GB2565817A

GB2565817A - Adjustable bath board

Info

Publication number: GB2565817A
Application number: GB1713585.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chen Jui-Hsiao
Original assignee: Jui Hsiao Chen
Current assignee: Jui Hsiao Chen
Priority date: 2017-08-24
Filing date: 2017-08-24
Publication date: 2019-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-24
Also published as: GB201713585D0; GB2565817B

Abstract

An adjustable bath board includes a main board 1, an adjustment board 20, two main rods 11, two adjustment rods (21, Fig 3) and two expansion boards 30, 40. The main board and the adjustment board are positioned and displaced by the main rods and the adjustment rods. The expansion boards are adjusted below the main board and the adjustment board to abut onto inner walls of a bathtub. The expansion boards 30, 40 include a holding slot (34, 44, Fig 6), and a large slide board 32, 42 contains an insertion element (33, 43 Fig 6) which is engaged with the holding slot. The main board includes an elastic strip 15 and a small protruded plate (16, Fig 12) to hold the main rod longitudinally and transversally. The adjustment board contains a positioning column (25, Fig 11) to hold the adjustment rod (21, Fig 3). The expansion board and the large slide board are assembled separately, thereby facilitating the positioning of the main rod and the adjustment rod inside the main board and the adjustment board.

Description

ADJUSTABLE BATH BOARD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable bath board, and more particularly to an adjustable bath board, wherein expansion boards and a large slide board are assembled stably by separate parts without using studs, thereby reducing the sizes in transportation, packaging and collection. In addition, main rods are held longitudinally and transversally by an elastic strip and a small protruded plate of a main board, and adjustment rods are held by positioning columns of adjustment boards.

b) Description of the Prior Art

As we know, the population of senior people is the existing society has increased continuously. As a senior person or a disabled person does not live conveniently, he or she will need to be take care of in a home or a hospital. It will usually require a lot of effort to clean a senior or disabled person by a caretaker, and therefore, a perfect facility is needed to facilitate cleaning the senior or disabled person by the caretaker. A bath board is normally mounted on a bathtub, and as the bath board is longer than the bathtub, it can be sat by the senior or disabled person when being put on the bathtub, so that the senior or disabled person can sit on the bath board easily, without being unable to enter into the bathtub as their feet are too weak. In addition, it also avoids that when the senior or disabled person enters into the bathtub, their heads are soaked in water to cause an accident. However, as the bath board is longer than the bathtub, there exists a shortcoming when it is put on the bathtub; the bath board can slide or fall easily that it cannot be positioned on the bathtub to lose its function.

Accordingly, there are vendors who have developed an adjustable bath board, wherein the length of the bath board can be adjusted, and the bath board can be expanded onto an inner wall at two sides of the bathtub, so that the bath board can be positioned into the bathtub without sliding. Furthermore, the length of the bath board can be adjusted according to the size of the bathtub. Therefore, this kind of product can solve the issue that the bath board slides or falls easily.

However, the adjustable bath board includes a main board, an adjustment board, two main rods, two adjustment rods and two expansion boards. The main rods and the adjustment rods are extended and shrunk to adjust the length of the main board and the adjustment board after extension, in order to fit with the width of the bathtub. The expansion boards are expanded onto an inner wall at two sides of the bathtub, so that the bath board can be positioned into the bathtub without sliding. Normally, the main rods and the adjustment rods are locked onto an inner surface of the main board and the adjustment board by studs respectively, and therefore, tools are needed in assembling and the assembling process is tedious. On the other hand, the expansion boards are usually formed integrally, and as their sizes are large, the packaging size will be large too, causing inconvenience in transportation and collection. Some expansion boards can be assembled, but the assembling will need studs and tools, and the assembling process is tedious as well. In addition, an exterior side of the expansion board is fixed with a non-skid pad which is attached and positioned onto the inner wall of the bathtub. As the non-skid pad is a consumable product, it is worn out frequently and cannot be replaced after damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary shortcomings of the conventional adjustable bath board include that as there are many parts, the adjustable bath board is usually assembled by studs; the parts can be formed integrally to cause a large size that it will be inconvenient in transportation, packaging and collection; the stud positioning parts cannot be changed that plural procedures are needed in assembling or dismantling; and the parts can be lost easily. These shortcomings trouble the manufactures as they cannot do anything about them, and cause a lot of trouble to the users.

