JPH1118881A - Seat device for shower - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seat device for shower to be used at the time of caring (taking care of) a physically handicapped person. SOLUTION: A supporting frame set and a seat member 1 fixed to this are provided. The member 1 is provided with two nearly parallel side parts connected with each other at its front edge. The side parts 2 and 3 insert an interval between them to form a through opening 4 for caring by the interval. The opening 4 is used when a caring person makes his/her hard approaches the hips of the person sitting at the seat member 1 from the lower side of the member 1, and reaches from the front end to the rear end of the member 1. The members 2 and 3 are provided with opposed projecting parts 2b and 3b formed so as to support the raising of the ischium of the user (the person sitting at the seat member to receive the care) and the parts 2b and 3b projectingly enter the inside of the opening 4 to form a narrow width section 4a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shower seat apparatus comprising a support framework and a seat member attached to or associated with the support framework, wherein the seat member has a front edge. Two substantially parallel side parts having a top surface and a top surface, the side parts being interconnected at the leading edge, the top surface forming a support surface, the side parts being a shower seat device. Intended to support the user when the buttocks and thighs of the user using the same are placed on the side parts, the side parts being spaced from one another and extending longitudinally Surface, and a boundary of a through-opening used for providing care to the user is defined by the facing surface, and the through-opening is formed by the body of the user from the lower side to the upper side of the seat member. To get closer to It becomes the opening occupying become ability,
The present invention relates to a shower seat device that reaches a rear end of a seat member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A shower seat device is an indispensable auxiliary device in the vicinity of the genital area of the body, for washing the body by itself or for washing the body of another person, especially the elderly, sick or disabled. The through-opening provided in the seat member, wherein the through-opening provided for the care-taker (care-taker) to contact the body of the care-taker (care-taker) is a shower seat. The caregiver (caregiver) can approach the side or below from near the genital area of the person sitting on the device (the caregiver, or the caregiver), and can pass his or her hand to approach (contact the body) ). A person sitting on the shower seating device from below through the through opening (care recipient,
In other words, it is known that the shower seat device is provided with a seat element having a U-shaped through-opening for care, which is opened downward so as to allow the person to be taken care of to approach unobstructed. Yes (PCT WO 93/137
02 A1). In this known device, the through-opening provided for use in providing care extends over the entire length of the side part of the shower seat device and / or over the height of the shower seat, Caregivers are easily accessible where they should be, not only from below, but especially from behind. This is appropriate when the space available for care is limited, especially when the shower seating device is hung in place. When the through opening is a U-shaped opening,
A person who inserts a hand through the through-opening and takes care of (care for) a person close to an important genital area of a person sitting on the shower seat device (care recipient, that is, care recipient), for example, It is basically easier to bring the hand closer to and into contact with the sitting person's anus than in the case of the shape of the care opening in other shower seat devices.

[0003] In addition to the above-described care-facilitating features, another requirement for a shower seating device is to provide a safe and comfortable position for a person to be washed or cleaned. That is. This sitting position must be accessible and maintainable with the least possible effort with the assistance of the caregiver. Moving to and from a wheel chair should be as easy as possible. Since there is no such type, the shower seating device must be suitable for many different body types and shapes. This is also true because the body shape of a user with many illnesses changes over time, especially when the condition worsens.

[0004]

A shower seat device in which the above-described type of care through opening is a U-shaped opening has a point to be further improved. That is, the side parts of the seat member only act to support the thighs of the user (the care recipient, ie, the caretaker), leaving the user's back and ischial ridge unsupported. That is the point. To that end, the user's weight is essentially supported by the relatively wide, lower side of the thigh and not by the relatively small ischial ridge. A disadvantage is that there is a relatively large empty space between the lower edge of the seat member and the lower edge of the back of the seat device. This free space makes it easier for the caregiver's hand to approach the genital area of the care recipient (user), but on the other hand, the care recipient (user) This will prevent you from maintaining a stable seating position. A secure and stable seating position is desirable, for example, when a patient with spinal cord injury moves from a wheelchair or is prone to bedsores, and while providing care, keeps the seat stable for psychological reasons. It is desired because it needs to be kept. That is, like a conventional shower seat device,
It is not sufficient that the side components of the seat member only support the thighs of the user (the care recipient, ie the care recipient). Further, in the conventional shower seat device, there is a danger that the user slides into an empty space between the backrest of the seat device and the seat member. Without the help of a few carers, she cannot get out of this position. In addition, the thighs of the user (the care recipient, ie the care recipient or the patient) can get into the through-opening for the care, which requires the surface of the seating device and is smooth, The fact that it can be easily cleaned and the use of a cleaning liquid make it slippery and cannot be avoided.
This prevents the caregiver from having easy access to the caregiver's hand when the user is sitting for a long time, especially when the patient is completely or partially paralyzed. Even if it does, it is partial and without the desired U-shape optimal care is not possible.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower seat device of the type described above,
According to this seating device, not only can the care giver easily and sufficiently approach the vicinity of the genital area, but also the sitting comfort of the sitting person is improved, and psychological and ergonomic security is improved. be able to.

