GB2511364A

GB2511364A - A rotatable shower seat with a non central position of the rotatable support

Info

Publication number: GB2511364A
Application number: GB201303739A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Alan Robertson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-01
Filing date: 2013-03-01
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Also published as: GB201303739D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotatable seat intended for showering which comprises an upper seat assembly 1, a lower seat assembly 2 interconnected by a rotatable support 7 positioned in a non central position of the seat 9. The rotatable support preferably comprises a bearing assembly 18, 20 which may be within the dimensions of the seat. Later embodiments relate to a rotatable seat characterised by a rotatable support in a non central position and a detectable or fold-up and fold-down seat; and a rotatable seat characterised by a rotatable support in a non central position with a detectable seat.

Description

A rotatable shower seat with a non central position of the rotatable support.

Description of application

This application will be described in two parts making reference to the accompanying drawings (see page 5 for the item number legend and page 6 for the drawing reference table and references). Firstly, the introduction will outline the need for the product and aspects of the application. Secondly, a technical description will explain how the rotatable shower seat works and demonstrate, using drawings, the unique benefit that this patent application provides.

Introduction

This application relates to a rotatable shower seat (see FIG 001) that improves access in and out of a shower area (see FIG 002) that might have a threshold lip or raised edge (see FIG 002, item ref 15). Elderly, disabled or infirm individuals experience varying problems when using shower areas. The user might have a psychological impairment that limits their ability to stand for long periods needed for showering or they may suffer from a physical condition that reduces their ability to be able to step over a threshold lip/raised edge to access a shower area. In either of these cases the user would require a technical aid to provide them with a seated position within the shower area or an attendant operated, wheeled shower chair that supports them in the process of transferring in and out of the shower area.

There are various technical aids available to assist such users in the process of showering:- 1) Free standing rotatable / swivel shower seat (FIG 004) This is a free standing shower seat designed to sit within a shower area so that the supportive portion can be rotated or swivelled around 360 degrees. The rotatable support is positioned at the centre (FIG 004, item ref 25) of the supportive portion and therefore does not present the front edge of the supportive portion further toward the shower area threshold lip/raised edge (item ref 15). This means that the user will still experience conflict with their feet and the threshold lip/raised edge as they either attempt to stand up from or sit onto the supportive portion or exit the shower area.

2) A wall mounted, fold up, fold down shower seat (see FIG 005) A shower seat that provides a fold up/down function for the user within the shower area. It is not designed to swivel or rotate. This concept of product will only provide a benefit to the user once they have stepped into the shower area. Therefore, in the case of a surface mounted shower tray, the threshold lip/raised edge (item ref 15) may still cause conflict with the user as they step in and out of the shower area.

3) Attendant operated wheeled shower chair (FIG 003) In the majority of such cases this technical aid solution is dependent upon a carer being present to push the wheelchair with the user sat upon it. Independent wheelchair users can propel themselves into a level access shower area or into a surface mounted tray with a threshold using a threshold ramp. This solution is limited in use, in confined shower areas, as there is insufficient space to properly manoeuvre this type of product.

There are designs of unsupported, rotatable shower seats that provide free, lateral movement of a shower seat in and out of a shower area via a single, unsupported, extended arm spindle as part of a wall mounted bracket assembly as shown in example drawing FIG 006. The design of the rotatable shower seat, relating to this application, varies from such a concept as the lower seat assembly (item ref 2) combines with the support legs (item ref 3) and wall bracket (item ref 8) to limit the extent of free movement of the upper seat assembly. The design, to which this application relates provides improved distribution of load stress through the product via the lower seat assembly (item ref 2) and support legs (item ref 3).

To help the user access and exit the shower area it would be a favourable feature of a rotatable shower seat, if the front edge (item ref 12) of the supportive portion (item ref 9) is able to protrude as far beyond the threshold lip/raised edge of the shower tray (item ref 15) as is feasible to do so from an engineering perspective when it has been rotated to face outside the shower area (FIG 008). The benefit realised from this forward position of the supportive portion will allow the user (FIG 010, item ref 23) to experience less conflict of the shower area threshold lip/raised edge (item ref 15) with their feet or back of their feet (FIG 010, item ref 24) as they stand up from or sit onto the supportive portion.

