EP0293363B1 - Bath tub for persons with reduced motility - Google Patents

Abstract

The door (8) is carried by a mechanism comprised of two parallelograms (11-14) each arranged at one end of the tub (1). The parallelograms are actuated by motor means (20) acting via a crank lever (22) and a crank pin (23) on one side (10) of each parallelogram. During the major part of its motion for closing the door (8), the pin slides into a slot (24) and forces the parallelogram to oscillate while imparting to the door (8) a motion from bottom to top until it faces the opening (5) of the bath tub. At the end of the closing travel, the finger (23) acts on one end of the slot (24) and forces the parallelogram to move and sealingly applies the door to the edge of said opening (Fig. 3) The inverted motion of the motor means (20) produces first the detachment of the door and its downward motion down to a retracted position (Fig. 2) under the opening (5). Said construction provides automatically the complete rectraction of the door in an open position and also for its sealed closure.

Description

The present invention relates to a bathtub for people with reduced motility, having on one of its long sides an opening to facilitate the passage of the user and a door to close this opening during the use of the bathtub. A bathtub of this type is described in published patent application EP-A-0 088.728.

This known bathtub comprises a mechanism for actuating this door, controlled by two motors, one for ensuring the vertical movement of the door and the other a short horizontal movement corresponding to the watertight closing of the door, or to the distance from the closed door to a slightly separated position, allowing the opening by vertical translation of this door.

The presence of two motors is a complication. The mechanical means transmitting the movements of these motors to the door are also complicated, which is likely to have an unfavorable influence on the production of a perfectly sealed closure of the door.

The present invention aims to provide a bathtub of this type, which is improved in that the door actuation mechanism comprises two parallelograms each articulated on the pivots at one of the ends of the door and, on the other hand , on a fixed support. A single motor means is connected to each of these parallelograms by a crank whose crank pin controls the movement of the corresponding parallelogram.

Thus the construction is simplified and safer as to the watertight closing of the door.

There are already known baths for people with reduced motility, intended to be used in hospitals, clinics, retirement homes, etc., to facilitate entry into and exit from the bath for the sick and disabled. These known baths have on one of their lateral sides an opening to facilitate the passage of the user, and a door to close this opening during the use of the bath. However, these known baths do not have means automatically ensuring the complete retraction of the open door and an absolutely sealed closure of this door. The present invention aims to remedy this defect and relates to a bathtub according to claim 1.

• La fig. 1 est une vue en perspective de la première forme d'exécution, avec la porte en position escamotée d'ouverture.
• La fig. 2 est une vue en coupe selon 2-2 de fig. 1, avec arrachement partiel.
• La fig. 3 est une vue analogue à la fig. 2 mais montrant la porte en position fermée.
• La fig. 4 représente schématiquement la première variante.
• La fig. 5 représente schématiquement la deuxième variante.
• Les fig. 6, 7 et 8 sont des vues en coupe analogues à la fig. 2 de la deuxième forme d'exécution.
• La fig. 9 est une vue de détail en coupe des fig. 6 à 8.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, two embodiments of the bathtub according to the invention and two variants.

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment, with the door in the retracted opening position.
• Fig. 2 is a sectional view along 2-2 of FIG. 1, with partial removal.
• Fig. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the door in the closed position.
• Fig. 4 schematically represents the first variant.
• Fig. 5 schematically represents the second variant.
• Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views similar to FIG. 2 of the second embodiment.
• Fig. 9 is a detailed view in section of FIGS. 6 to 8.

The bathtub shown in 1 in figs. 1 to 3 is generally conventional in shape, comprising two large longitudinal sides 2, 3. It is fixed in a recess body 4 of parallelepiped shape, the edges of which are rounded.

An opening 5 is provided in the longitudinal side 2 (which is the front side if the body 4 is applied against a wall). This opening extends from the upper level of the bathtub 1 to near its bottom 6 and occupies most of the length of the side 2 of the bathtub. The mounting body 4 has a corresponding opening 7.

To ensure the closing of the opening 5 during the use of the bathtub, a door 8 is provided which can be seen in the closed position in FIG. 3 and in figs. 1 and 2, in the fully open and retracted position in the mounting body 4.

We will now describe the means ensuring the movement of the door from its open position to its closed position and vice versa.

At each end of the bathtub 1, in the space between it and the embedding body 4, there are provided two parallel levers 9, 10, respectively 9 ', 10', forming the two long sides of a parallelogram, as we will see later.

