GB2446569A

GB2446569A - Grab bar assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2446569A
Application number: GB0702767A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antoni Harold Nikolas Gontar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-13
Filing date: 2007-02-13
Publication date: 2008-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-13
Also published as: GB0702767D0; GB2446569B

Abstract

A grab bar assembly 2 comprises a housing 8 having a door 16. A grab bar 18 is connected to the housing 18 for movement between an in-use position in which the grab bar 18 is substantially horizontal and supports the weight of a person (Fig. 1) and a storage position in which the grab bar is stored within the housing such that the door 16 may be closed to conceal its presence (Fig. 4). The housing or door may comprise at least one shelf 22 or container 24. A strut 20 and/or support leg (26, Fig. 6) may be connected to the grab bar to provide additional support. The grab bar may be used by the disabled or elderly to assist movement to and from a sanitary facility such as a toilet.

Description

GRAB BAR ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a grab bar assembly that may be used by an individual to assist movement between a wheelchair or a standing position and a sanitary facility such as a toilet, bath, etc. Grab bars are widely fitted in toilets and bathrooms for use by people with movement difficulties, such as the disabled or elderly. These grab bars typically take the form of fixed rails mounted on the walls adjacent to toilets, baths, etc. to provide a source of support which a person can utilise when moving to or from the toilet, bath, etc. A number of problems arise with existing grab bars, however.

For example, the wall to which a grab bar is fitted must be sufficiently strong to support the grab bar and the weight of a person using the grab bar. This prevents grab bars from being retro-fitted to many toilets and bathrooms where the walls to which the grab bars must be fitted do not have the required strength.

In addition, existing grab bars are often a nuisance for able-bodied people because of their positioning and the space they occupy.

Furthermore, grab bars demarcate a room as a room for disabled or elderly people.

These last two problems are a particular problem for rooms such as hotel rooms, which are to be used by disabled people, elderly people and also able-bodied people.

The present invention aims to address one or more of the problems above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a grab bar connected to a housing such that the housing provides sufficient support for the grab bar and the weight of a person using the grab bar. In this way a grab bar may be provided for any wall, including a wall which itself is not able to support the grab bar and the weight of a person.

The grab bar is rnoveable from a configuration in which it may be used by a person to a configuration in which it is contained within the housing. In this way, the grab bar may be moved into the housing out of the way of an able-bodied

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person. A door is provided to conceal the grab bar within the housing. As a result, the room no longer has the appearance of a room for the disabled and elderly.

One or more storage facilities, such as a shelf or container, may be provided within the housing and/or the door thereof, thereby increasing the functionality of the assembly.

A support leg which contacts the ground and provides additional support for the grab bar may be provided. In this case, the support leg may also be concealed within he housing when not in use.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of two grab bar assemblies mounted to a wall on each side of a toilet; Figure 2 shows a grab bar assembly with the grab bar in an in-use position; Figure 3 shows the grab bar assembly of Figure 2 with the grab bar in a storage position with the door open; Figure 4 shows the grab bar assembly of Figure 2 with the grab bar in the storage position and the door closed; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of grab bar assemblies in a second embodiment, in which each grab bar assembly is recessed into the wall; and Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of a grab bar assembly having a support leg.

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1-4.

Referring to Figure 1, a respective grab bar assembly 2 is attached to a wall 4 on each side of a toilet 6 for use by a person to assist movement between a wheelchair or a standing position and a position for use of the toilet.

Although the present embodiment describes grab bar assemblies for use near a toilet, it will be appreciated that one or more of the grab bar assemblies may also be provided for use with different sanitary facilities, such as a bidet, bath, etc. Each grab bar assembly 2 comprises a housing 8, having side walls 10,12, a rear wall 14, and a door 16.

A grab bar 18 is pivotably connected to the side walls 10,12 for movement between an in-use position (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) and a storage position (as shown in Figures 3 and 4).

