EP0380621A1

EP0380621A1 - Bathing aid.

Info

Publication number: EP0380621A1
Application number: EP89908150A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Forwick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-19
Filing date: 1989-07-18
Publication date: 1990-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-18
Also published as: EP0380621B1; WO1990000891A2; DE58906772D1; WO1990000891A3; DE3824477A1

Abstract

Un dispositif pour baignoire comprend un siège hydrauliquement abaissable et levable dans une baignoire. Afin d'économiser de la place, d'utiliser l'espace de manière optimale et de permettre des mouvements sûrs, un cadre de base (1) insérable dans la baignoire (10) est composé d'un cadre inférieur (2) dont dépassent deux cylindres hydrauliques (3, 4) télescopiques emboîtables l'un dans l'autre, reliés de manière articulée par leur extrémité supérieure au bord supérieur du cadre d'un siège (15) à dossier (20). Les cylindres hydrauliques (3, 4) sont reliés par une soupape commutable à plusieurs voies (30) à la conduite d'eau froide de la baignoire.A bath device includes a hydraulically lowerable and liftable seat in a bathtub. In order to save space, make optimum use of space and allow safe movements, a base frame (1) which can be inserted into the bathtub (10) consists of a lower frame (2) from which protrude two telescopic hydraulic cylinders (3, 4) which can be nested one inside the other, linked in an articulated manner by their upper end to the upper edge of the frame of a seat (15) with backrest (20). The hydraulic cylinders (3, 4) are connected by a switchable multi-way valve (30) to the cold water pipe of the bathtub.

Description

Bathing aid

The invention relates to a bathing aid with a seat that can be lowered and opened hydraulically in a bathtub.

Physically handicapped or elderly people often find it difficult to climb into and out of a bathtub without aids or helping people. Bathing aids are therefore known in which a seat or a couch can be lowered hydraulically from the height of the edge of the bath tub and also opened again on a frame that can be inserted into the bath tub. Such racks can generally be lowered in the manner of a scissor grid, but they also have a certain minimum overall height even when lowered, so that complete immersion in the bathing water is often not guaranteed. In addition, the hydraulic drive is made by simply connecting to the cold water pipe, so that the frame is raised when the tap is turned on, while the water is simply drained from the hydraulics into the bath water to lower it.

In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of providing a bathing aid which is simple in construction, has a very low overall height in the lowered state and is provided with a hydraulic control with separate removal of the hydraulic water. To achieve this object, a base frame which can be inserted into the bathtub is provided according to the invention, which consists of a base plate and two telescopic hydraulic cylinders which can be moved into one another and on whose upper ends the upper edge of a seat frame with a backrest and the hydraulic cylinders are articulated are connected to the cold water fitting of the bathtub via a switchable multi-way valve.

In this case, the hydraulic cylinders are expediently arranged obliquely inclined in accordance with the inclination of the bathtub head side, in order thereby to optimally utilize the space available in the bathtub.

The base plate and the inclined hydraulic cylinders can be detachably locked on the bathtub wall by suction cups.

The seat frame itself can have two lateral side rails bent according to the angle of inclination of the hydraulic cylinder and base plate, which are connected to one another via crossbars and which accommodate the seat surface and the backrest.

It is particularly advantageous if a rearward-projecting slide roller is articulated on the lower crossbar of the backrest and engages with a guide rod arranged between the two hydraulic cylinders and parallel to them, around a lower support point during stroke movements to obtain.

From the upper ends of the side spaces, two webs can then protrude with transverse pins inserted in them, which in corresponding grooves in one of the two hydraulic cylinders on the upper one End connecting crossbar are pivotally mounted. The crosshead is rigidly connected to the cylindrical upper ends of the hydraulic ^*. In this way, an absolute synchronism of the seat frame and thus a perfect parallel displacement of the seat surface is guaranteed.

The multi-way valve for the pressure supply expediently has at least one pressurized water connection for the tap water, a connection for connection to the hydraulic cylinders and an outlet connection for connection to the drain pipe, e.g. over the bathtub overflow.

