GB2319957A - Bath with access door - Google Patents

Abstract

A bath comprises a bath tub 2 having a floor and a wall 2A, an inwardly opening door 6 in the wall, the door being larger than the door aperture 3 so that the periphery of the door overlaps the bath tub adjacent the aperture, and a seat 8 hinged to the bath tub which when raised towards the vertical allows the door to be opened and closed, the seat when lowered to a horizontal position being wedged between the door and an opposing surface of the bath tub wall thereby pressing the periphery of the door against the bath tub.

Description

The present invention relates to "walk in" baths, particularly for the elderly and infirm.

Walk in baths are known. They are designed for people who cannot get in and out of a conventional bath. Usually they are in the form of a tub with an outward opening door. A disadvantage with such baths is that because the door opens outwards, they are prone to leakage as the pressure of water inside when they are full is biasing the door into an open position. Water can find a way through the seals which are present unless the door is secured by a strong locking mechanism to keep the seal compressed between the door and its frame.

Also if the locking mechanism is accidentally opened, the water will flood out onto the floor.

Another disadvantage is that the outward opening door requires space to swing, and some bathrooms are simply not large enough.

The invention seeks to provide an inward opening walk in bath to avoid the above difficulties.

According to the present invention there is provided a bath comprising: a) a bath tub having a floor and wall, and a door aperture in the wall thereof, b) a door aperture door hinged to the tub to open inwards, said door being larger than the door aperture so that the periphery of the door overlaps the bath tub adjacent the aperture, c) a seat hinged to the bath tub which when raised towards the vertical allows the door to be opened and closed with a person standing on the bath tub floor, and the seat when lowered t{,: a horizontal position wedges between the door and an opposing surface of the bath tub wall thereby pressing the periphery of the door against the bath tub.

Preferably the seat when lowered engages with a component on the door to help prevent movement between the door and tub.

Preferably a seal is provided to seal the periphery of the door against the tub. The seal may be mounted on the tub adjacent the door aperture, or along part of the periphery of the door.

The bath tub may be generally rectangular with the wall formed from four walls with the door mounted on one wall and the seat mounted on an adjacent wall. The bath tub walls preferably taper inwards towards the tub floor.

The bath container may include a fixed ledge to which the seat is hinged , which ledge supports part of the seat.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bath with the seat down, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a bath with the seat up, and Figure 3 shows a cross section of the bath with the seat down Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a walk in bath 1 having a generally rectangular bath tub 2 having a wall formed from four walls 2A which taper towards a floor 2B. Tub 1 also includes a door aperture 3 in one wall which includes a flange 4 having a seal 5 on the inside wall thereof adjacent the door aperture.

A door aperture door 6 is hinged to the tub by hinges 7A, 7B. When the door is closed (Figure 1) the door periphery abuts against the flange 4 and seal 5.

A bath seat 8 is hinged by a hinge 9 to a ledge 10, which ledge 10 may be integral with the bath tub and supports part of the seat. Ledge 10 is formed on the end wall adjacent the wall with the door aperture. As shown in Figure 2, when the seat is in the raised position towards the vertical there is created sufficient space for a person to stand on the floor and the door opened and closed. When the seat is lowered (Figure 1) to a horizontal position, the seat wedges between the door and the opposite wall of the tub thereby pressing the periphery of the door against the flange and seal on the bath tub. If the bath is filled with water when the door is closed and a person is sitting on the seat, the seal is compressed by the seat thus preventing leaks. In practice, once the bath is full of water, the water pressure on the door compresses the door against the seal and flange.

As shown in Figure 3, a partly tapered projection 11 is provided on the wall of the tub opposite the door aperture. When the seat is lowered, the seat is supported on the projection shoulder 1 la, and the tapered section 1 lib helps to drive the seat towards the door 6 to help compress the seal 5.

Also as shown in Figure 1,2 and 3 the seat 8 includes a U-shaped cut out 8a covered with a cover plate 12. When the seat is lowered, the U-shaped cut out embraces a door component in the form of a door projection 13 and the plate 12 rests on shoulder 13A of projection 13.

When the bath is filled with water, there is a tendency due to the water pressure for the side wall sections either side of the aperture to be pushed apart and so create movement between the door and the tub flange. Because the seat U-shaped cut out engages the projection 13, this helps to hold the side wall section together and help prevent movement between the tub and door.

Taps 14 may be provided to fill the bath and may include a shower. Two drain holes 1 spa, 1 Sb and associated plugs on chains (not shown) may be provided. The two drain holes provide a faster emptying of the bath. This is important as the occupant cannot leave the bath until the water has drained out. Also two plugs and chains may be provided as a safety measure. If one plug chain where to break, the other serves as a back up. Again if the water is not drained, the occupant cannot get out.

A support arm 16 hinged to the underside of the seat 8 may be provided. The arm can engage in a recess 17 in the ledge 10 to hold the seat up temporarily whilst the occupant opens or closes the door. When the seat is lowered, the ann can swing freely under the seat.

The bath of the invention can be made of any suitable material, such as moulded from fibreglass, or pressed or cast out of metal. A frame may be provided to add strength and rigidity to the structure, particularly around the area of the door aperture. The bath may be formed in any desired colour.

The seal 5 may of any suitable form, but a pair of p-shaped seals have been found useful.

Instead of the seal 5 being on the flange 4, it could be provided on the periphery of the door so that, when the door is closed, the seal compresses against the flange.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1. A bath comprising a bath tub having a floor and a peripheral wall, a door aperture in the wall thereof, a door hinged to the tub adjacent the aperture to open inwards, said door being larger than the door aperture so that the periphery of the door overlaps the bath tub adjacent the aperture, and a seat hinged to the bath tub which when raised towards the vertical allows the door to be opened and closed, the seat when lowered to a horizontal position being wedged between the door and an opposing surface of the bath tub wall thereby pressing the periphery of the door against the bath tub.

2. A bath as claimed in claim 1, in which the seat when lowered engages with a component on the door to help prevent movement between the door and tub.

3. A bath as claimed in claim 2, in which the component is a projection and the seat is provided with a cutout to engage the projection.

4. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a seal is provided to seal the periphery of the door against the tub.

5. A bath as claimed in claim 4, in which the seal is mounted on the tub adjacent the door aperture, or along part of the periphery of the door.

6. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bath tub is generally rectangular and the peripheral wall is formed from four walls sections, the door being mounted on one wall section and the seat being mounted on an adjacent wall section.

7. A bath as claimed in claim 6, in which the wall sections taper inwards towards the tub floor.

8. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bath tub includes a fixed ledge to which the seat is hinged and which supports part of the seat.

9. A bath as claimed in claim 8, in which a support arm is hinged beneath the seat and the ledge is provided with a recess which the support arm can engage to keep the seat in its raised position.

10. A bath as claimed in an preceding claim, in which two drain holes are provided in the floor of the bath tub.

11. A bath tub substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.