The levers 9 and 9 'are articulated on a bar 11 secured to the door 8. Likewise, the levers 10, 10' are articulated on a bar 12, parallel to 11 and also integral with the door 8. The straight lines joining the pivot axes of 9, 10, respectively 9 ', 10', form one of the short sides of the above-mentioned parallelogram, of which the levers 9, 10, respectively 9 ', 10' form the long sides.

At their opposite end, the levers 9, 10 (and correspondingly the levers 9 ', 10') have a pivot 13, respectively 14. The straight line joining the axis of these pivots forms the fourth side of the parallelogram mentioned above. The pivot 13 cooperates with a slot 15 provided in a fixed support 16 integral with the mounting body 4. Likewise, the pivot 14 cooperates with a parallel slot 17, also provided in the fixed support 16.

A finger 18 is provided on the lever or side 10 of the left parallelogram in FIG. 1 (and similarly on the lever or on the 10 'side). Its function will be explained later. This finger cooperates with a slot 19, 19 ′ of the fixed support 16. This slot comprises a rectilinear part 19 parallel to 17 and an arcuate part 19 ′ whose center of curvature coincides with the axis of 14 when it is in the position as shown in fig. 2.

To produce the closing movement and that of opening the door 8, the following motor means are provided.

An electric motor provided with a reduction gear is disposed at 20 on a fixed support 21. The motor shaft 20 is angularly secured to a crank 22 whose crank pin 23 cooperates with a longitudinal slot 24 of the bar or parallelogram side 10 (and the same for 10 ').

The operation is as follows.

Starting from the position according to fig. 2, where the door 8 is wide open, we begin by introducing the user into the bathtub, after having brought him opposite the openings 5 and 7. The lower edge of these openings preferably corresponds to the level of the roller bed on which the patient is brought to the bathtub.

This done, the motor 20 is started, which then oscillates the sides 9, 10 and 9 ', 10' in the direction of the arrow 25, which has the effect of giving the door 8 a translational movement, from below above, due to the cooperation of the crank pin 23 with the slot 24. This upward movement continues until the crank pin abuts against the right end (in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the slot 24. A at this moment the door 8 is located opposite the opening 5 and at a short distance from the latter. The motor's rotational movement continues and the crankpin then forces the parallelogram (the vertices of which are seen in 11, 12, 13 and 14) to move to the right, until the door is firmly applied by its part lower and by its lateral sides, on the part of the bath next to the opening 5. FIG. 3 shows the position of the members in this closed position. An elastic seal 26 fixed on the door 8 ensures the tight closure and allows the final movement of the application of the door against the wall of the bathtub.

In the open position of the door 8 and during the entire upward movement thereof, the pivots 13 and 14 are located at the left end in the drawing of the respective slot 15, 17 (fig. 2). The finger 18 then cooperates with the arcuate part 19 'of the slot 19, 19'.

When the door has reached the end of its upward movement, the finger 18 is at the end of the arcuate part 19 ', which is the beginning of the straight part 19. When the crank pin 23 forces the parallelogram to move towards on the right, the pivots 13 and 14 move close to the right end (fig. 3) of the respective slot 15, 17, after which the motor stops automatically thanks to a limit switch known type, not shown. During this movement to the right of the parallelogram 11, 12, 13, 14, the finger 18 moves to the right in the part 19 of the slot 19, 19 '.

To open the tub (being understood that a known safety means not shown and only allows this opening after complete draining of the bath) it _'switches on the motor, which then rotates in the opposite direction of the arrow 25. The door 8 ceases to be applied against the wall 2 of the bathtub and, under the effect of the elasticity of the seal 26, it moves away from the bathtub. The pivots 13 and 14 then return to the left end of their respective slot 15, 17, while the finger 18 comes to the left end of the part 19 of the slot 19, 19 '. The motor movement continues, the parallelogram oscillates and reaches the position according to fig. 2, where door 8 is fully open. A limit switch, not shown, then stops the motor and the patient can be taken out of the bathtub.

In a variant not shown, one or more compression springs could be provided, to facilitate the detachment of the door 8 from the wall 2, at the start of the opening stroke of this door.

In the variant according to fig. 4, an electric motor 27 carries at the end of the shaft a tangent screw 28 cooperating with a helical wheel 29 on the shaft of which the crank 22 is propped carrying the crank pin 23 for actuating the parallelogram 11, 12, 13, 14 according to fig. 1 to 3.

In the variant according to fig. 5, the drive means are a cylinder 30 with pressurized fluid, in which a piston 31 slides, the rod of which carries a rack 32 meshing with a pinion on the shaft of which the crank 22 is wedged carrying the crank pin 23 for actuating the parallelogram 11, 12, 13, 14 according to figs. 1 to 3. The pressurized fluid used in the cylinder 30 may be the water from the pipe supplying the bathtub.