[0006] The above objects and other objects to be made clear below are achieved by providing a shower seat apparatus of the present invention having the structure described below.

That is, the shower seat device of the present invention is a shower seat device including a support frame and a seat member 1 associated with the support frame, wherein the seat member 1 has front edges 2f, 3f. And two substantially parallel side parts 2, 3 having a top surface and a top surface, said side parts being interconnected at said leading edges 2f, 3f and said top surface constituting a support surface 2a, 3a. , The side parts 2, 3
Is intended to support the user when the buttocks and thighs of the user using the shower seat device are placed on the side parts, the side parts being spaced from each other, And a boundary of the through-opening 4 used for providing care to the user is defined by the facing surface, and the through-opening 4 extends from the lower side of the seat member 1 to the upper side. In the shower seat device, which has an opening that allows the user to approach the user's body toward the front, and extends from the front end side to the rear end side of the seat member 1, the side parts 2, 3 Each project in the central region of the seat member and oppose the projecting portions 2
b, 3b, respectively, and the projecting portions 2b, 3b project from the opposing surfaces of the side parts 2, 3 toward the center of the through-opening 4 to form a narrow section 4a of the through-opening 4. It is a shower seat device characterized by the following. Here, the protruding portions 2b and 3b are formed so as to support the ischial ridge 13 of the user.

In the above, the projecting portions 2b, 3b
Can be configured to have outer edges that project curvedly from the opposing surfaces of the side pieces 2, 3. That is, when viewed from above (in a plan view), the protruding portion 2b,
Each of the 3b can be configured to have an outer edge that is circular from the facing surfaces of the side components 2,3.

Further, the front edges 2f, 3f of the side parts 2, 3
Can further comprise a transverse support element 6 interconnecting the side parts 2, 3 with the side parts 2, 3 extending rearward and upward from the rear ends of the support surfaces 2a, 3a. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which each connection surface 5 is provided.

The seat member 1 in the shower seat device of the present invention is configured as a foldable or disassemblable seat for a user.

Further, a means for attaching the seat member 1 so as to rotate about a pivot shaft 7 provided at the rear end of the seat member 1 in a direction transverse to the side parts 2 and 3 is further provided. It can be configured to further include means for mounting the seat member 1 for pivoting about a pivot axis oriented parallel to the side parts 2,3.

The seat member 1 in the shower seat apparatus of the present invention can be pivotally mounted on a supportable leg on a leg base, and further includes a seat back 12 at the rear end of the seat member 1. You can also.
Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration further including a mounting plate 11 for mounting to the wall at the rear end of the seat member 1.

Further, the seat member 1 may include a seat back 12 at the rear end thereof, and the seat member 1 may be connected to a mounting plate 11.

Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration further including the arm 14, further including the arm 14,
4 may be configured to be pivotally mounted on the mounting plate 11.

In the shower seat device of the present invention,
The projecting parts 2a, 3a of the side parts 2, 3 can also be provided with respective recesses 2r, 3r intended to receive the ischial ridge 13 of the user.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The shower seat arrangement according to the invention in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises a seat member 1, which is assembled from two parallel plate-shaped side parts 2 and 3, the side parts comprising: They are laterally spaced from one another. The side parts 2 and 3 have a substantially rectangular cross section, the longer side of which is located on the lateral boundary and the shorter side is located at the front or rear end of the seat member 1.

The side parts 2, 3 are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other, and the spacing forms a longitudinal gap or a through-opening 4 for care to be used when applying care. This through-opening 4 extends longitudinally from front to back between the two side parts 2, 3 in the central part of the seat member 1, which is approximately the same width from front to back. The width of the care opening 4 and the length of the side parts 2, 3 are determined, for example, by the person sitting on the seat member 1 by the upper support surfaces 2a, 3a of the side parts 2, 3 and the rear part adjacent thereto. It is dimensioned to support the lower part of the thigh and the buttocks.

