Patent ID: 6363545
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
A bathing device including a bathtub (74) which can be filled with bath water and a lift surface (16) for lifting and lowering a person (18) situated in the bathtub (74), wherein the lift surface is formed by a flexible lift mat (16), which covers over a support tub (12) and which can be acted upon by a work fluid (22), which flexible lift mat (16) is in pressure tight engagement with said support tub (12) about the upwardly directed tub opening (14) of the support tub (12), and which flexible lift mat (16) is raiseable and lowerable to function as a bath basin (74) in response to changes in the work fluid volume in the support tub (12), wherein the lift mat (16) spans over the support tub (12) in the area of its upwardly directed tub opening (14), wherein the lift mat (16) is connected in pressure-tight manner around the rim (40) of the support tub (12), wherein the lift mat (16) supports the person (18) under pre-tension and can be lowered by pumping out of work fluid situated in the support tub (12), and wherein the support tub (12) includes an overflow channel (54) surrounding the tub opening (14) of the support tub (12) for bath water, which is in communication with a discharge channel (56).