GB2588918A - Basin - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand basin 22 for use by a seated individual, for example a wheelchair user, comprises a bowl including a back portion 24, together with a front portion 26 and two side portions 25 having respective upper rims 28 and a bottom portion 27 which is arranged to allow a seated individual's knees to pass under the hand basin when it is in use. A substantial part of the said rim of the front portion is dropped with respect to the rims of the side portion by at least 10mm. The basin may be mounted on a height-adjustable frame 23, and it may include a drain aperture 30 towards the rear of the basin such that it does not extend beyond a line 1/3 of the way between the back of the basin and the front. At least one of the side portions may have a wide horizontal upper surface for items such as toothbrushes and beauty products to be placed on.

Description

BASIN

The present invention relates to hand basins. More particularly it relates to hand basins for use by seated individuals or individuals in wheelchairs.

Hand basins have been well-known for many years. A typical hand basin comprises a bowl mounted with its rim at a height of about 80cm. The bowl has a maximum depth of about 15cm and slopes down to a drain which is usually towards the back of the bowl, as viewed by a user. The basin will be used in conjunction with taps which may be mounted on the basin or may be mounted above the basin, commonly on a wall. The width of the bowl and the distance it extends from the wall can vary hugely, often depending on the size of room where the basin is installed. A wall-mounted hand basin will commonly extend about 45 cm from the wall on which it is mounted but it may extend only 25 cm or even less.

Hand basins are most commonly installed in lavatories and bathrooms for use washing the hands. They may also be used for washing the teeth, shaving and other washing. Commonly the drain of a basin will be provided with a plug which allows the drain to be plugged and the basin filled with water. Many basins will also include an overflow hole which prevents the basin overfilling if the taps are left running when the plug is in. However, most of the activities of washing, shaving and cleaning the teeth are performed using running water without the plug in place.

More recently, handbasins for use by individuals in wheelchairs have been developed. These are mounted with the rim at a height of 72-74 cm when fixed height. The bowl typically extends at least 40cm from the wall so an individual in a wheelchair can get close to the front rim of the basin, with their legs under the bowl. Variable height basins are also available to allow the basin to be moved to an appropriate height for a standing person to the lowest height at which an individual in a wheelchair can get under the basin.

It is important for the user in a wheelchair to get the basin as low as possible because of the access issues raised by having their knees under the basin. When an average man goes from standing to sitting their shoulder height lowers by nearly 40 cm. It will be seen that the difference between a regular and wheel-chair accessible basin's height is only about 8 cm. When a standing person uses a basin they dangle their hands in the basin from above. An individual in a wheelchair reaches forward over the basin, typically at about the height of the taps. The lower they can get the basin, the easier it is for them to use.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand basin for use by a seated individual comprising a bowl including a back portion, together with a front portion and two side portions having respective upper rims and a bottom portion which is arranged to allow a seated individual's knees to pass under the hand basin when it is in use, wherein a substantial part of the said rim of the front portion is dropped with respect to the rims of the side portion by at least 10mm.

Preferably the basin is mounted on a height-adjustable frame.

Preferably the basin includes a drain aperture that does not extend beyond a line 1/3 of the way between the back of the basin and the front of the basin.

Preferably at least one of the said side portions incorporates wide horizontal upper surfaces to support an individual's arms and give space to place items.

Preferably the basin includes a tap aperture in which a tap can be mounted when the basin is in use.

By dropping the front rim of the basin, access to the taps is improved for a person sitting, while still providing protection from splashing around the basin.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings in which: Figures la and lb and Figure 2 show different types of known basin and Figure 3 shows a basin embodying the current invention.

Figures la and lb show a known basin 1. The basin is wall-fixed along a fixing face 2 by fixings not shown and is also supported by a pedestal 3. The basin comprises a back portion 4, the back of which is formed by the fixing face 2, together with side portions 5, 5, a front portion 6 and a bottom portion 7. The side portions and front portion have respective rims 8, 8 and 9. The basin includes a drain aperture 10 and tap apertures 11, 11.

Figure 2 shows a known basin 12, adapted for use by a seated person, most commonly a person in a wheelchair. This basin also has a back portion 4, drain aperture 10 and is shown with a tap 11 installed. The basin further comprises a bottom portion 7, side portions 5, 5, a front portion 6 and respective rims 8,8 and 9. It does not have a pedestal because this would get in the way of anyone trying to sit close to the basin. Instead, in this example, the basin is mounted on a variable-height frame 14 which allows the position of the basin be moved to a height most usable for each person.

It will be appreciated that the side, back, front and bottom portions of the basin of Figure 2 are more distinctly identifiable than those of Figure 1. However, conceptually both basins can be divided into these portions.

Figure 3 shows a basin 22 embodying the present invention. Like the basin of Figure 2, it is mounted on a variable-height frame 23. The basin includes a back portion 24 and a drain aperture 30. The embodiment shown has a tap 31 installed. The basin also includes a bottom portion 27, side portions 25, 25 and a front portion 26. The side portions have side rims 28, 28 and the front portion has a front rim 29. The front rim 29 is dropped with respect to the side rims 28. In the embodiment shown the front rim is dropped by about 25mm with respect to the side rims.

It has been discovered that dropping the front rim of the basin even by quite small amounts can significantly improve access to the tap and basin by a person who is seated or in a wheelchair. By keeping the sides and back full-height, the basin allows users to get their hands or a water-glass fully under the spout with all the protection against splashing provided by an ordinary basin. The basin can also still be filled it needed, albeit to a lower level.

In other embodiments, the front lip can be dropped a little less or considerably more. The lower the rim is dropped, the easier access to the taps it becomes for someone seated. A balance can be struck, based on the relevant circumstances, between the need to keep the water in the basin and the level of access to the basin and tap or taps.

Other variants of the invention do not include a variable-height frame for the hand basin. Instead it is installed at a height suitable for a seated user.

To minimise splashing, embodiments of the invention have the drain aperture of the sink, towards which the bottom of the sink will slope, located towards the back of the basin, either in the back portion or in the bottom portion close to the back portion. It has been found that keeping the drain aperture in the back 1/3 of the basin helps to reduce splashing and spilling.

Embodiments of the invention include wings, or horizontal surfaces extending from one or both side portions of the basin. Items can be placed on these wings; for example toothbrushes and beauty products in a domestic setting, or mobile phones and bags in a public setting. The side surfaces can also be used by an individual to rest or support their arms. In these situations the advantage of higher side rims to protect against splashing combined with a lower front rim improve access can be clearly seen.

Other variants of the invention can be envisaged within the scope of this description.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS1. A hand basin for use by a seated individual comprising a bowl including a back portion, together with a front portion and two side portions having respective upper rims and a bottom portion which is arranged to allow a seated individual's knees to pass under the hand basin when it is in use, characterised in that a substantial part of the said rim of the front portion is dropped with respect to the rims of the side portion by at least 10mm.
2. 2. A hand basin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basin is mounted on a height-adjustable frame.
3. 3. A hand basin as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the basin includes a drain aperture that does not extend beyond a line 1/3 of the way between the back of the basin and the front of the basin.
4. 4. A hand basin as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the said side portions incorporates a wide horizontal upper surface.
5. 5. A hand basin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 3 of the accompanying description.