FR2677240A1 - ARTICULATED SEAT, WATER PRESSURE, FOR BATHTUB. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a lifting device in order to take a bath without any help. The device is intended to help handicapped persons to sit in their bath-tub and to get out of the bath-tub without any help. The device is comprised of at least two non extensible pockets (M and N), which may be inflated with water from the mains or by means of a fluid, and are enclosed in hinged bars (8, 9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29), which are arranged in a cross-configuration, of different lengths forming at least two housings situated on either side of a fixed axis (24, 25), their extremities being themselves pivotingly hinged to a frame (2) carrying a seat (1) and also to a frame (3) adhering to the bath-tub, the assembly resting perfectly when bringing the seat and the base closer to each other. A three-way valve (O) controls the supply of the pockets and therefore the raising of the device, or the evacuation of the content of the pockets into the bath-tub and therefore the lowering of the device. The device of the invention is particularly intended to help any aged or physically handicapped person to take a bath alone without help.

Description

 The present invention consists of an articulated seat, rising from any bath at the height of its edges using two inflatable pockets at the pressure of the network water, to allow impotent people to sit in their bath and get out without outside help.

 Devices associating articulated frames and inflatable pockets, known from US patents 2610824, FR 2636717 and FR 2620789, provide rollers at the upper or lower ends of links of equal length, movable in slides.

In the US system, the horizontal median plane of the pockets is located at the median axis of articulation of two cooperating frames, and the pockets bear directly on one another, which causes the device to be too flexible for be used in a lift seat, in a bathtub
In the French systems mentioned above, the air-inflated pocket pushes articulated frames of equal size, which deform by bringing all the joints together on a vertical plane, hence the inadequacy of this device on a lifting seat of bathtub, which would lose its stability.

 On the other hand, French patents 2146098 and 2405209 which also provide for a combination of articulated frames of the same size and inflatable pockets outside the frames, are too bulky to find an application adaptable to the elevation of a seat in a bathtub.

 The object of the invention differs from such devices, by the absence of a wheel and by a greater rigidity obtained by a smaller number of pockets, and by the fact that the median plane of the pockets is not on the same plane as that of the median axis of two cooperating frames.

 It is also known from French patents 2265334, 1333001 and 1345371 that the elderly or the physically handicapped cannot sit or stand up from a bathtub. But their devices include complex machinery requiring major work. The recess in the bottom of the bath, allowing the seat to be erased, requires a specific bath, and can cause pinching risks.

The importance of such systems means that they can only be accessed by communities.

The object of the invention differs from such devices by the fact
- that the seat is placed on a frame connected to articulated rods of unequal lengths, themselves placed on a frame
- it measures 7 cm when folded
- that it is transportable;
- that it can be adapted to any existing bathtub, hence accessibility for all.

 The invention therefore relates to an elevation structure comprising two pockets inflatable with water from the network, enclosed in articulated bars of unequal length forming two housings whose ends are themselves pivotally articulated, on the one hand on a frame carrying the seat, and on the other hand on a frame adhering to the bathtub.

 The unfolded seat rises to 42 cm, and folded it measures only 7 cm, which allows the user to fully immerse themselves, and to be able to lean against the inclined plane of the bathtub to relax in the bath .

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention
Figure 1 shows the perspective device in front view
Figure 2 shows the device in side view
Figure 3 shows the top view, the seat cleared
Figure 4 shows the bottom view
FIG. 5 represents a pocket and the detail for fixing the frame
Figure 6 shows the seat lowering and raising lever
Figure 7 shows schematically the seat raised in the bathtub
Figure 8 shows schematically the seat folded in the bathtub.

 Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the device has three horizontal parts and four vertical planes.

 - horizontal part A: a seat top (1) is placed on a frame (2). Four arms (8) (9) (10) (11) respectively in (4) (5) (6) (7), braced two, are welded at the end of the frame to their opposite ends. in pairs (see Figure 3) and kept apart. The lateral parts (38) and (39) pivot freely in the frame (2) and are each held by four pins (41) (42) (43) (44) and (45) (46) (47) (48 ) on either side of the frame (2).

 - horizontal part C, identical in length to part A on the lateral parts of the frame (3) are welded at their end, and opposite, four arms (26) (27) (28) (29) respectively in (35) (36) (37) (38), braced two by two, of length equal to the upper arms (8) (9) (10) (11), and kept apart. The lateral parts (89) and (40) pivot freely in the frame (3) and are each held by four pins (49) (50) (51) (52) and (53) (54) (55) (56 ) on either side of the frame (3).

 - horizontal part B, median: four links (20) (21) (22) (23) shorter than the upper and lower arms arranged in a crossed manner, pivot in their middle, around a fixed axis (24) (25 ).

