TILTABLE BATHTUB FOR INVALIDS

Abstract: A tiltable bathtub (1) for easy access by the bather without assistance in which the tub (1) is pivotably supported on two horizontal pivots near the tub rim (8), the pivot axis being either lengthwise of the tub (1) and on the longitudinal centerline of the tub rim (8) or transverse to the length of the tub (1) and midway of the ends of the tub (1), a bather support platform (13) within the tub (1) being independently supported and adapted for easy cleaning.

Description: This invention relates to bathing devices, and in particular to bathing devices designed to facilitate the safe entry and egress of the bather. Traditional bathtubs require the user to climb into and out of a wet, slippery hole. The balancing act of standing on one leg to step over a barrier of some 30 cm is inconvenient for young and old alike as well as being dangerous at times. Adaptive equipment like grab bars give support and help in maintaining balance, but one must still raise one's entire weight up out of a hole. Showering eliminates the shifting of weight but still requires standing on a wet, potentially slippery surface. Several attempts have been made to provide safe bathtubs for the weak and elderly. Amongst them is that disclosed in US Patent US-A-in 099 273 (Colby) in which a cylindrical tub can be rolled on arcuate tracks about a centre top longitudinal axis. A bather support floor is anchored against tipping by arcuate arms attached to a tub support housing and extended over the back side of the tub into the tub. The tub, which is supported on ball bearings in arcuate tracks in the support housing, can be rolled closed for bathing by a hand crank and chain drive operated by an assistant at one end. The bather support floor rides on ball bearings carried by the tub on its interior. Another arcuate arm hung over the backwall into the tub has a series of holes in it to allow locking the tub at various angles. These multiple tracks and bearings require accurate and expensive assembly if, indeed, they could be assembled as shown. The bathtub according to US Patent US-A-2 530 540 (Davis) can be tipped from a position in which the tub floor is vertical to the horizontal about a transverse pivot below the tub floor and about 40% of the tub length from its foot. A screw or hydraulic Jack beneath the tub is used to tip the tub. A similar tub is shown in US Patent US-A-3 174 160 (Fielding) having the transverse pivot at the foot of the tub, a hydraulic Jack system for tilting the tub, and hose connections to the plumbing. Tubs with gated sides of various designs are shown in US Patents US-A-4 034 424 (Budlong), US-A-in 099 272 (Sowder) and US-A-in 296 508 (Moran). These arrangements present obvious sealing problems. In US Patents US-A-3 641 596 (Bill) and US-A-4 280 234 (Sax), a bather's chair is provided to support the bather while in the tub. He can enter the chair when the tub is empty and swung out from under the chair. The chair is supported in cantilever from the top back so that when the bather has sat down on the chair, the tub can be swung under the chair and around the chair as it is supported pivotably on an upright. The pivot is off-centre and in some cases closely adjacent to one sidewall of the tub so that when the tub is swung closed around the seated bather for filling, a minimum of tub space need be filled around him. An assistant is required to swing the tub into and out of position around the bather. US Patent US-A-3 534 748 (Ekman) discloses a tilt-tub arrangement very similar to those of Bill and Sax in which the tub pivot is at the upper edge of one sidewall of the tub except that the bather is supported in a near supine position on a bath stretcher which is placed on bent arms allowing the tub to be swung under and around the stretcher. According to the present invention there is provided a bathing device comprising a tub with two opposed upstanding walls and which may be tilted to a non-use position about a horizontal axis to raise and lower one side allowing access by a bather, an upright member located adjacent each of said opposed walls, a pivot member attached to each upright member and engaging the adjacent tub wall to allow said tub to tilt about said horizontal axis above the centre of gravity of said tub when said tub is level, and a body rest platform within the tub supported near said pivot members and being above the bottom of the tub so that the bather can gain access to said body rest platform without the hindrance of a tub wall when said tub is tilted to its non-use position and when said tub is in a use position said body rest platform can provide support for the bather without said body rest platform contacting said tub, characterised in that the body rest platform is supported