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Transfer bench

Disabled people face numerous problems in carrying out activities of daily living such as dressing, toiletry, showering, getting into and out of vehicles, buildings and bathing. One of the major problems is merely gaining entry into a conventional bathroom and/or car because of the narrow door ways. Once inside, gaining access to a conventional toilets, bathtubs and/or seats within cars may be very difficult. A typical handicap stall in a public restroom is equipped with a toilet and with handrails located on the side walls to assist a wheelchair user in transferring from the wheelchair to the toilet seat. Since a wheelchair approaches straight into the stall, it ends up facing the toilet. This requires that the wheelchair user stand up and turn around to mount the toilet. The need to provide special support for an invalid or disabled person while bathing or being bathed in a shower stall or bath tub has been met by the provision of a special support appliance that is commonly referred to as a "transfer bench." Transfer benches typically comprise a frame assembly that is either free standing or secured to a tub sidewall. For example, a free standing transfer bench positions a pair of support legs within the bathtub and another pair of support legs outboard of the tub. Secured transfer benches, on the other hand, use a clamp assembly that grips interior and exterior surfaces of the tub sidewall and the support frame is disposed entirely or primarily in the tub.

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