Therefore, this application relates to a rotatable shower seat that will:- * provide a means by which a user can better access a shower area that has a threshold lip/raised edge without having first to step into the shower area.

* provide a supportive portion (item ref 9) upon which the user is to be seated and that the user remains in a seated position as the upper seat assembly turns from a Pt position within the shower area (see FIG 007) to a 2nd position that faces outside of the shower area (see FIG 008).

* present a position of the supportive portion, that when the seat is turned to face outside the shower area it presents the front edge of the supportive portion (item ref 12) far enough over the threshold raised edge/lip (item 15) that the user is able to stand up from and sit onto the supportive portion with the least amount of hindrance.

The first aspect of this application is the benefit, realised by the user, by the non central position of the rotatable support and that it is able to influence the rotation of the upper seat assembly and supportive portion (item ref 9)so an "off-set" position, relative to the lower seat assembly (item ref 2), is achieved when it is rotated from the Pt position (see FIG 007) to the 2nd position whereby the user is facing outside of the shower area (see FIG 008).

The position of the rotatable support (see FIG 001, item ref 7), as an integral aspect of the upper and lower seat assembly, is fundamental in creating the unique "off-set" position of the upper seat assembly and supportive portion. This off-set position results in the front edge (item ref 12) being presented further beyond the shower area threshold lip/raised edge (item ref 15) compared to alternative positions that a rotatable support can be positioned.

In the case of this application the position of the rotatable support (item ref 7) is not to be positioned upon the vertical (item ref 11) or horizontal (item ref 10) central plane of the supportive portion (see FIG 011). The position of the rotatable support (item ref 7) can be described as to be within the outline edge and corner of the design dimension of the supportive portion, but not in any way or part upon either the vertical or horizontal central plane of the supportive portion (item ref 9). With the rotatable support in this position the front edge (item ref 12) of the supportive portion (item ref 9) protrudes beyond the shower area threshold lip/raised edge (item ref 15) by a greater dimension (see Fig 015) in comparison to a rotatable shower seat that incorporates a rotatable support positioned upon the vertical (item ref 11) or horizontal (item ref 10) central plane of the supportive portion (item ref 9) as demonstrated in FIG 013, FIG 014 and FIG 015.

The second aspect of this invention is that a rotatable shower chair anchored by a wall bracket (item ref 8) to a side wall (FIG 006 item ref 13) requires additional support contribution within the design of the product to be able to withstand load stress incurred when the user is seated upon it. In the case of this application the additional support contribution is provided by the lower seat assembly (item ref 2) in conjunction with the support leg/s (item ref 3) and wall bracket (item ref 8) to provide a static structure that provides support contribution and enables the lower seat assembly (item ref 2) to act as a counter beam for the upper seat assembly (item ref 1) as it is rotated to face outside the shower area (FIG 008).

The third aspect of this application is that the user, or carer, is able to rotate the supportive portion (item ref 9) from a position facing outside the shower area (FIG 008) in toward the shower area to a position where the user is sat within the enclosed shower area (see FIG 007).

The fourth aspect of this application relates to the user being able to assume a seated position that is conducive to helping them to raise their feet to clear the threshold lip/raised edge as part of the procedure of rotating the shower seat in and out of the shower area.

Technical description of application

The design of this application is that of a rotatable shower seat (see FIG 001) comprising of a supportive portion (item ref 9) that has been engineered so as to be positioned upon the upper aspect of a two section seat base assembly. The seat assembly comprises of an upper seat assembly (item ref 1) fixedly interconnected to a lower seat assembly (item ref 2). A rotatable support mechanism (item ref 7) is engineered, as an integral aspect of the upper and lower seat assembly, so as to provide lateral, rotational movement of the upper seat assembly and supportive portion about a single, fixed, vertical axis (FIG 009, Item ref 7A) around the lower seat assembly (item ref 2).

The supportive portion is to be of a shape consisting of one or more corners.

The supportive portion can be fabricated in GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic), injection moulded polyurethane or any other suitable material.

