Lifting apparatus for bathers

Abstract

 Lifting apparatus is intended to enable bathers to be positioned in a conventional bath when unable to access the bath in the normal way. The apparatus includes a seat 10 which is connected to a lifting mechanism to raise and lower the seat over the side of the bath 12. There is a pivot for pivoting the seat about the vertical axis of a pillar 11 when the seat is raised. A leg support 14 is provided with a mechanism for pivoting the support 14 about a horizontal axis when the seat is in the elevated position to cause the bathers legs to be lifted clear of the side of the bath.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to lifting apparatus for bathers and in particular to lifting apparatus for lifting a seated person over the side of a bath.

[0002] Lifting apparatus for bathers is known in which there is a seat, a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the seat over the side of a bath, and a pivot for pivoting the seat, when raised, about a vertical axis. Such apparatus lifts the seated person upwards to the height of the side of the bath, the seat is pivoted about the vertical axis and the lifting apparatus is lowered so that the person is located within the bath for bathing purposes. Such apparatus is particularly useful for persons who cannot gain normal access to the bath through infirmity or disablement but such persons often cannot straighten their legs when in the seated position. For such persons either the seat would have to be lifted the extra height of the legs, or there has to be assistance for elevating the lower part of the legs.

[0003] An object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting apparatus for bathers.

[0004] According to the invention lifting apparatus for bathers comprises a seat, a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the seat over the side of a bath, a pivot for pivoting the seat, when raised, about a vertical axis towards and away from the bath, a leg support movable between a supporting and a non-supporting position and a leg raising mechanism mounted on the seat for moving the leg support between said positions about a horizontal axis, whereby when the support is in a raised position the legs are elevated towards a position for clearing the side of the bath during movement about said vertical axis.

[0005] Preferably the leg raising mechanism is movable between said positions only when the seat is raised above the side of the bath.

[0006] Conveniently the leg support extends generally horizontally in its raised position.

[0007] The leg raising mechanism may be manually or power operated and in either case there may be provided a linkage between the seat and the leg support. In one arrangement there is provided a crank pivotally mounted on the seat frame and attached to a drive mechanism, the crank also being attached to the leg support member. The attachment between the crank and the leg support member may be by a cable and by a linkage.

[0008] Preferably the leg raising mechanism comprises a reciprocal driven member attached to a lever, reciprocation of the driven member moving the leg support about said horizontal axis.

[0009] The lifting mechanism may include an interlock whereby pivoting of the seat about said vertical axis is prevented unless the seat is at a predetermined level in relation to the side of the bath.

[0010] The drive means for pivoting the seat about said vertical axis may be included, the drive means including a linear drive operating on a lever arm secured for rotation with a seat.

[0011] Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of embodiments of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig 1 is a perspective view of lifting apparatus for bathers,

Fig 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism of Fig 1,

Fig 3 is a plan view of the mechanism of Fig 2,

Fig 4 is an elevation of the direction of arrow 4 in Fig 2.

Fig 5 is a view corresponding to Fig 3 of an alternative mechanism,

Fig 6 is a view corresponding to Fig 2 of the mechanism of Fig 5,

Fig 7 is a perspective view of another part of the apparatus, and

Fig 8 is another view of the part shown in Fig 7.

[0012] Referring to the drawings a lifting mechanism for bathers generally comprises a seat and seat frame 10 mounted on a pillar 11 incorporating a mechanism for lifting and lowering the seat 10 over the side of a bath 12. The seat 10 has attached to it at the forward end of the horizontal seat portion 13 a leg supporting member 14 which is moveable between a generally horizontal position 14A and a lowered position 14B.

[0013] The pillar 11 incorporates a lifting and lowering mechanism, usually a hydraulic piston and cylinder, which is attached to the seat 10 and by which the seat 10 is lifted from an initial position at the side of the bath 12 in which the user can gain access to and sit on the seat 10. The seat 10 is lifted so that the horizontal seat portion 13 is above the height of the side of the bath, the seat 10 can then be pivoted about the vertical axis of the pillar 11 to move the seat 10 over the side of the bath until the seat is clear of the side and is ready for a lowering movement so that the bather becomes immersed in the water in the bath. After bathing a reverse of this procedure elevates the seat out of the water, over the side of the bath and the seat is then lowered to a position for the bather to exit the seat.

