GB2279562A - Bed bath - Google Patents

Abstract

A bed bath comprises a half cylindrical vessel with closed ends. The vessel may have a plugged hole at one end to permit draining.

Description

ROCK AND ROLL BED BATH This invention relates to a bed bath with easy rocking entry and exit.

Moving bed bound people to washing facilities has always been a problem. One of the regular tasks of a nurse is to wash the patients. This is sometimes carried out in the bed by putting absorbent towels under the patient and then using a sponge to wash the body.

This method is not tremendously successful and many hospitals and nursing homes actually lift the person into a traditional bath either by hand or by hoist. Hoisting is a major task and lifting by hand into a bath puts considerable strain on a person's back. It is estimated that one in four nurses have back problems from lifting patients. These problems also exist in the household where old and weak people are lifting their relatives into traditional baths. When considering the frequency a person needs washing there is a high degree of risle of causing a back injury through the lifting. There is also the risk of causing injury to the patient.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bed bath which allows easy rocking entry and exit comprising of a lightweight, half cylindrical vessel with a plugged hole in one end to allow draining.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the bed bath in perspective.

Figure 2 shows the person lying on the bed next to the bed bath.

Figure 3 shows the person being rolled onto their side by the nurse.

Figure 4 shows the bed bath being rocked into position behind the person.

Figure 5 illustrates the person being rolled back, resulting in the person ending up in the bath.

Figure 6 illustrates a totally transportable water storage and heating unit, with a waste water holding facility.

Figure 7 illustrates an alternative shaped vessel to bath a person in the seated position.

Referring to the drawings, the bath 10 consists of a half cylindrical vessel, with closed ends the length of a person, shaped to allow a person to lie comfortably inside it, as illustrated in Figure 1. The vessel has a plugged hole at one end to allow the waste water to be.drained off 11.

A person 12 requiring a wash is placed on a bed along with the bed bath 'Figure 2. The nursing person 13 then rolls the person onto their side as in Figure 3 and then places the bed bath into position as shown in Figure 4. The person is then rolled back along with the bath and thereby ending up with the person in the bath as shown in Figure 5. Once the person is in the bath, they can be washed with no risk of spillage onto the bed.

The waste water collected in the bath can be drained through the plug hole and into a bucket or alternatively directly to a drain through an additional flexible hose. To remove the person from the bath the actions described above are carried out in reverse order.

An additional piece of equipment shown in Figure 6 can be used with the bed bath consisting of a totally transportable water storage and heating unit 14 with flexible hose to a hand-held shower head 15, as well as a waste water holding facility 16 to carry away the waste water.

An alternative to the pre-shaped vessel 10 is a sheet of malleable material that can be formed by hand to the required shape. The person would be rolled onto the malleable sheet, and then the sheet would be formed into the required cylindrical shape. Washing can be carried out and then the sheet is flattened out and the person rolled off. This is particularly useful if the person's body is excessively sensitive and being placed in a rigid vessel would cause severe discomfort.

Claims (1)

1. Claim 1 - A half cylindrical vessel with closed ends shaped to allow a person to easily be

   rolled in and out of to allow them to be properly washed.

   Claim 2 - An additional piece of equipment can be used with the bed bath, claimed in Claim 1, consisting of a totally transportable water storage and heating unit with flexible hose to a hand-held shower head, as well as a waste water holding facility to carry away the waste water from the bed bath.

   Claim 3 - A bed bath as claimed in Claim 1, manufactured from a malleable sheet that the person is rolled onto which is then formed by hand into a half cylindrical shape.

   Claim 4 - A bed bath substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

   Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claim 1 A lightweight vessel specially shaped to comfortably fit the average person's body within. The base of the vessel is constructed to such a shape that allows it to be rocked about a central axis allowing the person to easily be rolled in and out to enable the person to be efficiently washed.

   Claim 2 A bed bath substantially as described herein with references to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.