GB2406787A

GB2406787A - Walk-in bath with divider

Info

Publication number: GB2406787A
Application number: GB0323431A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Grooms; Barnaby Barford
Original assignee: ESL HEALTHCARE Ltd
Current assignee: ESL HEALTHCARE Ltd
Priority date: 2003-10-07
Filing date: 2003-10-07
Publication date: 2005-04-13
Also published as: GB0323431D0

Abstract

A bath having a bathing area and including dividing means 14 positionable between a first position in which the dividing means divides the bathing area into first 40 and second 42 sections, and a second position in which the bathing area is undivided; wherein the dividing means includes flow-control means 44 to regulate the flow of water between the first and second sections; and wherein the bath includes user-entry means 12 in a wall 16 of the first section and a water drainage outlet 30 in at least the first section.

Description

BATHS

This invention relates to baths, in particular, walk-in baths.

Walk-in baths are often provided to enable elderly or disabled people to take a bath without assistance. Climbing in an out of a bath gets harder the older and more frail we become. As society shifts away from the institutional care of the elderly to care in the community, it is essential that baths remain accessible to the elderly to enable them to remain independent in their own homes for longer.

Generally walk-in baths are provided with a door in a sidewall through which access may be gained to the bath. The bather can then fill the bath with water, bathe, (usually in a seated position), empty the bath without assistance and then exit the bath through the door.

A disadvantage of such baths is that user has to sit in the bath while it fills with water.

This can take time and the user may get cold. Temperature controlled taps are needed to guarantee users are not scalded or subject to cold running water. In addition, before the user can exit the bath the water has to drain away. This can take 10-15 minutes and during this time the user has to remain in the bath, wet and getting cold.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a bath which avoids this disadvantage, by reducing the time the user remains in the bath and is not immersed in water and reducing the time needed to drain the water before the user can exit in the bath.

According to the present invention there is provided a bath, including dividing means positionable between a first position in which the dividing means divides the bathing area into first and second sections and a second position in which the bathing area is undivided. The dividing means further includes flow control means to regulate the flow of water between the first and second sections. The bath includes user- entry : . . ' ::e.e :.2e:. .. :.

means in a wall of the first section, and a water draining outlet in at least the first section.

Preferably the second section of the bath is larger than the first section.

Preferably, the dividing means comprises a door which in an operative position divides the bath laterally and in an inoperative position lies along a wall of the bath.

The flow control means, when in an operative position, prevents water entering the first section from the second section, and when in an inoperative position, permits water to flow from the second section into the first section.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bath in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 illustrates schematically a plan view of an embodiment of the bath in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of the bath of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the bath of Figure 2 with dividing means in an operative position and the second section filling with water, Figure 5 is a side view of the bath of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan of the bath of Figure 4, with the door into the bath in an open position, Figure 7 is a side view of the bath of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the bath of Figure 6, with water flowing through the dividing means from the second section to the first section, Figure 9 is a side view of the bath of Figure 8. .

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I. a: I: ' Figure 10 is a plan view of the bath of Figure 8 with the same level of water in the two sections and the dividing means in an inoperative position, adjacent to a sidewall of the bath, Figure 11 is a side view ofthe bath of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the bath of Figure 10 with the dividing means in an operative position separating the two sections, the second of which is full of water, the first of which has been emptied, Figure 13 is a side view ofthe bath of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a plan view of the bath of Figure 12 with the second section full of water and door of the first section open, Figure 1 S is a side view of the bath of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a plan view of the bath of Figure 14 with both sections emptied of water; and Figure 17 is a side view of the bath of Figure 16.

Referring to Figure 1, the walk-in bath 10 has a generally conventional form of a generally rectangular open vessel with base 24, upwardly extending long opposing side walls 16, 18 and upwardly extending shorter opposing end walls 20, 22.

The interior of each side wall 16, 18 includes a generally vertical ridge 36, at a point closer to a first end 20 than a second end 22 of the bath. Ridges 36 in the side walls are joined by a generally horizontal ridge 37 in the base of the bath.

The bath includes dividing means in the form of a pivotable dividing door which in an open or inoperative positing lies along the long wall 16 to which it is attached. The ridges 36, 37 form a frame against which dividing door 14 bears when pivoted into its closed, or operative position. When closed, the dividing door 14 divides the bath into a first 40 and a second 42 section.

Each of the first and second sections of the bath includes a respective outlet 30, 32 in the base 24 for draining the bath of water. The second section includes taps, 34 for t.e 2.'. a.

filling at least a portion of the bath 10 with water. The first section includes an access door 12 in side wall 16 of the bath for gaining access to the bath, and a handgrip 28.