[0014] The leg lifting member 14 is provided to lift the lower part of the legs of the bather about the knee so that the legs clear the side of the bath after elevating the seat and pivoting the seat about the vertical axis. Thus the member 14 is moved between the initial lowered position 14B and the raised, generally horizontal position 14A for the seat 10 to be pivoted over the side of the bath 12.

[0015] The pivoting action of the leg lifting member 14 may be achieved in several ways of which one is shown in Figs 2-4. In these drawings the seating and back surface for the seat 10 has been omitted as has the leg support portion of the leg lifting member 14, for clarity, the omitted portions being generally of plastic and being shaped to suit the bather as shown in Fig 1.

[0016] The seat 10 is formed of two base frames 16 and 17, the base frame 16 being for the back of the seat and the base frame 17 being for the seat portion of the seat, the portions 16 and 17 being inclined relative to one another at an angle to produce a comfortable seat for the user. At the upper end of the frame 16 is a cross beam 18 which supports the seat from the pillar 17 and is connected to a piston of a piston and cylinder (not shown) located within the pillar 11. Thus as the piston moves out of the cylinder the beam 18 is raised and lowered in the vertical direction in known manner.

[0017] The seat frame 17 is adjustable in length to provide for persons of different size by the provision of telescopically extendable side frame members 20 which can be extended to vary the length of the seat frame 17.

[0018] At one end of the seat frame 17 there is provided a cross frame member 21 mounted between the side frame members 20 which carries the leg support 14. The support 14 includes a central bar 22 having an outer support member 23 at its free end and being connected at its other end to the cross bar 21 which is pivotally mounted to the side frame member 20 about its central axis. Thus the bar 22 is moveable about the axis of the cross bar 21 to enable the leg support 14 to be moved between the positions 14A and 14B.

[0019] The movement of the leg support 14 in the illustrated arrangement of Figs 2-4 is by an electro-mechanical arrangement operable by the bather or an assistant. In this arrangement there is provided an electrically operated actuator 25 mounted on the frame 16 at the upper end of the frame and operating a reciprocal lever 26 which, at its outer end is pivotally attached to a crank 27. The crank 27 is pivotally mounted on the frame 16 and carries about a pivot 28 a Bowden cable 29. The wire 30 of the Bowden cable 29 is connected to a lever arm 31 carried on the cross bar 21 so that upon movement of the wire 30 the leg support 24 is moved between its up and down positions. The sheath 32 of the Bowden cable 29 is secured to the frame 16 to enable the Bowden cable 29 to operate the leg support 14.

[0020] The actuator 25 may be an electric motor which, through gearing, causes the reciprocal movement of the lever 26 and it will be seen that by operation of the actuator using switch means (not shown) the lever 26, upon such reciprocal movement, causes the crank 27 to rotate about its pivot and move the wire 30 reciprocally thereby causing the bar 22 to rotate about the axis of the cross bar 21. The angle of movement of the leg support 14 is approximately 90 degrees, or somewhat less, to move the bather's legs sufficient to raise them to a generally horizontal position at the appropriate time.

[0021] Referring now to Figs 5 and 6 there is shown an alternative arrangement to that of Figs 2-4 but in which similar parts are given the same reference numbers. In the embodiment of Figs 5 and 6 a cylindrical hydraulic actuator 35 is mounted on the seat frame 17 through a bracket 36. A reciprocal rod 37 of the actuator 35 is connected to a level arm 31 secured for rotation with the cross bar 21 so that as the rod 37 moves in and out of the actuator 35 the leg support 14 is moved up and down, as before. Power to the actuator is provided by fluid supplied through a fluid line 38.

[0022] Usually the operation of the seat 10 will be coordinated so that the seat is unable to pivot about the axis of the pillar 11 unless the seat is in its fully elevated position. Similarly the leg lift 14 will be in the elevated position before pivoting takes place thereby enabling the legs to clear the side of the bath 12 before the seat is pivoted to a position over the bath. Moreover it will not normally be possible for the leg lift to be moved to the lowered position whilst the bather is moving down into the bath, raised out of the bath or over the side of the bath.

[0023] Referring now to Figs 7 and 8 there is shown one way in which operation of the seat about the vertical axis of the pillar 11 may be coordinated with the vertical movement. There is provided a seat support spindle 40 which is movable up and down, as previously described, and is located within a cylindrical casing 41. The casing 41 is provided with a cut-out portion 42 to accommodate a projecting lever 43, to be described.

