GB2228194A - Neck support and head rest for a bath - Google Patents

Abstract

A neck support and head rest for a bath, comprises a semi-rigid sheet of expanded plastics material encased in a waterproof covering of thermoplastics material such as PVC welded together at its edges, and is secured to the inside top edge of the bath by a pair of suction cups 3. When mounted on the bath, a major portion of the neck support and head rest is upstanding from the bath, and the neck support and head rest curves to conform to the shape of the inside top edge of the bath. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: A Bath Neck Support Field of the Invention The invention provides a cushioned neck support and head rest for providing added comfort to those taking baths.

Background Art A number of devices are available for providing added comfort or safety to persons taking a bath, particularly for the elderly.

These include non-slip bath mats, stools or seats for straddling the bath and handles fitted integrally with the bath to assist the infirm or elderly in getting into and out of the bath.

Old-fashioned hip baths used to have a high raised portion behind the bather, to support the head and shoulders of anyone reclining back in the bath. This facility is lost in modern low baths, which generally have a rim extending around the whole of the bath at the same height or approximately the same height. Much of the comfort of the old-fashioned hip bath is therefore lost.

The Applicants have devised a neck support and head rest in which this former comfort and facility of being able to lean back with support for the neck and head has been restored and indeed enhanced.

Moreover the neck and head rest of the invention is easy to manufacture and install, and in cost is nowhere near as expensive as a new and specially shaped bath.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides a neck support and head rest for a bath, comprising a semi-rigid sheet of expanded plastics material encased in a waterproof covering of thermoplastics material having welded edge seams, and at two bottom corner portions a pair of suction cups for adhering the encased sheet to the inside top edge of a bath with a major portion of the encased sheet upstanding from the bath, wherein the curvature of the semi-rigid sheet to conform to the shape of the inside top edge of the bath provides the sheet with sufficient added rigidity to support the head of a person in the bath.

In use, the neck support and head rest of the invention is adhered to the bath by the rubber suction cups, with a major portion of the encased sheet upstanding from the bath as described above. A small overlap between the encased sheet and the inside top edge of the bath is all that is required, and when the person taking the bath leans back against the neck support and head rest the encased sheet is pushed back to mould itself to the shape of the inside top edge of the bath, which distorts the sheet from a single plane and provides it with extra rigidity sufficient to support the head of the bather.

Instead of simply the two suction cups one at each bottom corner for adhering the encased sheet to the inside top edge of the bath, it might be preferred to have three or more such suction cups arranged in a row along the bottom edge of the encased sheet. That bottom edge may be linear or shaped. For example, it may extend downwardly into the bath to provide an extended cushion for the back of the bather, or may be scalloped or otherwise shaped to provide a visually attractive appearance.

The remainder of the outline of the encased sheet may be any suitable shape to provide support for the neck and the back of the head of the bather. Generally speaking, however, the outline of the major portion of the encased sheet which in use upstands from the bath takes the form of two straight or curved edge portions extending from the vicinity of the corner suction cups to a general peak midway between those cups. When such a neck support and head rest is fitted to a bath and curved to comply with the shape of the inside top edge of the bath, the peak portion of the upstanding portion of the encased sheet provides neck support where it is most needed, but because the sides taper together towards the peak then the peak portion against which the neck rests is of smaller section than the remainder and therefore less rigid.This provides valuable cushioning which is important for a relaxing bath.

Drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a neck support and head rest according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective sketch view of the neck support and head rest of Figure 1, in position in a bath and Figures 3 to 5 are respectively plan views ofthreealternative neck supports and head rests according to the invention.

Best Mode of carrying out the Invention The neck support and head rest of Figure 1 comprises a shaped sheet of semi-rigid expanded or foamed plastics material 1, the outline of which is shown in dotted line. This sheet 1 is encased in a waterproof covering of 500 gauge polyvinylchloride (PVC). The PVC material is preferably opaque, and may be either self-coloured or patterned. The PVC envelope is illustrated as being made from two sheets of PVC, joined along their edges by waterproof welded edge seams. The weld may be a heat weld or a chemical (solvent) weld.

Alternatively the envelope of Figure 1 could be made from a single sheet of thermoplastics material folded around the straight bottom edge of the sheet 1 and welded to itself around the remainder of the periphery of the sheet.

At each bottom corner of the envelope there is formed a generally triangular pocket 2 of two thicknesses of the PVC material, forming a flap through which is punched an eyelet of a non-tarnishing material such as brass, aluminium or thermoplastic resin. The eyelet forms an anchorage for a rubber suction cup 3, one of which is located at each flap portion 2.

Other rubber suction cups may be positioned elsewhere along the bottom edge of the encased sheet, although additional rubbers cups are not necessary according to this invention and are not illustrated in Figure 1. From the triangular flap portions 2, the side edges of the encased sheet rise in a smooth arc to a peak portion 4 which is illustrated as having been provided with an upstanding flap of two thicknesses of the 500 gauge PVC edge welded together and used to carry Trade Mark material and/or instructions for use.

In use, the neck support and head rest is positioned in the bath as shown in Figure 2. When the bather leans back against the bottom edge of the encased sheet the sheet is pushed back against the inside top edge of the bath, so as to adopt a curve and conform to the shape of that inside top edge. It is relatively easy to bend a semi-rigid sheet about a single axis, but such bending simply increases the rigidity of the sheet to bending forces about the other two mutually perpendicular axis. Accordingly the encased sheet when bent to the position shown in Figure 2 provides a strong but extremely comfortable support for the neck and head of a bather.

Because the encased sheet of Figures 1 and 2 is of a generally triangular overall shape, inclining upwardly to a narrow peak beneath the flap 4, the cross section of that peak portion and hence its rigidity is less than the remainder. There is therefore a tendency for the extreme peak portion to roll back on itself under the weight of a bather's head, and the extra resilience of that portion, which exerts the maximum pressure on the neck of a bather, is such as to render the neck support and head rest extremely comfortable in use.

Figures 3 to 5 show alternative possible shapes for the neck support and head rest of the invention. Many other shapes are possible, including shapes (not illustrated) incorporating an extended portion of encased expanded plastics material to extend down inside the bath to provide extended support and cushioning for the back of a bather.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A neck support and head rest for a bath, comprising a semi-rigid sheet of expanded plastics material encased in a waterproof covering of thermoplastics material having welded edge seams, and at two bottom corner portions a pair of suction cups for adhering the encased sheet to the inside top edge of a bath with a major portion of the encased sheet upstanding from the bath, wherein the curvature of the semi-rigid sheet to conform to the shape of the inside top edge of the bath provides the sheet with sufficient added rigidity to support the head of a person in the bath.

2. A neck support and head rest according to claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid sheet is generally triangular in overall shape.

3. A neck support and head rest according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the suction cups are anchored to two corner flaps of the thermoplastics material, formed by welding together two thicknesses of the material without any expanded plastics material therebetween.

4. A neck support and head rest according to claim 3, wherein the suction cups are anchored by passing them through eyelets punched through the corner flaps.

5. A neck support and head rest according to any preceding claim, wherein the thermoplastics material is 500 gauge polyvinylchloride.

6. A neck support and head rest for a bath, substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the drawings.