The rotatable support consists of a single primary bearing and shaft fabricated within the upper seat assembly (see FIG 016, item ref 20) and bearing sleeve and flange bearing (see FIG 015, item ref 18 and 19) that are engineered so as to be an integral aspect of the combined seat assembly and so enable rotational movement of the upper seat assembly around the lower seat assembly about the fixed, vertical axis (item ref 7A). In the case of this application the location and design dimension of this bearing component constitutes the position of the rotatable support (see FIG 001, item ref 7). The rotatable support (item ref 7) can be positioned at any point in the area between the horizontal or vertical central planes and within the outline edges and external corners of the shape of the supportive portion but is not located, in any way or part, upon either the horizontal (item ref 10) or vertical (item ref 11) central plane of the supportive portion (see FIG 011).

The lower seat assembly (item ref 2) and rotatable support (item ref 7) form a counter beam for the rotatable upper seat so that when it is turned from the 1 position inside the shower area (see FIG 007) to a 2 position facing outside the shower area (FIG 008). A canter lever is formed that supports the upper assembly and supportive portion in the turned position (FIG 008). In this position the upper seat assembly and supportive portion are off-set from the lower seat assembly. For stability and safety the lower seat assembly is anchored to the side wall or surface (item ref 13) of the shower area (see FIG 010), via a fabricated stainless steel wall bracket (item ref 8). The wall bracket provides contribution to withstanding the load stress exerted upon the product in conjunction with support leg/s (item ref 3) positioned beneath the lower seat assembly.

Any excess load that the upper seat assembly might incur can be shared by a secondary means of support via a plurality of low resistance nylon blocks or micro -castors, see FIG 016 (item ref 22). When positioned on the opposite side of the upper seat assembly they will contribute to sharing the distribution of load across the upper seat assembly and dissipate excess load stress down onto the adjacent surface of the lower seat assembly FIG 014, item ref 2).

The upper seat assembly is to be able to be locked in two positions. The first position will be with the seat within the shower area (see FIG 007). A second position will be as the seat has been rotated so as to face outside of the shower area (see FIG 008). The extent of lateral rotation of the upper seat assembly will be limited by 2 x mechanical stops, the position of which are shown in FIG 015, item ref 17. The stops ensure that the user cannot rotate the supportive portion beyond the 1st position, inside the shower area or beyond the 2nd position when rotating the seat to face outside the shower area.

The seat lock arrangement will be a stainless steel rod mechanism supported along it's length by 2 x plastic housing blocks (FIG 016 item ref 23). It is to form an integral aspect of the upper seat assembly and be operated via either of the lock handles as shown in drawing FIG 001, item ref 4).

All aspects of the shower seat components will be stainless steel with aluminium sub components where applicable. Powder coating will be applied on surfaces that require a surface coating for aesthetic and anti corrosion purposes.

The shower area, in which the rotatable shower seat is to be installed, can vary in layout and dimension and can comprise of varying materials from glass reinforced plastic, single moulded units to masonry walls covered by varying materials such as wall cladding or wall tiles etc. A wall, or alternative surface, against which the wall bracket is to be anchored, is to be suitable for the purpose. Any wall, upon which the wall bracket is to be anchored, that is fabricated as wall stud design is to be reinforced in between vertical batons with timber batons, secured in place (minimum 75mm thickness) around the area of the bracket (item ref 8).

The schematic drawing FIG 010 is based on an installation with the rotatable shower seat installed in a central position within an example of an enclosed shower area i.e. 2 x side walls (item ref 23 and 23A) and 1 x back wall (item ref 14). The shower area depth dimension of this drawing is 700mm, to the back wall (item ref 14). Therefore, the measurement to the centre of the shower area is to be 350mm. This is the dimension to the centre line of the seat used for installations as standard. Practically, it is anticipated that the shower area can be of varying depth and lengths to suit certain building types or even international markets. In cases of increased depth of shower area the seat would be installed off centre, toward the outside of the shower area, maintaining the 350mm dimension, to the seat centre. This should mean that the front edge of the supportive portion can extend over and beyond the shower area threshold/raised edge to the same extent as in a 700mm depth of shower area.

