Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Convenience accessories
Patent
1986-03-10
1988-02-23
Artis, Henry K.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Convenience accessories
4560, 4565, 4566, A47K 312
Patent
active
047260815
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a bath for use by a physically handicapped or physically impaired person.
BACKGROUND
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.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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, and 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a bath according to the present invention, partly in section to show the seat structure; and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged section showing the seat structure and operating linkage in greater detail.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION
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 pivotably 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 32 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 FIG. 2. FIG. 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 opera
REFERENCES:
patent: 3071779 (1963-01-01), Turner
patent: 3078475 (1963-02-01), Turner
patent: 3457569 (1969-07-01), Von Ardenne et al.
patent: 4291422 (1981-09-01), Shoemaker et al.
patent: 4624019 (1986-11-01), Pennington-Richards
Duffin Richard W.
Hiscock David L.
LandOfFree
Bath with a vertically movable seat does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bath with a vertically movable seat, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bath with a vertically movable seat will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-596495