GB2296656A

GB2296656A - Rotatable shower tray

Info

Publication number: GB2296656A
Application number: GB9510161A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antoni Nikolas Harold Gontar
Original assignee: EASTBOURNE SHOWERS Ltd
Current assignee: EASTBOURNE SHOWERS Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-19
Filing date: 1995-05-19
Publication date: 1996-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2015-05-19
Also published as: GB2296656B; FR2734143B1; GB9510161D0; FR2734143A1; NL1003134A1; NL1003134C2; DE19619794A1

Abstract

A rotatable shower tray (10) comprises a fixed tray (11) which, in use, is secured to the floor of a shower room, and a rotating tray (12) which is rotatably mounted upon fixed tray (11). Rotatability is provided by means of at least one annular ball-race arrangement between the two trays. The shower tray may further comprise a motor to drive the first tray with respect to the second tray, and/or locking means to lock the rotation of the first tray with respect to the second tray. <IMAGE>

Description

SHOWER TRAY The present invention relates to a shower tray, in particular a rotatable shower tray of particular benefit to disabled persons.

Disabled persons using a shower chair are inconvenienced by being unable in a conventionally sized shower area to turn around. Thus they enter the shower forwards but have to leave travelling backwards. This is particularly difficult for those showering unaided.

Accordingly, the present invention provides, in its broadest sense, a rotatably mounted shower tray.

In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower cubicle incorporating a rotatable shower tray.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be illustrated in greater detail with reference, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates, in an exploded view, a embodiment of a rotatably mounted shower tray in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates in cross-section the rotatably mounted shower tray of Fig 1; Figure 3 shows a detail of the shower tray of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows another detail of the shower tray of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view of a motor drive mechanism suitable for use with the shower tray of Figures 1 to 4; Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the mechanism of Figure 5; Figure 7 illustrates in a perspective view a shower cubicle incorporating a shower tray in accordance with the present invention;; Figure 8 illustrates the shower cubicle of Figure 7 installed against a wall; Figure 9 illustrates in plan view the shower cubicle of Figure 7 installed in a corner of a room; and Figure 10 illustrates a front view of the shower cubicle of Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a embodiment of a rotatable shower tray in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 10. The tray comprises two component trays, fixed tray 11 which, in use, is secured to the floor of a shower room and rotating tray 12 which is rotatable upon fixed tray 11. Rotatability is provided by means of at least one annular ball-race 20,21 arrangement between the two trays, each comprising a plurality of cups 13 in the fixed base 11 each of which cups holds a ball-bearing 14. Rotating tray 12 has an annular track 15 on the underside thereof, in which the ball-bearing 14 runs. Typically, two sets of annular ball-races 20,21 are provided. In a typical tray of about 1 meter in diameter, each ball-race includes six cup 13 and ball-bearing 14 assemblies, as shown.

Trays 11 and 12 are typically moulded from a glass-reinforced plastics resin material. For resilience therefore, cups 13 will typically be provided as metal inserts to the fixed tray and ball-bearings 14 will be made of a synthetic material such as a nylon. Annular track 15 will typically be formed from a strip of pressed metal. Alternative arrangements to enable the top tray 12 to rotate with respect to fixed tray 11 are readily envisaged, within the scope of the present invention.

A conventional sump 22 and waste pipe 23 are sealably secured to the fixed tray 11 in a conventional manner. In use, water incident upon the shower tray 10 falls through a drainage plate 24 in the centre of rotating tray 12 and around the edge of the rotating plate onto fixed plate 11 which, by virtue of a sloping floor thereto, directs the water into sump 22.

A person using the shower tray will not want the tray to rotate uncontrollably during use. ccordingly, a locking mechanism is advantageous. An appropriate mechanism is illustrated in Figure 4. A piston-like pin member 30 mounted in the fixed tray 11 engages one of preferably several apertures 31 disposed about the outer edge 34 of the rotating tray. In the embodiment shown, pin 30 is biased into a non-engaging position and is actuated by means of a pivoting lever 32 operated remotely via a cable or rod link 33.