The link (20) is articulated in its upper part at (15) with the upper arm (8), and in its lower part in (16) with the lower arm (29).

The link (21) is articulated in its upper part at (14) with the upper arm (9) and in its lower part in (17) with the lower arm (28).

The link (22) is articulated in its upper part at (13) with the upper arm (10) and in its lower part in (18) with the lower arm (27).

The link (23) is articulated in its upper part at (12) with the upper arm (11) and in its lower part in (19) with the lower arm (26).

 In the housings formed by the upper arm (8) and the link (20) articulated at (15), the upper arm (9) and the link (21) articulated at (14), the upper arm (10) and the link (22) articulated in (13), the upper arm (11) and the link (23) articulated in (12) is surrounded by an inflatable pocket M at the pressure of the network water.

 In the housings formed by the lower arm (26) and the link (23) articulated at (19), the lower arm (27) and the link (22) articulated at (18), the lower arm (28) and the link (21) articulated in (17), the lower arm (29) and the link (20) articulated in (16), is surrounded by a second pocket N identical to the pocket M and communicating with it by a conduit (85) - even connected to a conduit (86), connected to a control lever 0, itself connected to a tap.

 The upper arms (8) (9) (10) (11) and lower arms (26) (27) (28) (29) have a length greater than the rods (20) (21) (22) (23) so as to allow the nesting of said rods in the lower and upper frames when they are brought together.

The device has four vertical planes
- 1st vertical plane: the upper (8) and lower (29) arms articulated respectively at (15) and (16) on the link (20)
- 2nd vertical plane: the upper (11) and lower (26) arms articulated respectively in (12) and (19) on the link (23)
- 3rd vertical plane: the upper (9) and lower (28) arms articulated respectively at (14) and (17) on the link (21)
- 4th vertical plane: the upper (10) and lower (27) arms articulated respectively at (13) and (18) on the link (22).

 The sets of successive lateral arms and links are connected together at a common axis (24) (25) of articulation of the arms, and at the level of the upper and lower frames.

The pockets M and N, with reference to FIG. 5, are designed in reinforced polyester, an inextensible flexible material ensuring the rigidity of the assembly and resistant to a pressure of 10 bars. Said pockets are enclosed in a peripheral metal frame (57) (58) (59) (60). With reference to the detail in FIG. 5, the two opposite ends of the pockets (57) (58) and (59) (60) are folded around a
61 elongated element, for example a flat iron, and themselves enclosed 2) in a U-shaped perforated at both ends, outside the length of the pockets, to receive clamping elements such as bolts or rivets ( 63).

 The pocket M, with reference to FIG. 1, is arranged in the lower half of the arms (8) (9) (10) (11) and the upper half of the links (20) (21) (22) (23 ) below the crossing zone of these. The pocket N, identical to M, is arranged in the upper half of the arms (26) (27) (28) (29) and the lower half of the links (20) (21) (22) (23), at the above the crossing area of these.

 The two pockets M and N, superimposed in the device, without pressing one on the other, are fed or emptied in parallel by a supply or evacuation pipe (85) depending on whether the seat goes up or down.

 The external walls of the pockets are punctually fixed to the parts opposite the arms, by gluing for example.

 The ends of the links (12) (13) (14) (15) and (20) (21) (22) (23) supporting the articulation axis of the upper and lower arms, have a return allowing the housing, in the transverse parts, pockets holding frames and the passage of said connected pockets, when laid flat on the arms, in the folded position.

 To limit the swelling of the pockets M and N, a valve (34) for limiting the admitted pressure is arranged on the filling pipe (86) in front of the two pockets. Said valve is adjustable according to the weight of the user.

 To raise the device, simply position the handle of a three-way valve 0 on "mounted" in (64) figure 6. When the seat has reached its highest position, the excess water pressure is stopped by positioning handle 0 in (65) on "WAIT", the user then has all the time necessary to sit on the device.

 Installed, it positions the lever 0 in (66) on "DESCENT", then the pockets M and N, figure 1, empty into the bathtub by a drain pipe (87), and the seat lowers slowly. The bath water cannot cool because the volume of the bags is minimal.

 By way of nonlimiting example, the folded seat will have dimensions of the order of 40 cm in width, 40 cm in length and 7 cm in height, the unfolded seat will have a height of 42 cm.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended for bringing impotent people in and out of their bath without any outside help.

 A lifting bar (67), can be fixed to the wall, figure 7, to give support to the user.

 The device is safe because it works without electricity.

 On the other hand, it is impossible to pinch your fingers in the device, because the descent is done very slowly.

 The cleaning of the device is done in the unfolded state, using the shower jet.