The parallelepiped valve block can have a through hole for the pressurized water connection and the hydraulic cylinder connection, as well as a drainage hole that can be closed from each connection side and a central cylindrical control body that can be rotated about its axis via an external lever and that has the through hole and the Drain bores for the mutual connection of the individual connections and opens the individual ball valves.

The control body itself expediently consists of a cylindrical block which, in the upper half, has two central, approximately quarter-circular incisions in the upper surface with a stationary central web and, from below, a central bore up to the cut to the quarter-circular incisions.

The upper through-hole expediently has a central section of smaller diameter, in which a tubular insert with a central recess for the engagement of the central web of the control body is slidably mounted, which insert opens each time a ball valve arranged in front of the cross-section extension is moved laterally. In addition, on each side of the control body, a channel connecting the through bore with a drain bore can be embedded with a pressure relief valve in the form of a spring-loaded valve ball.

The structure and mode of operation of exemplary embodiments according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a schematic drawing. Show:

1 is a perspective view of a bathing aid in the opened state,

2 the same bathing aid in completely lowered condition and

3 shows a perspective view of the base frame in the extended state,

4 is a rear perspective view of the seat frame,

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the multi-way valve and

6 shows a cross section through the multi-way valve according to section line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, the bathing aid initially has a base frame 1, which consists of a base frame 2 and two hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4 which can be moved obliquely and telescopically into one another. The floor frame 2 can consist of a flat plate or, as shown in the drawing, a U-shaped frame, at the corner points of which a suction cup 5 is attached. The hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4 consist of the two outer cylinders rigidly connected to the base plate 2 and two further cylinders 6 which can be moved vertically therein and 7, which are connected to one another at the upper end via a crossmember 8. On the back of the base frame 1, a further suction cup 9 is provided in order to securely lock this frame in a bathtub 10, indicated by dashed lines, as can be seen in FIG. 1. The inclination of the hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4 to the base plate 2 corresponds approximately to the inclination of the head side 11 of the bathtub 10 in order to achieve a space-saving arrangement in the bathtub.

A seat frame 15 is now fastened on this base frame 1, as can be seen in detail from the perspective view obliquely from the rear according to FIG. 4. This seat frame 15 has two lateral side rails 16 and 17 which are connected to one another via crossbars 18 and 19 and which carry both the backrest 20 and the seat surface 21, which can each be made of non-swelling plastic strips. The side spaces 16 and 17 are bent from the back to the seating area at the same angle as the hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4 are inclined to the base plate in order to obtain a horizontal seating surface.

In the area of the upper cross bracket 18, two webs 22 and 23 are attached to the side spaces 16 and 17, into which transverse pins 24 and 25 are screwed. With these pins 24 and 25, the seat frame 15 is then freely pivoted in lateral grooves of the crossmember 8, not shown, as shown in FIG. 3. At the lower end of the seat frame 15, a slide roller 27 is rotatably mounted in the center of the crossbar 19 in a holder 26, which is supported on a guide rod 28 arranged between the hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4 and slides thereon.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the base frame 1 with the seat frame 15 is inserted into the head end of a bathtub 10 and is firmly attached to the bathtub wall via the suction cups 5 and 9. animals. The hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4 are then connected via a hose line 29 to the reusable valve 30 to be explained, which is connected to the cold water connection of the bathtub via a feed line 31 and to the bath water outlet via a line 32 - expediently with the bathtub overflow - connected is. When the lever 33 is turned when the seat is under load, a person sitting on the seat releases the pressurized water via the line 32 and the bathing aid is lowered from the position shown by retracting the hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4 the seat frame 15 until it reaches the lower position in accordance with FIG. 2 has reached. The flat construction of base plate 2 and seat surface 21 results in a very low construction height of a few centimeters in the retracted state, so that the possible filling height of the bath water in the bath tub 10 can be fully utilized and the bathing person without outside help can slide forward into the bathtub.