A retaining strut is provided on the underside of the grab bar 18. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the in-use position of the grab bar, the retaining strut 20 contacts the rear side 14 of the housing 8, thereby retaining the grab bar 18 in a substantially horizontal position, perpendicular to the rear side 14 and preventing further downward movement of the grab bar 18 when a person applies his/her weight to the grab bar 18.

Accordingly, the housing 8 of the grab bar assembly provides all of the required support for the grab bar enabling the grab bar assembly to be attached to any wall even if the

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wall itself would not be strong enough to support a grab bar attached directly thereto.

A number of shelves 22 is provided within the housing 8. In this embodiment, shelves are provided both between the side walls 10,12 and also within the door 16. Furthermore, a container 24 is also provided in the housing 8. In this embodiment, the container has the form of a wire tray provided within the door 16. The selves 22 and container 24 increase the functionality of the grab bar assembly 2.

Movement of the grab bar 18 between the in-use and storage positions will now be described with reference to Figures 2-4.

Figure 2 shows the grab bar 18 in its in-use position, with the strut 20 contacting the rear side 14 of the housing 8 and thereby retaining the grab bar 18 in a substantially horizontal position even when a person's weight is applied to the grab bar 18.

To move the grab bar 18 from the in-use position to a storage position, the grab bar 18 is pivoted upwards to a position between the side walls 20,12 as shown in Figure 3.

In this position, the grab bar no longer protrudes from the housing and is therefore no longer an inconvenience for able-bodied people.

With the grab bar 18 in a position between the side walls 10,12, the door 16 of the housing 8 may then be closed, as shown in Figure 4. In this way, the grab bar 18 is no longer visible, with the result that the room in which the grab bar assembly 2 is installed is not demarcated as a room for disabled, elderly people, etc. Many modifications and changes can be made to the embodiment described above.

For example, referring to Figure 5, the housing 8 of each grab bar assembly 2 may be recessed into the wall 4, instead of being mounted onto the surface of the wall 4.

Referring to Figure 6, a support leg 26 may be provided instead of, or in addition to, retaining strut 20. The support leg 26 is pivotably connected to the grab bar 18 so that movement of the grab bar between the in-use and storage positions causes a corresponding movement of the support leg 26 between in-use and storage positions. In the storage position, the support leg 26 is stored between the side walls 10,12, permitting the door 16 to be closed to conceal both the grab bar 18 and the support leg 26.

In the embodiment described above, the grab bar 18 is pivotably connected to the side walls 10,12 of the housing 8. However, instead, the grab bar 18 may be pivotably connected to the housing in a different way. For example, the grab bar 18 may be pivotably connected to the rear wall 14.

Although the grab bar 18 is pivotably connected to the housing 8 in the embodiment described above, the grab bar 18 may be connected in a different way for movement between the in-use and storage positions.

In the embodiment described above, the grab bar 18 is connected to move to a storage position in which the grab bar is substantially vertical. As a result, the housing 8 has an elongated format in the vertical direction. However, instead, the grab bar 18 may be connected for movement to a storage position in which the grab bar has a substantially horizontal position against the wall 4. In this case, the housing 8 would have an elongated format in the horizontal direction.

In the embodiment described above, the door 16 is pivoted to the housing 8. However, instead, the door may be connected to slide relative to the side walls 10,12.

Other modifications are, of course, possible.

Claims

I CLAIMS

1. A grab bar assembly, comprising: a housing having a door; and a grab bar connected to the housing for movement between a storage position in which the grab bar is stored in a space within the houbiug so that the door may C1OSC to conceal the grab bar, and an in-use position in which the grab bar extends out of the housing for use by a person.

2. A grab bar assembly according to Claim 1, further comprising at least one shelf or container connected to the door or the housing.

3. A grab bar assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising a support leg connected to the grab bar for movement therewith such that, when the grab bar is in the in-use position, the support leg contacts the floor to provide support for the seat, and, when the grab bar is in the storage position, the support leg is stored in a space within the housing so that the door may closed to conceal the grab bar and the support leg.