34 and 35 show two electric control buttons for controlling the electric motor (fig. 1-3 and 4) or the piston motor (fig. 5), one for closing and the other for opening the door 8.

It should be noted that all the means used to actuate the door 8 are completely hidden from view, inside the body 4, and that these means ensure, automatically, an absolutely sealed closure of the door 8, thanks to the causes that at the end of the closing stroke, the mechanism energetically applies the door against the bathtub. In the open position, the door 8 is completely retracted into the space between the bathtub 1 and the mounting body 4.

In FIGS. 6 to 8, the same reference numbers have been used but with the index a, for the parts of the second embodiment which are homologous to parts of the first embodiment. These two examples differ only in terms of the door operating mechanism. The mechanism according to fig. 6 to 8 presents a fairly large analogy with that of FIGS. 2 and 3, while being simpler and more robust.

In fig. 6 to 8, we see in 1a the bath, in 2a, 3a its two large lateral sides and in 4a its body. In 5a is the lateral opening of the bathtub facilitating the passage of the patient entering or leaving the bathtub. The door used to close and open the opening 4a is visible at 8a, wide open in FIG. 6, almost closed in fig. 7, and, in fig. 8, energetically applied in the hermetic closed position, against the part of the side 2a which adjoins the opening 5a.

At each end of the bathtub la, in the space between the latter and the embedding body 4a, there are two parallel levers 9a, 10a, forming the two long sides of a parallelogram. The lever 9a is articulated, at one of its ends, in 1 ta on one of the lateral ends of the door 8a and, at its other end, in 13a, on a plate 16a mounted oscillating in 16b on a fixed part 4b secured of the mounting body 4a.

Likewise, the lever 10a is articulated at 12a on the same lateral end of the door 8a and at 14a on the plate 16a. The straight segments retain the axes of the joints 11a, 12a, on the one hand, and the articulation axes 13a, 14a, on the other hand, constitute the two short sides of the parallelogram which has just been mentioned.

The oscillating plate 16a carries a cam 19a constituted by a slot or groove formed through it and which has a generally arcuate shape with, at its upper end, on the right in the drawing, a short perpendicular part 19b.

The crank pin 23a of a crank 22a is engaged in the cam groove 19a and acts on it to cause the plate 16a to oscillate when this crank 22a rotates, as will be explained. The crank 22a is secured to the shaft of a helical wheel 29a which is engaged with a tangent screw 28a secured to the shaft of an electric motor 27a. The screw 28a and the wheel 29a constitute a reduction.

The operation is as follows.

Starting from the position of the members according to fig. 6, where the door 8a is wide open and retracted between the lower part of the bathtub la and the lower part of the body 4a, while the crank pin 23a is at the lower end of the cam groove 19a, the motor 27a is started which then turns the crank 22a in the direction of arrow 25a. The pin 23a then moves in the cam groove 19a, in the direction of the opposite end, on the right, of the latter, which has the effect of making the plate 16a oscillate around its pivot 16b. During this movement, the levers 9a, 10a, pass the door 8a from the position shown in FIG. 6 to that visible in FIG. 8. In this FIG. 8, an intermediate position has been indicated by dashed lines through which the door 8a passes. during this upward movement. Fig. 8 shows, in solid lines, the door 8a in the upper position, exactly opposite the opening 5a, but not yet closed.

The door is hermetically closed when the crank pin enters part 19b, passing from its position according to FIG. 8 to that shown in fig. 9, which is its closing end position. A limit switch then stops the motor. Indeed, during the passage of the crank pin 23a of FIG. 8 to fig. 9, the plate continues its oscillation and, under the effect of the final movement of the crank pin 23a, the plate 16a causes, by means of the levers 9a and 10a, the energetic application of the door 8a against the part of the side 2a of the bathtub which borders, at the bottom and on each side, the opening 5a.

The end portion 19b of the cam 19a constitutes a notch which is absolutely opposed to any slight fortuitous movement of the door in the direction of its opening, when the crank pin 23a is engaged therein.

Fig. 9 shows in detail, on a larger scale, a sealing member 26a, fixed to the door 8a and which is clamped between this door (bottom, right and left) and the side 2a of the bathtub. A perfect seal is thus ensured.

To open the door 8a, after having drained the water from the bath in the usual way, the motor 27a is started to rotate it in the opposite direction from before. The crank then turns in the opposite direction to that of arrow 25a.

The beginning of this reverse movement causes the crankpin 23 to act on the side of the part 19b and then causes the cam to pass from the position according to FIG. 8 to that according to fig. 7, which has the effect of slightly removing the door 8a from the bathtub. The rotation movement of the crankpin continues until it reaches the final position according to fig. 6, where the door is wide open and retracted. A limit switch then stops the motor 27a.

