WO1992021273A1

WO1992021273A1 - Hinge seat actuated by water pressure and intended for a bathtub ______________________________________________________________

Info

Publication number: WO1992021273A1
Application number: PCT/FR1992/000423
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Vourc'h; Maryvonne Vourc'h
Original assignee: Vourc H Michel; Vourc H Maryvonne
Priority date: 1991-06-05
Filing date: 1992-05-14
Publication date: 1992-12-10
Also published as: FR2677240B1; FR2677240A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lifting device in order to take a bath without any help. The device is intended to help handicapped persons to sit in their bath-tub and to get out of the bath-tub without any help. The device is comprised of at least two non extensible pockets (M and N), which may be inflated with water from the mains or by means of a fluid, and are enclosed in hinged bars (8, 9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29), which are arranged in a cross-configuration, of different lengths forming at least two housings situated on either side of a fixed axis (24, 25), their extremities being themselves pivotingly hinged to a frame (2) carrying a seat (1) and also to a frame (3) adhering to the bath-tub, the assembly resting perfectly when bringing the seat and the base closer to each other. A three-way valve (O) controls the supply of the pockets and therefore the raising of the device, or the evacuation of the content of the pockets into the bath-tub and therefore the lowering of the device. The device of the invention is particularly intended to help any aged or physically handicapped person to take a bath alone without help.

Description

ARTICULATED SEAT, WATER PRESSURE, FOR BATHTUB.

The present invention consists of an articulated seat, rising from any bathtub at the level of its edges using at least two inflatable pockets at the pressure of the network water, to allow impotent people to s sit in and out of their bathtub without outside help.

In the devices associating articulated frames and inflatable bags, known from US Patents 2610824, FR 2636717, FR 2620789 and DE 2007429, at least one of the upper or lower ends of rods of equal length slides in a slide. In the US system, the horizontal median plane of the pockets is located at the median axis of articulation of two cooperating frames, and the pockets bear directly on each other, which causes the device to be too flexible for be used in a lifting seat in a bathtub. On the other hand, the connecting rods of equal length do not allow the assembly of the assembly, in the upper and lower frames when they are brought together.

In the French systems mentioned above, the air-inflated pocket pushes articulated frames of equal size, which deform by bringing all the joints on a vertical plane, hence the unsuitability of this device on a bath lift seat which would lose its stability.

On the other hand, French patents 2146098 and 2 * 405209 which also provide for a combination of ^' articulated frames of the same size and inflatable pockets outside the frames, are too bulky to find an application adaptable to the elevation of a seat in a bathtub.

As for US patent 3311930, the device rises in a circular arc movement, which offset the support points relative to the vertical, and the pockets are made of rubber, an extensible but deformable material.

The object of the invention differs from such devices by the fact that the frame (2.) carrying the seat, rises vertically from the base (3), without sliding of any end of the arm.

-the pockets are made of a reinforced material, deformable but not extensible. - That the pockets are arranged on either side of a fixed axis (24) (25) without pressing one on the other.

- That the arms, equal to each other, arranged in a crossed fashion, are of length greater than the rods, equal to each other, allowing the assembly of the assembly in the upper and lower frames, when they are brought together.

- that it is transportable and adaptable on any existing bathtub, hence accessibility for all.

The invention therefore relates to an elevation structure comprising at least two non-extendable pockets, inflatable with mains water or under the action of a fluid, enclosed in articulated bars of unequal lengths forming them at least two housings, the ends of which are pivotally articulated, on the one hand on a frame carrying the seat, and, on the other hand, on a frame adhering to the bathtub by holding means.

The unfolded seat rises to 45 cm, and folded it measures only 7 cm, which allows the user to fully immerse himself, and to be able to lean against the inclined plane of the bathtub to relax in his bath. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:. Figure 1 shows the perspective device in front view;

. Figure 2 shows the device in side view; . Figure 3 shows the top view, the erased seat; . Figure 4 shows the bottom view; . FIG. 5A represents a pocket and FIG. 5B represents the detail of fixing the crimping;

. FIG. 6 represents the lowering and raising lever of the seat;

. Figure 7 shows schematically the seat raised in the bathtub; . Figure 8 shows schematically the folded seat in the bathtub.

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the device has three horizontal parts and four vertical planes.

- horizontal part A: a seat top (1) is placed on a frame (2). On the lateral parts of the frame are welded at their ends, facing each other, four equal arms (8) (9) (10) (11) respectively. vement in (4) (5) (6) (7), braced two by two (Figure 3) and mainte¬ bare spaced. The lateral parts (38) and (39) pivot freely in the frame (2) and are each held by four pins (41) (42) (43) (44) and (45) (46) (47) (48 ) on either side of the frame (2). - horizontal part C, identical in length to part A: on the lateral parts of the frame (3) are welded at their ends, and opposite, four equal arms (26) (27) (28) (29) respectively in (35) (36) (37) (38), braced two by two, of length equal to the upper arms (8) (9) (10) (11), and kept apart. The side parts (89) and (88) pivot freely in the frame (3) and are each held by four pins (49) (50) (51) (52) and (53) (54) ( 55) (56) on either side of the frame (3).

