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EP 0 008 515 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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14.03.1984 Bulletin 1984/11 |
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Date of filing: 10.08.1979 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)3: A47K 3/00 |
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Baths
Badewannen
Baignoires
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE FR IT NL SE |
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Priority: |
10.08.1978 GB 3292578 03.04.1979 GB 7911507
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Date of publication of application: |
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05.03.1980 Bulletin 1980/05 |
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Applicant: NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION |
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London SE1 6BU (GB) |
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Inventor: |
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- Parker, Roy
New Milton, Hampshire BH25 5NN (GB)
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Representative: Leale, Robin George |
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Frank B. Dehn & Co.,European Patent Attorneys,
179 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EL London EC4V 4EL (GB) |
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] This invention relates to baths, particularly but not exclusively for use by disabled
people.
[0002] When using a conventional bath a disabled person has to be bodily lowered into and
lifted out of the bath; in hospitals this is often done with lifting tackle, which
can be very uncomfortable or even dangerous for the patient, whilst in domestic surroundings
where no mechanical assistance is available the procedure is very difficult if not
impossible.
[0003] German Patent Specification No. 21746 discloses a bath incorporating a seat for a
user, the bath being tippable rearwardly from an upright position to place a seated
user in a reclined position with his body substantially immersed in water. However
this bath is not readily usable by a disabled person because it is necessary for the
user to climb over, or be lifted over, the very high side wall of the bath in order
to enter and leave the same. The same disadvantage is present, although to a lesser
extent because the side wall is not so high, in the bath described in German Offenlegungsschrift
No. 2348349; the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5 have a removable end wall part to
facilitate access but it is still necessary for a user to step into the bath from
the end.
[0004] Modified baths are known, for example as shown in United States Specification No.
4099272, which comprise a box-like, open- topped container provided with a closable
side door and containing a seat for a disabled user, which can be filled to a level
at which about half of the seated user's body is immersed. However here again it is
necessary for the user to walk into, or be carried into, the bath because there is
no unobstructed lateral access to the seat. Moreover such a bath has the disadvantage
as compared with a conventional bath that it is difficult if not impossible for an
assistant to reach the lower part of the user's body, particularly the legs and feet,
because of the depth of the container.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bath suitable for
disabled people, in which most of the user's body can be immersed in a substantially
reclined position without his having to be bodily lowered into and lifted out of that
position, and furthermore which a disabled user can enter and leave without any assistance.
[0006] According to the invention there is provided a bath incorporating a seat for a user,
the bath being tippable rearwardly from an upright position to place a seated user
in a reclined position with his body substantially immersed in water, and having a
wall part which is movable to facilitate access by a user, and means operable by a
user in the bath to move it between its upright and reclined positions, characterised
in that the bath is provided with a side access opening arranged to be sealingly closed
by said wall part and which, when open, provides unobstructed lateral access to the
said seat whereby a disabled user may enter and leave the bath by lateral sliding
movement of his body between the bath seat and for example a chair.
[0007] Such an arrangement enables a disabled user to be washed in a reclined and immersed
condition, with ready access to all parts of the user's body, without his having to
be bodily lowered into and lifted out of that position. Furthermore it enables a disabled
user to enter and leave the bath without assistance simply by sliding his body directly
between the bath seat and for example a chair.
[0008] The bath may be arranged to be tippable in any convenient fashion. In whatever manner
the tipping is effected, however, it may readily be arranged that the movement of
water in the bath aids the tipping movement in both directions, whilst the presence
of that water stabilises the bath in both positions, for example by mounting the bath
for pivotal movement about a transverse axis approximately midway of its length.
[0009] Preferably mechanical means are provided to move the bath between its upright and
reclined positions. One such means comprises a lever- operated mechanism having its
operating lever mounted alongside the bath for convenient operation by a user in the
bath.
[0010] If desired, means may be provided for positively securing the bath in the upright
and/or the reclined position, for example one or more mechanical latches acting between
the bath and a stationary base structure, or a mechanical or hydraulic jack which
may be arranged to effect the movement of the bath as well as hold it in its respective
positions. Preferably however the arrangement is such that the bath is stable when
the user is reclined and immersed, rather than having to be held in that position.
