Transfer bench

Abstract

A bench can be used with at least one of a bathtub and a shower. The bench includes a seating surface, a support for supporting the seating surface, and a restraining member configured to restrain a shower curtain when the bench is disposed at least partly within a bathtub. The restraining member can include a drain configured to direct liquid into the bathtub while the restraining member restrains the shower curtain. The bench may also include a handle adjacent the seating surface and a soap dish disposed substantially under the handle. The bench may also have a pad including foam that can be positioned on the seating surface to provide a second seating surface, and connectors that maintain the pad in position on the seating surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bench for use with at least one of a bathtub and a shower, the bench comprising: 
 a seating surface;    a support for supporting the seating surface; and    a restraining member configured to restrain a shower curtain when the bench is disposed at least partly within at least one of a bathtub and a shower, wherein the restraining member includes a drain configured to direct liquid into at least one of the bathtub and the shower while the restraining member restrains the shower curtain.    
     
     
         2 . The bench of  claim 1 , wherein the drain includes a water directing surface and an opening in the water directing surface that allows liquid to pass to the bathtub.  
     
     
         3 . The bench of  claim 2 , wherein the opening is positioned below the water directing surface.  
     
     
         4 . The bench of  claim 1 , wherein the restraining member is adjacent the seating surface and extends below the seating surface.  
     
     
         5 . The bench of  claim 1 , wherein the restraining member includes a trough having an opening that allows liquid to pass to the bathtub.  
     
     
         6 . The bench of  claim 5 , wherein the trough is adjacent the seating surface and extends below the seating surface.  
     
     
         7 . The bench of  claim 1 , wherein the support includes a plurality of legs extending downward from the seating surface.  
     
     
         8 . A bench for use with at least one of a bathtub and a shower, the bench comprising: 
 a seating surface;    a support for supporting the seating surface;    a handle adjacent the seating surface; and    a soap dish disposed substantially under the handle.    
     
     
         9 . The bench of  claim 8 , further comprising an opening in the seating surface, wherein the opening is configured to receive the soap dish.  
     
     
         10 . The bench of  claim 9 , wherein the opening has an opening rim, the soap dish has a soap-dish rim, and the soap-dish rim engages the opening rim when the soap dish is received in the opening.  
     
     
         11 . The bench of  claim 9 , wherein the soap dish is constructed to be insertable into and removable from the opening.  
     
     
         12 . The bench of  claim 8 , wherein the soap dish extends below the seating surface.  
     
     
         13 . The bench of  claim 12 , wherein the soap dish is disposed entirely below the seating surface.  
     
     
         14 . The bench of  claim 8 , wherein the soap dish has a length in a horizontal direction, a width in the horizontal direction, a depth in a vertical direction, and the depth is greater than at least one of the length and the width.  
     
     
         15 . The bench of  claim 8 , wherein the handle includes a gripping surface and a handle support that facilitates supporting the gripping surface above the seating surface so as to provide a gap between the gripping surface and the seating surface that permits access to the soap dish.  
     
     
         16 . The bench of  claim 8 , wherein the support includes a plurality of legs extending downward from the seating surface.  
     
     
         17 . A bench for use with at least one of a bathtub and a shower, the bench comprising: 
 a first seating surface;    a support for supporting the first seating surface;    a pad including foam that can be positioned on the first seating surface to provide a second seating surface; and    connectors that maintain the pad in position on the first seating surface, wherein the connectors can be connected, disconnected, and reconnected such that the pad can be positioned on the first seating surface, removed from the first seating surface, and reconnected to the first seating surface, respectively.    
     
     
         18 . The bench of  claim 17 , wherein the connectors include a foam material.  
     
     
         19 . The bench of  claim 18 , wherein the connectors are formed entirely of a foam material.  
     
     
         20 . The bench of  claim 18 , wherein the connectors extend from the pad into openings in the first seating surface.  
     
     
         21 . The bench of  claim 17 , wherein the support includes a plurality of legs extending downward from the seating surface.