Accordingly, an adjustable bath board is disclosed, including a main board, an adjustment board, two main rods, two adjustment rods and two expansion boards. The main board and the adjustment board are positioned with respect to each other and their displacement is adjusted by the two main rods and the two adjustment rods. The two expansion boards below the main board and the adjustment board are adjusted to abut onto two inner walls of a bathtub for positioning. The adjustable bath board is characterized in that the expansion board is provided with a holding slot and a large slide board; an exterior side end of the large slide board is protruded with an insertion element which is latched into the holding slot for positioning; the main board is provided with an elastic strip and a small protruded plate to hold the main rods longitudinally and transversally; and the adjustment board is provided with a positioning column to hold the adjustment rod, so that the expansion board and the large slide board can be assembled separately, and the main rods and the adjustment rods can be positioned easily.

The primary object of the adjustable bath board according to the present invention is to provide for the expansion board and the large slide board to be assembled by combinatorial parts, which improves the prior art that is formed integrally, and reduces the sizes in transportation, packaging and collection. In addition, the expansion board and the large slide board can be assembled without using studs, the parts can be assembled easily and stably without separation, and a torsion force can be applied to the large slide board that the expansion board and the large slide board can be dismantled easily.

Another object of the adjustable bath board according to the present invention is that as the elastic strip and the small protruded plate of the main board are used to hold the main rods longitudinally and transversally, and the positioning column of the adjustment board is used to hold the adjustment rod, the main board and the adjustment board can be assembled and dismantled easily, thereby improving the troublesome operation procedure for the prior art that plural studs are used to lock the main rods and the adjustment rods onto the main board and the adjustment board respectively.

Still another object of the adjustable bath board according to the present invention is that the non-skid pad of the expansion board can be replaced, which improves the shortcoming in the prior art that the non-skid pad cannot be replaced.

To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the present invention that a bottom surface is flipped over.

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the present invention that a main rod is positioned by an elastic strip.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of the present invention that the main rod is positioned by the elastic strip.

FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of a large slide board and an expansion board, according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of assembly of the large slide board and the expansion board, according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a planar view of assembly of the large slide board and the expansion board, according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a cutaway view of FIG. 8 along line 9-9.

FIG. 10 shows a cutaway view of FIG. 8 along line 10-10.

FIG. 11 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of the expansion board and the two adjustment rods, according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a cutaway view of positioning of the main rod and the adjustment rod, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention discloses an adjustable bath board. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the adjustable bath board comprises a main board 1, an adjustment board 20, two main rods 11, two adjustment rods 21 and two expansion boards 30, 40. The main board 1 is a rectangular slab, the adjustment board 20 is a square slab with area smaller than that of the main board 1, and a side of the main board 1 provides for the adjustment board 20 to be overlapped and disposed on an inner bottom for positioning. A bottom at an inner side of the main board 1 is provided with a slide rail 12, and a bottom of the adjustment board 20 is also provided with a slide rail 22. The main board 1 is provided with plural positioning holes 13 for positioning the adjustment board 20 by studs 41. The slide rail 12 of the main board 1 is provided with a screw hole 14 and a large slide board 32, and an interior of the large slide board 32 is provided with a long hole 321. By transfixing a stud 31 into the long hole 321 of the large slide board 32 and the screw hole 14, an expansion board 30 is positioned on the main board 1. The slide rail 22 of the adjustment board 20 is provided with a screw hole 24 and a large slide board 42, and an interior of the large slide bar 42 is provided with a long hole 421. By transfixing a stud 41 into the long hole 421 of the large slide board 42 and the screw hole 24, and then into the positioning hole 13 of the main board 1, an expansion board 40 is positioned on the adjustment board 20 and the main board 1. Therefore, the two expansion boards 30, 40 are positioned respectively on the main board 1 and the adjustment board 20. Two inner sides of the main board 1 provide for positioning with a main rod 11 respectively. A predetermined location in an interior of the main board 1 is provided with an elastic strip 15 (as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5), and a corresponding location on the main rod 11 is provided with a hole 111. The elastic strip 15 can be held in the hole 111, so that the main rod 11 can be provided with a structure to position the main board 1 longitudinally. An end surface of the main rod 11 is provided with an end cap 112 (as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 12), and the end cap 112 is provided with a rectangular hole 113. A small protruded plate 16 is disposed on an inner end of the main board 1 correspondingly and is latched into the rectangular hole 113, so that the main rod 11 can be provided with a structure to position the main board 1 transversally. Two inner sides at a bottom of the adjustment board 20 provide for positioning with the adjustment rods 21, and each bottom at outer ends of the adjustment rods 21 is provided with a positioning hole 211 (as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12). The adjustment board 20 is provided with a positioning column 25 correspondingly, and the positioning column 25 is latched into the positioning hole 211. The main rod 11 is a rectangular rod in a shape of a long strip, and the adjustment rod 21 is also a rectangular rod in a shape of a long strip. The adjustment rod 21 is disposed inside the main rod 11 to position in sections (as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, an interior of the adjustment rod 21 is provided with a spring and steel shots 210 for positioning in sections; the spring is not shown in the drawings and no further description is needed as the spring belongs to a conventional technology), which drives the adjustment board 20 to displace. A hand bar 50 is positioned on the main board 1 by a stud 51 and a nut 52. The adjustment rod 21 is extended into the main rod 11 for displacement, and the stud 41 of the adjustment board 20 is extended into the positioning hole 13 of the main board 1 for the adjustment of the length of the main board 1 and the adjustment board

