CN216168575U - Feeding column for a birthing pool - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses a supply column for a delivery pool, which together with the delivery pool constitutes a system for a parturient. The supply column comprises a frame and an outer cladding mounted on the frame, the outer cladding being in the form of a bottom wall, a top wall and a side wall connected between the top wall and the bottom wall. Within the envelope are water pipes or hoses, hybrid batteries, valves, controllers and other units for using the system. Within the envelope are provided controls for controlling the supply and discharge of water and other functions of the birthing pool, as well as hose or pipe connections for supplying and discharging water to and from the birthing pool. The advantage of the feed column is that the side walls are composed of a planar front plate and possibly a planar rear plate extending in the width direction of the feed column, and two removable U-shaped side plates extending in the depth direction of the feed column. This provides convenient access for maintenance and installation of the units within the feed column.

Description

Feeding column for a birthing pool

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a supply post for a birthing pool, which together with the pool constitutes a system for a parturient, said supply post having a height, a width and a depth, said supply post comprising a frame and an outer cladding mounted on the frame in the form of a bottom wall, a top wall and side walls connecting the bottom wall and the top wall, wherein water pipes or hoses for the system use, hybrid batteries, valves, controllers and other units are arranged within the cladding, and wherein control functions for controlling the water supply and drainage and other functions using the birthing pool are provided within the cladding, as well as connections for hoses or pipes for supplying water to and draining water from the birthing pool.

Background

It has long been known that soaking in hot water has a pain-relieving effect. Previously, the puerpera was relaxed and relieved by soaking in hot water during the expansion phase. Recent experience has shown that by having a parturient complete the entire childbirth process in water, the following effects can be achieved:

a more comfortable environment of delivery;

-relief of pain;

-reducing childbirth rupture bleeding; and

-accelerating labour.

It is documented that delivery in water is as safe as traditional bed delivery.

Previous midwives used large food containers, tubs, and various showers to achieve relief and relaxation. Such problems are that the professional staff is difficult to control and support the parturient and that there are ergonomic problems for both the staff and the parturient. The worker must kneel or bend over onto the parturient, with extreme loads on the knees, feet and back. For many midwives, the body is not competent to assist underwater childbirth multiple times a day, and it is therefore difficult to practice to use water to relax and relieve maternal pain.

However, these tubs and the like have been replaced by more modern birthing pools, which are both flexible and ergonomic, whether for the parturient or for the midwife. Birthing pools have been marketed for many years.

However, existing birthing pools have some disadvantages. Birthing pools have a number of disadvantages in controlling water supply and drainage, as well as some disadvantages in sanitary conditions.

The bottom drain and overflow pipes of the birthing pool are difficult to clean. It is desirable that the birthing pool be provided with a drain and overflow at the bottom to ensure that secretions, blood filaments etc. may be "hidden" in the drain and pipe and are difficult to remove with a minimum of likelihood. .

During delivery, the supply of hot water continues as if it is continuously drained to effect water replacement.

The supply of water is controlled by using a handle operated valve. The water change must be controlled to maintain the water temperature at the desired level just as the water level must be maintained at the desired level.

During the childbirth, the replacement of water can be achieved by the constant draining of the pool overflow. There may be a risk of secretions, blood filaments etc blocking the overflow, so that water spills over onto the floor. This is clearly undesirable, partly for hygiene reasons and partly for safety reasons, since a wet floor can be very slippery.

When the parturient leaves the birthing pool after delivery, the pool is emptied by removing the bottom plug of the bottom drain. The bottom plug may be difficult to remove. It may be covered in whole or in part by secretions, blood filaments, etc. At the same time, even after the parturient leaves the birthing pool, the pool still has a significant water level. It may therefore be difficult for a person to reach the bottom plug without getting wet, and for hygienic reasons the person may even have to change clothes.

After use of the birthing pool, the pool and drainage system must be cleaned with a disinfectant. These cleaners must typically be left in the pipeline for 20-30 minutes to achieve full effectiveness. In particular the overflow ports and overflow conduits may be difficult to clean.