Preferably also the bath is arranged to be stable when the user is seated upright
with his lower legs and feet immersed in water.
[0011] Preferably the foot end of the bath which contains the user's feet when he is seated
upright is arranged to house enough water to immerse most of the user's body when
the bath is tipped back to the inclined position, so that no more water need then
be added. Indeed the preferred manner of use of the bath is to fill the foot end with
sufficient water, before the bath is tipped back, to achieve immersion when it is
so tipped. The weight of that water then counterbalances the weight of the user to
provide stability in the seated position, whilst the movement of the water when the
bath is tipped back assists in moving it to the reclined position. The said side access
opening is preferably located wholly above the said foot end when the bath is upright
so as to enable the user to enter and leave the bath with the foot end full of water.
The said wall part for closing the side access opening may be a removable panel, or
a hinged door, or of any other convenient nature.
[0012] Preferably a hand grip is provided in the form of a bar extending across the bath
in front of the seat for a user. One function of such a bar is to restrain a user
against slipping towards the foot of the bath. Such a bar is however particularly
useful when provided in conjunction with a drop-down panel for closing the side access
opening. Such a hand bar may then have one of its ends hingedly connected to such
a panel and its other end engageable with a catch on the opposite side wall of the
bath, thus providing both a convenient part for a user to grip in order to close the
said panel without having to lean out of the bath, and a means of securing the panel
in its closed position. The said catch for the free end of the hand bar may be an
over-centre type spring catch which when engaged applies a substantial inward force
to the said panel via the bar, to achieve a water-tight seal between the latter and
the side of bath. Alternatively or in addition the bar may comprise two parts connected
end to end by a double- threaded connector of the bottle-screw type which is rotated
by a user to tighten the side panel in its closed position.
[0013] The bath may be mounted on a wheeled base so as to be positionable next to a user's
bed when needed. Whether or not the base is wheeled, the bath may be mounted for vertical
adjustment on the base, e.g. by means of a screw or a mechanical or hydraulic jacking
device, to enable the height of its seat to be varied, e.g. to suit different bed
heights. In a preferred embodiment the bath is mounted on a vertical pillar slidably
adjustably in a base structure to adjust the height of the bath above floor level,
suitable cooperating apertures for the reception of a locking pin being provided in
the pillar and the base.
[0014] The bath may be made of any suitable material, but is preferably a glass-reinforced-plastics
moulding.
[0015] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a bath according to the invention in its upright
position;
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the bath tipped back to its reclined position;
Figures 3 and 4 are more detailed illustrations similar to Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic transverse cross- section; I
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the top end of the operating lever;
Figure 7 is a plan view with the side access opening open; and
Figure 8 is a similar view with the side access opening closed.
[0016] The general arrangement and operation of the bath will first be described with reference
to Figures 1 and 2.
[0017] The bath comprises a glass-reinforced-plastics body 1 mounted for pivotal movement
about a transverse horizontal axis 2 on an upright pillar 3 itself mounted for up
and down sliding movement in a base structure 4. Suitable cooperating apertures (not
shown) are provided in the pillar and in the base structure to receive a locking pin
for securing the bath at a desired height above the floor level. The bath is formed
with a seat 5 and has a wall part in the form of a drop-down hinged panel 6 (see Figure
5) closing an access opening in one of its side walls 7.
[0018] In use, the bath in the upright position shown in Figure 1 has its foot end 8 filled
with water up to the level 9 which is judged to be sufficient water to immersed most
of a user's body when the bath is tipped back as described below. The bath is now
positioned alongside the user's bed with the panel 6 dropped down to form a bridge
between the bath and the bed. The user's legs are swung across into the foot end of
the bath and his body is then slid across into a sitting position on the seat 5. The
panel 6 is now closed. In this condition the bath is stabilised by the weight of the
water in the foot end, but the user's weight counterbalances the water sufficiently
to make it easy for the bath now to be tipped gently into the position shown in Figure
2 by means of mechanism to be described below. As a result the user is placed in a
reclined position with most of his body immersed in water, whose new level 10 is indicated
in Figure 2. The whole of the user's body is now readily accessible for washing by
an assistant. Once this has been done the bath is gently tipped back to the Figure
1 position so that the water drains back into the foot end 8 and the user is once
more sitting upright ready to be returned to bed.