[0024] A cam ring 44 is fixed to the spindle 40 and the cam ring 44 is provided with grooves 46 which are arranged to be in engagement with vertical bars (not shown) fitted to the inside of the cylindrical casing 41. Provided that the spindle 40 and the cam ring 44 is in a position in which the vertical bars locate with the grooves 46 the spindle 40 is prevented from rotating about its axis. Only when the cam ring 44 is elevated with the spindle 40 above the level of the vertical bars can the spindle 40 rotate about its vertical axis. Thus the opening 42 is arranged at a height to permit such pivoting about the vertical axis when the seat has been elevated to the required height in relation to the side of the bath.

[0025] A further drive ring 47 is located within the casing 41 and is supported in relation to the casing by pins 48 to prevent vertical movement of the drive ring 47, whilst permitting the drive ring to rotate through an arc of approximately 90°. The arm 43 is fixed to the drive ring 47 and a linear actuator 50 (Fig 8) at the outer end of the arm 43, whereby upon operation of the linear actuator 50 the arm causes the spindle 40 to rotate about its vertical axis. The ring 47 also has a downwardly projecting tooth 51 capable of engaging in the grooves 46 of the cam ring 44. When this takes place the seat assembly may be swivelled over the side of the bath by operation of the actuator 50 on the arm 43.

[0026] It will be seen that the mechanism of Figs 7 and 8 only becomes operable when the seat is raised to a height at which it can be pivoted over the side of the bath. At this position the tooth 51 engages with a groove 46 in the cam ring 44 and by operation of switch means (not shown) controlled by the user the seat may be moved to the required position across the side of the bath.

[0027] Instead of the arrangement illustrated in the drawings other means may be provided for lifting and lowering the leg portion 14. For example, a manually operated lever can be provided to replace the electrically operated actuator, the lever providing mechanical advantage to enable the bather or assistant to lift the leg portion by manual effort.

[0028] As another alternative a lifting mechanism may be employed which makes use of the movement of the main seat frame relative to the pillar 11. A cable or a rigid linkage may be employed, suitably geared, to provide the necessary pivotal movement of the leg portion 14. In such an arrangement the vertical movement of the frame 16 relative to a fixed point on the pillar 16 or the bath base may be used to effect the lifting of the leg portion 14. In another arrangement the pivoting of the seat 10 about the vertical axis relative to a fixed point on the pillar or the bath base may be employed to cause the leg portion to be raised.

[0029] The leg portion 14 may be raised automatically by having a switch or sensor which is actuated by either the vertical lifting movement of the seat or by the swivelling movement of the seat.

[0030] In another arrangement the leg portion 14 may be lifted by a sensor detecting the positioning of the bather on the seat prior to use, the sensor actuating the leg lift mechanism when the bather is positioned on the seat.

[0031] It will be seen that the apparatus provides means for the bather's legs to be raised to clear the side of the bath when the seat is to be moved over the side of the bath thereby overcoming the need for manual raising of the legs. This enables bathing to be performed by the user without the need for an assistant and without the need for the seat to be raised too high to be clear of the side of the bath.

Claims

1. Lifting apparatus for bathers comprises a seat, a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the seat over the side of a bath, a pivot for pivoting the seat, when raised, about a vertical axis towards and away from the bath, a leg support movable between a supporting and a non-supporting position and a leg raising mechanism mounted on the seat for moving the leg support between said positions about a horizontal axis, whereby when the support is in a raised position the legs are elevated towards a position for clearing the side of the bath during movement about said vertical axis.

2. Lifting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the leg raising mechanism is movable between said positions only when the seat is raised above the side of the bath.

3. Lifting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the leg support extends generally horizontally in its raised position.

4. Lifting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the leg raising mechanism is manually or power operated and there is provided a linkage between the seat and the leg support to effect said movement of the leg support.

5. Lifting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the linkage comprises a crank pivotally mounted on the seat frame and attached to a drive mechanism, the crank also being attached to the leg support member through a lever.

6. Lifting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the attachment between the crank and the leg support is in the form of a cable.

7. Lifting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the leg raising mechanism comprises a reciprocal driven member attached to a lever, reciprocation of the driven member moving the leg support about said horizontal axis.

8. Lifting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lifting mechanism includes an interlock whereby pivoting of the seat about said vertical axis is prevented unless the seat is at a predetermined level in relation to the side of the bath.

9. Lifting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims comprising drive means for pivoting the seat about said vertical axis, the drive means including a piston and cylinder operating on a lever arm secured for rotation with the seat.

Drawing