Modular roll-in shower system

Abstract

A modular roll-in shower system includes a base having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of side walls extending upward from the upper surface and a door attached to a first of the plurality of side walls. The side walls, the door and the base are connected together to form a substantially water tight bathing chamber having an opening above the base. The door is attached to a side wall or a door jamb. The door may be attached at an angle biased to swing the door into the closed position or the door may be attached with spring loaded hinges that swing the door into the closed position. The door may also be electronically controlled to open and close. The system also includes an access ramp that is substantially flush with a floor surface on a first side and substantially flush with the upper surface of the base on a second side to allow a wheel chair to roll from the floor surface onto the upper surface of the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular roll-in shower system comprising:
 a base having at least three sides and an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of the upper surface having a slope and the base further having a drain at a lowest point on the upper surface, wherein the at least three sides includes a door side;   a plurality of side walls extending upward from the base, each side wall configured to connect to the base and create a substantially water tight seal, each side wall configured to connect to one or more adjacent sidewalls and create a substantially water tight seal such that the base and the side walls combine to form a chamber having an opening above the base and an opening on the door side;   a door attached to a first of the plurality of side walls, the door configured to swing outward away from the base to provide access to the chamber when open, the door also configured to rest against a second of the plurality of side walls to create a substantially water tight seal when closed, wherein the door is attached to the first side wall such that the door is biased to swing into a closed position;   an access ramp having a first side substantially flush with a floor surface on which the modular roll-in shower system rests, the access ramp additionally having a second side substantially flush with the upper surface of the base, the access ramp connected to the base along the door side and configured to allow a wheel chair to roll from the floor surface onto the upper surface of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a lip extending upward from the base on each of the sides of the base except for the door side. 
     
     
         3 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 2 , wherein each side wall is connected to the base on an upper surface of the lip. 
     
     
         4 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 1 , wherein the door is attached at an angle such that the door is biased to swing into a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 1 , wherein the door is attached using spring loaded hinges such that the door is biased to swing into a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle on an exterior surface of the door facing away from the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of side walls comprises a recess extending down from a top edge of the side wall to form a substantially U shaped opening in the side wall, wherein the substantially U shaped opening is sized to allow a caregiver to access a bather in the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 7 , further comprising a window positioned in the substantially U shaped recess. 
     
     
         9 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 8 , wherein the window is removable. 
     
     
         10 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 8 , wherein the window is attached to the at least one of the plurality of side walls by one or more hinges configured to allow the window to swing open to allow a caregiver to access a bather in the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 1 , further comprising plumbing connections for receiving water from a water source and for draining water out of the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more pumps to move water into the chamber and out of the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . A modular roll-in shower system comprising:
 a base having at least three sides and an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of the upper surface having a slope and the base further having a drain at a lowest point on the upper surface, wherein the at least three sides includes a door side;   a plurality of side walls extending upward from the base, each side wall configured to connect to the base and create a substantially water tight seal, each side wall configured to connect to one or more adjacent sidewalls and create a substantially water tight seal such that the base and the side walls combine to form a chamber having an opening above the base and an opening on the door side;   a door jamb attached to the base;   a door attached to the door jamb, the door configured to swing outward away from the base to provide access to the chamber when open, the door also configured to create a substantially water tight chamber when closed, wherein the door is attached to the door jamb such that the door is biased to swing into a closed position;   an access ramp having a first side substantially flush with a floor surface on which the modular roll-in shower system rests, the access ramp additionally having a second side substantially flush with the upper surface of the base, the access ramp connected to the base along the door side and configured to allow a wheel chair to roll from the floor surface onto the upper surface of the base.   
     
     
         14 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 13 , wherein the base further comprises a lip extending upward from the base on each of the sides of the base except for the door side. 
     
     
         15 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 14 , wherein each side wall is connected to the base on an upper surface of the lip. 
     
     
         16 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 13 , wherein the door is attached at an angle such that the door is biased to swing into a closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 13 , wherein the door is attached using spring loaded hinges such that the door is biased to swing into a closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 13 , further comprising a handle on an exterior surface of the door facing away from the chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of side walls comprises a recess extending down from a top edge of the side wall to form a substantially U shaped opening in the side wall, wherein the substantially U shaped opening is sized to allow a caregiver to access a bather in the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 19 , further comprising a window positioned in the substantially U shaped recess. 
     
     
         21 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 20 , wherein the window is removable. 
     
     
         22 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 20 , wherein the window is attached to the at least one of the plurality of side walls by one or more hinges configured to allow the window to swing open to allow a caregiver to access a bather in the chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 13 , further comprising plumbing connections for receiving water from a water source and for draining water out of the chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The modular roll-in shower of  claim 21 , further comprising one or more pumps to move water into the chamber and out of the chamber.