GB2233222A

GB2233222A - Bath tub and cushion for use thereon

Info

Publication number: GB2233222A
Application number: GB8914949A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sonia Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-29
Filing date: 1989-06-29
Publication date: 1991-01-09
Also published as: GB8914949D0

Abstract

A cushion for use on a bath tub has a pair of wings (15, 16) between which there is a gap to receive the neck of a user. The cushion restrains sliding of the user down the wall of the bath tub. The cushion may be flexed resiliently and may comprise a flexible envelope which contains a foamed plastics material or a latex or which may be inflatable by a gas. The envelope may comprise a plurality of distinct cells. The cushion may further include head-rest and back-rest portions, and may be releasably attached to the tub wall by means of suction cups or an adhesive. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Bath-tub and cushion for use thereon" Description of the Invention From one aspect, the present invention relates to a cushion for use on a bath-tub. The invention also encompasses a bath-tub having a cushion held on the wall thereof.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bath-tub having a cushion held in a predetermined position on a wall of the tub, wherein the cushion includes a pair of wings between which there is a gap to receive the neck of a user.

The spacing between the wings is preferably such that the wings fit snugly to the neck of a user and the head of the user cannot slide between the wings, either at all or without substantial deformation of the cushion. The cushion is preferably so constructed that it can be flexed resiliently to increase somewhat the separation between the wings, in order that the necks of different persons can be accommodated between the wings.

Use of the cushion reduces the risk of the user sliding down the wall of the tub. The cushion contributes to the comfort and safety of a user, particularly an elderly or invalid user.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a cushion having attachment means for attaching the cushion to a wall of a bath-tub and a pair of wings which are spaced apart by a gap, the arrangement being such that, when the cushion is attached to the wall by said attachment means, the wings project away from the wall.

An example of a bath-tub embodying the first aspect of the invention and of a cushion embodying the second aspect of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing1 wherein: FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of an end portion of a bath-tub and of a cushion attached to a wall of the tub, FIGURE 2 shows a cushion and an adjacent part of the tub, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow II in Figure 1, and FIGURE 3 illustrates the cushion, as viewed in the direction of the arrow III of Figure 1, together with a wall of the tub which is partly broken away.

The bath-tub illustrated in the accompanying drawing may be of known construction and shape, having a bottom wall 10 and a peripheral wall 11 which projects upwardly from and merges smoothly with the bottom wall. The bath-tub is preferably elongated with a portion 12 of the peripheral wall at one end of the tube being inclined to vertical at a much larger angle than is the portion of the peripheral wall at an opposite end of the tube (not shown). In the example shown, there is a rim 13 around the upper edge of the peripheral wall 11.

A cushion 14 is attached to the first end portion 12 of the peripheral wall. A surface of the cushion which bears against the peripheral wall is called herein the back of the cushion and that part of the cushion which is remote from the peripheral wall is called the front of the cushion. The back of the cushion conforms generally to the underlying part of the peripheral wall 11.

The cushion comprises a pair of wings 15 and 16 and an intermediate portion 17 which lies between the wings. The wings project forwardly from the intermediate portion and are spaced apart by a gap 18 which lies in front of the intermediate portion.

The cushion further comprises a head rest 19 which extends upwardly from the intermediate portion 17 and a back rest 20 which extends downwardly from the intermediate portion 17. Respective faces of the wings, of the intermediate portion, of the head rest and of the back-rest all bear against the peripheral wall 11 of the tub and these faces are preferably constituted by respective parts of a single, continuous rear face of the cushion.

The cushion 14 is resiliently deformable. The cushion may comprise a flexible envelope containing a fluid or a fluent material.

The envelope may, for example, be inflated by a gas under pressure.

Alternatively, the envelope may contain a resiliently deformable solid, for example a foamed plastics material or a latex. A resiliently deformable solid material and a fluid may be used in combination to fill the envelope. Furthermore, the envelope may comprise a number of distinct cells which may be filled separately or pressurised separately.

The envelope of the cushion 14 is formed of a material which is impervious to water.

