GB2322074A - Apparatus for lifting and lowering a person relative to a bath - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for lifting and lowering a person relative to a bath comprises driven winding means 12 for raising and lowering in response to control signals, a flexible support sheet 22 on which a person is positioned, the flexible support sheet running transversely between opposite longitudinal edges of an associated bath; a support frame 16 comprising two stationary longitudinal members, at least one of which longitudinal members being supported, in use, by a longitudinal edge of the bath, two transverse cross members joining the longitudinal members; said driven winding means being mounted upon said at least one of the longitudinal members of said frame; the frame having means engaging with said bath to prevent said frame from moving transversely relative to said rim.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO LIFTING DEVICES The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for lifting infirm or otherwise disabled people.

Equipment for lifting elderly and/or infirm people into and out of baths are well known and exemplified by the apparatus shown in European patent application number 0403235. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a motor driven roller fixed to a wall adjacent a bath; one end of an elongate raising and lowering sheet affixed to the roller; and, the other end of the raising and lowering sheet fixed at an anchorage on or adjacent the opposite side of the bath. Appropriate electrical; controls cause the sheet to be wound or unwound as appropriate and raise or lower a person sitting thereon relative to the bath. In so doing the stresses imposed on the motor driven roller fixings to the wall are considerable; the stresses, depending upon the position of the sheet, ranging from direct tension to high shear stresses. A problem with this apparatus is that the walls of many dwellings are relatively weak, being made of plasterboard in newer houses or perhaps lathe and plaster in older houses. Therefore, many walls to which it is desired to attach the motor driven roller are not made of strong materials such as brick for example and are not capable of withstanding the stresses imposed by the weight of a person sitting on the sheet without extra support and strengthening, usually at substantial extra cost.

The same document shows a further embodiment wherein side members which run along the long edges of a bath contain and rotatably support elongate rollers which carry the flexible sheet and, cross members at the bath ends contain driving means via chains or shafts and gears for example to rotate the rollers. However, this particular embodiment is clearly expensive to design and manufacture and must be specifically designed and made for each different size of bath installation.

A further embodiment in the same document shows a framework which carries a lifting apparatus as described above. However, the framework is bulky and cumbersome, appears to be lacking in rigidity and therefore not engendering a feeling of confidence in a user, and again clearly needs to be specifically designed for each bath installation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved lifting apparatus which is able to be used where the wall adjacent a bath is insufficiently strong on its own to provide adequate support. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support which may be adapted to many different bath installations. A yet further objective is to provide a support which is relatively rigid and engenders a feeling of confidence in a user.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for lifting and lowering a person relative to a bath, the apparatus comprising: driven winding means for raising and lowering in response to control signals, a flexible support sheet on which a person is positioned, the flexible support sheet running transversely between opposite longitudinal edges of an associated bath; a support frame comprising two stationary longitudinal members, at least one of which longitudinal members being supported, in use, by a longitudinal edge of the bath, two transverse cross members joining the longitudinal members; said driven winding means being mounted upon said at least one of the longitudinal members of said frame; the frame having means engaging with said bath to prevent said frame from moving transversely relative to said rim.

In one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention both longitudinal members rest upon and are directly supported by the longitudinal edges of the bath rim. Alternatively, one longitudinal member may be positioned to lie beyond and slightly below one longitudinal edge of the bath so as to facilitate entry of a person using the apparatus or to avoid taps positioned along one side. In this latter case, the cross members may have a short downwardly cranked portion to join the ends of the longitudinal members.

The transverse cross members may join opposite ends of the longitudinal members. The cross members may themselves be supported by the opposite transverse ends of the bath itself or alternatively at least one cross member may be positioned such that it avoids taps positioned at one end of the bath.

The transverse cross members preferably may have means to allow their length to be adjustable so as to allow for baths of differing widths. Such length adjustment may be by any suitable means such threaded rods running in fixed nuts for example.

The frame may be provided with locating means which prevent it from moving either longitudinally or laterally with respect to the bath rim. Such locating means may comprise fingers fixed to the longitudinal or cross members and which extend into the bath cavity and locate against the internal bath sides. There may also be additional clamping means which engage with the outer edge of the bath rim.

The frame may be provided with clamping means to engage the taps of the associated bath to prevent lateral movement of the frame relative to the bath or backing wall.

