Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Convenience accessories
Patent
1997-04-02
1999-12-21
Phillips, Charles E.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Convenience accessories
A47K 302
Patent
active
060031689
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention concerns person movement apparatus, and particularly but not exclusively apparatus for moving a person into and out of a conventional bath.
A number of prior arrangements have been provided for moving a person, and particularly a disabled or elderly person into and out of a bath. Some of these arrangements have required particularly adapted baths. Others are permanently mountable on the floor so as to take up a considerable amount of space and only be usable with a specific bath. Such arrangements are only usually practical in a nursing home, hospital or other institution. Others require a person to be lifted high into the air to be able to be swung over a bath, which can be dangerous and also frightening for a user of the apparatus.
According to the present invention there is provided person movement apparatus, the apparatus comprising seating means; means for moving the said seating means in a generally vertical direction to permit said means to be locatable at: an appropriate height adjacent to a bath for a person to sit on, an appropriate height in the bath for the person to wash, and also a height to enable movement of said seating means above a side of the bath; means for tilting the seating means rearwardly whereby to raise the legs of a person on the seating means to enable the person to be moved over the side of the bath without moving the seating means unduly high; and means permitting the seating means to be moved from a first position adjacent the bath to a second position over the bath.
The seating means is preferably pivotally movable between said first and second positions.
The apparatus may comprise a frame upon which the seating means is pivotally mounted. The seating means is preferably mounted on the frame towards the side thereof from which a person enters the bath.
The frame is preferably locatable on a bath, desirably to rest on one end thereof and also to extend part-way along the sides thereof. The frame preferably has a generally U-shaped configuration. Means are preferably provided to prevent the frame lifting relative to the bath. The frame is preferably adjustable so as to be usable with different size baths.
The apparatus is preferably arranged such that the seating means automatically tilts rearwardly when raised above a predetermined height, and returns to its original alignment when lowered back to said predetermined height.
The apparatus preferably comprises lower and upper pivotal linkages connecting with the seating means, with the means for moving said means in a generally vertical direction being engageable with the upper linkage, and abutment means engageable with the lower linkage when the seating means reaches said predetermined height to cause the tilting of the seating means.
The vertical moving means preferably comprises a hydraulic ram. A pump is preferably provided for the ram which may be either electrically or manually operable.
Means may be provided to permit the pump to be operated by a person on the seating means, and with the manual pump a pivoted bar may be provided with one end thereof locatable adjacent the seating means. A release valve may be provided for the ram. Means are preferably also provided to prevent the seating means from dropping quickly, and said means may comprise a shock absorber.
Alternatively, the vertical moving means may comprise a gear drive which may include a belt engageable with the seating means. The upper linkage may be guided by one or more track means.
An electric drive may be provided for the gear drive.
Alternatively manually operable winding means may be provided for the gear drive, and the winding means may be arranged to be operable by a person on the seating means.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a different condition;
FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away view of part of th
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patent: 5287568 (1994-02-01), Mohrmann
patent: 5365618 (1994-11-01), Gilbert
patent: 5465437 (1995-11-01), Herman
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