The dimensions of the gap 18 are such that the wings 15 and 16 can fit snugly either side of the neck of a user. When the cushion is unstressed, the free-end portions 21 and 22 of the wings are preferably separated by a distance which is not substantially greater than 100 millimetre. The width of the gap 18 may be somewhat greater at a position part of the way from the free-end portion 21 and 22 to the intermediate portion 17. The wings merge smoothly with the intermediate portion. The wings bear on the peripheral wall 11 of the tub at positions which are spaced laterally a considerable distance from the free-end portions 21 and 22 so that separation of the free-end portions 21 and 22 is opposed. The cushion is resiliently deformable so that the separation between the end portions 21 and 22 can be increased by the application of moderate pressure on these end portions.Accordingly, the neck of a user can readily slide between the end portions into and out of the gap 18.

The head rest 19 extends upwardly from the intermediate portion 17 to a level which is somewhat higher than that of the wings 15 and 16. The head rest lies generally at a level above that of the rim 13. The back rest 20 of the cushion extends downwardly from the intermediate portion 17 to a level which is substantially below that of the wings 15 and 16. Towards a lower end portion of the back rest, the back rest may taper to a relatively small thickness, for example not exceeding 30 millimetre. The thickness of the intermediate portion 17 is somewhat greater than this value but preferably does not exceed 100 millimetre. Typically, the thickness of the intermediate portion and of that part of the back rest 22 which is nearer to the intermediate portion is in the region of 50 millimetre.

The wings 15 and 16 extend from the peripheral wall 11 a distance which is considerably greater than is the thickness of the intermediate portion 17 and is preferably more than twice the thickness of the intermediate portion. Furthermore, the distance which the wings project from the peripheral wall 11 is not substantially less than the separation between the free end portions 21 and 22. In a case where the spacing between these free end portions does not exceed 100 millimetre, the wings preferably project from the peripheral wall 11 a distance which is at least 150 millimetre.

The cushion incorporates attachment means for releasably attaching the cushion to the peripheral wall 11 of the tub. Known attachment means, for example an adhesive, may be used. In the example illustrated, the attachment means comprises a plurality of suction cups at the back of the cushion. Two of these suction cups are indicated by the reference numbers 23 and 24. The suction cups 23 and 24 are at the back of respective ones of the wings 15 and 16.

Additional suction cups may be provided at the back of the cushion.

When the cushion is in use, the user reclines in the bath tub with his or her head resting on the head rest 19 and his or her neck in the gap 18. The cusion restrains the user against sliding down the wall portion 12, since the gap 18 is not large enough for the head of the user to pass readily through the gap.

Provision may be made for adjustment of the cushion to fit different users by, for example, varying the pressure to which one or more compartments of the cushion is or are inflated.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A bath tub having a cushion held in a predetermined position on a wall of the tub, wherein the cushion includes a pair of wings between which there is a gap to receive the neck of a user.

2. A tub according to Claim 1 wherein the wings project from the wall for a distance which is not substantially less than the spacing between them.

3. A tub according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the cushion can be flexed resiliently to increase the separation between the wings.

4. A tub according to any preceding Claim wherein the separation between respective free end portions of the wings, when the cushion is unstressed, is not substantially more than 100 millimetre.

5. A tub according to any preceding Claim wherein the cushion further includes a head rest which projects upwardly above the uppermost parts of the wings.

6. A tub according to any preceding Claim wherein the cushion further includes a back rest extending downwards below the level of the wings.

7. A tub according to any preceding Claim which is occupied by a person, wherein the neck of the person lies between the wings of the cushion.

8. A cushion having attachment means for attaching the cushion to a wall of a bath tub and a pair of wings which are spaced apart by a gap and, when the cushion is attached to the wall by said attachment means, project away from wall.

9. A cushion according to Claim 8 further comprising an intermediate portion disposed between the wings, a head rest projecting from the intermediate portion in one direction and a back rest projecting from the intermediate portion in an opposite direction.

10. A cushion according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the attachment means includes a plurality of suction cups.

11. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.