The width of the through-opening 4 is also determined by the caregiver in the vicinity of the genital area of the person sitting on the seat device, especially in the vicinity of the perineum.
User (person who takes care while sitting on the shower seat device)
The hand is close to the genital area, especially near the perineum, so that it can be cleaned and released. Of course, the average value determined from the average body can be used for the width of the through-opening 4 for care.

The supporting surfaces 2a, 3a of the side parts 2, 3 are substantially flat in the embodiment shown. However, the provision of an adjacent gently rearward and upwardly inclined or curved connecting surface 5 at the rear end of the support surface 2a, 3a, however, provides the liquid used for washing the body and the drainage generated by the person receiving the care. Or because the sewage drains forward and sideways, the relatively inaccessible rear area of the shower seating device collects the liquid used to wash the body and the drainage and sewage generated by the care recipient. There is an advantage that an undesirable situation is eliminated.

When the side parts 2 and 3 are configured as described above, the caregiver can pass his / her hand or the like through the care through-opening 4 from the front of the user (the person who takes care while sitting on the shower seat device). It becomes possible to approach.

Also, without impeding access of the hand or the like to the user's body through the care opening 4, the side part can be provided at its front end (2 f, 3 f) with a transverse support element 6, for example a circular rod made of plastic. This allows them to be fixed in position relative to each other. Due to the transverse support element 6, on the one hand, the user's feet are prevented from being unnecessarily trapped in the care opening 4 and, on the other hand, both side parts are mechanically stable one-piece units. They are connected to each other at their front ends (2f, 3f). In addition, the transverse support element 6 keeps the device stationary when the user is transferred to or from a wheel chair or the like, and is used as a handle for folding or restoring the seat member 1. can do. Naturally, the side parts 2 and 3 are
It is also possible to make it integral with the transverse support element 6 depending on the type of manufacturing method selected of the seat member 1. In either case, the transverse support element 6 reduces the length of the through-opening 4 by a small amount, making it difficult for the caregiver to approach the user's body or the like through the through-opening 4 for care. It can be made as thin as possible.

The shower seat arrangement in this embodiment is designed as a foldable seat, in which the seat member is provided behind it and extends transversely to the longitudinal sides of the side parts 2 and 3. 7 (see especially FIG. 4). Preferably, the upwardly projecting block-shaped holder 8 is connected at its rear end to the respective side parts 2,3. Each holder 8
For example, it is fixedly connected to a sleeve-like hinge and / or pivot part 9. Both hinges and / or
Alternatively, the pivot part 9 is pivotally connected to another coaxial hinge part 10 provided therebetween. The hinge and / or pivot part 9 and another coaxial hinge part 10 are provided on hinges or pivot bolts (not shown) passing therethrough to provide a hinge with a standard type three part hinge plate (e.g., for example). , FIG. 4).

The shower seat device has a mounting plate 11 at its rear end, which allows the seat device to be connected to a wall or the like by connecting screws (not shown). Therefore, this mounting plate 11 is used for other coaxial hinge parts 1.
Providing a support for the 0 has the advantage that only the mounting plate 11 can be mounted on the wall before mounting the completed shower seat device. Preferably,
The seat back 12 of the shower seat device is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 11.

The two side parts 2, 3 have projecting parts 2b, 3b facing each other in the central area of the seat member. The respective outer edges of these projecting portions 2b, 3b of the opposing surfaces 2e, 3e of the side parts 2, 3 preferably extend over a circular passage of radius R when viewed from above (in plan view) ( (Fig. 5). These projecting portions 2b, 3
b is convex, and the opposing surfaces 2e, 3e of the side parts 2, 3
, Projecting toward the center of the through-opening 4, having a certain distance from each other, and acting to support the sitting of a user of average body size. This is based on the fact that the required spacing of at least the upper part of the seat of the person to be washed is relatively minor, even for different body sizes and weights. Further, the protruding portions 2b, 3
b has a surface connected to the same surface as the support surfaces 2a and 3a.

