DescriptionPat2220482fig2.GIF | English: Figure 2 from U.S. Patent No. 2,220,482, Issued Nov. 5, 1940, Prefabricated Bathroom. The interior of Buckminster Fuller's famous prefabricated bathroom that integrates tub, water closet and lavatory. It lacks windows so it can fit more locations. It is constructed of light, bacteriostatic alloys (copper, or steel coated with 97% tin and 3% silver) in four quarter-parts, each portable by two people through doorways. The unused sides of the metal are coated with asphalt and fabric to deaden noise. 11 is the bathtub chamber, 12 the lavatory and water closet. Lavatory 12 can be used alone as a half-bath. All corners are radiused to 4" (10cm) to ease cleaning. All parts fit to drain inside, preventing water damage in the supporting structure. Sliding doors 16 and 17 are compact and provide privacy. The top of entranceway 28 has a single light bulb (not shown) with a waterproof window on each chamber. There's a large, quiet ventilation fan, (not shown) under sink 56. It draws fog and odors down, away from head level. The tub's floor is 9" (23cm) higher than the lavatory floor, reached by a 4" (12cm) step 111 surfaced with nonslip cork 88. The height makes entering and cleaning easier. An electric resistive heater in step 111 warms the floors, tub and commode by conducting heat through their metal. The light, fan and heater can be controlled from inside or outside the bathroom, which also has an optional exterior signal light to show that it is in use. The tub has bars to be both towel racks and balance-bars 44,45,54. Four niches 30 are for bath accessories and further hand-holds. Stand-pipe 172 leads to the shower head, not shown. The shower head and spigot face away from entranceway 28 to reduce splashing. Hot 168 and cold 169 water knobs, with a third knob, not shown, to select the shower head or spigot. Knobs are within reach from entranceway 28. There's an overflow outlet, not shown, below the lip of entranceway 28. It connects with drain 155 which has a trap accessible under step 111. The lavatory has a sink 56 and commode 72. Sink 56 has a spigot facing away from the user to reduce splashing. It also has built-in accessories: drain 160 with an overflow drain, accessible trap 154, soap dish 64 and towel rack 138. "Medicine" cabinet 118 has door 116 which opens outward and has a mirror on its inside, thereby kept dry and free of fogging. The toilet paper compartment door 126 is hinged on the bottom and mounts toilet paper 130 with bracket 129. Door 126 tilts out to replace the toilet paper 130. The flush for toilet tank 125 is handle 127. |