Clarke Products, Inc.

CLARKE PRODUCTS , INC . these walk-in tubs swing inward because it’s easier to design and build them that way. The trouble is that it’s awkward for the users, particularly if they have to get out. There have been two unfortunate cases in the last year or so about two people who have died in these tubs with inward swinging doors. They were older people who were quite fragile; they slipped off the seat and got lodged into the foot-well and drowned. We are going to demonstrate a new door design that will swing outward and, by the way, the old door designs are usually locked in place with pretty heavy hardware, compression levers, to hold them in place. Ours will be held in place with electro-magnets that can be operated from a touch pad on top of the tub. So, should the user wish to exit, a simple touch will swing open the door. Water will flow out and flood the bathroom, but it’s a small price to pay if somebody is in distress or in danger. Had these two women who died had a design that we’re going to be showing, a simple touch to the touch control pad, and that door would have opened and they would have been saved. “Finally, a lot of the people who use these walk- in tubs are older people who have been forced to take showers for many years, because they simply couldn’t get into a bathtub. So, first time out, as they get used to a bathtub, again, they oftentimes get overstressed by the hot water; they get lightheaded, dizzy, and even faint. They may have heart issues, vascular issues, you name it. So, until they accustom themselves to the temperature of the hot water, they can be victims. We’ve always put temperature gauges in our walk-in tubs, and we still do that. They have a preset temperature of 94 degrees, so should the water get to 94 or above, an alarm will go off so their caregiver, if available, can help assist the bather. It’s a significant safety feature.” “So those are the key things going on in my company as we go into the New Year,” Clarke states in conclusion. “We continue to develop