GB2165212A

GB2165212A - Bath hoist

Info

Publication number: GB2165212A
Application number: GB08425445A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Bagshaw
Original assignee: Bell & Co Ltd F M
Current assignee: Bell & Co Ltd F M
Priority date: 1984-10-09
Filing date: 1984-10-09
Publication date: 1986-04-09
Also published as: GB8425445D0

Abstract

A bath hoist is provided to lift persons in and out of baths, the hoist comprising a base (1) from which extends upwardly a piston and cylinder arrangement (2) operable by fluid pressurising means (11) to raise and lower a seat (17). The piston and cylinder arrangement (2) can comprise a hollow cylinder (6) on which is slidably mounted a cylinder sleeve (7) having a closed end (8), the arrangement being such that fluid pressure from fluid pressurising means (11) is connected to the hollow cylinder (6) such that variation of the fluid pressure raises or lowers the cylinder sleever (7) and hence a seat (17) affixed thereto. Conveniently, the seat (17) is secured on the cylinder sleeve (7) by an arm (13), itself swivellable on the sleeve (7). In order to permit additional swivelling movement, the seat (17) itself may also be swivellable on the free end of the arm (13). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bath hoist This invention relates to a hoist of the type used to lift persons in and out of baths.

According to the invention there is provided a hoist comprising a base from which extends upwardly a piston and cylinder arrangement operable by fluid pressurising means to raise or lower a seat.

Preferably, the piston and cylinder arrangement comprises a hollow cylinder on which is slidably mounted a cylinder sleeve having a closed end, the arrangement being such that fluid pressure from the fluid pressurising means is connected to the hollow cylinder such that variation of the fluid pressure raises or lowers the cylinder sleeve and hence a seat affixed thereto. The seat may be fixed to the sleeve on an arm swivellable thereon such that a person may be lifted from a bathroom floor by the hoist, the arm then swivelled about the axis of the cylinder sleeve such that the seat is directly above a bath and then the seat lowered. Conveniently, the seat itself may also be swivellable on the arm on a substantially vertical axis and this has the advantage in that the hoist is operable in a variety of confined spaces where arcuate movement of the arm is limited.

Conveniently, the fluid pressurising means comprises an hydraulic actuator which may be connected to the lower end of the cylinder by a flexible hose which may, in turn, be provided with a snap-fitting such that the actuator can be removed or disconnected easily.

The base plate may conveniently be adapted to be secured over a pair of joists on the bathroom floor and in order to permit the piston and cylinder arrangement to be situated at various positions on the base, the base may be provided with a block upon which the piston and cylinder arrangement is secured, such that the block can be releasably fixed to substantially any part of the base plate.

This has the advantage in that the bath hoist does not have to be located in fixed positions determined by the presence of joists under the bathroom floor and hence can be positioned wherever it is desirable or convenient to do so.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the hoist according to the invention Figure 2 is a further view of the hoist of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a plan view showing a further aspect of the mode of operation of the hoist of Figure 1.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the hoist comprises a base plate 1 from which extends vertically a piston and cylinder arrangement shown generally at 2, secured to the base 1 on a frusto-conical support block 3. On the lower part of the block 3 are a pair of diagonally opposed recesses 4, 5 adapted to receive bolts, by which the block 3 is fixed to the base plate 1. The piston and cylinder arrangement 2 comprises a hollow cylinder 6, on which is slidably mounted a cylinder sleeve 7, having a closed end 8. At the lower end of the cylinder 6 above the support block 3 extends a pipe 9 to the free end of which is secured one half of a conventional hydraulic snap fitting 10. Fluid pressurising means 11 is connected to the snap fitting 10 by flexible hose 12.The fluid pressurising means comprises a conventional hydraulic actuator operated by a solenoid switch (not shown).

Extending outwardly from the cylinder sleeve 7 is a generally "L" shaped support arm 13 mounted on a support clamp 14 which extends around the cylinder sleeve 7. The support arm 13 is swivellable around the cylinder sleeve 7 about a generally vertical axis. On the free end of the support arm 13 is secured a seat clamp 15 which in turn is secured to a seat bracket 16 upon which a seat 17 is mounted. The seat clamp 15 permits swivelling movement of the seat bracket 16 and hence the seat 17 about the major axis of the free end of the support arm 13.

In operation, hydraulic fluid is pumped into the hose 12 from the pressurising means 11 activated by a hand-operated remote control (not shown) of conventional type. The fluid pressurises the inside of the cylinder 6 and thus forces the cylinder sleeve 7 to rise along with the support arm and seat. An occupant of this seat can thus be raised and lowered by central command from the remote control.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, the range of movement afforded by the seat 17 is shown by the arrows in which it will be seen that in addition to movement being afforded by swivelling the arm 13, movement is also afforded by swivelling the seat 17 on the seat clamp 15. This arrangement permits the hoist to be used in situations where space is at a premium or in situations where the configuration of the bath in respect to the bathroom floor requires additional movement other than simple arcuate movement of the arm and seat.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and in particular is not limited to use of a hydraulic fluid. For example, air can be used instead such that the system operates from a pneumatic actuator instead of a hydraulic actuator.

1. A hoist comprising a base from which extends upwardly a piston and cylinder arrangement operable by fluid pressurising means to raise or lower a seat.

