GB2288533A

GB2288533A - Overflow fitting for a bath

Info

Publication number: GB2288533A
Application number: GB9407990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lucas Mellinger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-04-22
Filing date: 1994-04-22
Publication date: 1995-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-22
Also published as: GB9407990D0; GB2288533B

Abstract

A channel (37) is provided around the rim (34) of a bathtub having a drain hole (42) and taps (40). The channel (37) has a aperture (38) in it which is connected to the overflow pipe provided for standard bathtubs. Using this arrangement, the tub may be filled with water right up to the rim; when a person enters the bath, the water consequently displaced flows over the rim (34) of the tub and into the channel (37). The channel (37) is suitably sloped towards the aperture (38) so that the water is caused to flow along the channel and through the aperture (38) into the overflow pipe. The bath is particularly suitable for elderly or disabled people since the water can be filled right up to the rim and the height of the tub can thus be substantially lower than standard bathtubs. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED BATH The present invention relates to baths.

Functionally, a bath can be considered as comprising two main parts. The tub portion is the lower part which holds the water. Above the tub, the side walls serve to contain potential spillages of water.

The depth of the region between the surface of the water and an upper rim may be quite considerable and can restrict the arm, leg and head movements of the bather.

The level to which a bath is filled is a compromise between the desired depth of water, the displacement of the bather and the likelihood of spillage once the bather is installed. Additionally, the height of such a bathtub may be high enough to make it at least difficult for elderly or invalid bathers to get in and out of.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bath wherein water may be introduced to a height substantially level with the upper edge of the bath, allowing the distance from the base to this upper edge to be reduced, for a given acceptable bathing depth of water, permitting greater freedom of movement for the bather.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bath comprising a tub defining a drain hole, the tub having an overflow channel arranged to receive overflowing liquid, which channel is in fluid communication with the drain hole.

Thus the depth of liquid which may be introduced into the bath can be the same as the depth of the bath itself, allowing the overall bath height, relative to a traditional bath, to be significantly reduced. The bather is afforded greater freedom of movement. The bathers shoulders can more conveniently rest at the top of the bath, allowing the head to adopt a more comfortable attitude above the top of the bath. Similarly, the elbows of the bather can more easily and comfortably be arranged to rest on the top of the bath and extend beyond the side wall of the tub. For the same comfortable depth of water in a conventional bath, the bather has a greatly reduced bath height to negotiate with the present invention which could be of particular benefit to the elderly and infirm.

Overflow bathwater is received by the channel and directed to the drain along a route external to the bath tub itself.

Preferably, the channel is arranged outside of the tub.

Preferably, the bath tub is elongate and the channel is formed with an aperture by which water in the channel is directed toward the drain hole. In this case, the aperture is formed in the lowest possible point in the channel.

Preferably, the channel is formed in a ledge projecting from the rim of the tub. The channel may be an open concave channel in the upper surface of the ledge.

The depth of the channel preferably increases towards the overflow aperture, to encourage the liquid in the channel to gravitate towards this aperture in a normal, substantially horizontal, orientation of the bath.

The channel may extend around substantially all of the perimeter of the rim of the bath. However, the height of the top of the bath may vary so that only a lower portion of the rim need be arranged with the channel.

A typical bath is about 380 mm. high and will usually be filled to a depth of around 300 mm. The invention may be limited to a height determined only by the comfortable depth of water that is considered appropriate and does not necessarily require sidewalls above the overflow channel.

The invention may be put into practice in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a prior art bath.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a bath according to the invention; Figure 3 is a plan view of the bath of figure 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bath of figure 2 fitted into a bathroom.

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a traditional prior art elongate bathtub 1, indicating the position of an overflow aperture 10.

As mentioned above, the bath comprises the tub part into which a comfortable level of water is admitted.

Above the tub part the side wall provides a splash guard to keep the water in the tub. It has been appreciated that the perception of the bath in this particular way has led to the realisation that bath water containment can be performed other than by such walls substantially to equal effect but at the same time allowing the overall bath height to be reduced significantly.