Therefore, there is a need to find new solutions that meet the hygienic requirements and manage water supply and drainage requirements safely and efficiently.

This is shown in the birthing pool disclosed in DK 201400163U 9. This has proven to be effective and birthing pools have become popular in many countries. It is under consideration to connect the birthing pool to a so-called feeding post, thus constituting an integrated system.

Thus, the birthing pool used with the feeding post may comprise a type of receptacle member designed for the parturient to be placed in, said receptacle member comprising a drain opening allowing continuous drainage.

The system also includes a water supply system having means for regulating the supply of water. The water supply connected to the supply post may comprise a flexible hose with a manual shower. The shower may be hand held or arranged to hang from the edge of the birthing pool.

The birthing pool comprises only one drain pipe in the form of a bottom drain. The bottom drain pipe is provided with a drain valve. A water level sensor is provided at or near the wall of the birthing pool for sensing the water level in the birthing pool.

The system includes a controller that may be disposed in the supply column and that is configured to receive input signals from the water level sensor and that is configured to send control signals to the drain valve to control opening and closing of the drain valve based on these received input signals.

Thus, the supply column is connected to the birthing pool by a hose for supplying water to and draining water from the birthing pool. The operation of all functions is concentrated in the feed column.

The birthing pool and the feeding post are movable and can be easily moved from room to room. The advantage lies in moving the lying-in woman between different rooms.

Although systems including birthing pools and feeding posts have proven to work effectively, maintenance and installation has proven to be time consuming because of problems in attaching filters to water supplies while continuing to maintain a system that is easy to maintain, repair and clean, particularly in maintaining a system in which all functions are concentrated in two units, the birthing pool and the feeding post.

There is therefore a need for improving the maintenance and installation of the feed column and the possibility of equipping the feed column with an easily replaceable filter.

Purpose of the utility model

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved feeding post for use in a system comprising a feeding post and a birthing pool, and to meet the above-mentioned needs.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

According to the utility model this is achieved by a feed column which is novel in that the side walls are formed by a planar front plate and possibly a planar rear plate extending in the width direction of the feed column, and two removable side plates extending in the depth direction of the feed column, and wherein the side plates are U-shaped.

Since the supply column can be mounted on a wall, a back plate is not required. If the supply column is standing independently in a room, there are both a front plate and a rear plate to cover the interior of the supply column. These plates are typically fixed to the feed column frame. The removable side panels of the U-shape provide a large space for access to the interior of the feed column.

The side plates are typically secured to a frame with one or more screws, and the frame is provided with U-shaped side plates and front and rear plates. Thus, the side panel can be easily removed by loosening only one screw. This is typically done by lifting the side plate upward after removal of the screws, after which the side plate can be removed and removed from the location of the feed column.

Once the side plates are removed, all components inside the feed column are readily accessible. This makes the unit in the feed column easy to maintain and also easy to install, since the installer has sufficient space to install the components into the frame part before the U-shaped side plate has not been installed or after it has been removed. Thereby, the U-shaped side plate may extend wider or narrower in the width direction of the feed column, thereby forming a larger or smaller opening into the interior of the feed column.

In the supply column, a control panel for setting the electric switch is usually provided on the ceiling wall or the ceiling plate. Controls for water supply and temperature regulation are usually provided in the front panel. The front plate also contains electrical connectors for external power supply and multiconnectors for controlling the birthing pool function. In the case of a wall-mounted model, the connection for emptying the birthing pool is also located on the front plate. Alternatively, the connection may be located at the bottom of the feeding column, so that water can be drained from the floor drain of the delivery room in which the feeding column is located.

The water supply is usually carried out through the bottom of the column, since the column is provided internally with pipes and hoses, equipped with connections that can be connected to external hot and cold water supplies.