[0019] Referring now particularly to Figures 3 to 8, a lever 11 for enabling a user to move
the bath between its upright position shown in Figures 1 and 3 and its reclined position
shown in Figures 2 and 4 is pivotally mounted at 12 on an extension 13 of the pillar
3 and an arm 14 integral with the lever 11 is pivotally connected to a link 15 itself
pivotally connected to a downwardly extending portion 16 (Figure 5) of the bath body
1. It will be understood that movement of the lever 11 to the right from the position
shown in Figure 3 has the effect of pulling the link 15 downwardly and thus tipping
the bath rearwardly about its pivotal axis 2 to the reclined position of Figure 4.
Reverse movement of the lever of course returns the bath to its upright position shown
in Figure 3.
[0020] The top end of the lever 11 is received in a slot 17 (Figure 6) formed in a side
flange 18 of the bath body 1 and provided with terminal recesses 19 and 20 for securing
the lever, which is resiliently biased towards the recessed side of the slot 17 in
each of its terminal positions so as releasably to secure the bath body in its respective
upright and reclined positions.
[0021] A manually grippable hand bar 21 extends across the bath in front of the seat 5 for
a user. The bar 21 is pivotally connected to the panel 6 which closes the access opening
already mentioned. The free end of the bar 21 is engageable in an over-centre type
spring catch 22 so as to hold the panel 6 in its closed position and thus provide
a water-tight seal between the panel and the side wall 7 of the bath. When in the
position shown in ghost lines in Figure 7 (and in full lines in Figures 5 and 8) the
bar 21 provides a convenient lever for the user to open and close the access panel
6. The position of the bar shown in full lines in Figure 7 is an out of the way position
to enable the bath to be placed immediately alongside a user's bed.
[0022] Preferably, a resilient, e.g. rubber, sealing member is provided between the access
panel 6 and the bath body, for example in the form of a compressible rubber tube received
in a groove formed in the side wall of the bath around the access opening.
[0023] It has been found that the lever mechanism described above, which in the illustrated
embodiment provides a mechanical advantage of about 7 t to 1, enables a user in the
bath to move the bath between its upright and reclined positions with very little
effort, which is of course of great importance to a disabled user. As already described,
such movement of the bath is intended to be carried out with the appropriate quantity
of water already in the bath, the water in the foot part of the bath counterbalancing
the weight of the user when the bath is upright and the movement of the water lengthwise
of the bath assisting the movement of the bath between its upright and reclined positions,
in both directions.
[0024] The location of the panel 6 well above the foot end 8 which initially receives the
water means that all of the water can be added before the user enters the bath, as
compared with the box-like baths previously mentioned in which the water can only
be added with the side door closed. The advantage of this is that the temperature
of the water can be adjusted in simple fashion before the user enters, as compared
with the box-like bath just mentioned in which a mixer tap has to be used because
the user is already in the bath.
[0025] The bath body is formed with a recess 23 (Figures 7 and 8) below the crotch region
of a user to facilitate washing. Such a recess may be of channel-like configuration
to assist flow of water lengthwise of the bath during its movement from one position
to another.
[0026] A bath according to the invention can of course be used at any desired location.
As well as being positioned adjacent a user's bed as described above, it can be located
elsewhere in for example a bedroom or a bathroom, for use by a user in a wheelchair
or on a stretcher or indeed by a user who is able to walk. When used adjacent a bed
the access panel does not have to be used as a bridge as described above, but can
alternatively be dropped right down to an out of the way position and the bath then
placed in side by side contact with the bed, or indeed alongside a wheelchair or stretcher.
1. A bath incorporating a seat (5) for a user, the bath being tippable rearwardly
from an upright position to place a seated user in a re- dined position with his body
substantially immersed in water, and having a wall part (6) which is movable to facilitate
access by a user, and means (11) operable by a user in the bath to move it between
its upright and reclined positions, characterised in that the bath is provided with
a side access opening arranged to be sealingly closed by said wall part and which,
when open, provides unobstructed lateral access to the seat (5) whereby a disabled
user may enter and leave the bath by lateral sliding movement of his body between
the bath seat and for example a chair.