- horizontal part B, median: four equal links (20) (21) (22) (23) shorter than the upper and lower arms, arranged in a crossed fashion, pivot in their middle, around a fixed axis (24) (25). The link (20) is articulated in its upper part at (15) with the upper arm (8), and in its lower part in (16) with the lower arm (29).

The link (21) is articulated in its upper part at (14) with the upper arm (9) and in its lower part at (17) with the lower arm (28).

The link (22) is articulated in its upper part in (13) with the upper arm (10) and in its lower part in (18) with the. lower arm (27). The link (23) is articulated in its upper part in (12) with the upper arm (11) and in its lower part in (19) with the lower arm (26).

In the housings formed by the upper arm (8) and the link (20) articulated at (15), the upper arm (9) and the link (21) articulated at (14), the upper arm (10) and the link (22) articulated in (13), the upper arm (11) and the link (23) articulated in (12) is surrounded by an inflatable pocket M at the pressure of the network water.

In the housings formed by the lower arm (26) and the link (23) articulated at (19), the lower arm (27) and the link (22) articulated at (18), the lower arm (28) and the link (21) articulated in (17), the lower arm (29) and the link (20) articulated at (16), is surrounded by a second pocket N identical to the pocket M and communicating with it by a conduit (85), itself connected to a conduit (86), connected to a control lever 0, itself connected to a tap. The upper arms (8) (9) (10) (11) and lower arms (26) (27) (28) (29) are equal to each other, have a length greater than the rods (20) (21) (22) (23 ) equal to each other, so as to allow said rods to nest in the upper and lower frames when they are brought together. The device has four vertical planes:

- 1st vertical plane: the upper (8) and lower (29) arms articulated respectively at (15) and (16) on the link (20).

- 2nd vertical plane: the upper (11) and lower arms

(26) articulated respectively in (12) and (19) on the link (23). - 3rd vertical plane: the upper (9) and lower arms

(28) articulated respectively in (14) and (17) on the link (21).

- 4th vertical plane: upper arms (10) and lower

(27) articulated respectively in (13) and (18) on the link (22). The sets of successive lateral arms and links are connected to each other at the level of a common fixed axis (24) (25) of articulation of the arms, and at the level of the upper and lower frames.

The pockets M and N, with reference to FIG. 5A, are designed in reinforced polyester, a flexible deformable material, but not extensible, ensuring the rigidity of the assembly by their hardening during inflation, and resistant to a pressure of 10 bars. With reference to FIG. 5B, each of the two opposite ends of the pockets (57) (58), (59) (60), are each folded back on either side of two cylindrical elements (90) and (91); the whole is glued and enclosed in a rounded profile (93.) and crimped with the press. A strip (94) of the same texture as the pockets is held in place by the crimping of the ends of the said pockets, on the upper face of the pocket N and on the lower face of the pocket M. Rivets thus hold the pockets on the rods (20) (21) (22) (23), thus preventing them from slipping during emptying.

The pocket M, with reference to FIG. 1, is arranged in the lower half of the arms (8) (9) (10) (11) and the upper half lower links (20) (21) (22) (23) below the crossing zone thereof. The pocket N, identical to M, is arranged in the upper half of the arms (26) (27) (28) (29) and the lower half of the links (20) (21) (22) (23), at the above the crossing area of these.

The two pockets M and N, superimposed in the middle part of the device, without support on each other, are fed or emptied in parallel by a supply or evacuation duct (85) depending on whether the seat rises or go down. The ends (12) (13) (14) (15), (16) (17) (18) (19) of the rods (20) (21) (22) (23) supporting the hinge pin upper and lower arms, have a return allowing the housing, in the transverse parts, of the ends of the pockets (57) (58) and (59) (60), and the passage of said empty pockets, during flattening between arms and links - in the folded position.

To limit the swelling of the pockets M and N, a valve (84) for limiting the admitted pressure is disposed on the filling line (86) in front of the two pockets. Said valve is adjustable according to the weight of the user. To raise the device, simply position the handle of a three-way valve 0 on "UP" in (64) figure 6. When the seat has reached its highest position, the excess water pressure is stopped by positioning handle 0 at (65) on "HOLD", the user then has all the time necessary to sit on the device. Installed, it positions the lever 0 at (66) on "DESCENT", then the pockets M and N, Figure 1, empty into the bathtub by an evacuation duct (87), and the seat lowers slowly. The bath water cannot cool because the volume of the bags is minimal.

By way of nonlimiting example, the folded seat will have dimensions of the order of 40 cm in width, 40 cm in length and 7 cm in height; the unfolded seat will be 45 cm high.