The freestanding supply column may be equipped with wheels. The height of the wheels of the feeding column is typically adjustable or liftable so that the wheels can be easily moved up and down for transport and retrieval between different delivery rooms for support when the feeding column is used in the delivery room.

It is therefore easy to provide the delivery room with a supply post and birthing pool, as long as external hot and cold water supplies, drainage options for the water, and power are provided.

This allows the feeding post and birthing pool combination to be conveniently used in multiple delivery rooms, which may improve efficiency, rather than having the feeding post and birthing pool combination fixedly mounted in place in one delivery room.

According to another embodiment, the feed column according to the utility model is characterized in that the U-shaped side plates each extend over a length of 20 to 40%, preferably 30 to 35%, of the total width of the feed column.

As mentioned above, when the U-shaped side plates account for a large proportion of the total width of the feed column, the elements in the feed column can be easily installed and maintained. Preferably, therefore, the respective extension length of the U-shaped side plates may be 20% to 40% of the total width of the feed column.

The U-shaped side plates need not be symmetrical, so the U-shaped side plates on one side may extend longer than the U-shaped side plates on the other side. This may for example facilitate access to the front of the feed column. This is particularly advantageous in the case of wall-mounted models, where maintenance from the front and sides of the supply column is particularly important.

According to another embodiment, the feed column of the utility model is characterized in that replaceable filter units are provided in the feed column, said filter units being located in the U-shaped side plates, mounted on opposite sides of the frame.

Due to the ease of maintenance, it is possible to provide a replaceable filter unit in the feed column. The filter unit is located in the space covered by the U-shaped side plate, making it particularly simple to install the filter unit when required, and this also facilitates maintenance of the filter unit. The filter unit is usually equipped with an inlet connection and an outlet connection for flushing after a predetermined operating period or a predetermined measurable parameter change, for example a pressure drop over the filter unit. Since this must be done regularly, it is particularly advantageous to be able to remove the U-shaped side plate of the feed column equipped with the filter unit.

The filter unit may be separately installed at the cold water inlet or the hot water inlet, but is generally installed at both the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet. This allows one filter unit to be provided in each of the U-shaped side plates on opposite sides of the feed column frame. The filter unit may be directly connected to the water supply conduit or may alternatively be supported on the supply column housing and connected to the water supply system and the hybrid battery for supplying water to the birthing pool via a hose.

According to another embodiment, the supply column of the utility model is characterized in that the hybrid battery is accessed with a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet, which are connected to a water inlet pipe having an extension in each U-shaped side plate, which water inlet pipe is provided with first connector means, which are in mating connection with corresponding first connector means on the filter unit, to which corresponding first connector means on the filter unit are connected by second connector means cold and hot inlet pipes for obtaining hot and cold water, which inlet pipes are provided with second connector means and are in mating connection with corresponding second connector means on the filter unit such that the water supplied to the hybrid battery is filtered.

As described above, inlet pipes for hot and cold water may be installed in each U-shaped side plate. When the inlet pipe is equipped with a fitting device which cooperates with a corresponding fitting device on the filter unit, the feed column can easily be retrofitted with a filter unit or with a pipe connected to the hot and cold water supply of the hybrid battery.

Preferably, the filter unit is disposed at a position such that the hot and cold water supplied to the hybrid battery is filtered. Alternatively, a filter unit may be provided after the hybrid battery such that the mixed warm water is supplied through a single filter.

According to another embodiment, the feed column of the utility model is characterized in that the filter unit is a salmonella filter.

Different filter units can be used in the feed column. However, for water quality in birthing pools, salmonella filters are often used in the filter units.

According to another embodiment, the supply column according to the utility model is characterized in that the coupling means are quick couplings which can be mounted and dismounted without the aid of tools.

If the coupling means between the filter and/or the pipe section embedded in the hybrid battery and the hot and cold water supply pipe is formed of a quick coupling, quick installation is possible, and maintenance is easy since no tools are required for installing the filter unit or maintaining the filter unit.