In use, the shower tray may be rotated by the effort of the person using the tray or their assistant, or with motor assistance. A suitable motor assembly is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 mounted in the side wall of the fixed tray. An electric motor 40 powers a drive wheel 41, typically of a synthetic rubber material, which contacts the side wall 34 of the rotating tray 12. In Figure 6, the rotating tray has been omitted for clarity. The motor 40 is operatively connected to drive wheel 41 by conventional means such as toothed gears or belt drive 42 arrangements as appropriate to the power output of the motor used in a particular situation. The assembly will need to be waterproofed to isolate the electric motor from shower water.One possible arrangement is shown in the Figures using motor mounting 43 to distance the motor 40 from the drive wheel 41 and house the reduction gearing, with suitable seals or bushes 44 through which the drive wheel drive shaft passes. Alternative arrangements are clearly possible.

Figure 7 illustrates a complete shower cubicle incorporating a rotatable shower tray. As shown, the cubicle is round (as viewed from above) to correspond to the round shower tray. In alternative embodiments, the shower tray whether in a cubicle or separately installed may comprise a round rotatable tray supported in a rectilinear fixed tray. The cubicle shown generally at 50 includes a grab rail 51 around the internal wall thereof to allow the user to spin themselves around in the cubicle, lever 52 operating the rotating tray locking pin 30. The cubicle 50 is shown in the preferred configuration with twin 'stable' doors 53,54.Twin doors provide a wide access for a person in a wheel chair, and the stable doors allows the lower pair of doors 53 to be closed whilst the upper pair 54 remain open, such that if assistance in showering is required, the assistant can work from outside the cubicle, avoiding becoming unduly wet from the conventional shower unit 55. The doors may be manually opened and closed or operated automatically, typically hydraulically, electrically or by a chain, with a remote control system or in response to a signal from a passive infra-red sensor.

In the embodiment shown, the cubicle 50 is further provided with a drying ring 60 connected by a flexible hose 61 to a warm air supply 62. Warm air is discharged from ring 60 through apertures 63 therein directed towards the centre of the ring. Drying ring 60 is height adjustable within the cubicle 50 running in a pair of tracks 64 on either side of the cubicle. The ring may be biased into the uppermost position and pulled down by hand, or in a preferred embodiment is lowered and raised hydraulically or under the control of an electric motor (not shown). All controls 65 for the shower 55, rotating tray motor 40 and drying ring air supply and motor are preferably mounted on the inner wall of the cubicle, with, for safety, a set of repeater controls 66 on the outside.

The shower tray of the present invention, whether in a cubicle or otherwise, may be installed with the rotating tray level with the surrounding floor to provide level access to the shower, or may be surface-mounted on the floor in which case a ramp 70 is advantageously provided to aid wheelchair (showerchair) access. The cubicle 50 may be installed against a wall 71 as shown in Figures 7 and 8, or adapted to be installed in a corner of a room.

Claims

Claims.

1. A rotatable shower tray.

2. A rotatable shower tray as claimed in Claim 1 comprising a first tray rotatably mounted upon a second tray.

3. A rotatable shower tray as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the shower tray further comprises a motor to drive the first tray with respect to the second tray.

4. A rotatable shower tray as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 further comprising means to lock the rotation of the first tray with respect to the second tray.

5. A rotatable shower tray as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the locking means comprises a locking pin carried by the second tray and at least one aperture in the first tray adapted to receive, in use, the locking pin.

6. A rotatable shower tray substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying Figures 1 to 6

7. A shower cubicle comprising a rotatable shower tray as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6.

8. A shower cubicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A shower cubicle as claimed in Claim 6 further comprising a drying ring.

9. A shower cubicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims.

1. A rotatable shower tray comprising a first tray, providing a platform, in use, for a user of the shower, the first tray being rotatably mounted upon a second tray.

2. A rotatable shower tray as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the shower tray further comprises a motor to drive the first tray with respect to the second tray.

3. A rotatable shower tray as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising means to lock the rotation of the first tray with respect to the second tray.

4. A rotatable shower tray as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the locking means comprises a locking pin carried by the second tray and at least one aperture in the first tray adapted to receive, in use, the locking pin.

5. A rotatable shower tray substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying Figures 1 to 6 6. A shower cubicle comprising a shower tray mounted for rotatable movement with respect to the walls of the shower cubicle, wherein in use, the rotatable shower tray provides a platform for a user of the shower.

7. A shower cubicle as claimed in Claim 6 further comprising a drying ring.