GB2217196A - Backrest - Google Patents

Abstract

A backrest for use at the tap-end of a bath provides both a surface against which a bather may rest his back and protection from the taps. The backrest has a support 10 for the bathers back, which is mounted on the taps of a bath by means of projecting brackets in the form of channels 20,22 with an inverted-U cross-section. The backrest may also be provided with suction cups 32 and 34 to further provide for securing the backrest to the bath. <IMAGE>

Description

BACKREST The present invention relates to a backrest for fitting into a bath.

In a conventional bath, a bather can only confortably sit in the bath in a reclining position, with the back resting on the sloping end of the bath remote from the taps. Normally, this does not cause inconvenience, but elderly or disabled bathers sometimes find it hard to get up from the reclining position dictated by the angle of slope of that end of the bath. The other end of the bath is generally more upright, but it cannot be used for supporting the bather's back because the taps project outwardly from (or over) that surface.

Furthermore, when bathing children, and in particular when bathing two children simultaneously, it is useful to be able to place the or a child at the tap end of the bath.

However, there is currently the risk that the child may injure himself against the taps.

Therefore, the present invention provides a backrest for mounting in a bath, comprising a support for the back of a bather and projections which extend from the support, these projections being shaped to engage the taps of the bath and which are adapted to secure the backrest in a generally upright position at the tap end of the bath.

Conveniently, these projections may be brackets with an inverted U-shaped cross-section, which fit over the taps, since this enables the backrest to be positioned easily.

The backrest may have two or three of the projections. The backrest may also be provided with one or more abutment member(s) adapted to engage a surface of the bath. The abutment member(s) may suitably be provided by a suction cup(s).

The support of a backrest may have a substantially planar plate, a surface of which plate having ribs for reinforcement of the support on that side of the support from which the projections extend.

The backrest may also have a shield which extends from the support inclined at some angle thereto so as to extend over the projections. The backrest may be moulded from plastics material.

Whilst U-shaped projections are described for engaging the bath taps it would also be possible to provide alternative projections which fit over or around the taps.

Furthermore, the bottom of the backrest may be shaped to fit the curvature of the bottom of the bath and this may negate the need for abutments. The abutments where provided may be at the base of the backrest and project either rearwardly (i.e. in the direction of the projections which engage the taps), or downwardly (to the bottom of the bath).

In use the support provides a comfortable surface against which the bather may rest, with the bathers back generally upright. The support then acts as a shield between the bather and the taps. Thus the support has a win function.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a rear view of a first embodiment of the backrest; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view along the line II II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a top view of the backrest in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows a rear view of a second embodiment of a backrest according to the present invention.

The first embodiment of the backrest shown in Figs. 1 to 3 has a support 10 against which a bather's back will rest when the backrest is positioned correctly in the bath.

The support 10 is in the form of a tray, the front surface of which is shaped (as can be seen in Fig. 3) to conform to the shape of the bather's back, to give more comfort. In order to provide the support 10 with sufficient strength, ribs 12 extend across its rear surface, as can be seen in Fig. 1) and a rim 14 extends around at least the top and side edges of the support 10 (and also possibly the bottom edge). The rim 14 adds to the strength of the support 10, but also means that the edge of the support can be rounded into the rim 14, to remove any sharp edges.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the upper part of the rim 14 may extend into a projection 16, and a recess 18 can be moulded into that projection 16. The recess acts as a handle for the backrest, but also may e.g. act as a soap container.

The support 10 is mounted on the taps of the bath via projecting brackets. As can be seen in Fig. 1, these brackets are in the form of channels 20,22 with an inverted-U cross-section, and the taps fit within the channels, and the weight of the support, and the pressure from the bather, holds the channels 20,22, and hence the support 10 in place. Foam or other resilient inserts may be provided in the channels 20,22 to prevent damage to the taps.

In the first embodiment shown, flanges 24,26 extend downwardly on the back of the support 10, terminating in rods 28,30 which, when the backrest is mounted in the bath, will rest on the end surface of the bath below the taps.

It is possible for these projections simply to abut against the bath surface, but preferably, rubber or synthetic suckers 32,34 are mounted on the ends of the projections 28,30, which adhere to the surface of the bath.

In the first embodiment shown in the drawings, the abutment of the rods 28,30 is with the upright surface of the bath, below the taps, but it can be seen that it is equally possible to have the rods extending downwardly, so they abut against the bottom of the bath. This latter arrangement, however, has the disadvantage that the backrest is then suitable only for baths of a given size, in which the distance between the taps and the bottom of the bath, corresponds to the difference between the projecting channels which are mounted on the taps, and the abutment with the bottom of the bath.

A second embodiment of the backrest according to the present invention having many features in common with -the first described embodiment is shown in Fig. 4. The same reference numerals have been used to indicate those features in common with, and already described for the first embodiment of this invention. This second embodiment is provided with a row of three projecting brackets 20, 21 and 22 in the form of channels with an inverted-U crosssection, which allow the support 10 to be mounted on a tap assembly of a bath. This second embodiment is also provided with a cord 40 attached via toggle ends 42, 44 to the two outermost brackets 20 and 22 of the row of brackets 20, 21 and 22. The toggle ends 42,44 of the cord 40 are attached to outer walls 46,48 of the brackets 20,22 respectively.These outer walls 46,48 are provided with respective extensions 50,52 which extend downwardly and centrally to meet the tops of the flanges 24 and 26 at abutment rods 54 and 56 which project from the back of the support 10.

The cord 40 (which may be elasticated) holds the projections 20,21 and 22 in place on the tap assembly and generally further secures the position of the backrest when mounted in the bath.

The backrests are preferably fabricated from injection moulded plastics material, for example, polypropylene, or is vacuum formed. If extra strength is required, they may be moulded from glass reinforced plastics. As was described above, the support 10 is bowed inwardly. This also contributes to the strength of the backrest.

Thus, a backrest is provided for use in a bath which is simple to manufacture (since it can be formed as a single moulding), and which is easy to mount in the bath, but which provides both a surface against which the bather's back may rest, and protection from the taps.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. A backrest for use in a bath, which comprises a support for the back of a bather and projections which extend from the support wherein the projections are shaped to engage bath taps and are adapted to secure the backrest in a generally upright position at the tap end of the bath.

2. A backrest according to claim 1 wherein the projections are in the form of inverted U-shaped brackets which are able to fit over bath taps.

3. A backrest according to claim 1 or claim 2 which has two or three of said projections.

4. A backrest according to any one of the preceding claims which is provided with one or more abutment members adapted to engage a surface of the bath.

5. A backrest according to claim 4 wherein the abutment member(s) is provided by a suction cup(s).

6. A backrest according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support comprises a substantially planar plate with a surface of the plate having ribs for reinforcement of the support on the side of the support from which extend the projections.

7. A backrest according to any one of the preceding claims having a shield which extends from the support and at an inclined angle thereto, to extend over the projections.

8. A backrest according to any one of the preceding claims which is moulded from a plastics material.

9. A backrest substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.