To re-open the seat frame 15, the pressure water line 31 is then connected to the line 29 to the hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4 after the lever 33 has been flipped over, and the hydraulic cylinders with the seat frame 15 are raised again until the uppermost end position is reached.

5 and 6, the structure and mode of operation of the multi-way valve 30 are explained in more detail below. The cuboidal valve block 30 has a bore 35 with a central area 36 of reduced diameter and in the lower area two step-shaped tapered drain holes 37 and 38 which can be optionally closed by means of screws and which are in the middle by a web 39 are separated from each other. A cylindrical valve body 41, which has such a diameter and is rotatable about its axis via an external handle 33, is arranged centrally in the valve block 30 in an inner bore 40. that it cuts both the through bore 35 and 36 and the drain bores 37 and 38. This valve body 41 is in the upper half from the U starting surface forth with two central approximately quarter-circular incisions 42 and

43 provided in such a way that a central web 44 remains between them. A central bore 45 is let into the valve body 40 from below and of such a length that it cuts the two quarter-circular incisions 42 and 43 and thus creates a connection downwards. In the upper longitudinal bore 36, a tubular insert 46 with obliquely tapering end faces 47 and 48 is guided, which in the middle has an incision 49 which extends approximately over half the circumference and into which the central web

44 of the valve body 41 engages. Valve balls 50 and 51, which are prevented from falling out by snap rings 52 and 53, are inserted freely in the enlarged sections 35 of the through bore.

6, the valve body 41 is connected to the lever 33 via a laterally protruding axis 54, the rotating surface of the valve body 41 being sealed against the rigid covers 56 and 57 by an annular mechanical seal 55. A return spring (not shown) is assigned to the valve body, which returns it to the drawn central position when the lever 33 is released. This ensures that any movement of the seat frame is prevented in the event of a shock or danger, that is to say if the operator releases the lever.

This multi-way valve 30 is connected as follows and works in the following way:

Via the connection 31, a hose line (not shown in more detail) leads to the pressurized water connection for the line water, for example the cold water fitting of the bathtub, A hose line leads to the hydraulic cylinders 3, 4 via the connection 29. The connection 32 is expediently connected to the bathtub outlet of the overflow opening via a hose line, while the connection 58 can initially be closed with a blind plug (not shown in more detail).

In order now to create a passage from the pressurized water connection 31 to the hydraulic line 29 and to actuate the hydraulic cylinders and to raise the seat, the valve body 41 is rotated clockwise, so that after engagement of the central web 44 in the incision 49, the tubular insert 46 follows is pushed to the right and the valve ball 51 lifts off its seat 60. The pressurized water can thus wash around the ball 51, which is held away from the seat 60 by the inclined surface 48 of the insert 46, and flow freely via the connection 29 after the valve balls 50 have been pushed away to the hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4.

After extending the hydraulic cylinders 3 and 4, the valve body 41 is moved back into its central position and thus the ball 51 is pressed by the tap water pressure present and the valve ball 50 is pressed against its seat 60 or 61 again by the pressure in the cylinders that a backflow of the pressurized water from their hydraulic cylinders is not possible.

When the water is to be drained from the hydraulic cylinders again, the valve body 41 is pivoted counterclockwise, so that the valve ball 50 is lifted from its seat 61 by a corresponding displacement of the tubular insert 46 to the left. At the same time, a connection is made via the incision 42 and the central bore 45 in the valve body 41 to the drain bore 38, so that the water can flow directly to the bathtub drain via the connection 32. This separate drainage also prevents the back-flowing water used as hydraulic fluid from flowing into the actual bathing water, mixing with it and possibly cooling it, but rather being discharged directly.

The described symmetrical structure of the multi-way valve 30 with the initially shut-off connection 58 has the great advantage that this valve can be connected independently of the position and spatial arrangement of the bath tub or the bath tub fitting in such a way that the connection sides for pressurized water connection and water drainage on the one hand and connection to the hydraulic cylinders on the other hand can be used interchanged as desired and a lever movement downwards always results in a lowering of the seat and a movement upwards results in lifting. Only the second connection on the hydraulic line side needs to be shut off.