In the vicinity of the protruding parts 2b, 3b, the care opening 4 has a narrow section 4a. The width of the narrow section 4a allows a caregiver to insert his / her hand or the like through the narrow section 4a near the pubic area of a person sitting on the seat member 1 and receiving care. It is sized to be able to. Due to the narrow section 4a, the thigh of the user of the shower seat device (the person sitting on the seat member 1 and taking care) does not enter the through-opening 4 for care.

FIG. 6 shows the optimum sitting position of the person sitting on the shower seat apparatus, in which the position of the protruding portion 2b is shown by a broken line. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the user shifts his weight until the illustrated ischial ridge 13 settles on the protruding parts 2b, 3b of the side parts, so that the correct position of the shower seat device can be automatically found. . Therefore, according to the design of this configuration, further, the user can move his or her back up to the vicinity of the coccyx to the seat back 1.
There is an advantage that it can be pressed against and supported in this position.

The dimensions of a to f and R of the seat member 1 in FIG. 5 are, for example, a = 450 mm, b = 175 m
m, c = 33 mm, d = 509 mm, e = 270 mm,
Although f = 90 mm and R = 60 mm, these are merely examples, and, needless to say, can be arbitrarily changed by an appropriate method within the scope of the present invention. These dimensions are only particularly preferred in the illustrated embodiment.

Further, the width of the through opening 4 is
b, in the part where 3b is not provided, about 100 mm,
In the portion where the protruding portions 2b, 3b are provided, the narrowest section of the narrow width section 4a is about 60 mm.

An arm 14 can be retrofitted to the shower seat device.
And 3 above and along the outer long edge. The arm 14 is connected to the mounting plate 11 in a suitable manner and / or at a hinge axis and is preferably pivotally mounted thereto. The sleeve-shaped pivot part 15 is fixedly connected to the arm 14 so as to be able to pivot upward or downward independently of the seat member 1, but preferably outside the hinge bolt projecting from the hinge part 9. It is provided at the protruding end. Alternatively, the arm 14 can be fixedly connected to the hinge part 9, in which case the arm can be pivoted integrally with the seat member 1 only. it can.

In order to ensure a horizontal position of the seat member, which corresponds to the position in which the pivotable seat member 1 is used, the holder 8 has a suitable rear stop surface 16 (see in particular FIG. 3). This stop surface 16 presses the mounting plate 11 in the position where the seating device is in use and prevents the side parts from pivoting further downward (or clockwise as shown in FIG. 3). This stop surface 16 can be connected to the holder 8 as an end surface of a shock-absorbing component formed like a door shock absorber. In the opposite direction (eg, the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 3), the side parts 2, 3 and / or the arms 14 can pivot about a vertical position. This vertical position corresponds to the usual ideal position, the extent of which depends on the contact of the side parts 2, 3 and / or the arm 14 with a wall or the like. Alternatively, this range of positions can be
It is also possible to decide on the device.

According to the through-opening 4 formed according to the invention, regardless of the size and / or weight of the person using the shower-washing device, the part of the person to be cared for, the part to be cleaned, For example, it is extremely easy for a caregiver to bring his or her hand close to the genital area. That is, the easiness of approaching the hand or the like is greatly improved.

Furthermore, as will be appreciated from the foregoing, the side parts 2 and 3 can have other desirable ergonomic shapes in addition to the predominantly flat surfaces. Particularly desirable are the concave recesses 2r, 3r intended to receive the user's ischial ridge 13 with the projecting portions 2b,
The provision in 3b prevents the user from slipping from the seat member during use.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the care opening or gap 4 between the side parts 2 and 3 be substantially rectangular. Other shapes are possible, for example, elliptical or polygonal. This makes it possible, in the embodiment shown, to obtain a care opening which is at least larger than in the area outside the projecting parts 2b, 3b, in particular in that the rear area has a wedge or other shape. It is possible to obtain a wide through opening for care.

Conventionally, any material, such as plastic, which has been used for this type of seat and which has a smooth surface and is easy to clean, is suitable as a material for the shower seat device. Glass fiber reinforced plastics or metal inserts, such as compact materials, or polyurethane foam materials with aluminum plates, in particular, can be used for the side parts 2,3. These surfaces can be coated with elastic lacquer,
It is preferred that at least the sections of the side parts 2, 3 and / or the seat back and the arms that come into contact with the user are made of soft material.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above, but can be modified in various forms. In particular, the shower seat device may be configured such that, for example, a hinge part similar to the hinge part 9 is replaced with the side part 2 or 3.
Can be mounted for pivotal rotation about a pivot axis oriented parallel to the long axis of the side piece.
It is also possible to use other devices apart from the hinge elements described above. Further, the seat member 1 can be attached to a leg connected to the leg base. The legs of the seat member 1 are preferably pivotally mounted at a predetermined angle, for example 90 degrees or more. Finally, as will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the individual features of the shower seat apparatus can be used in other combinations than those shown and described.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described above using the shower seat apparatus as an example, the present invention is not limited to the above description, and various embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is possible to change to