 The metal elements of the seat are made of a stainless material, resistant to all detergents, as well as to bleach.

Thus, the invention relates to a device to help impotent people to sit in their bathtub, and to get out of it without outside help, characterized in that it comprises two pockets M and N inflatable at the pressure of the network, or under the action of a fluid, arranged in the middle part of the lifting device, without bearing one on the other, in housings located above and below the crossing zone of four rods (20) (21) (22 ) (23) articulated in the middle, on a fixed axis (24) (25), the upper ends (12) (13) (14) (15) of which support, by articulation axes parallel to the fixed axis ( 24) (25) arms (8) (9) (10) (11) arranged in a crossed manner, the opposite ends of which are welded on two lateral axes (38) (39) forming a frame, pivoting in said frame (2 ) carrying the seat. And in the same way, the lower ends (16) (17) (18) (19) of the rods (20) (21) (22) (23) support, by axes-articulations parallel to the fixed axis (24 ) (25), arms (26) (27) (28) (29) arranged in a crossed manner, the opposite ends of which are welded on two lateral axes (89) (40) forming a frame, and pivoting in said frame ( 3) lower, provided with holding means (30) (31) (32) (33) allowing adhesion to the bottom of the bathtub.

Claims (12)

 1) Device to help impotent people to sit in their bathtub, and to get out without external help, characterized in that it comprises two pockets M and N inflatable at network pressure, or under the action of a fluid, arranged in the middle part of the lifting device, without support one on the other, between four links (20) (21) (22) (23) articulated in their middle, on a fixed axis (24) (25 ), the upper ends (12) (13) (14) (15) of which support, by hinge pins parallel to the fixed axis (24) (25), arms (8) (9) (10) ( 11) whose opposite ends are welded on two lateral axes (38) (39) forming a frame, pivoting in this said frame (2) carrying the seat. And in the same way, the lower ends (16) (17) (18 ) (19) connecting rods (20) (21) (22) (23) support, by axes-articulations parallel to the fixed axis (24) (25), arms (26) (27) (28) ( 29) whose opposite ends are welded to ux lateral axes (89) (40) forming a frame, and pivoting in this said lower frame (3), provided with holding means allowing adhesion to the bottom of the bathtub.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper arms (8) (9) (10) (11) and lower (26) (27) (28) (29) are arranged crosswise and have a greater length to the middle links, themselves arranged in a crossed fashion, so as to allow the arm-link assembly to nest in the upper and lower frames when they are brought together.  3) Device according to claim 7 and claim 2 characterized in that the upper arms (8) (9) (10) (11) are welded at their upper end, opposite, on two braced elements which form the lateral parts of the upper frame (38) (39), and kept spaced apart. In the same way, the lower arms (16) (17) (18) (19) are welded at their lower end, facing each other, on two braced elements which form the lateral parts (89) (40) of the lower frame, and kept spaced.  4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm and successive lateral link assemblies are connected to each other at the level of a common articulation axis.  CLAIMS tion of the arms, (24) (25), and at the level of the upper (38) (39) and lower (89) (40) frames.  5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two pockets M and N are interposed in the housings formed by the upper half of the rods (20) (21) (22) (23), crossed with the part lower arms (8) (9) (10) (11) on the one hand, and by the lower half of the rods crossed with the upper part of the arms (26) (27) (28) (29) on the other hand , therefore located above and below the crossover area of the rods.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arms (8) (9) (10) (11) and (26) (27) (28) (29) have at their ends (15 ) (14) (12) (13) and (19) (18) (17) (16), supporting the axes of articulation of the middle links (20) (21) (22) (23), a return allowing the housing of the transverse parts of the frames (57) (58) (59) (60) for holding the pockets, and the passage of the empty pockets, when they are laid flat between arms and rods, in the folded position.  7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two opposite ends of the pockets M and N are folded around an elongated element (61) and themselves enclosed in a U-shaped profile (62), perforated at both ends outside the width of the pocket, to receive clamping elements such as bolts or rivets (63).  8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two pockets M and N are supplied in parallel, by a filling duct (85) (86) connected to a tap.  9) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a safety valve (34) limiting the admitted pressure, is arranged on the filling pipe (86) upstream of the two pockets. This valve is adjustable according to the weight of the user.  10) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the pockets M and N are made of inextensible flexible material, therefore ensuring rigidity to the assembly  11) Device according to any one of the preceding claims  CLAIMS: characterized in that the external walls of the pockets are punctually fixed to the parts opposite the arms, by gluing for example.  12) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a three-way valve 0, is provided in the position for evacuating the contents of the pockets, with a conduit (87) allowing the batten to flow out, leaving in the bathtub.