In a closed configuration the drain is closed, not allowing water to exit basin. Therefore, water collects in basin.

In some embodiments, the distance between two supportsmay be altered by utilizing extendable elements in connecting support, and top surface. Including an extendable element to adjust the width of showering apparatusallows the apparatus to be adapted to any bathtub regardless of variations in bathtub sizes.

illustrate one embodiment of showering apparatusin a stationary configuration. In a stationary configuration the top surfaceis attached to two supportsby horizontal supports. Alternatively, the shower apparatus may have an adjustable feature.

A user may utilize shower apparatusin combination with a shower chair (not shown). A shower chair may be placed in a bathtubgiving support to the user. The height of showering apparatusmay be manipulated utilizing vertical extendable elements such that the height is proportionate to the user. Having the height at an appropriate height limits the strain on the user reaching items on top surface. Additionally, the width defined as the distance between supportsmay be manipulated using horizontal extendable elements such as supportsalign with the edges of bathtub.

In the stationary configuration the user may position the chair underneath showering apparatus, allowing a user to reach items that are placed on flat surface, and utilize features such as facet, showerhead, and basin. Having all these features within reach of the user eliminates the need for user to bend over and maneuver which alleviates the pressure on the user's breathing.

illustrate another embodiment of showering apparatushaving an movable top surface.shows adjustable showering apparatusin a closed configuration. In the closed configuration top surfaceoccupies the inner area defined by two supportsand connecting supportTop surfacesits atop horizontal supportbut is not connected mechanically. Sitting inside the inner area serves as a guide for moving the top surfacefrom an open configuration to a closed configuration. Top surfaceincludes a movable supportthat offers support when top surfaceis moved from a closed configuration to an open configuration. Movable supportsmay include a movable elementsuch as a wheel or slide at the bottom of the movable supportsthat allows the facilitation of the transition from a closed to open configuration. Adjustable showering apparatusmay additionally include a handleattached to top surfaceallowing adjustable showering apparatusto be transitioned from a closed configuration to an open configuration.

shows adjustable showering apparatusin an open configuration. In the open configuration top surfaceoccupies an area outside of the inner area defined by two supportsand connecting supportBy transitioning from a closed configuration to a open configuration a user can move basinattached to top surfacecloser to the user such that it can be more easily engaged. Movable supportmovable elementand handlemay be used to transition between the closed configuration and open configuration. Adjustable showering apparatusmay include a locking system that utilizes a locking element to fix the position of top surfacerelative to the inner area. The locking system may lock top surfacein either a closed or open configuration. Additionally, movable supportsand two supportsmay include a vertical extendable element allowing the height of top surfaceto be adjusted to the user's height.

Adjustable showering apparatusmay be utilized such that the position of top surfacecan be manipulated to engage the user at various positions within bathtubFor example, a showering chair may be placed in a position a distance from showering apparatuswhich eliminates the likelihood that a user would become entangled and fall over due to showering apparatus'position. When a user wants to utilize showering apparatusthe user can pull top surfacefrom the closed configuration towards the user such that it occupies an area above the user. The action of pulling top surfacemay be aided by a series of wheels, slides, and handles. Once the top surfaceis pulled into an open configuration the user can access the features of showering apparatuslike the stationary configuration. After a user is finished utilizing shower apparatustop surfacemay me pushed in moving showering apparatusfrom an open configuration to a closed configuration. Once in the closed configuration shower apparatusis no longer obstructing the movement of the user which minimizes the potential for injury. At any point in transitioning from open configuration to the closed configuration a locking system including locking elements may be utilized to lock top surfacein place. The locking system may additionally be utilized in the open configuration, the closed configuration, or when transitioning from the closed to open configuration.

This invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Many modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such alterations and modifications in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents of these claims.