FIG 011 This drawing presents a schematic, plan view of the rotatable shower seat and supportive portion (item ref 12) and illustrates the orientation of the vertical and horizontal central plane lines of the supportive portion pertinent to this application and claims made herein.

In each of the following drawings in FIG 012 and FIG 013 the shower seat can be firstly see to be in the 1st position, within the shower area as per FIG 007, and then in a 2nd position, when it has been rotated so as to face outside the shower area as per FIG 008.

FIG 012 The drawings in FIG 012 provide four example locations (A, B, C and D) upon which a rotatable support might be positioned as part of a rotatable shower seat to rotate the seat so the user is to face outside the shower area (see FIG 008).

Position A -Demonstrates a position of a rotatable support that is central upon both the horizontal and vertical central plane of the supportive portion.

Position B -Demonstrates a position of a rotatable support that is upon the vertical central plane but orientated toward the back edge of the supportive portion.

Position C -Demonstrates a position of a rotatable support that is upon the horizontal central plane but orientated to the right side of the centre of the supportive portion as seen from above.

Position D -Demonstrates a position of a rotatable support that is not upon either the horizontal or vertical central plane but is within the outline edge and corners of the design dimension of the supportive portion and is an example of the basis of this claim.

The following drawings FIG 013, FIG 014 and FIG 015 demonstrate how the example positions A (item ref 29), B (item ref 30) and C (item ref 31), of the rotatable support, influences the position of the supportive portion when the shower seat assembly is turned to face outside the shower area (see FIG 008) and how the protuberance of the front edge of the supportive portion varies in relation to the shower area threshold lip/raised edge. The drawings also show how the back of the users feet (item ref 24) vary in their proximity to the shower area threshold raised edge/lip (item ref 15) as a result.

FIG 013

Example lAand lB

Demonstrates that the front edge (12) of the supportive portion, when it has been rotated around position A, is not presented in a more forward position relative to the shower area threshold lip/raised edge (item ref 15).

FIG 014 Example 2A, 2B and 2C With the rotatable support in position B the upper seat assembly is not able to complete a rotation on a standard wall bracket (item ref 8) as shown in FIG 014, example 2B. This particular position of the point of rotation would require that an extended wall bracket is used so a rotation can be facilitated.

When an extended wall bracket is included, drawing example 2C demonstrates that a protuberance of approximately 35mm (item ref 27) of the front edge (item ref 12) of the supportive portion (item ref 9) is achieved beyond the shower area threshold lip/raised edge (15).

(FIG 015)

Example 3A and 3B

Demonstrates the position of the front edge (12) of the supportive portion for the rotatable support position number C (see FIG 012).

FIG 016

Example 4A and 4B

This drawing demonstrates how position D of the rotatable support affects the front edge of the supportive portion. This is an example of the non central plane position, of the rotatable support, that forms the basis of the claim of this application. Rotatable support position D (item ref 32) presents the front edge of the supportive portion in a more forward position of approximately 65mm (item ref 28), beyond to the shower area threshold lip/raised edge, than rotatable support positions A, B, or C as is shown in examples above.

The rotatable shower seat described above can be quickly fitted to a shower area to make it accessible by elderly or disabled individuals. It is easy to operate and when the need for the product is no longer required it can be removed and the shower area can be quickly returned to conventional use. The rotatable shower seat can be used in residential care, acute hospital environments and as a means of enabling prolonged independent living at home.

The shower area within which the rotatable shower seat can be installed can have various means of enclosure by the way of shower doors or shower curtains. The shower doors can be configured to suit the user and the particular requirements of their shower area.

This rotatable shower seat can also be used in shower areas that might not have a threshold or raised edge such as a shower area deemed to be a level access shower. A level access shower area is where the floor area outside the shower area is continued into the shower area, to form an even floor area in the room. A strong, vinyl material is formed against a shower tray set at the same level as the floor and continued across the floor surface of the room.