20. In addition, the two expansion boards 30, 40 are adjusted to abut onto two inner walls of a bathtub for positioning.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10, an outer side of the large slide board 32, 42 is protruded with an insertion element 33, 43, and the expansion board 30, 40 is provided correspondingly with a holding slot 34, 44. The insertion element 33, 43 is latched into the holding slot 34, 44 for positioning. The insertion element 33, 43 of the large slide board 32, 42 includes two semi-circular hollow pillars 331, 431 and a board face 332, 432. An outer end on a top of the semi-circular hollow pillar 331,431 is protruded with a holding end 333, 433, the holding slot 34, 44 of the expansion board 30, 40 includes two semi-circular slots 341, 441 and a square slot 342, 442. The semi-circular hollow pillar 331,431 is latched into the semi-circular 341,441, and the holding end 333, 433 is held on a top rim of the semi-circular slot 341, 441. The board face 332, 432 is latched into the square slot 342, 442. A top of the semi-circular hollow io pillar 331, 431 is protruded with a press plate 334, 434, and the press plate 334, 434 can link the holding end 333, 433 to tilt upward by an angle to escape from the top rim of the semi-circular slot 341,441. The board face 332, 432 is provided with a ridge 335, 435 in a triangular cross section, and the square slot 342, 442 is provided correspondingly with a long hole 343, 443. The ridge 335, 435 is locked into the long hole 343, 443, so that the expansion board 30, 40 can be positioned on the large slide board 32, 42. The expansion board 30, 40 is provided with plural non-skid pads 35, 45 and plural back buckles 364, 46 (as shown in FIG. 3). The non-skid pad 35 is provided with two protruded pillars 351, the back buckle 36 is provided with a hollow cylinder 361, and the expansion board 30 is provided with plural small holes 37. The protruded pillars 351 are transfixed into the small holes 37 and latched into the hollow cylinders 361, thereby positioning the non-skid pad 35 on the outer side of the expansion board 30 (same assembly structure for the other non-skid pad 45).

By the abovementioned structures, in operating the adjustable bath board of the present invention, a large range adjustment is performed first to adjust the length of the main board 1 and the adjustment board 20 corresponding to the width the bathtub, wherein the main board 1 and the adjustment board 20 are pulled apart or shrunk back, and the main rod 11 is positioned in sections with the spring and the steel beads 210 in the adjustment rod 21, thereby adjusting the length of the main board 1 and the adjustment board 20. Next, by sliding the two large slide boards 32, 42, the widths of the two expansion boards 30, 40 are adjusted to a required value. Then, the stud 31 is used to position the large slide board 32 into the screw hole 14 of the main board 1, and the other stud 41 is used to position the large slide board 42 into the screw hole 24 of the adjustment board 20. In addition, the two expansion boards 30, 40 are made to abut onto two inner walls of the bathtub for positioning, so that the main board 1 and the adjustment board 20 can be stably emplaced on the bathtub without sliding or falling freely.

In the present invention, the expansion boards 30, 40 and the large slide boards 32, 42 are assembled by a few parts, which will reduce the sizes in transportation, packaging and collection. In addition, they will not separate apart easily after assembling. Furthermore, upon dismantling, one only needs to press down the press plate 334, 434, and the holding end 333, 433 can be linked to escape from the top rim of the semi-circular slot 341, 441. Next, one twists the large slide board 32, 42, and then the semi-circular hollow pillar 331, 431 of the large slide board 32, 42 and the board face 332, 432 can be escaped from the semi-circular slot 341,441 and the square slot 342, 442 of the expansion board 30, 40; whereas, the ridge 335, 435 of the board face 332, 432 can be also escaped from the long hole 343, 443 of the square slot 342, 442, thereby collecting the expansion board 30, 40 and the large slide board 32, 42. On the other hand, the expansion board 30, 40 and the large slide boar 32, 42 are assembled without using other studs, and the elastic strip 15 at the predetermined location on the main board 1 can be held into the hole 111 of the main board 1, so that the main rod 11 can be positioned in the inner side of the main board 1, without using other studs to assemble the main rod 11 either, which is very convenient. The non-skid pad 35, 45 of the expansion board 30, 40 is not formed integrally but combinatorial, and thus can be replaced when it is worn out.