for rotational movement about the support from a non-use position of the body rest platform to a use-in-tub position and vice versa, the body rest platform being adjacent the bottom of the tub in the use-in-tub position and being movable away from the tub into the non-use position for tub cleaning. Embodiments of the invention make it possible and safe for weak or disabled persons to enter a bathtub without assistance, bathe themselves in that tub, and following bathing, to safely get out of the bathtub unaided. A bathtub embodying the invention may be easily tilted into open position for entry before bathing, tilted by the bather to a closed position while inside the tub on a body support and easily tilted back into an open position for getting out of the tub following bathing, also unaided by another. The bather may be supported in a movable tub, but separately from it. The tiltable bathtub with a fixed body support is generally so designed that the tub and body support may be easily cleaned. In one embodiment, the bathing device may include an arm extending from one of the upright members to support the body rest. In a preferred embodiment, the bathing device includes a semi-cylindrical wall joining the opposed upstanding walls in watertight relation. The upstanding walls are the ends of the tub. Preferably, the tub is generally in the shape of a long semi-cylinder and the pivot axis is substantially co-axial with the cylinder from which the semi-cylinder was generated whereby the distance between the body rest platform and the inside surface of the tub remains nearly constant throughout the tilting of the tub. In another embodiment the upstanding walls are the sides of the tub. In the preferred embodiment, the rest platform comprises a head portion and a foot portion electively joined where adjacent, said portions each being supported with a hinge to enable the portions of the rest platform to be separated and raised for cleaning. In use of embodiments of this invention, the bather, even an invalid, can enter from one side or end, sit on a body support surface which is firm and fixed, unlatch the tub, manually tilt the tub to raise the lowered side or end into the bathing position and latch it in that position before filling the tub. The tub is supported on the horizontal axis by a pair of pivots and bearings. These pivots may be supported by columns attached to a base or floor under the tub. Also supported by the columns is the body support. While the tub walls are raised and lowered by tilting the tub for entrance and exit of the bather, only smooth surfaces slide past the body support and the rising wall is clear of any overhanging body supports which might possibly injure the bather. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective of a preferred form of a bathing device embodying the invention, having the tub pivots at the tub ends and showing the tub side lowered with a bather sitting on the body support platform with his legs over the edge of the tub prior to placing his feet and legs on the body support; Figure 2 is a perspective of the bathing device of Figure 1 with the tub side raised for filling and showing the bather in a reclining position on the platform within the tub; Figure 3 is another perspective of the bathing device of Figures 1 and 2 showing details of the body rest platform with the foot end of the platform swung up for cleaning; Figure 4 is an elevation of the right hand side of the foot of the tub of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an elevation of the tub of Figures 1 to 5 showing the left hand side of the foot of the tub with a partial sectional view of the pivot; Figure 7 is a perspective front view of another preferred embodiment of the bathing device, having the tub pivots midway of the ends of the tub and showing the tub tipped into a near vertical position for entry and exit of the bather; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the bathing device of Figure 7 with the tub in the horizontal position for bathing; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the bathing device of Figures 7 and 8 with the tub in the horizontal position and the seat swung up for cleaning. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, a preferred embodiment of the bathing device according to the invention has a semi-cylindrical tub 1 supported by horizontal co-axial pivots 18 on uprights 4 and 5 at each end of the tub 1. The uprights 4 and 5 may be joined by a common base (not shown) or bolted directly to a floor upon installation. The uprights 4 and 5 may also be joined by a front wall 6 and a back wall 7 to form a cabinet as seen in Figures 1 to 3. This cabinet is useful in controlling water splashed during bathing. The pivots 18 are best located as in this preferred embodiment near the tub rim 8 on the tub ends 9 and 10 midway between the sides 11 and 12. A body rest platform 13 is composed of a head and back rest 14 and a trunk and foot rest 15. In one embodiment the head and back rest 14 comprises a tubular frame hinged to the head end upright 4 in a block 16 bolted to upright 4 and a backup plate (not shown). The block 16 also serves to support the tub pivot 18 with the backup plate in the same manner as at the foot end shown in detail in Figure 6. The tubular frame of the trunk and foot rest 15 is hinged to the foot end upright 5 in block 19 bolted to backup plate 20. Hook plates 21 on the trunk and foot rest engage bar 21A to electively join the trunk and foot rest 15 to the back and head rest 14 allowing one to separate the two rests and swing them in the direction of the arrows 14A and 15A for cleaning the tub 1 and rests 14 and 15 as seen in Figure 3. In all positions the rests 14 and 15 are clear of the ends 9 and 10 of the tub. A spring biased latch 22 engages the front wall 11 of the tub when the front side is lowered as in Figure 1. Since the tub 1 is semi-cylindrical, when the tub 1 is tilted so as to lower the front side 11 about the central axis of the cylinder, or from the lowered position to the position where the rim 8 of the tub 1 lies in a horizontal plane, the tub wall remains at a fixed distance from the body support platform 13. Thus by this arrangement, the bather is protected from being injured by pinching between the tub wall and the platform 13. As shown in detail in Figure 5, the stopper 24 when in the drain 25 serves as a safety lock preventing the tub 1 from rotating in relation to the drain 25 thus avoiding spillage of tub water. The stopper 24 can be opened and closed by linkage not shown. An overflow and drain vent 26 is a part of the drain assembly as seen in Figures 5 and 6. A faucet assembly 27 with swing spout 28 is mounted on the back wall 7 of the bathing cabinet. The swing spout 28 may swing out of the way before tipping the tub 1 to allow the bather to get in and out of the tub 1. It is to be noted that in this version of the invention, a semi-cylindrical shape is preferred because of the fixed distance between tub 1 and body support platform 13 which is maintained thereby. Other suitable shapes may of course be employed. In another preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7-9 the tub 29 has a foot end 33 and a head end 34. The horizontal pivot axis for the tub 29 is midway of and transverse to the length of the tub 29. The optimum point for pivot 30 is near the vertical plane of the center of gravity (when the tub 29 is horizontal) to allow easy rotation of the tub 29 as in the manner of a balanced teeter totter. As in the version of Figures 1-6, the pivots 30 for the tub 29 are mounted on a pair of uprights 31 and 32. Thus the tub 29 can be tipped on its pivots 30 from a horizontal bathing position as in Figure 8 to a bather access position as in Figure 7 with the foot 33 of the tub 29 down at floor level and the head end 34 up. A spring pressed detent tub lock pin 35 mounted in one upright 32 engages recesses (not shown) in the side wall of the tub 29 to lock the tub 29 in either the tipped or horizontal position. The body support in this version consists of a chair seat 36 pivotably fastened to uprights 31 and 32 and selectively locked in the bather support position of Figure 7 and 8. Alternatively it may be rotated forward to the cleaning position as in Figure 9 and locked by a spring pressed chair lock pin 37 which engages recesses (not shown) in the sidewall of the chair seat 36. A chair back 38 is attached by hinge 39 to the back of the chair seat 36. As best seen in Figure 9, the drain stopper 40 is pivotably mounted on the bottom of chair seat 35 and is operated by linkage not shown to open or close drain 41 when the tub 29 is in the horizontal position of Figure 8 for bathing. The faucet and swing spout 42 are mounted on the right hand upright 31 allowing for swinging the spout 42 out of the way of the bather when the tub 29 is tipped as in Figure 7. As in the other version of Figures 1-6, the uprights 31 and 32 may be joined with a base (not shown) or attached to the floor of the bathroom as a base with bolts 43. Because the tub 29 of the version of Figures 7-9 is configured so that it will not interfere with the seat 36 throughout the arc of tipping, it is not necessary that this tub 29 be semi-cylindrical as the sidewalls 44 of the seat 36 guard the bather from being pinched or injured in any way by relative motion of the tub 29 and seat 36. His feet simply ride up and down on the foot end of the tub with the tipping motion, and his back is supported by the back rest 38 which merely changes angle with