Abstract:
A grab handle attached to a chair, said grab handle comprising a fluid passageway and a fluid outlet for flow therethrough of a fluid. The grab handle may be used for washing and/or drying a person sitting in the chair, for example.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to grab bars or handles, and particularly to a grab bar which may be useful for performing bathing or other healthcare related activities.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Grab bars or grab handles, the terms being used interchangeably throughout, are known for use in assisting invalids or handicapped persons, such as in getting into and out of bathtubs, or for switching between sitting and standing positions.  
           [0003]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,131 to Scarborough, et al. describes a portable folding grab bar device for aiding a person to stand from a seated position having a base, a support column that pivots with respect to the base, a pivot mechanism, and a handle that the user grabs to rise from a seated position. The support column pivots with respect to the base to enhance portability. This is not a device for a chair, however, rather the base is designed for the user to stand upon while the handle is grasped. The user&#39;s own body weight is used to stabilize the device in use.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. 6,007,082 to Watwood, et al. describes a wheelchair driver mountable to a horizontal frame extension of a wheelchair between a wheel and the wheelchair frame. The driver is mounted directly to a spindle sleeve fastened to the horizontal frame extension, which provides a race for the driver to run upon. Grab handles are provided with the wheelchair driver, positioned at lower sides of the wheelchair.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention seeks to provide an improved grab bar for a chair, as is described hereinbelow.  
           [0006]    There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention apparatus comprising a grab handle attached to a bathing device, the grab handle comprising a fluid passageway and a fluid outlet for flow therethrough of a fluid.  
           [0007]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the bathing device comprises a seat and a backrest, the backrest being bounded by planes on both sides thereof, and the fluid outlet is arranged with respect to the seat and the backrest to direct a fluid to flow therefrom to at least one of the seat and the backrest.  
           [0008]    Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the grab handle is pivoted to the bathing device about a pivot axis extending between the planes, the grab handle comprising a first portion that extends generally along the pivot axis, a second portion that extends from the first portion generally transverse to the pivot axis, and a third portion that extends from the second portion generally parallel to the first portion, the grab handle comprising an angular position wherein the third portion is positioned above the seat and in front of the backrest and another angular position wherein the third portion is positioned above the backrest.  
           [0009]    Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the grab handle is lockable at one or more angular positions.  
           [0010]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the first portion of the grab handle comprises a fluid connector that connects to a complementary fluid connector positioned on the pivot axis. The fluid connector may be rotationally connected to the complementary fluid connector.  
           [0011]    Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the grab handle comprises an extension handle that extends from the grab handle. The extension handle may comprise a fluid passageway and a fluid outlet for flow therethrough of a fluid. Any kind of fluid may be used for the grab handle, such as but not limited to, water, washing liquid (e.g., liquid soap, aromatherapy substances, bathing oils, etc.) or air (e.g., heated or warm air for drying purposes). 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a chair with a grab handle, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of the grab handle of FIG. 1 in different angular positions, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a simplified illustration of the grab handle of FIG. 1, showing a fluid passageway and fluid outlets, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration of the grab handle of FIG. 1, including an extension handle, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a chair  10 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    Chair  10  may comprise a seat  12 , backrest  14 , headrest  16  and armrests  18 . Backrest  14  is bounded by planes  14 A and  14 B on both sides thereof. Chair  10  may be reclined and/or folded. For example, chair  10  may be provided with a rearwardly extending guide bar  15 , which is constrained to slide in a channel  17  formed in an upright backpanel  19 . Chair  10  may be provided with a wheel  21  attached to an underside of seat  12 . In this manner, chair  10  may be reclined by sliding guide bar  15  down channel  17 , as indicated by an arrow  23 , as wheel  21  rolls forward, as indicated by an arrow  25 . It is appreciated that this is merely one example of a reclining arrangement for chair  10 , but the invention is not limited to this arrangement, and many other types of reclining or folding arrangements are possible within the scope of the invention.  
         [0019]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, chair  10  may comprise a grab handle  20 . Grab handle  20  may be pivoted to chair  10  about a pivot axis  22  extending between planes  14 A and  14 B, as indicated by curved arrow  27 . Pivot axis  22  may be at any position. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, grab handle  20  may be pivoted at a position between backrest  14  and headrest  16 , such as but not limited to, at a point above or aligned with the top of backrest  14  below headrest  16 . Grab handle  20  may comprise a first portion  24  that extends generally along pivot axis  22 , a second portion  26  that extends from first portion  24  generally transverse to pivot axis  22 , and a third portion  28  that extends from second portion  26  generally parallel to first portion  24 .  