The present invention is provided with the following features:

1. The expansion board 30, 40 and the large slide board 32, 42 are assembled by a few parts, which improves the conventional structure formed integrally to reduce the sizes in transportation, packaging and collection.

2. The expansion board 30, 40 and the large slide board 32, 42 are assembled without using the studs, and the parts can be assembled stably without falling. In addition, a torsion force can be applied easily that the expansion board 30, 40 and the large slide board 32, 42 can be dismantled easily (it will not be easy to pull apart the expansion board 30, 40 and the large slide board 32, 42 by applying a vertical pull force; hence, the expansion board 30, 40 and the large slide board 32, 42 are combined stably without falling apart easily).

3. The elastic strip 15 and the small protruded plate 16 of the main board 1 are used to hold the main rod 11 longitudinally and transversally, and the positioning column 25 of the adjustment board 20 is used to hold the adjustment rod 21. As these are assembled and dismantled easily, a troublesome operating procedure for the prior art that plural studs are used to lock the main rod and the adjustment rod on the main board and the adjustment board can be improved.

4. The non-skid pad 35, 45 of the expansion board 30, 40 can be replaced, which improves the shortcoming in the prior art that the non-skid pad cannot be replaced.

It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable bath board comprising:

a main board, a side of which provides for an adjustment board to be overlapped and disposed on an inner bottom for positioning, with that a bottom of the main board is provided with a slide rail, the main board is provided with plural positioning holes, the slide rail is provided with a screw hole and a large slide board, an interior of the large slide board is provided with a long hole, a stud is transfixed into the long hole of the large slide board and the screw hole to position the expansion board on the large slide board and the main board, and a hand bar is positioned on the main board by a stud and a nut;

the adjustment board, a bottom of which is provided with a slide rail, with that the slide rail is provided with a screw hole and a large slide board, an interior of the large slide board is provided with a long hole, and a stud is transfixed into the long hole of the large slide board and the screw hole to position the expansion board on the large slide board and the adjustment board;

two main rods, two inner sides of which provide for positioning with a main rod respectively;

two adjustment rods, with that two inner sides at a bottom of the adjustment board provide for positioning with the adjustment rods, the adjustment rods are transfixed into the main rods for positioning in sections, driving the adjustment board to displace, thereby adjusting the length of the main board and the adjustment board; and two expansion boards, which are positioned respectively on a bottom of the main board and the adjustment board, with the expansion boards are linked by the large slide board and are adjusted to abut onto two inner walls of a bathtub for positioning; wherein an outer side of the large slide board is protruded with an insertion element, the expansion board is provided correspondingly with a holding slot, the insertion element is latched into the holding slot for positioning, a predetermined location in an interior of the main board is provided with an elastic strip, a corresponding location on the main rod is provided with a hole, and the elastic strip is held in the hole.

2. The adjustable bath board according to claim 1, wherein the insertion element of the large slide board includes two semi-circular hollow pillars and a board face, with that an outer end on a top of the semi-circular hollow pillar is provided with a holding end, the expansion board is provided with a holding slot, the holding slot includes two semi-circular slots and a square slot, the semi-circular hollow pillar is latched into the semi-circular slot, the holding end is held on a top rim of the semi-circular slot, and the board face is latched into the square slot.

3. The adjustable bath board according to claim 2, wherein a top of the semi-circular hollow pillar is protruded with a press plate, and the press plate links the holding end to escape from the top rim of the semi-circular slot.

4. The adjustable bath board according to claim 2, wherein the board face is provided with a ridge in a triangular cross section, the square slot is provided correspondingly with a long hole, and the ridge is locked into the long hole.

5. The adjustable bath board according to claim 1, wherein the expansion board is provided with plural non-skid pads and plural back buckles, the non-skid pad is provided with two protruded pillars, the back buckle is provided with a hollow cylinder, the expansion board is provided with plural small holes, and the protruded pillars are transfixed into the small holes and latched into the hollow cylinders, thereby positioning the non-skid pad on the outer side of the expansion board.

6. The adjustable bath board according to claim 1, wherein an end surface of the main rod is provided with an end cap, the end cap is

5 provided with a rectangular hole, an inner end of the main board is provided correspondingly with a small protruded plate, and the small protruded plate is latched into the long hole.

7. The adjustable bath board according to claim 1, wherein each bottom at outer ends of the adjustment rods is provided with a io positioning hole, both the main board and the adjustment board are provided correspondingly with a positioning column, and the positioning column is latched into the positioning hole.

8. The adjustable bath board according to claim 1, wherein an interior of the adjustment rod is provided with a spring and steel shots for

15 positioning in sections on the main board.