the chair seat 36 with differences in tip angle. In some instances safety booting of some sort will cover the gap 45 to protect careless placing of hands therein. It can be seen that both versions of the bathing device allow the bather to place his body in the bathing device in a manner which is as easy and safe for him as getting into a bed as in the version of Figures 1-6 or as sitting down on a reclining chair as in the version of Figures 7-9. Because the tub 1 or 29 is suspended on pivots midway of its length or width and in the vertical plane of its center of gravity when the tub is horizontal, it is as easily rotated or tipped as a teeter totter board by the bather with no need for personal assistant, motor, jack, hydraulic cylinder or mechanical leverage system. The stable position of the body support platforms 13 and 36 provide the bather with a base against which he pushes to move the tub 1 or 29. All he needs to do is swing the longitudinally pivoted tub 1 with his hands or the transverse pivoted tub 29 with his back and/or feet. Because the body support platform 13 of the longitudinally pivoted tub 1 of Figures 1-6 does not rest on the tub 1, there is no rubbing friction between the tub 1 and the rest 13 to mar the tub or add to the force required to swing the tub 1. The main support for the bather's body in the version of Figures 7-9 is a chair seat which is completely clear of the tub 29. Nevertheless the chair back can be used to tip the tub 29 into a horizontal position. Handles 46 attached to the uprights 31 and 32 are available to the bather so that he may pull himself up from a reclining position, removing his weight from the chair back 38 and the head end 34 of the tub 29. After sitting up, the bather can open the stopper 40, drain the tub 29, release the lock pin 35 and then tip the tub 29 up to the access position shown in Figure 7 by pressing with his feet against the bottom of the tub 29.

Claims: A bathing device comprising a tub (1; 29) with two opposed upstanding walls (9, 10) and which may be tilted to a non-use position about a horizontal axis to raise and lower one side (11;33) allowing access by a bather, an upright member (4, 5; 31, 32) located adjacent each of said opposed walls (9, 10), a pivot member (18; 30) attached to each upright member (4, 5; 31, 32) and engaging the adjacent tub wall (9, 10) to allow said tub (1; 29) to tilt about said horizontal axis above the centre of gravity of said tub (1; 29) when said tub is level, and a body rest platform (13; 36) within the tub (1; 29) supported near said pivot members (18; 30) and being above the bottom of the tub (1; 29) so that the bather can gain access to said body rest platform (13; 36) without the hindrance of a tub wall (9, 10) when said tub (1; 29) is tilted to its non-use position and when said tub (1; 29) is in a use position said body rest platform (13; 36) can provide support for the bather without said body rest platform (13; 36) contacting said tub (1; 29), characterised in that the body rest platform (13; 36) is supported for rotational movement about the support from a non-use position of the body rest platform (13; 36) to a use-in-tub position and vice versa, the body rest platform (13; 36) being adjacent the bottom of the tub (1; 29) in the use-in-tub position and being movable away from the tub (1; 29) into the non-use position for tub cleaning. A bathing device according to claim 1, wherein each pivot member (18) is supported by a respective pivot block (16, 19), and the body rest platform (13) is mounted on the pivot blocks (16, 19). A bathing device according to claim 2, wherein the body rest platform (13) comprises a head portion (14) and a foot portion (15) electively joined where adjacent, said portions (14, 15) each being supported from the respective pivot block (16, 19) with a hinge to enable the portions (14, 15) of the body rest platform (13) to be separated and raised for cleaning. A bathing device according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sides (11, 12) of the tub (1) are longer than its ends and the opposed upstanding walls (9, 10) are the ends of the tub (1). A bathing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tub (1) is generally in the shape of a long semi-cylinder and the horizontal pivot axis is substantially co-axial with the centre axis of a cylinder projected from said semi-cylinder whereby the distance between the body rest platform (13) and the inside surface of the tub (1) will remain nearly constant throughout the tilting of the tub (1). A bathing device according to claim 1, wherein the opposed upstanding walls are the sides of the tub (29).

Inventors: ZELLNER, JOHN R.
Applicants: ZELLNER, JOHN R.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A61G7
IPC codes: A61G7