Thus, the invention aims to provide a device to help impotent people to sit in their bathtub, and to get out of it without external help, characterized in that it comprises at least two pockets M and N inflatable at the pressure of the network or under the action of a fluid. These pockets, deformable but not extensible, are arranged in the middle part of the lifting device, without pressing one against the other, in at least two housings located above and below the area of four equal rods (20) (21) (22) (23) articulated in the middle, on a fixed axis (24) (25). The upper extremities (12)

(13) (14) (15) of said links, support by articulation axes parallel to the fixed axis (24) (25), equal arms (8) (9) (10) (11) _{f available} ses crosswise, whose opposite ends are welded on two lateral axes (38) (39) forming a frame, pivoting in said frame (2) carrying the seat. And in the same way, the lower ends (16) (17) (18) (19) of the rods (20) (21) (22) (23) support, by axes-articulations parallel to the fixed axis (24 ) (25), arms (26) (27) (28) (29), arranged in a crossed manner, whose opposite ends are welded on two lateral axes (88) (89) forming a frame, and pivoting in said frame (3) lower, provided with holding means (30) (31) (32) (33) allowing adhesion to the bottom of the bathtub.

A lifting bar (67) can be fixed to the wall (Figure 7) to give support to the user.

The device is safe because it works without electricity. On the other hand, it is impossible to pinch your fingers in the device, because the descent is done slowly.

The appliance is cleaned in the unfolded state, using the shower jet.

Claims

1) Device to help impotent people to sit in and out of their bathtub without outside help, of the device type associating articulated frames and inflatable pockets, characterized in that the frame (2) carrying the seat, amounts to the vertical of the base (3), without sliding of any end of the arm, to form a stable and rigid structure, thanks to the hardening of at least two pockets M and N, deformable but not extensible, inflated with water of the network or under the action of a fluid, the median horizontal plane of which is offset with respect to the median axis of articulation of two cooperating frames, arranged on either side of a fixed axis (24) ( 25), middle part of the device, without support on each other, in at least two housings formed by the crossing of the upper half of the rods (20) (21) (22) (23) with the lower part of the arms (8) (9) (10) (11) on the one hand, and of the lower half of the said rods es with the upper part of the arms (26) (27) (28) (29), the said arms equal to each other, having a length greater than the said links, equal to each other, arms and links being arranged in a crossed manner in order to allow the nesting of the arm-link assembly, in the upper (2) and lower (3) frames when they are brought together, the lower frame (3) being provided with holding means allowing adhesion to the bottom of the bathtub.

2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the links (20) (21) (22) (23) are articulated in their middle, on a fixed axis (24) (25), their upper end (12) ( 13) (14) (15) supporting, by axes-articulations parallel to the fixed axis (24) (25), equal arms (8) (9) (10) (11), arranged in a crossed manner , whose opposite ends are welded on two lateral axes (38) (39) forming a frame, pivoting in this said frame (2) carrying the seat (1). And in the same way, the lower ends (16) (17) (18) (19) of the rods (20) (21) (22) (23) support, by axes-articulations parallel to the fixed axis (24 ) (25), equal arms (26) (27) (28) (29), arranged in a crossed manner, the opposite ends of which are welded on two lateral axes (88) (89) forming a frame and pivoting in said frame (3) lower. Thus, the sets of arms and successive lateral links are interconnected at a common fixed axis (24) (25) of articulation of the arms, and at the level of the upper and lower frames (2) and (3).

3) Device according to claim 1 and claim 2 characterized in that the upper arms (8) (9) (10) (11) are welded at their upper end, opposite, on two braced elements which form the lateral parts of the upper frame (38) (39), and kept spaced apart. In the same way, the lower arms (16) (17) (18) (19) are welded at their lower end, facing each other, on two braced elements which form the lateral parts (88) (89) of the lower frame, and kept spaced.

4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the successive arm and link assemblies laté¬ rales, are interconnected at a common axis of articulation of the arms (24) (25), and at upper and lower management level.

5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arms (8) (9) (10) (11) and (26) (27) (28) (29) have at their ends (15 ) (14) (-13) (12) and (19) (18) (17) (16) supporting the axes of articulation of the mediated links (20) (21) (22) (23), a return allowing the accommodation of the ends of the pockets, and the passage of the empty pockets, when they are laid flat between arms and links in the folded position.

6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two opposite ends of the pockets M and N are folded each on either side of two cylindrical elements (90) and (91). The whole is glued and enclosed in a rounded profile (93) and crimped with the press.

7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pockets M and N are made of flexible reinforced material, deformable but not extensible, thus ensuring rigidity when en¬ appears by hardening of said pockets during inflation.

8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pockets are punctually fixed opposite the connecting rods, thanks to the outer strip (94) of the same texture as the pockets, secured to said pockets by crimping their ends, preventing them from slipping during emptying.

9) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a three-way valve 0, is provided in the position for evacuating the contents of the bags, with a conduit (87) allowing the flow into the bathtub.