A conventional overflow is effective when there is a relatively low rate of filling the bath. The threshold of the overflow is reached and the water then enters the overflow and passes to the drain system. In the presence of a rapid rate in the rise in the level of the bathwater, such as when a person gets into a bath that is already quite full, the conventional overflow is usually unable to cope, and typically between 50 and 60 litres of water can be wasted.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show an improved bath design in accordance with the invention. A bath 20, of generally Ushaped section, is mounted on a set of legs 32. A rim 34 of the bathtub is formed with an upwardly facing channel 36 in a lip 37. The ratio of the height to the width of the bath, as defined by h':w', is thereby substantially reduced relative to that of the prior art bath whose height to width ratio is h:w. Prior art baths typically have such a ratio h:w of about 0.625:1; the ratio h':w' of the present invention is reduced to 0.52:1. It will be appreciated that it is easier, particularly for elderly or invalid bathers, to get in and out of a lower bath.

The bather, when reclined, also has additional elbow-room over the edge of the bath, as well as an integral head rest provided by the rim.

As may be seen more clearly in figures 3 and 4, the channel 36 extends around the whole of the perimeter of the rim 34. An overflow aperture 38 is formed in the channel 36 at one end of the bath between water taps 40.

The aperture 38 is connected to an existing waste water pipe (not shown) which is attached to a drain hole 42, formed in the floor of the bathtub. The communication between the aperture 38 and the waste water pipe 42 is by a conventional flexible pipe.

The channel 36 in the lip 37 is deeper towards the overflow aperture 38. In this manner, water flowing over the rim 36 of the bathtub 30 and into the channel 36 gravitates towards the overflow aperture 38.

It will be understood that the particular shape and exact location of the channel can be varied. It should be able to receive water once the depth of water in the bath approaches the lip 37 of the bathtub, such that the water level can be substantially level with the rim of the bathtub.

The rim of the bath may have a higher portion at the rear, providing a neck rest, and a lower portion along its remaining extent. The higher portion will not need a channel as the lower portion will act as the water level regulating part. Thus, the channel may be discontinuous as long as the discontinuities occur where some other means of preventing water spillage are in place.

A series of holes inside the bathtub and just below the rim, communicating with a manifold connected with the drain hole, may be used instead of an open channel. Thus, the channel may be open or closed. Further, the bathtub itself may be any shape, for example oval, round or generally rectangular. The bathtub according to the invention may be constructed according to any of the well-known methods, for example from fibre glass or plastics moulding. The connection between the channel 36 and the drain hole may be separate, as described above, or formed as part of the manufacturing, e.g. moulding, process.

Claims

1. A bath comprising a tub defining a drain hole, the tub having an overflow channel arranged to receive overflowing liquid, which channel is in fluid communication with the drain hole.

2. A bath as claimed in claim 1, in which the channel is arranged outside of the tub.

3. A bath as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the bath tub is elongate and the channel is formed with an aperture by which water in the channel is directed toward the drain hole.

4. A bath as claimed in claim 3, in which the aperture is formed in the lowest possible point in the channel.

5. A bath as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the depth of the channel increases towards the overflow aperture.

6. A bath as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the channel is formed in a ledge projecting from the rim of the tub.

7. A bath as claimed in claim 6, in which the channel is an open concave channel in the upper surface of the ledge:

8. A bath as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the channel extends around substantially all of the perimeter of the rim of the tub.

9. A bath substantially as specifically described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4.

9. A bath as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tub has a drain pipe connected with the drain hole, the channel being in direct fluid communication with the pipe.

10. A bath substantially as specifically described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A bath comprising a tub defining a drain hole, the tub having an overflow channel formed in a ledge projecting from a rim of the tub and arranged to receive overflowing liquid, which channel is in fluid communication with the drain hole.

2. A bath as claimed in claimed in claim 1, in which the channel is arranged outside of the tub.

4. A bath as claimed in claim 3, in which the aperture is formed in the lowest point in the channel.

6. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the channel is an open concave channel in the upper surface of the ledge.

7. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the channel extends around substantially all of the perimeter of the rim of the tub.

8. A bath as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tub has a drain pipe connected with the drain hole, the channel being in direct fluid communication with the pipe.