Claims (8)

1. A bathtub for people with reduced mobility, having, on one of its lateral sides (2), an opening (5) to facilitate access by the user, and a door (8) for closing this opening (5) while the bathtub is in use, said door possessing a mechanism (9-24) for actuating this door (8), said mechanism being designed so as to communicate to the two lateral ends of this door (8), while it is closing, an upward movement followed by a short movement for applying the door (8) tightly against the part (2) of the bathtub which is adjacent to said opening (5), and so as to communicate to the door, while it is opening, a short movement for detaching the door (8) from the bathtub, followed by a downward movement until the door (8) has reached a retracted position in which it is entirely below the lower level of said opening (5), this mechanism comprising a drive means (20), characterized in that said mechanism comprises two articulated parallelograms (11, 12, 13, 14) each located beyond one of the ends of the bathtub (1) and each articulated on the one hand on pivots (11, 12) at one of the ends of the door (8), and on the other hand on a fixed support (16), and in that the drive means (20) is connected to each of the parallelograms (11, 12, 13, 14) by a crank (22) whose pin (23) controls the movement of the corresponding parallelogram.

2. A bathtub according to Claim 1, characterized in that each crank pin (23) cooperates with an oblong slot (24) forming a slide, on one of the sides (10) of the corresponding parallelogram (11-14), this crank pin (23) causing the parallelogram to oscillate and the door (8) to rise over the major part of its door-closing stroke, and butting against one end of the slide (24) when it comes towards the end of its stroke, thereby forcing the parallelogram to move in the direction of the slide (24) so as to produce the movement for applying the door (8) in the closed position, the converse operations taking place when the crank pin performs the opposite movement from this closed position of the door.

3. A bathtub according to Claim 2, characterized in that the articulation of each parallelogram (11-14) on said fixed support (16) is effected by the cooperation of a pivot (13, 14), fixed to one of the ends of the oscillating sides (9, 10) of the parallelogram, with a slot (15, 17) in the fixed support (16), said slot being intended to ensure on the one hand that the parallelogram performs an oscillating movement on rotation of the pivot (13, 14), and on the other hand that this pivot (13, 14) moves along said slot (15, 17) at the end of the door-closing stroke and, respectively, at the beginning of the door-opening stroke.

4. A bathtub for people with reduced mobility, having, on one of its lateral sides (2), an opening (5) to facilitate access by the user, and a door (8) for closing this opening (5) while the bathtub is in use, said door possessing a mechanism (9-24) for actuating this door (8), said mechanism being designed so as to communicate to the two lateral ends of this door (8), while it is closing, an upward movement followed by a short movement for applying the door (8) tightly against the part (2) of the bathtub which is adjacent to said opening (5), and so as to communicate to the door, while it is opening, a short movement for detaching the door (8) from the bathtub, followed by a downward movement until the door (8) has reached a retracted position in which it is entirely below the lower level of said opening (5), this mechanism comprising a drive means (20), characterized in that said mechanism comprises two parallelograms (11 a, 12a, 13a, 14a) each located beyond one of the ends of the bathtub (1a) and each articulated on the one hand at one of the ends of the door (8a), and on the other hand on a cam- carrying plate (16a) mounted to oscillate on a fixed support, the drive means (28a) of said mechanism being connected to each of said cam- carrying plates (16a) by a crank (22a) whose pin (23a) cooperates with the cam (19a, 19b) of this plate (16a) so as to cause the latter to oscillate between a position in which the door (8a) is completely open and a position in which the door is completely closed, and vice-versa.

5. A bathtub according to Claim 4, characterized in that the cams (19a) of said oscillating plates (16a) are identical and are in the shape of an arc of a curve, at one of the ends of which there is a sudden change in direction (19b) intended for producing the final movement for hermetic closure of the door (8a) when the crank pin (23a) arrives at this final part (19b).

6. A bathtub according to Claim 1 or Claim 4, characterized in that said drive means (20) is an electric motor with a step-down gear between itself and the two cranks (22).

7. A bathtub according to Claim 6, characterized in that the step-down gear comprises a worm screw (28) fixed to the drive shaft (27) and cooperating with a helical gear (29) angularly joined to the two cranks (22).

8. A bathtub according to Claim 1 or Claim 4, characterized in that the drive means comprises a piston (31) located in a cylinder (30) intended for receiving a working fluid, the rod of which piston carries a rack (32) engaging with a pinion (33) angularly joined to said cranks (22).

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