Shower seat

Abstract

 A shower seat (2) has a seat (8) and a back rest (10) both pivotably connected to side supports (4,6). The back rest (10) pivots between a lowered position and a raised position to permit movement of the seat (8) between a lowered, seating position and a raised, storage position between the side supports (4,6). In the storage position, the back rest (10) is lowered to substantially cover the seat (8). The back rest (10) therefore functions as a back rest in the seating position and also a rest in the storage position against which a person may lean when standing to shower.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower seat for use by an individual such as an elderly or disabled person when showering.

[0002] Shower seats are widely attached to walls in showers for disabled or elderly people to sit on when showering. However, these seats suffer from a number of problems.

[0003] For example, known shower seats are often a nuisance for an able-bodied person using a shower having such a seat because of the positioning of the seat beneath the shower and the space occupied by the seat.

[0004] To reduce this problem, it is known to provide a folding shower seat having a seat portion which pivots between a horizontal seating position perpendicular to the wall and a vertical storage position parallel to the wall.

[0005] Although such a seat provides more space for an able-bodied person to shower when it is in the storage position, the seat is still a nuisance because the able-bodied person may bump against the stored seat when showering. Furthermore, such a seat has no utility for an able-bodied person.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a shower seat which can be used by a disabled or elderly person, which is not inconvenient for an able-bodied person, and which has utility for an able-bodied person.

[0007] The present invention has been made with this in mind.

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a shower seat having a seat and a back rest, the seat being movable between a seating position in which a person may sit with his/her back against the back rest, and a storage position behind the back rest so that a person may lean against the back rest when standing to shower. In this way, the back rest provides utility both when the seat is in the seating position and when the seat is in the storage position. Furthermore, the back rests presents a comfortable surface in the event that an able-bodied person bumps against it.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a shower seat in a seating position;

Figures 2a-2e show side views of the shower seat of the first embodiment, illustrating movement of the seat and arm rests between the seating position and the storage position;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the shower seat of the first embodiment in the storage position; and

Figures 4a-4e show side views of a second embodiment of a shower seat having support legs, the figures illustrating the movement of the seat, arm rests and support legs between the seating position and the storage position.

[0010] Referring to Figures 1-3, a shower seat 2 in a first embodiment has first and second side supports 4,6 for mounting the shower seat to a shower wall.

[0011] A seat 8 is pivotably connected to both of the side supports 4,6 to permit the seat 8 to be moved between a seating position (as shown in Figure 1) and a storage position (as shown in Figures 2d, 2e and 3).

[0012] A back rest 10 is pivotably connected to the side supports 4,6 to permit the back rest 10 to be raised and lowered so that the seat 8 may be moved between its seating position and storage position (as described in more detail below). The back rest 10 is preferably a smooth, cushioned design to increase comfort for the user.

[0013] A first arm rest 12 is pivotably connected to the first side support 4 for movement between a seating position (as shown in Figure 1) and a storage position (as shown in Figures 2c, 2d, 2e and 3).

[0014] Similarly, a second arm rest 14 is pivotably connected to the second side support 6 for movement between a seating position and a storage position.

[0015] Each of the side supports 4,6, seat 8, back rest 10, and arm rests 12,14 is made from a waterproof material.

[0016] As is best seen in Figures 2a-2e, in the present embodiment, each of the side supports 4,6 has an arcuate edge which extends away from the wall to which the shower seat is fitted to a position 18 of maximum protrusion 20 from the wall.

[0017] The back rest 10 has a corresponding arcuate shape along its length, so that the back rest 10 contacts the arcuate edge 16 of each side support at each position along the length of the back rest when the back rest is in its down position.

[0018] Similarly, the seat 8 and each of the arm rests 12,14 have an underside with an arcuate shape that matches the arcuate shape of the side supports 4,6. In this way, when the seat 8 and arm rests 12,14 are in the storage position (as shown in Figure 2d) no part of the seat 8 or arm rests 12,14 protrudes beyond the arcuate edge 16 of the side supports 4,6.

[0019] In addition, the length of the back rest 10 is such that it extends beyond the point 18 of maximum protrusion of the arcuate side supports 4,6. In this way, when the shower seat is in the storage position, the back rest 10 is the component which extends furthest from the shower wall and therefore presents a surface against which an able-bodied person may lean or bump against without contacting any of the other components.

[0020] Movement of the seat 8 and arm rests 12, 14 between the seating position and the storage position will now be described.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 and 2a, in the seating position, the seat 8 and each of the arm rests 12,14 is pivoted to a substantially horizontal position, and the back rest 10 is pivoted to a lowered position.

[0022] To move the seat 8 and the arm rests 12,14 from the seating position to the storage position, the back rest 10 is first pivoted to a raised position, as shown in Figure 2b.

[0023] Each arm rest 12,14 is then separately pivoted to a storage position beside the side support 4,6 to which it is connected (as shown in Figure 2c).

[0024] The seat 8 is then pivoted upwards so that it occupies a storage position between the side supports 4,6 (as shown in Figure 2d).

[0025] The back rest 10 is then lowered again, so that it at least partially covers the seat 8 and each of the arm rests 12,14 (as shown in Figures 2e and 3).