Without a detailed analysis, the above description discloses the subject matter of the present invention, which, when viewed from the prior art point of view, is a basic feature of aspects of the superordinate or subordinate concepts of the present invention. The present invention is sufficiently disclosed that a person skilled in the art can easily adapt the present invention to various applications by applying the existing knowledge, unless the features configuring the present invention are omitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an unfolded state of a shower seat device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a folded state of the shower seat device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the shower seat device according to the present invention in an unfolded state.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the unfolded state of the shower seat device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the shower seat device according to the present invention in an unfolded state.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a state where the user is operating the shower seat device according to the present invention while sitting thereon.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seat member 2 Side part 2a Support surface 2f Front edge 2r Recess 3 Side component 3a Support surface 3f Front edge 3r Recess 4 Through opening 4a Narrow section 11 Mounting plate 12 Seat backrest 13 Sciatic ridge 14 Arm

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Gerhard Campe D-34127 Kassel Filippinenhofer Weg 87 B. (72) Inventor Siegfried Kramer D-34454 Berth Arolsen Hammerberg 2

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A shower seat device comprising a support framework and a seat member (1) associated with the support framework, wherein the seat member (1) has a front edge (2f, 3f) and an upper surface. And two substantially parallel side parts (2, 3) having the following shapes: the side parts are interconnected at the leading edge (2f, 3f), and the top surface is a support surface (2a, 3).
a) wherein the side parts (2, 3) are intended to support the user using the shower seat device when the buttocks and thighs of the user are placed on the side parts. The side parts are spaced from each other and have longitudinally extending facing surfaces, and the boundaries of the through openings (4) used in providing care to the user are defined by the facing surfaces. The through-opening (4) is an opening which allows the user to approach the body of the user from the lower side to the upper side of the seat member (1), and the front end of the seat member (1) A shower seat device extending from the side to the rear end side, wherein the side parts (2, 3)
Each have a protruding part (2b, 3b) protruding and facing in the central region of the seat member (1), the protruding part (2b, 3b) being a through opening from the facing surface of the side part (2, 3). (4) A shower seat device characterized by forming a narrow section (4a) of the through-opening (4) by projecting in the center direction of (4). 2. The shower seat device according to claim 1, wherein each of the projecting portions has an outer edge which projects curvedly from the facing surface of the side part. . 3. The front edge (2) of a side part (2, 3).
3. Shower seat arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising transverse support elements (6) interconnecting said side parts (f, 3f) at (f, 3f). 4. The side part (2, 3) is provided on said support surface (2).
4. A shower seat device according to claim 1, further comprising connecting surfaces (5) extending rearward and upward from the rear end of a, 3a). 5. The shower seat device according to claim 1, wherein the seat member (1) is configured as a foldable or disassemblable seat for a user. . 6. The seat member (2), which is oriented so as to cross the side parts (2, 3) and pivots about a pivot shaft (7) provided at the rear end of the seat member (1). 6. The shower seat device according to claim 5, further comprising means for attaching (1). 7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising means for mounting the seat member (1) for pivoting about a pivot axis oriented parallel to the side parts (2, 3). Item 6. A shower seat device according to item 5. 8. The shower seat device according to claim 1, wherein the seat member is pivotally mounted on a supportable leg on a leg base. . 9. The shower seat device according to claim 1, further comprising a seat back at the rear end of the seat member. 10. Shower seat arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting plate (11) for mounting to a wall at the rear end of the seat member (1). . 11. A seat back (12) at the rear end of a seat member (1), the seat member (1) being connected to the mounting plate (11). Shower seating equipment. 12. The shower seat device according to claim 1, further comprising an arm (14). 13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an arm (14), said arm (14) being pivotally mounted on said mounting plate (11).
0. The shower seat device according to item 0. 14. The projecting portions (2a, 3a) of the side parts (2, 3) have respective recesses (2r, 3) intended to receive the user's ischial ridges (13).
The shower seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: r).