Patent GB-882798-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for washing, capable of being used as a wash basin or shower
IPC: A47K3/28
Filed: 1956-11-22
Abstract: 882,798. Baths; bidets; lavatory basins. NILSSON, R. R. E. Nov. 22, 1957 [Nov. 22, 1956], No. 35731/56. Class 26. Apparatus for washing, usable as a washbasin or shower, comprises a washbasin/or sink movable between an upper normal position and a lower position for receiving water from the shower head 37, the waste pipe 15 permitting such movement, Fig. 1. When a wall is behind the washbasin 1 it is preferably further away from the wall in the lower than in the upper position, a device, e.g. a panel 30, preventing water from the shower passing through the space between the basin 1 and wall. The wastepipe 15a may be flexible, Fig. 5, and may be connected to the washbasin outlet 14a and drainpipe 12 by swivel or rigid couplings 63 and 64, means being provided for substantially counterbalancing the weight of the basin 1, consisting of a weight 60, Fig. 5, or spring attachment 24, Fig. 1, and a leg 104 to support the basin on the floor, movable to an out-of-use position, Fig. 5. The wastepipe can be of elements assembled telescopically, or of at least two sections 16, 17 pivoted together and at the basin outlet and to the drain pipe 12, Fig. 1, or may be in the form of a bellows. A stench trap or like device may be interposed between the pipe 12 and outlet 14a. The washbasin 1 may be slidably mounted on a device which may be fixed to the wall having slideways 2, e.g. two, which may diverge from the wall. The basin 1 is maintained substantially horizontal when moved and the slideways 2 may have gears 8 thereon fixed to the ends of a spindle 7, Fig. 2, rotatably mounted relative to the basin 1, each gear 8 meshing with a rack 9 on each slideway 2. A crank 106 drives the spindle 7 through a worm 108 on a spindle 107 and a worm wheel 109 on the spindle 7 to move the basin 1 along the slideways 2. Locking means maintain the basin 1 in the upper position. The basin 1 may be mounted on the wall behind it, Fig. 8, by levers 81, 82 pivoted to the basin 1 and the wall, the basin being supported in its lower position and held substantially perpendicular to the wall in moving by the levers 81, 82, in pairs on each side of the basin 1, the lines intersecting the four pivotal connections of each pair of levers forming a parallelogram, the levers 81, 82 being pivoted to the wall at a level between those of the upper and lower positions of the pivoted connections and preferably at a level lower than that of a horizontal plane situated midway between the said positions. One lever 82 may have an extension to bear against the floor when the basin 1 is in its lower position, to act as a support, and may be rigidly connected to the lever 82 on the other side of the basin 1. A platform or tray 99 may be pivoted to the wall, which is vertical when not in use and swings downward on to the basin 1 when lowered, at least one aperture 101 in it permitting the water to run into the basin, the free end being supported by legs 102 on the floor bearing against abutments 103. The apparatus comprises a screen, Fig. 1, which is larger in plan than the basin 1 and converges at its lower part toward the basin 1 to direct water into it from the shower, comprising curtains 40 suspended from a frame 38, which can occupy a vertical position when the curtains 40 are pushed against the wall to be supported by horizontal extensions of the frame 38 on supports 39, or held horizontal by, e.g. a clamping nut 39b. There may be a stop member 50 around the stench trap, which may be connected directly to the basin 1, usable as a foot bath, or bidet in the lower position.