         [0020]    FIG. I illustrates grab handle  20  in an angular position wherein third portion  28  is swung above backrest  14 , and above headrest  16 , too. FIG. 2 illustrates swinging grab handle  20  about pivot axis  22  downwards in the direction of an arrow  29 . FIG. 3 illustrates another angular position of grab handle  20 , wherein third portion  28  is positioned above seat  12  and in front of backrest  14 . Thus, grab handle  20  may be positioned at any angular position about pivot axis  22  and may be locked in place at any of these positions, such as by pawls, ratchets or any other suitable device  30  (FIG. 2).  
         [0021]    Grab handle  20  may be one continuous piece or may comprise individual handles with a separation therebetween. Grab handle  20  may be of any suitable size or shape (e.g., different possible configurations are shown in FIGS. I and  3 ) Grab handle  20  may extend outwards sufficiently for pivoting over a person  40  seated in chair  10 , as seen in FIG. 4.  
         [0022]    Grab handle  20  has been described hereinabove in association with chair  10 . In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, grab handle  20  may be incorporated in any kind of massage and/or bathing environment. For example, grab handle  20  may be installed in a chair, bath tub, shower stall, sauna, Jacuzzi, whirlpool bath, swimming pool and the like. All of the aforementioned items, including the chair, are referred to as a “bathing device” throughout the specification and claims. Grab handle  20  may be, for example, incorporated in a massage and bathing system, such as that described in U.S. provisional patent application 60/384,848, copending and of the same inventor.  
         [0023]    Grab handle  20  may be swung down to a position in front of the person  40  for grasping and for protection, such as during washing and drying. Grab handle  20  does not interfere with healthcare related activities. Moreover, grab handle  20  may participate in the healthcare related activities, such as bathing and drying a person, as is now described.  
         [0024]    Reference is now made particularly to FIG. 3. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, grab handle  20  may comprise one or more fluid passageways  42  in fluid communication with one or more fluid outlets  44  at any position along grab handle  20 . The first portion  24  of grab handle  24  may comprise a fluid connector  46  that connects to a complementary fluid connector  48  positioned on pivot axis  22 . Fluid connector  46  is preferably rotationally connected to complementary fluid connector  48  so as to facilitate rotation of grab handle  20  about pivot axis  22 . Any kind of fluid, such as but not limited to, water, washing liquid (e.g., liquid soap, aromatherapy substances, bathing oils, etc.) or air (e.g., heated or warm air for drying purposes), may be introduced from a suitable source, canister or reservoir (not shown) and flow to grab handle  20 , such as through a manifold  50  via complementary fluid connector  48  and fluid connector  46 . The fluid flow is not affected by the position of grab handle  20 , or if used with chair  10 , the reclined, folded or non-reclined, non-folded position of chair  10 .  
         [0025]    Fluid outlets  44  may be rotatable such that fluid flowing therefrom may be directed towards the person  40  at any angular position of grab handle  20 .  
         [0026]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as seen in a simplified manner in FIG. 1, grab handle  20  may be connected to a drive system  60 , which may rotate grab handle  20  to any angular position in accordance with any pattern or other user-defined scheme. For example, drive system  60  may automatically scan over any desired body portion to deliver water, soap, aromatherapy substances, drying air, etc. Drive system  60  may comprise one or more sensors  62 , such as but not limited to, position sensors, accelerometers, limit switches, proximity sensors, biosensors and the like, which may be mounted in or on grab handle  20  and/or chair  10  and/or the user. Drive system  60  together with sensors  62  may be used as a closed loop servo-system to adjust the position of grab handle  20  and adjust the amount of water, soap, aromatherapy substances, drying air, etc.  
         [0027]    Reference is now made to FIG. 4. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an extension handle  52  may be provided that extends from grab handle  20 . Extension handle  52 , which may be flexible and/or telescopic, may comprise one or more fluid passageways  54  and one or more fluid outlets  56  for flow therethrough of the fluid. Extension handle  52  may be used to reach the user&#39;s knees and lower extremities (e.g., feet and toes), while at the same time, the user may still hold on to grab handle  20  without any compromise on safety.  
         [0028]    Accordingly, grab handle  20  may be incorporated in any kind of health care device or environment, such as for bathing, showering, drying or massaging a person. Water, liquid soap, aromatherapy substances, bathing oils, and the like may flow from grab handle  20  on the person&#39;s body and be collected and/or drained in a bath tub or shower stall and the like. Grab handle  20  may thus enhance the shower/bathing experience, and provide extra comfort and safety.  
         [0029]    It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.