JPS59500697A - folding bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] folding bathtub The present invention relates to a portable folding bathtub unit, which can be used in hospitals or for any reason to use a regular bathtub unit. Particularly useful for bedridden patients who do not have access to a room. However, the main Light is not necessarily limited to such applications, but can also be used for character breads, tents, It can be conveniently used in places where there is no bathtub, such as in a small residence.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bathroom for people who do not have the benefit of a regular bathroom in hospitals or at home. configured so that the person can bathe without having to move from bed To provide a portable folding bathtub.

Another object of the invention is that it can be folded up for convenient storage when not in use. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable folding bathtub that can be used as a portable bathtub.

The present invention includes a container having a base and a flexible sidewall, and a framework, the sidewall being can be removably coupled to a framework to form an assembled container; The configuration positions the person on the base of the container and the assembly when the side walls are joined to the framework. Position the framework alongside the person so that the person is positioned within the erected container. The assembled container should be able to hold water so that the person inside the container can take a bath. A portable bathtub unit is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for bathing a person in the above-mentioned bathtub unit. Place the base of the container below the person who should be bathing, and place the frame along the person who should bathe. and a step that joins the side walls of the container to the framework to form a container for receiving liquid. A method of bathing is provided comprising:

This will be explained below with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the framework according to the present invention in an assembled state; Figure 2 is a plan view of the framework in Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the framework in a folded state, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a bathtub unit according to the present invention. A side view, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line v-■ in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge according to the invention axial section through the joint, Figure 7 is an axial section through the hinge joint of Figure 6 along a plane perpendicular to the cross section of Figure 6; side view, FIG. 8 is an end view of the coupling member forming the hinged connection of FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5, the bathtub unit 10 includes a framework 12 and a framework 12. 12 supports a flexible container 14. Container 14 has a base 15 and side walls 16. , these are all flexible waterproof materials like plastic sheets or plastic-impregnated cloth. It was conveniently formed from The upper edge portion 16a of the side wall 16 is preferably folded back. to form a pocket 16b extending on the outer periphery and receiving the upper frame member 20 of the framework 12. It is now possible to do so. Pocket) 16b at the upper edge to close it in a separate position. 16a to the remainder of the side wall. provided. It should be understood that the sidewalls 16 may be attached to the framework 12 in other ways as desired. This means that it can be attached removably.

The framework 12 includes an upper pair of U-shaped framework members 20 and a lower pair of U-shaped framework members 22. include. The terminal ends of each pair of framework members are hingedly connected to each other by a hinge connection 30. Ru.

The upper and lower pairs of frame members 20.22 are interconnected by struts 24, each The columns are pivotally connected at their ends to respective framework members 20,22. 1st As best shown in the figures, when the framework 12 is in the assembled condition, the hinges The upper framework member 20 is positioned so as to be inclined in opposite directions on both sides of the coupling 30 and facing downwardly into the upper framework member 20. The load applied thereto causes the lower framework members 22 to move toward their hinged connection and 4 I started to make it move like this. Therefore, the assembled framework 12 is rigid. It is rich. However, when the framework 12 By arranging the struts 24 so that they are symmetrical, the end portions are shaped as shown in FIG. fold the framework into the hinge joint opening by moving the frame upwardly and towards each other. I can do it. The width of the lower framework member 22 is smaller than the width of the upper framework member 20. The framework has a nearly flat and compact structure as shown in Figure 3. can be folded into

The framework 12, including the collapsible container 14, is attached to the carrier bag when in the folded state. It is convenient to keep it in a bag. Frame members are made of tubular steel, aluminum or plastic. Advantageously, it is formed from a tubular rigid material such as tick material.

When this bath unit is to be used for bathing a sick person, the container 14 is It is placed on the base and then the person taking the bath is placed on the base of the container. Next, framework 1 2 is expanded into an assembled state and placed on a base surface surrounding the bather. Next When the side wall 16 is attached to the upper framework member 20, the container 14 is ready to be filled with water. be able to do it. It should be understood that the container 14 includes a closable drain for drainage. A water section can be provided as desired.

Figures 6 to 8 show a hinge joint structure 5 suitable for forming a hinge joint 3o. 0 is shown.

The hinge joint structure 50 consists of a pair of hinge assemblies 51 of similar construction. each hin The assembly 51 includes a hinge member 53 that connects the other end structure. It has a terminal end structure 54 that cooperatively abuts the terminal. As shown in Figure 6 , the termination structure 54 includes an upper flat abutment surface 55 which abuts the other termination structure. It acts as a pivot stop in cooperation with the abutment surface 55 of. Termination structure 54 It further includes a lower guide structure 56, which guide structure cooperates with the other guide structure. The abutment hinge member 53 is shown in solid line in FIG. It can be pivoted from an axially aligned position to an axially parallel position shown in dashed lines. can.

Each guide structure 56 preferably includes a series of arcuate ribs 58 and grooves 59, with relative rotation. and prevent lateral displacement in a direction parallel to the pivot. Preferably, Some of the ribs are provided with teeth 6o, which cooperate with the teeth of the opposing end structure to provide relative rotation. This restricts relative slip between the guide structures 56 during operation. In the structure shown When the hinge member 53 is aligned in the axial direction, the meshing teeth 6o resist pivoting. This acts to prevent lateral movement in the right angle direction. This means that this hinge connection is the first This is important when used in the bathtub units shown in Figures 5 to 5. What should I do? , each hinge member 53 of each hinge connection 5o between the frameworks 20 is This is because it prevents relative downward movement between them when supporting a load.