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the back rest 10 is wider in its upper portion than in its lower portion. In this way, the top of the back rest 10 covers the top portion of each arm rest 12,14 when the arms are in the storage position.

[0027] It will therefore be understood from the above that the shower seat 2 has a seating position in which a person may sit on the seat 8 with his/her back against the back rest 10, and also a storage position in which the back rest 10 substantially covers the seat 8 and each of the arm rests 12,14, thereby permitting a person to stand and shower without bumping against the seat and arms. Furthermore, the back rest 10 provides a comfortable surface in both the seating position and the storage position against which a person may lean.

[0028] A second embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 4a-4e.

[0029] The shower seat of the second embodiment has the same components as the first embodiment, and additionally has first and second support legs 22 (only one being visible in Figures 4a-4e).

[0030] Each support leg 22 is pivotably connected to one side of the seat 8 and one of the side supports 4,6.

[0031] In the seating position (as shown in Figure 4a), the support legs 22 contact the floor and provide additional support for the seat 8.

[0032] Movement of the seat 8 from the seating position to the storage position causes the attached support legs 22 also to move from the seating position to the storage position.

[0033] As shown in Figures 4d and 4e, in the storage position, each support leg 22 is stored between the side supports 4,6. To facilitate this, the outer edge of each support leg 22 has an arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate shape of the side supports 4,6. In this way, no part of the support legs protrudes beyond the side supports 4,6 in the storage position.

[0034] Many changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described above.

[0035] For example, in the embodiments above, seat 8, back rest 10 and arm rests 12,14 are each connected to the side supports 4,6 for pivotal movement. However, one or more of these components may be connected for a different type of movement. For example, the back rest 10 may be connected to slide between its lowered and raised positions. Furthermore, the back rest 10 may be connected in a fixed position and the seat 8 and arm rests 10,14 may each be connected so that they are moved from the seating position to the storage position by pivoting downwards and sliding up behind the back rest 10.

[0036] Yet further, back rest 10 need not be connected to the side supports 4,6 for movement between the lowered and raised positions. Instead, the back rest 10 may be removable from the side supports 4,6 to permit movement of the seat 8 and arm rests 12,14 between the seating and storage positions. Similarly, the seat 8 and/or arm rests 12,14 may be removable from the side supports 4,6 to permit movement between the seating and storage positions.

[0037] In the embodiments described above, the shower seat 2 includes arm rests 12, 14 . However, the arm rests 12,14 are optional, and may be omitted.

[0038] In the second embodiment described above, two support legs 22 are provided, one on each side of the seat 8. However, instead, a single support leg may be provided, for example in the centre of the seat 8.

[0039] Other changes and modifications are, of course, possible.

Claims

1. A shower seat (2), comprising:

a waterproof seat (8); and

a waterproof back rest (10),

the seat (8) being moveable between a seating position in which a person may sit thereon with his/her back against the back rest (10), and a storage position in which the seat (8) is at least partially covered by the back rest (10).

2. A shower seat according to Claim 1, wherein the back rest (10) is moveable to permit movement of the seat (8) between the seating and storage positions.

3. A shower seat according to Claim 2, wherein the seat (8) is pivotable between the seating and storage positions, and wherein the back rest (10) is pivotable between a raised position in which the seat (8) may be pivoted between the seating and storage positions, and a lowered position in which the back rest (10) is positioned so that a person may sit or stand against the back rest.

4. A shower seat according to any preceding claim, further comprising first and second arm rests (12, 14) moveable between a support position in which a person sitting on the seat (8) may rest his/her arms thereon, and an arm storage position in which the arm rests (12, 14) are at least partially covered by the back rest (10).

5. A shower seat according to Claim 4, wherein the arm rests (12, 14) are pivotable between the support position and the arm storage position.

6. A shower seat (2), comprising:

first and second side supports (4, 6);

a waterproof seat (8) pivotably mounted between the first and second side supports; and

a waterproof back rest (10) pivotably mounted between the first and second side supports;

wherein:

the seat (8) is pivotable between a seating position in which a person may sit on the seat and a storage position in which the seat is stored between the side supports (4, 6); and

the back rest (10) is pivotable between a raised position in which the seat (8) may be pivoted between the seating and storage positions, and a lowered position in which, if the seat (8) is in the seating position, a person may sit on the seat with his/her back against the back rest (10), or, if the seat (8) is in the storage position, the back rest (10) at least partially covers the seat (8) and side supports (4, 6) so that a person may stand against the back rest (10).

7. A shower seat according to Claim 6, wherein each of the side supports (4, 6) has an arcuate edge (16) which will extend away from a wall to which the shower seat is connected in use to a position of maximum protrusion (18) from the wall and extend therefrom back towards the wall, and wherein the back rest (10) has a corresponding arcuate shape.

8. A shower seat according to Claim 7, wherein, in the lowered position, the back rest (10) extends beyond the position of maximum protrusion (18) of the arcuate side supports (4, 6).

9. A shower seat according to any of Claims 6 to 8, further comprising at least one support leg (22) connected to the seat (8) for movement therewith such that, when the seat is in the seating position, the support leg (22) contacts the floor to provide support for the seat (8), and, when the seat is in the storage position, the support leg (22) is stored between the side supports (4, 6).

Drawing