According to another embodiment, the feed column of the utility model is characterized in that the filter unit is equipped with a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure drop over the filter unit, or other types of sensors for detecting other operating modes of the filter, and the sensors are connected to the controller so as to be able to automatically clean/flush the filter unit when a predetermined threshold value is detected.

The filter unit may be serviced by flushing and/or replacing the contents periodically or on a volume flow basis. A flow meter may be provided above the filter. Alternatively, a pressure sensor may be provided, since the filter unit usually requires maintenance when the flow rate is reduced.

The reduced flow may be detected simply by measuring the pressure drop over the filter unit using a pressure sensor. Since the sensor for pressure drop detection in the filter or other operation mode is connected to the controller, the filter can be automatically cleaned/flushed when a predetermined threshold is detected. Thus, the controller may provide a shut-off valve or the like on either side of the filter unit, and may then perform an automatically activated flush.

According to another embodiment the feeding post of the utility model is characterized in that the controller is connected to two upper water level sensors for detecting the upper water level in the birthing pool, and that the controller is arranged to establish a control signal for opening the drain valve only when both upper water level sensors signal.

The controller of the feeding post is usually connected to a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the birthing pool. When using two upper level sensors, it is possible for the controller of the feeding post to detect a situation where a person is sitting against the edge of the birthing pool, so that only one level sensor is activated. This does not result in emptying of the birthing pool to avoid overflow. Only in case both upper level sensors detect the upper level will the controller signal the opening of the drain valve to avoid overflow of the birthing pool.

According to another embodiment the feeding post of the utility model is characterized in that the feeding post has a drainage hose equipped with a non-return valve for preventing sewer water from rising into the birthing pool, and that preferably a further non-return valve is arranged between the feeding post and the drainage hose carried by the birthing pool.

Between the supply column and the floor drain of the room in which the supply column is located, a check valve is arranged in the drainage hose so that water from the sewer cannot enter the birthing pool through the drainage hose.

For optimum safety, an additional check valve is usually provided in the drain hose between the supply column and the birthing pool drain.

In this way the birthing pool can be completely isolated from the sewer, ensuring that the water in the birthing pool is not contaminated.

According to another embodiment the feeding post of the utility model is characterized in that the plane front plate is provided with connections for hoses or pipes for water drainage from the birthing pool, and that sockets for power supply cabling and control are also provided in the plane front plate, and that the frame is arranged for wall-mounting.

If the supply post is located in a room where a wall mounted supply post can be installed, the hose or pipe for draining water from the birthing pool will be connected in the planar front panel, and the electrical connector and multiconnector will also be located in the planar front panel. The feeding post may be provided with a connection in the planar front plate for draining water from the feeding post or may be mounted as a floor drain through the bottom of the feeding post towards the delivery room.

According to another embodiment, the supply column of the utility model is characterized in that the hybrid battery has two outlets connected to hoses for supplying water to the birthing pool.

The supply column is usually used to supply water to the birthing pool via a quick water injector, which usually comprises a U-shaped bracket that can be hung at the edge of the birthing pool and quickly injects water into the birthing pool in the same way as a water tap in a common bathtub. Likewise, the supply column is equipped with a hand shower known from bathtubs. Such hand showers are usually hand held for showering the parturient in the birthing pool.

It is therefore advantageous for the hybrid battery to have two outlets, each for connection to supply water to the birthing pool. The two outlets may be opened separately, allowing for the simultaneous use of quick water fill and showering or the use of only one of these two options.

Drawings

The utility model will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a feeding post connected to a birthing pool;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a feed column according to another embodiment different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

3-5 show different side views of the feed column shown in FIG. 2, front, side and back, respectively; and

FIG. 6 shows a partial view of the feed column with the front and side panels removed.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments, and in the accompanying drawings, like and similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals. And thus there is no specific explanation about each figure.

Fig. 1 shows a feeding column 1 and a birthing pool 2.