2. A bath as claimed in claim 1, having a foot end (8) which is arranged to accommodate
sufficient water, with the bath upright, to achieve immersion of a user's body when
reclined.
3. A bath as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said side access opening is located wholly
above the said foot end when the bath is upright.
4. A bath as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, which is pivotally mounted for movement
between its upright and reclined positions about a pivotal axis (2) transverse to
its length and located approximately at the centre of gravity of the bath when it
contains a user and an appropriate quantity of water.
5. A bath as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which is arranged to be stable
in both its upright and reclined positions when it contains a user and an appropriate
quantity of water.
6. A bath as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having means for positively securing
the bath in both its upright and reclined positions.
7. A bath as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having a channel-shaped recess
(23) extending lengthwise of the bath in its said seat (5), to assist flow of water
along the bath during movement between its upright and reclined positions.
8. A bath as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which is mounted for height adjustment
on a base structure (4).
9. A bath as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said means operable by
a user comprises mechanical means (11-15) providing a mechanical advantage.
10. A bath as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said mechanical means comprises a lever
(11) mounted for movement along one side of the bath.
11. A bath as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including a hand grip in the
form of a bar (21) arranged to extend across the bath in front of the said seat (15).
12. A bath as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said bar (21) is connected or connectible
to the said wall part (6) and is operative to hold the latter closed.
13. A bath as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which is mounted on a wheeled
base (4).
1. Badewanne mit einem Sitz (5) für einen Benutzer, die von einer aufrechten Stellung
nach rückwärts neigbar ist, so daß ein sitzender Benutzer in eine zurückgeneigte Stellung
versetzbar ist, bei der sein Körper im wesentlichen unter wasser getaucht ist, die
ein Wandteil (6) aufweist, das beweglich ist, um für einen Benutzer den Zugang zu
erleichtern, und in der eine vom Benutzer betätigbare Einrichtung (11) zum Bewegen
der Badewanne zwischen ihrer aufrechten und zurückgeneigten Stellung vorgesehen ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Badewanne mit einer seitlichen Zugangsöffnung versehen
ist, die so angeordnet ist, daß sie durch das besagte Wandteil dicht verschließbar
ist, und die geöffnet einen ungehinderten seitlichen Zugang zu dem Sitz (5) ermöglicht,
wodurch ein behinderter Benutzer durch eine gleitende Bewegung seines Körpers zwischen
dem Sitz des Bades und beispielsweise einem Stuhl sich in die Badewanne begeben und
diese verlassen kann.
2. Badewanne nach Anspruch 1, mit einem Fußende (8), das so angeordnet ist, daß es
bei aufrechter Badewanne ausreichend Wasser faßt, so daß bei zurückgeneigter Stellung
ein Untertauchen des Körpers eines Benutzers erzielt wird.
3. Badewanne nach Anspruch 2, wobei die seitliche Zugangsöffnung bei aufrechter Badewanne
sich ganz über dem Fußende befindet.
4. Badewanne nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, die zur Bewegung zwischen ihrer aufrechten
und zurückgeneigten Stellung um eine Drehachse (2) drehbar befestigt ist, die sich
quer zur Längsrichtung der Badewanne erstreckt und annähernd beim Schwerpunkt der
Badewanne angeordnet ist, wenn diese einen Benutzer und eine richtige Menge Wassers
enthält.
5. Badewanne nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die so angeordnet ist, daß sie
sowohl in ihrer aufrechten als auch in ihrer zurückgeneigten Stellung stabil ist,
wenn sie einen Benutzer und eine richtige Menge Wassers enthält.
6. Badewanne nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, mit einer Einrichtung zum zwangsweisen
Sichern der Badewanne sowohl in ihrer aufrechten als auch in ihrer zurückgeneigten
Stellung.
7. Badewanne nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, mit einer längs der Badewanne
in deren Sitz (5) sich erstreckenden kanalförmigen Vertiefung (23) zur Unterstützung
des Wasserflusses längs der Badewanne während der Bewegung zwischen ihrer aufrechten
und ihrer zurückgeneigten Stellung.