For additional safety, pressure valves are arranged in a mirror image of the valve body 41 in two transverse bores 65 and 66, which e.g. are constructed from spring-loaded balls 67 and 68.

The described design and arrangement of a seat and bath aid and the associated multi-way valve has a number of advantages. For example, the design and arrangement of the base frame makes it possible to arrange the seat aid on the head-end of the bathtub with a space-saving arrangement, ie the free water length available to the bathers is only slightly shortened by the seat frame. In addition, the flat height of the seat can be lowered very far so that the bathing person is fully covered with water. The design of the multi-way valve also ensures safe lifting and lowering possible of the seat frame, the draining hydraulic water not mixing with the bath water, but being discharged directly via the water drain.

Claims

1. Bathing aid with a hydraulically lowerable and retractable seat in a bathtub, characterized in that a basic frame (1) which can be inserted into the bathtub (10) is provided and consists of a floor frame (2) and two of these towering, telescopically movable hydraulic cylinders (3, 4; 6, 7), at the upper ends of which the upper edge of a seat frame (15) with a backrest (20) is articulated, and that the hydraulic cylinders (3, 4 ) are connected to the cold water fitting of the bathtub via a switchable multi-way valve (30).

2. Bathing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinders (3, 4) are arranged obliquely inclined according to the inclination of the bathtub head side (11).

3. Bathing aid according to claim 1 and 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the base plate (2) and the inclined hydraulic cylinders (3, 4) via suction cups (5, 9) on the tub wall can be locked.

4. Bathing aid according to claim 1 and 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the seat frame (15) has two lateral, corresponding to the angle of inclination of hydraulic cylinders (3, 4) and base plate (2) bent side rails (16, 17) which are connected to one another via crossbars (18, 19) and are the seat (21) and the backrest (20).

5. Bathing aid according to claim 4, characterized in that from the upper ends of the side members (16, 17) two webs (22, 23) with transverse pins (24, 25) inserted into them, which in corresponding grooves in one the two hydraulic cylinders (3, 4) are pivotally attached to the crossbar (8) connecting the upper end.

6. Bathing aid according to claim 5, characterized in that on the lower transverse brackets (19) of the backrest (20) mit¬ tig a rearward projecting roller (27) is articulated, which with a between the two hydraulic cylinders (3rd , 4) and the guide rod (28) arranged parallel to them is in engagement.

7. bathing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the multi-way valve (30) at least one Druckwasseran¬ connection (31) for tap water, a connection (29) for connection to the hydraulic cylinders (3, 4) and a drain connection (32) Has connection with the bath water overflow.

8. Bathing aid according to claim 7, characterized in that the cuboid valve block (30) has a Durchgangssboh¬ tion (35) for pressurized water connection (31) and Hydraulikzy¬ cylinder connection (29) and parallel to each have a drain hole (37, 38) Each connection side and a central, cylindrical valve body (41) which can be rotated about its axis via an external lever (33) and which has the through bore (35) and the drain bores (37, 38) for the mutual connection of the individual Cut connections (31 - 29; 29 - 32).

9. bathing aid according to claim 8, characterized in that the valve body (41) consists of a cylindrical block which in the upper half of the U starting surface forth two central, approximately quarter-circular incisions (42, 43) with a standing Has central web (44) and from below a central bore (40) up to the cut to the quarter-circular incisions (42, 43).

10. bathing aid according to claim 8 and 9, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the upper through bore (35) has a central portion (36) of smaller diameter, in which a tubular insert (46) with a central incision (49) for Engagement of the central web (44) of the valve body (41) is slidably mounted, which insert (46) with lateral displacements each has a ball (50, 51) arranged in front of the cross-sectional constriction (36) from the bore section (60, 61 ) of smaller diameter against the position blocking the water pressure.

11. Bathing aid according to claim 7 to 10, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that on both sides of the valve body (41) each have a through hole (35) with a drain hole (37; 38) connecting channel (65; 66) with a pressure relief valve in the form of a spring-loaded Valve ball (67, 68) is inserted.