2. A hoist according to claim 1 in which the piston and cylinder arrangement comprises a hollow cylinder on which is slidably mounted a cylinder sleeve having a closed end, the arrangement being such that fluid pressure from the fluid pressurising means is connected to the hollow cylinder such that variation of the fluid pressure raises or lowers the cylinder sleeve and hence a seat affixed thereto.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bath hoist This invention relates to a hoist of the type used to lift persons in and out of baths. According to the invention there is provided a hoist comprising a base from which extends upwardly a piston and cylinder arrangement operable by fluid pressurising means to raise or lower a seat. Preferably, the piston and cylinder arrangement comprises a hollow cylinder on which is slidably mounted a cylinder sleeve having a closed end, the arrangement being such that fluid pressure from the fluid pressurising means is connected to the hollow cylinder such that variation of the fluid pressure raises or lowers the cylinder sleeve and hence a seat affixed thereto. The seat may be fixed to the sleeve on an arm swivellable thereon such that a person may be lifted from a bathroom floor by the hoist, the arm then swivelled about the axis of the cylinder sleeve such that the seat is directly above a bath and then the seat lowered. Conveniently, the seat itself may also be swivellable on the arm on a substantially vertical axis and this has the advantage in that the hoist is operable in a variety of confined spaces where arcuate movement of the arm is limited. Conveniently, the fluid pressurising means comprises an hydraulic actuator which may be connected to the lower end of the cylinder by a flexible hose which may, in turn, be provided with a snap-fitting such that the actuator can be removed or disconnected easily. The base plate may conveniently be adapted to be secured over a pair of joists on the bathroom floor and in order to permit the piston and cylinder arrangement to be situated at various positions on the base, the base may be provided with a block upon which the piston and cylinder arrangement is secured, such that the block can be releasably fixed to substantially any part of the base plate. This has the advantage in that the bath hoist does not have to be located in fixed positions determined by the presence of joists under the bathroom floor and hence can be positioned wherever it is desirable or convenient to do so. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the hoist according to the invention Figure 2 is a further view of the hoist of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a plan view showing a further aspect of the mode of operation of the hoist of Figure 1. Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the hoist comprises a base plate 1 from which extends vertically a piston and cylinder arrangement shown generally at 2, secured to the base 1 on a frusto-conical support block 3. On the lower part of the block 3 are a pair of diagonally opposed recesses 4, 5 adapted to receive bolts, by which the block 3 is fixed to the base plate 1. The piston and cylinder arrangement 2 comprises a hollow cylinder 6, on which is slidably mounted a cylinder sleeve 7, having a closed end 8. At the lower end of the cylinder 6 above the support block 3 extends a pipe 9 to the free end of which is secured one half of a conventional hydraulic snap fitting 10. Fluid pressurising means 11 is connected to the snap fitting 10 by flexible hose 12.The fluid pressurising means comprises a conventional hydraulic actuator operated by a solenoid switch (not shown). Extending outwardly from the cylinder sleeve 7 is a generally "L" shaped support arm 13 mounted on a support clamp 14 which extends around the cylinder sleeve 7. The support arm 13 is swivellable around the cylinder sleeve 7 about a generally vertical axis. On the free end of the support arm 13 is secured a seat clamp 15 which in turn is secured to a seat bracket 16 upon which a seat 17 is mounted. The seat clamp 15 permits swivelling movement of the seat bracket 16 and hence the seat 17 about the major axis of the free end of the support arm 13. In operation, hydraulic fluid is pumped into the hose 12 from the pressurising means 11 activated by a hand-operated remote control (not shown) of conventional type. The fluid pressurises the inside of the cylinder 6 and thus forces the cylinder sleeve 7 to rise along with the support arm and seat. An occupant of this seat can thus be raised and lowered by central command from the remote control. Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, the range of movement afforded by the seat 17 is shown by the arrows in which it will be seen that in addition to movement being afforded by swivelling the arm 13, movement is also afforded by swivelling the seat 17 on the seat clamp 15. This arrangement permits the hoist to be used in situations where space is at a premium or in situations where the configuration of the bath in respect to the bathroom floor requires additional movement other than simple arcuate movement of the arm and seat. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and in particular is not limited to use of a hydraulic fluid. For example, air can be used instead such that the system operates from a pneumatic actuator instead of a hydraulic actuator. CLAIMS

3. A hoist according to claim 2 in which the seat is fixed to the sleeve on an arm swivellable thereon.

4. A hoist according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the seat is itself swivellable on the arm on a substantially vertical axis.

5. A hoist according to any preceding claim in which the fluid pressurising means comprises an hydraulic actuator.

6. A hoist according to claim 5 in which the actuator is connected to the lower end of the cylinder by a flexible hose.

7. A hoist according to claim 6 in which the connection between the cylinder and flexible hose is provided by a snap-fitting such that the actuator can be removed or disconnected easily.

8. A hoist according to any preceding claim in which the base plate is adapted to be secured over a pair of joists on, for example, a bathroom floor.

9. A hoist according to claim 8 in which the base is provided with a block upon which the piston and cylinder arrangement is secured.

10. A hoist according to claim 9 in which the block can be releasably fixed to substantially any part of the base plate.

11. A hoist substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.