The feed column 1 has a surround 3, the surround 3 having a top wall 4, a bottom wall 5 and a side wall 6 connecting the top and bottom walls.

The supply column is equipped with a water filling hose 7 for rapid filling of the birthing pool, and a hose 8 connected to a shower 8' for showering the person in the birthing pool. The water injection hose 7 is connected to a hose bracket 7' for attachment at the edge of the birthing pool 2.

The birthing pool has a drain pipe 9, the drain pipe 9 being connected by a pipe connection 10 to a valve 11 operated by a controller 12. The valve 11 is connected to the supply column by a further drain hose 13. In the feed column the drain hose 13 is connected via a check valve 14 to a drain pipe 15, which drain pipe 15 leads to a floor drain (not shown).

A schematic diagram of a feed column is given in fig. 1, and will be described in more detail below with reference to fig. 2-6.

As shown in fig. 2, the feed column 1 has a side wall 6, the side wall 6 being composed of a planar front plate 16 and two U-shaped side plates 17. Each side plate 17 is connected to the frame 50 by means of a screw 18 (see fig. 6), and by loosening the screw 18, the side plate 17 can be lifted and swung outwards and thus removed from the frame 50/feed column 1.

Fig. 5 shows the feed column from the back, and it can be seen that there is no back plate, as a model for a wall station is shown.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the front panel 16 has a control panel therein, which includes a control handle 19 for supplying water through a connection 20, the connection 20 being for connection of the water filling hose 7 for rapid filling of the birthing pool. The control panel comprises an additional control handle 21, to which additional control handle 21 a connector 22 is connected, which connector 22 is intended to be connected to a shower 8' for use with the birthing pool via a hose 8.

The control panel also includes a temperature control 23 for ensuring that the hot and cold water are mixed to the desired temperature.

The supply column 1 comprises a holder 24 for placing a quick water filling hose and a bracket 25 for placing a shower unit hose.

The front plate is provided with a socket 26 for connection to a power supply, a multiconnector 27 for connecting the controller to controls and sensors in the birthing pool, and a connection 28 for connecting to a drain hose which can lead water to the floor drain.

In fig. 3-5 the bottom is seen with a drain connection 29, which drain connection 29 can be used for draining water from the birthing pool directly to the drain if the drain is located just below the feeding post.

The feed column has a width 30 as shown in fig. 3. Here it can be seen that each U-shaped side plate 17 extends a length 31, the length 31 of extension being approximately 30% of the total width 30 of the column.

Fig. 4 shows the depth 32 and height 33 of the feed column. As can be seen from the figure, the feed column exhibits a column shape with a height that is significantly greater than the width and depth of the feed column.

In the illustrated embodiment, the supply column is free of wheels. But may be provided with liftable wheels so that the supply column can be easily transported between different delivery rooms.

Fig. 5 shows a feed column with a partial opening from the back to the inside. A box 34 for mounting the hybrid battery and controller can be seen through a partial opening of the supply column. It can be seen that the hybrid battery has a cold water inlet pipe 35 and a hot water inlet pipe 36.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the feed column has a box 37 for mounting to the multiconnector, and a box 38 for the check valve connection to the connection 28, so that the drain hose 13 can be closed off from the sewer.

Fig. 6 shows the feed column 1 seen from the front with the side and front panels removed.

The hybrid battery 39 is visible above. Above, the hybrid battery is connected to a pipe 41 through a connection 40, and the pipe 41 is connected to the connection 20 for rapid water injection. The hybrid battery has another connection 42, the connection 42 being connected to the connector 22 by a pipe 43 for connection to a shower hose.

The hybrid battery is connected to the aforementioned cold water inlet pipe 35 and hot water inlet pipe 36. A quick coupling 44 is connected to each pipe and is connected to a filter unit 45 for the cold and hot water supply.

A cold water inflow pipe 46 and a hot water inflow pipe 47 are provided at the bottom of the filter unit 45. Each inlet pipe is connected to the filter unit 45 by a quick connector 48. Thus, the filter unit can be simply and quickly replaced for maintenance as if it were easy to install the filter unit.