The hinge members 53 need to be maintained in mutual abutment, and each hinge assembly The assembly 51 is equipped with biasing means 70. The biasing means 7o is a longitudinal tie member 71 The tie member 71 is riveted at one end (71a), and the other end is riveted (71a). The hinge assembly 5 is pivotally coupled to the tie member 71 of the assembly.

Each tie member 71 is elastically deflectable and preferably formed of an elastic wire. It will be done. Tie member 71 includes a loop shape 73 at each end. Tie member 7 The end remote from the pivot point of 1 extends through a cap 76, which cap It comes into contact with the loop shape 73. The tie member 71 further has a structure conveniently similar to the cap 76. The second cap 77 of the second cap 77 is also penetrated therethrough. The cap 76 abuts the end of the hinge member 53. , a spring 78 is arranged between the caps 76 and 77 to bias them apart. It will be done. Therefore, due to the pivotal connection between the tie members 71, the hinge members 53 are aligned in the axial direction. When in this position, the spring 78 presses the spring 78 elastically. hinge member 53 are pivoted to a position where their axes are parallel. deflects laterally from a position protruding from each cap 77, thus causing a hinge Provides a resilient bias that urges members 53 toward each other. A cup of tie member 71 The position of the deflection is shown in FIG. 6 by a dashed line. When pivoting between two extreme positions, The urging force that brings the hinge members into contact is also generated by the combination of the spring 78 and the tie member 71. It is caused by

Each termination structure 54 is provided with a slot 79 to allow movement upon deflection of tie member 71. is not obstructed.

By arranging the strike and push surfaces 55 at different positions, the angle between the hinge members 53 can be adjusted. It will be understood that the displacement can be varied as desired. Furthermore, if stop Without surface 55, an angular displacement of 180° would occur. Enables hinged assembly To do this, character f76.77 has slot 80, and slot 80 of As shown in FIG. 7, it is wide enough in one direction to pass through the loop shape 73. However, in the direction perpendicular to this, the thickness is approximately equal to the thickness of the tie member 71, as shown in FIG. They are of the same size and provide a fulcrum for the deflection of the tie member. Cap 7z after assembly To prevent rotation, the cap 77 engages a groove (not shown) in the hinge member. Equipped with lugs (not shown)8 are doing. Hinge assembly 51 hinges tubular members 90 together. It is convenient to configure the In this regard, the caps 76,77 are 90 of a diameter that will be suitably received within.

Furthermore, the hinge member 53 is conveniently provided with an annular groove 95, thereby The tubular member 90 may be deformed radially inward to retain the hinge member therein. can.

The hinge member 51 is preferably of comparable construction and made of a suitable plastic material. Conveniently, it is obtained by molding a material.

Machito Showa 59-5oo697 (4) Engraving (no changes to the content) Procedural amendment form) February 2L, 1982 Mr. Kazuo Wakasugi, Commissioner of the Patent Office 1 Display of incident PCT/GB 83100100 2 Name of the invention folding bathtub 3 Person making the amendment Relationship to the incident: Patent applicant Name Foster, James William 4 agent Address: 8-10-5 Toranomon-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105 Date of amendment order January 24, 1982 (Shipping date) 6 Target of correction (1) Translation of the description, claims, and drawings (2) Power of attorney 7 Contents of amendment (1) Engraving (no changes in content) (2) As per attached sheet 8 List of attached documents (1) One translation each of the specification, claims, and drawings (2) Power of attorney and its translation: one copy each (2) international search report

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container having a base and a flexible side wall and a framework are provided, and the side wall is not assembled. can be removably coupled to a framework to form a container, the configuration of which Assembled when the person is positioned on the base of the container and the side walls are joined to the framework. position the framework along with the person so that the person is positioned within the container. However, the assembled container can hold water and allow the person inside the container to take a bath. A portable folding bathtub unit. 2. The framework has a pair of upper framework members that are hinged to each other and a pair of upper framework members that are hinged to each other. a pair of lower framework members, and a strut interconnecting the upper and lower framework members. The bathtub unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The pillars are highly rigid, and each upper and lower frame is attached at each end. The bathtub double knit 0 according to claim 2, characterized in that it is pivotally attached to the assembly member. 4. The struts are placed symmetrically on both sides of the hinge connection, and the struts are aligned relative to the framework members. The bathtub unit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the bathtub unit is inclined. to. 5. A method for bathing a person in the above-mentioned bathtub unit, where the Place the base of the container towards the person who is to bathe, and place the framework along the side of the container. A method of bathing comprising the steps of joining a wall to a framework to form a container for receiving liquid. 6. A pair of hinge members having opposing end structures that abut each other, the hinge members are configured to rotate between them to form a pivot between the hinge members, and It further includes biasing means for maintaining the opposing end structures in contact during the pivoting. hinged joint with 7. The termination structure includes arcuate ribs and grooves, which cooperate to provide said transfer and pivot The hinge member is prevented from separating in a direction parallel to the direction of movement. The hinged connection according to claim 6, characterized in that: 8. Some of the ribs are characterized by teeth that mesh with the teeth of the opposing end structure. The hinge connection according to claim 7. 9. The biasing means includes a pair of opposed springs extending along the hinge means. 9. A hinged connection according to claim 8, characterized in that it acts on tie means. 10. The tie means is elastically deflectable and attaches the hinge members toward each other. 11. The hinge connection according to claim 9, characterized in that: Engraving (no changes to the content)