The sheet winding means may be mounted to the frame by mounting means comprising a plate or stanchions which are fixed to one longitudinal member. Alternatively, the mounting means may be adjustable insofar as they may be positioned preferentially towards one or other end of the bath in accordance with the positions of taps for example thus making the frame "universal" and able to be fitted to any bath. Such adjustable mounting means may comprise sockets in a longitudinal member into which stanchions or a plate having plug portions may be inserted.

The frame may be made from lightweight materials such as aluminium box-section tube, the longitudinal and cross members being welded to each other.

The flexible sheet support may be connected at one end to the winding means and, at the other end may be fixed either to fixing point on the floor or to a fixing point on the opposite longitudinal member.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, examples will now be described by way of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a frame of an apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a section through the frame of Fig.l on the line 2-2 when placed on a bath rim and having winding means fixed thereto; Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a frame of an apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows a section through a stanchion of Fig.3 along the line 4-4; Figure 5 shows a detail of a clamping arrangement of the apparatus of Fig.3 to a bath rim along the line 5-5 of Fig.3 when placed on a bath rim; Figure 6 shows a detail of a third alternative of a frame of an apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 7 shows a frame of apparatus according to the present invention having a first schematic arrangement of clamping means for engaging taps of an associated bath; and Figure 8 which shows a frame similar to that shown in Figure 7 but with a second schematic arrangement of clamping means for engaging taps of an associated bath.

Referring now to the drawings and where the same features are denoted by common reference numerals.

Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a frame of an apparatus according to the present invention. The complete apparatus is denoted generally at 10 in Figure 2 and comprises a winding device shown schematically at 12; the device 12 being fixed to stanchions 14 rigidly fixed to a frame 16 which sits on the rim 18 of a bath 20. The winding device 12 comprises a strong flexible sheet 22, one end 24 of which is wound about a roller 26 driven by an electric motor 28 so as to raise and lower a person (not shown) sitting on the sheet relative to the bath 20.

The remote end 30 of the sheet 22 is fixed to a rod 32 which is held by clips 34 fixed to the frame 16.

Appropriate known control switching (not shown) is also provided for the user to operate the device 12. The frame 16 comprises two longitudinal members 40, 42 which sit on and along the long rim edges of the bath 20. The length of the members 40, 42 are chosen so that cross members 44, 46 which join the ends of the members 40, 42 do not conflict with taps (not shown) which are normally positioned at one or other ends of the bath 20. The cross members 44, 46 are adjustable in length which in this instance is by threaded rods 48, 50 running in fixed nuts 52, 54 in the mid-portions of the cross members 44, 46; the rods 48, 50 having oppositely-handed threads about the middle 56, 58 of each rod; rotation of the rods 48, 50 thereby causing the cross members 44, 46 to become longer or shorter as appropriate to suit different bath widths. A cover 60 is provided for each cross member to hide the length adjusting mechanism on each side. The frame members 40, 42, 44, 46 may be made from box-section aluminium tube having welded joints 64 for example. The rear longitudinal member 40 may be provided with brackets 66 for attaching the frame assembly to the bath backing wall 68 by screws (not shown) for example. It should be remembered that the stanchions 14 and frame 16 bear all loads associated with raising and lowering a person on the sheet 22 and that the purpose of the brackets 66 and fixing screws is merely to prevent lateral slippage of the assembly 10 relative to the bath 20. Alternatively or additionally, fingers 70 extending from the inside edges of the members 40, 42 into the bath cavity may be employed to prevent lateral movement of the assembly relative to the bath. The frame may be treated for aesthetic and/or corrosion protection purposes by for example powder coating or other suitable treatment.

Figures 3 to 5 show a second embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention. For the purpose of clarity the sheet winding device 12 has been omitted but the device as shown in Figure 2 may equally well be employed in this embodiment. This embodiment is similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 above in that it comprises two longitudinal members 80, 82 and two cross members 84, 86. However, the rear member 80 which is adjacent a wall (not shown) is provided with a plurality of sockets 90 at predetermined positions and spacing along the length of the member 80. A sheet winding device mounting panel 92 has stanchions 94 fixed thereto at spacing which correspond to the spacing of the sockets 90 on the member 80; the stanchions having lower plug portion 98 which fit into the sockets 90. In this way the winding device may be positioned in the middle for example or towards either end of the bath thus allowing for the taps being at either end of the bath.

The apparatus according to the present invention in this embodiment is thus universal in that it may be adapted to fit a bath irrespective of which wall it is positioned against or at which end the taps are fitted.