As is clear from fig. 6, the units inside the feed column are easily accessible when the side plate is removed. Although fig. 6 shows the case where the front plate is removed, both sides of the front plate extend only slightly wider than the width of the hybrid battery 39. Therefore, removal of the side panels is sufficient to facilitate maintenance.

Both the cold water inlet 46 and the hot water inlet 47 are equipped with a sleeve 49, the sleeve 49 being used for connecting external hot and cold water supply systems.

The feed column 1 comprises a frame 50, and the individual units of the feed column are mounted on the frame 50.

Each filter unit 45 is connected to an inlet connection 51 and an outlet connection 52 for flushing the filter when it is clogged.

Hoses for the inlet and outlet fittings 51, 52 are not shown.

In the feed column shown in fig. 6, a pressure sensor may be installed for detecting the pressure drop over the filter unit 45, and a sensor may also be provided for detecting the operation mode in the filter. These sensors will be connected to the controller for automatic cleaning/rinsing of the filter unit.

The above-mentioned elements are only illustrative and described of the necessary details for constructing a feed column according to the utility model. Further constructional details are required in order to function adequately. But these additional construction details are not necessary for an understanding of the utility model and of the benefits of the feed column according to the utility model.

Claims (12)

1. A supply post for a birthing pool, which together with the pool constitutes a system for the delivery woman, which supply post has a height, a width and a depth and comprises a frame and a frame-mounted surround comprising a bottom wall, a top wall and side walls connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, inside which surround water pipes or hoses, hybrid batteries, valves, controllers are arranged and inside which surround controllers for controlling the supply and discharge of water and connections for hoses or pipes for supplying and discharging water to and from the pool, characterized in that the side walls consist of a planar front plate extending in the width direction of the supply post and two removable side plates extending in the depth direction of the supply post, and in that the side plates are U-shaped.

2. The feed column of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped side plates each extend between 20% and 40% of the total width of the feed column.

3. The feed column of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped side plates each extend between 30% and 35% of the total width of the feed column.

4. The feed column of claim 1 or 2, wherein replaceable filter units are provided in the feed column, the filter units being located in U-shaped side plates mounted on opposite sides of the frame.

5. The supply column according to claim 4, characterized in that the hybrid battery is accessed with a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet, to which a water inlet pipe is connected, which extends in each U-shaped side plate, which water inlet pipe is equipped with first connector means, which first connector means are in mating connection with corresponding first connector means on the filter unit, which filter unit is connected by second connector means with an inlet pipe for obtaining hot and cold water, which inlet pipe is provided with second connector means and is in mating connection with corresponding second connector means of the filter unit, such that the water supplied to the hybrid battery is filtered.

6. The feed column of claim 4, wherein the filter unit is a Salmonella filter.

7. The supply column according to claim 5, wherein the coupling means is a quick coupling that can be installed and removed without the aid of tools.

8. The feed column of claim 4, wherein the filter unit is equipped with a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure drop over the filter unit, said sensor being connected to a controller so as to enable automatic cleaning/flushing of the filter unit upon detection of a predetermined threshold.

9. The feeding post according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two upper water level sensors for detecting the upper water level in the birthing pool are connected to the controller, and the controller is arranged to establish a control signal for opening the drain valve only when both upper water level sensors signal.

10. The supply column according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a discharge pipe equipped with a non-return valve in it for preventing sewer water from rising into the birthing pool, and that an additional non-return valve is provided between the supply column and the birthing pool discharge hose.

11. The delivery column according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a connection for a hose or pipe for draining water from the birthing pool is provided in the planar front plate, and sockets for power supply wiring and control are also provided in the planar front plate, and the frame is provided for wall mounting.

12. The feed column of claim 1, wherein the side walls further comprise a planar back plate extending along a width direction of the feed column.

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