8. Badewanne nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die zur Höheneinstellung auf
einer Basiskonstruktion (4) montiert ist.
9. Badewanne nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die durch einen Benutzer
betätigbare Einrichtung eine mechanische Einrichtung (11-15) umfaßt, welche einen
mechanischen Vorteil oder einer mechanische Benutzung erzeugt.
10. Badewanne nach Anspruch 9, wobei die mechanische Einrichtung einen Hebel (11)
umfaßt, der für eine Bewegung längs einer Seite der Badewanne montiert ist.
11. Badewanne nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, mit einem Handgriff in Form
einer Stange (21), die so angeordnet ist, daß sie sich vor dem Sitz (15) quer über
die Badewanne erstreckt.
12. Badewanne nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Stange (21) mit dem Wandteil (6) verbunden
oder verbindbar ist und so wirkt, daß sie letzteres geschlossen hält..
13. Badewanne nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die auf eine mit Rädern versehene
Basis (4) montiert ist.
1. Baignoire comprenant un siège (5) pour un utilisateur, la baignoire étant basculante
vers l'arrière à partir d'une position debout pour amener un utilisateur assis dans
une position couchée, son corps étant pratiquement immergé dans l'eau, et comprenant
une paroi (6) mobile pour faciliter l'accès d'un utilisateur, et des moyens (11) pouvant
être actionnés par un utilisateur situé dans la baignoire pour déplacer celle-ci entre
ses position debout et couchée, caractérisée en ce qu'elle est pourvue d'une ouverture
d'accès latérale agencée pour être fermée de façon étanche par ladite paroi et qui,
lorsqu'elle est ouverte, procure un accès latéral sans obstacle au siège (5), un utilisateur
handicapé pourvant ainsi entrer dans, et quitter la baignoire par un coulissement
latéral de son corps entre le siège de la baignoire et, par exemple, un fauteuil.
2. Baignoire selon la revendication 1, comprenant une extrémité côté pieds (8) agencée
pour recevoir une quantité d'eau suffisante, la baignoire étant debout, pour réaliser
l'immersion du corps d'un utilisateur lorsqu'elle est en position couchée.
3. Baignoire selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle ladite ouverture d'accès latérale
est entièrement située au-dessus de ladite extrémité côté pieds lorsque la baignoire
est debout.
4. Baignoire selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, qui est montée pivotante pour se
déplacer entre ses positions debout et couchée autour d'un axe de pivotement (2) transversal
à sa longueur et situé approximativement au centre de gravité de la baignoire lorsque
celle-ci contient un utilisateur et une quantité d'eau appropriée.
5. Baignoire selon l'une des revendications précédentes, agencée pour être stable
à la fois dans ses positions debout et couchée lorsqu'elle contient un utilisateur
et une quantité d'eau appropriée.
6. Baignoire selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comportant des moyens pour
la fixation positive de la baignoire dans ses positions debout et couchée.
7. Baignoire selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comportant un renfoncement
en forme de canal (23) s'étendant dans le sens de la longueur de la baignoire dans
son siège (5), afin d'aider à l'écoulement de l'eau le long de la baignoire pendant
son déplacement entre ses positions debout et couchée.
8. Baignoire selon l'une des revendications précédentes, qui est montée réglable en
hauteur sur une structure de base (4).
9. Baignoire selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle lesdits moyens
actionnables par un utilisateur comprennent des moyens mécaniques (11-15) procurant
un avantage mécanique.
10. Baignoire selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle lesdits moyens mécaniques comprennent
un levier (11) monté de manière à être mobile le long d'un côté de la baignoire.
11. Baignoire selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comprenant une poignée présentant
la forme d'une barre (21) agencée pour s'étendre en travers de la baignoire devant
ledit siège (15).
12. Baignoire selon la revendication 11, dans laquelle ladite barre (21) est, ou peut
être reliée à ladite paroi (6) et agit pour maintenir cette dernière fermée.
13. Baignoire selon l'une des revendications précédentes, montée sur une base (4)
à roulettes.
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