The embodiment of Figures 3 to 5 also shows an alternative method of adjusting the length of the cross members. The cross member portions are made of boxsection tube and are provided with a joining plug portion 100 dimensioned so as to be a sliding fit inside the boxsection material of the cross member portions; separate spacer portions 102 of predetermined length which correspond to the internal and external dimensions of the box-section tube of the cross members are slid onto the plug portion 100 until an overall desired width of the frame is achieved. The frame is held together transversely by a long screw 104 inserted in a hole 106 at the outer side of the cross member and which engages with a fixed nut 108 held within the box-section on the remote side of the plug.

A side cowl 110 is provided along the outer edge of the outer longitudinal member 82, the cowl being provided with holes 112 at intervals along its length. Inside of the cowl 110 as shown in Figure 5 are clamps 114, the head of an adjusting screw 116 of which being opposite the hole 112. tightening of the screw 116 causes a lever 118 to engage the outer edge of the bath rim 120 and grip the rim between the lever 118 and an inner finger 122 extending into the bath cavity thus preventing lateral slippage of the assembly.

Figure 6 shows a detail of a third embodiment of the present invention wherein the cross members 140 have a downwardly cranked portion 142 at the lower end of which is joined the outer longitudinal member 144. The longitudinal member is thus removed from the top face 146 of the bath rim 148 making entry and exit of the bath easier for a user. The inner face of the member 144 may be used for mounting the flexible sheet retaining hooks 150.

Figure 7 shows a frame 160 wherein the cross member 162 at one end of the frame is provided with adjustable rods 164 having clamp bars 166 which may be tightened about the taps 168 by, for example, nuts 170 to prevent unwanted lateral movement of the frame 160. The frame is also provided with fixed tongues 172 and adjustable tongues 174 which extend into the bath cavity (not shown).

Figure 8 shows an arrangement similar to that of Figure 7 but with a modified form of clamp 180 which comprises an arm 182 welded to the frame at one end and an adjustable screw 184 which effectively pushes against the taps 186 causing the frame 188 to be held firmly against a wall 190 beside the bath (not shown). As with the embodiment of Figure 7, fixing tongues 192 and 194 are also provided.

Although the above embodiments have been described having certain features for each embodiment, some features may be interchanged between embodiments as required. For example, the width adjusting mechanisms of the cross members as shown in Figures 1 and 3 may be interchanged or replaced with an alternative mechanism. The features as described with reference to the drawings are merely illustrative and not exhaustive or limiting.

Claims (13)

1. Apparatus for lifting and lowering a person relative to a bath, the apparatus comprising: driven winding means for raising and lowering in response to control signals, a flexible support sheet on which a person is positioned, the flexible support sheet running transversely between opposite longitudinal edges of an associated bath; a support frame comprising two stationary longitudinal members, at least one of which longitudinal members being supported, in use, by a longitudinal edge of the bath, two transverse cross members joining the longitudinal members; said driven winding means being mounted upon said at least one of the longitudinal members of said frame; the frame having means engaging with said bath to prevent said frame from moving transversely relative to said rim.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein both longitudinal members rest upon and are directly supported by the longitudinal edges of the bath rim.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one longitudinal member is positioned to lie beyond and slightly below one longitudinal edge of the bath, the cross members having a short downwardly cranked portion to join the ends of the longitudinal members.

4. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the length of the transverse cross members are adjustable.

5. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the locating means for engaging with the bath comprises fingers fixed to the longitudinal or cross members and which extend into the cavity of an associated bath and locate against the internal sides.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the locating means includes clamping means which engage with the outer edge of the bath rim.

7. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the sheet winding means are mounted to said at least one longitudinal frame member by mounting means comprising a plate or stanchions which are fixed thereto.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the mounting means may be adjustable insofar as they may be positioned preferentially towards one or other end of the bath.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the adjustable mounting means comprise sockets in the longitudinal member into which stanchions or a plate having plug portions are inserted.

10. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the frame is made from aluminium box-section tube.

11. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the flexible sheet support is connected at one end to the winding means and, at the other end to a fixing point on the floor or to a fixing point on the opposite longitudinal member.

12. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim further including clamping means to engage with taps of an associated bath in use to prevent lateral movement.

13. Apparatus for lifting and lowering a person relative to a bath substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and Figures 1 and 2; or, Figures 3 to 5; or, Figure 6 of the drawings.