BATH WITH A VERTICALLY MOVABLE SEAT

Abstract: A bath for use by a physically handicapped or physically impaired person, comprising a bath structure (11), a seat (13) located within the bath structure (11), said seat (13) being connected to a seat support (16), said seat support (16) being connected to a mechanical linkage (19) located externally of the bath structure (11), and means (29) for pivoting the linkage (19) in order to move the seat (13) between an upper position in which it is located at or above the upper edge of the sides of the bath structure (11) and a lower position in which the seat (13) is located at the bottom of the bath structure.

Description: BATH WITH A VERTICALLY MOVABLE SEAT This invention relates to a bath for use by a physically handicapped or physically impaired person. It is known to provide in a conventional bath a free standing seat structure provided with pneumatically operated means which can move the seat between a vertically raised position, in which the seat is located at the upper edge of the sides of the bath, and a lowered position in which the seat is located near to the bottom of the bath. The disadvantages of such a seat structure are that the seat is free standing and may inadvertently be moved along the bath accidentally. The flexible conduits for conveying the compressed air to the seat extend into the bath and can become bent or deformed so as to cut off the supply of compressed air to the seat. The seat cannot be pivoted so as to lie transversely of the bath and therefore a disabled person may experience difficulty in being able to move onto and off the seat. According to the present invention there is provided a bath for use by a physically handicapped or physically impaired person, comprising a bath structure, a seat located within the bath structure, said seat being connected to a seat support, said seat support being connected to a mechanical linkage located externally of the bath structure, and means for pivoting the linkage in order to move the seat between an upper position in which it is located at or above the upper edge of the sides of the bath structure and a lower position in which the seat is located at the bottom of the bath structure. Preferably the seat is pivotably connected to the seat support so that when the seat is in the upper position, it can be pivoted to lie transversely of the bath structure. The seat support preferably extends through an opening provided in the bath structure, said opening being sealed by a flexible seal. Preferably the flexible seal is a bellows-like seal member. The means for pivoting the mechanical linkage preferably comprises a hydraulic jack but it can consist of a pneumatic or electrically operated jack. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichs- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a bath according to the present invention, partly in section to show the seat structure; and Figure 2 is an enlarged section showing the seat structure and operating linkage in greater detail. The bath is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a bath structure 11 preferably moulded from a thermoplastics material or a fibre reinforced plastics material. The bath structure 11 is supported from the floor by a support structure 12. Located within the bath structure 10 is a seat 13 which is connected to a base support 14 which is provided with a pivot 15 connected to a support member 16. The support member 16 extends through an opening 17 provided in the rear wall 18 of the bath structure 10 and is connected to a parallel linkage generally indicated at 19. The linkage 19 has links 20 and 21 which are pϊvotably connected to the support member 16 at 22 and 23, respectively, and the links 20 and 21 are pivotably connected at 24 and 25, respectively, to fixed structure 26. It will be appreciated that in order to provide stability there are two links 20 and two links 21. Extending between the links 20 is a member 27 which is contacted by the piston rod 28 of a hydraulic jack 29 which is pivotably connected at 30 to the structure 26. The bottom of the bath structure 11 is provided with a well or recess 31 in which the bottom of the seat 13 and the support 14, pivot 15 and support member 16 are received when the seat 13 is in its lowered position as indicated in full lines in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the seat 13 in the raised position in broken lines. The support member 16 is provided with a flange 32 which is connected to a bellows type sealing member 33 which is secured to the rear wall 18 around the opening 17 in order to seal the opening 17. By operating the jack 29, the linkage 19 is caused to pivot upwardly thus raising the seat 13 to a position in which it is located just above the upper edge of the sides of the bath structure 11 where it can be moved about the pivot 15 so as to lie transversely of the bath structure 11. In this position a physically disabled or physically impaired person can move onto and off the seat 13. When a person has moved onto the seat 13, it is moved about the pivot 15 to lie fore and aft of the bath structure 11 and the hydraulic pressure in the jack 29 released to cause the linkage 19 to swing downwardly and thus lower the seat to the full line position shown in Figure Preferably the linkage 19 is arranged so that the seat 13 tilts slightly downwardly at its front end when in the raised position and tilts slightly downwardly at its rear end when in the lowered position. The hydraulic fluid of the jack 29 may be oil or water and such water may be taken from the water supply to the taps 34 provided on the bath. Alternatively, the jack 29 may be a pneumatically operated jack or an electrically operated jack. The operation of the jack 29 may be remotely controlled by control buttons, levers or pull cords. The bath structure 11 is provided with a waste pipe 35 which may be controlled by a remotely operated plug.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A bath for use by a physically handicapped or physically impaired person, comprising a bath structure (11), a seat (13) located within the bath structure (11), said seat (13) being connected to a seat support (16), said seat support (16) being connected to a mechanical linkage (19) located externally of the bath structure (11), and means (29) for pivoting the linkage (19) in order to move the seat (13) between an upper position in which it is located at or above the upper edge of the sides of the bath structure (11) and a lower position in which the seat (13) is located at the bottom of the bath structure. 2. A bath as claimed in claim 1, in which the seat (13) is pivotably connected by a pivot mounting (15) to the seat support (16) so that when the seat (13) is in the upper position it can be pivoted to lie transversely of the bath structure (11). 3. • A bath as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the seat support (16) extends through an opening (17) provided in the bath structure (11), said opening (17) being sealed by a flexible seal (33). 4. A bath as claimed in claim 3, in which the flexible seal (33) is a bellows-like seal member. 5. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means (29) for pivoting the mechanical linkage (19) comprises a hydraulic, pneumatic or electrically operated jack (29). 6. A bath as claimed in claim 5, in which the mechanical linkage (19) comprises parallel links (20, 21) pivotably connected at one end to fixed structure (26) and at their other end to the seat support (16) and said jack (29) is pivotably connected to said fixed structure (26). 7. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bottom of the bath structure (11) is provided with a well or recess (31) in which the botton of the seat (13) and the seat support (16) are received when the seat is in its lowered position. 8. A bath an claimed in any one of claims b to 7, in which the jack (29) is hydraulically operated and the hydraulic fluid is water. 9. A bath as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, in which said opening (17) is provided in an end wall of the bath structure (11) and the flexible seal is secured to the rear wall around the opening (17).

Inventors: DUFFIN RICHARD WILLIAM, HISCOCK DAVID LAWRENCE, DUFFIN, RICHARD, WILLIAM, HISCOCK, DAVID, LAWRENCE
Applicants: HAMPSHIRE MED DEV, HAMPSHIRE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A61G7
IPC codes: A61G7