As shown, the first section may further include a moulded seat 26 formed at end 20.

Figures 2 and 3 show the access door 12 in side wall 16, between the end wall 20 and ridges 36,37 and further shows dividing door 14 in a closed position perpendicular to the side walls 16, 18 of the bath, separating the bath into a first section 40 and a second section 42. Each section has an outlet JO, 32 for draining water from the section, and the second section includes taps 34 for filling the bath with water.

Figures 4 and 5 show the second section 42 being filled with water 38 from taps 34 while dividing door 14 is in a closed position preventing water flowing between the second 42 and first 40 sections and further shows the access door 12 in the side wall 16 of the bath in a closed position.

Figures 6 and 7 show the access door 12 in an open position to allow a bather to enter the first section of the bath, the dividing door 14 remaining in a closed position to prevent water from flowing into the first section 40 and out of the open access door 12.

Figures 8 and 9 show the access door 12 in a closed position, and further shows a closeable aperture 44 provided in the dividing door 14 in an open position allowing water to flow from the second section 42 into the watertight first section 40.

Figures 10 and 11 show the dividing door 14, with the closeable aperture 44 remaining in an inoperative position, lying along one side of the bath in this case side wall 18, and both sections of the bath containing water.

Figures 12 and 13 show the dividing door 14 returned to a closed position, with its closeable aperture 44 also in a closed operative position, and the first section now empty of water which has drained out of outlet 30. e

: : :: Figures 14 and 15 show the access door 12 in an open position, with the dividing door 14 in a closed position, retaining water in the second section 42 of the bath. The bather may now exit the bath.

Figures 16 and 17 show the second section 42 now empty of water, the water having drained out of the waste outlet 32.

In use, a disabled or elderly person wishing to take a bath may place the closeable aperture 44 of the dividing door 14 into the operative closed position, pivot the dividing door 14 into the operative closed position, and turn on the taps 34 to fill the second section of the bath with water to the required depth and temperature.

The user may then enter the first section 40 of the bath 10 by means of the access door 12, gripping handle 28 and sitting on seat 26, as necessary. The user may then close access door 12 to provide a watertight section ofthe bath. The user may then open the closeable aperture 44 of dividing door 14 to permit water to flow from the second section 42 into the first section 40 of the bath. The user may then bathe in the first section, or may move the dividing door 14 into its open position along the side wall 18 of the bath and gain access to the whole volume of the bath. The dividing door 14 will open easily, like a canal lock gate, as the pressure of water at each side of the dividing door 14 will be the same.

When bathing is over, the user moves the dividing door 14 back into the closed position, closes the closeable aperture 44, and removes the plug from the waste outlet 30 of the first section 40. Water will drain from the first section relatively quickly, and when the first section is empty, the user may open the access door 12 and exit the bath, having had to wait only a relatively short time.

The plug is then removed from the outlet of the second section at leisure, to empty the second section of the bath.

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The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing example. For example, the access door 12 for entering the first section of the bath may be a folding door, the dividing door 14 may comprise a single door or double doors, each one of the doors resting in an open position along a respective side wall 16, 18 of the bath the second section of the bath may not be larger than the first section, and the bath may be filled with water using means not provided with the bath, i.e. the bath itself may not include taps.

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Claims

Claims.

1. A bath having a bathing area and including dividing means 14 positionable between a first position in which the dividing means divides the bathing area into first 40 and second 42 sections, and a second position in which the bathing area is undivided; wherein the dividing means includes flow-control means 44 to regulate the flow of water between the first and second sections; and wherein the bath includes user-entry means 12 in a wall 16 of the first section and a water drainage outlet 30 in at least the first section.

2. A bath as claimed in claim I wherein the second section is larger than the first section.

3. A bath as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein the dividing means 14 comprises a door which in an operative position divides the bath laterally and in an inoperative position lies along a wall 16, 18 ofthe bath.

4. A bath as claimed in claim 3 wherein the dividing means comprises two doors.

5. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flow control means 44, when in an operative position prevents water entering the first section from the second section, and when in an inoperative position, permits water to flow from the second section into the first section.

6. A bath as claimed in claim 5 wherein the flow control means 44 comprises a closeable aperture.

7. A bath as claimed in claim 6 wherein the closeable aperture 44 is movable between operative and inoperative positions by a bather in the first section.

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8. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein both the first section and the second section include a respective outlet 30,32 for draining water.

9. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bath includes bath filling means 34.

l O. A bath as claimed in claim 9 wherein the bath filling means comprises taps.

11. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the user-entry means 12 in the wall 16 of the first section is a door.

12. A bath as claimed in claim 11 wherein the door is foldable.

13. A bath substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying 1 5 drawings.

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