The main operation of the rotational movement of the shower seat will be provided by the user propelling them-selves in and out of the shower area by using their feet and lower limbs, pushing against the floor or by pulling themselves with their arms using appropriately positioned grab rails anchored to either of the shower area walls. As their ability to carry out this function reduces then a care provider can provide the necessary assistance in moving the user in and out of the shower area. Alternatively a simple water-proof electric system with a drive motor can be retrospectively incorporated into the design of the rotatable shower seat to provide the necessary force to drive the upper seat assembly, in both directions, under control of an electro mechanical system via a push button system or alternative means of controls.

The rotatable shower seat can be handed as a mirrored -opposite or alternative handing so it can be installed in the position on the side wall opposite to that shown in the drawings of this application.

Claims

Claims 1) A rotatable seat for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene comprising: an upper seat assembly fixedly interconnected to a lower seat assembly via a rotatable support engineered so as to be positioned in a non central position of the supportive portion, whilst permitting the upper seat assembly to be turned about the lower seat assembly about a single, vertical axis.
2) A rotatable seat for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene, as in claim 1 comprising: a supportive portion that provides the surface area upon which the user is seated with the supportive portion designed to form a shaped that is to consist of one or more corners.
3) A rotatable seat for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene as in claim I whereby the position of the rotatable support is within the physical dimension of the supportive portion and that any aspect of the rotatable support is not positioned, in any way or part, on the horizontal or vertical central plane of the supportive portion as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in one or more of the drawings accompanying this application.
4) A rotatable seat for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene as in claim 3 whereby the position of the rotatable support can be positioned at any point within the area of the supportive portion between either the horizontal or vertical central plane and the outline edge and corners of the supportive portion as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in one or more of the drawings accompanying this application.
5) A rotatable seat for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene as per claim 3 whereby the rotatable support and lower seat assembly combine to form a counter beam support so the upper seat assembly and supportive portion are able to be presented in the off-set position relative to the lower seat assembly when the upper seat assembly is rotated through 90 degrees of lateral movement to face outside the shower, as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in one or more of the drawings accompanying this application.
6) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene as per claim 4 whereby the rotatable support provides a fulcrum point for the counter beam, as per claim 5, to counter the shear forces created when the user sits upon the upper seat assembly and supportive portion as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in one or more of the drawings accompanying this application.
7) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene as per claim 6 whereby the upper seat assembly and supportive portion form a single pivot cantilever that enables the combined assembly to be off-set from the lower seat assembly so that the front edge of the supportive portion is presented beyond the shower area threshold raised edge/lip as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in one or more of the drawings accompanying this application.
8) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene as per claim 5, 6 or 7 comprising: a seat assembly design of one or more independent seat assemblies, designed for the express purpose of rotating the upper seat through a lateral direction of movement, that is supported at a single point but includes a plurality of additional, secondary means of stress force distribution evenly between the upper and lower seat assemblies as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in one or more of the drawings accompanying this application.
9) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene with a non central position of the rotatable support, as in claim 3 whereby the rotational movement of the seat assembly, in each direction, is assisted by an electrically operated mechanism via an electro mechanical system.
10) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene with a non central position of the rotatable support, as in claim 3, that incorporates a single or plurality of support legs, wall bracket or any other form of structural aspect that is positioned within the dimension of the upper and lower seat assembly that could contribute to the withstanding of any load or shear force acting through the complete seat structure.
11) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene with a non central position of the rotatable support, as in claim 1 and 2 whereby this application applies to a mirrored, alternative handed or opposite handed model of rotatable shower chair such that would be able to rotate the seat in an opposite, lateral direction of movement as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in one or more of the drawings accompanying this application.
12) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene with a non central position of the rotatable support whereby this application applies to a detachable or fold up and fold down version of such a rotatable shower seat as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in one or more of the drawings accompanying this application.
13) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene with a non central position of the rotatable support whereby this application applies to a seat design such that can be detached from the main assembly and transported via a wheeled chassis type system.
14) A rotatable seat used for the purpose of showering or personal hygiene with a non central position of the rotatable support whereby this application applies to any alternative design incorporating a fold up and/or fold down version of such a rotatable shower seat.