WO2009122185A2

WO2009122185A2 - Bath-lift installations

Info

Publication number: WO2009122185A2
Application number: PCT/GB2009/000886
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Rapsey
Original assignee: C.R. Manufacturing Limited
Priority date: 2008-04-02
Filing date: 2009-04-02
Publication date: 2009-10-08
Also published as: GB0805926D0; GB2458814A; GB0905746D0; WO2009122185A3

Abstract

A bath-lift installation has a flexible belt (1) extending across the bath (3) as a seat for raising and lowering a user, and the location of a back-rest (10) is adjustable lengthwise of the bath (3) between the belt (1) and the bath-head (14) to afford support to the user when raised and when recumbent. The back-rest (10) is carried by an arm (11) which extends transversely of the bath (3) from an arm (12) that for the adjustment slides longitudinally lengthwise of the bath (3) through a unit (13). Support for the transverse arm (11) is provided at both ends by rollers running on the bath-rim (15), and the unit (13) has a locking device (19) for selective engagement with the arm (12) in restraining its sliding. The unit (13) and manually-slidable arm (12) may be replaced by a motorised unit (25) and arm (26). A two-part back-rest (21) with its lower part (23) hinged to the upper part (22), may be used to take up the slope of the bath-head (14) during rearward movement of the back-rest (21).

Description

Bath-Lift Installations

This invention relates to bath-lift installations.

The invention is particularly concerned with bath-lift installations of the kind involving a flexible belt that extends across the bath. The flexible belt in installations of this kind provides a seat for a user of the bath by which they may be lowered into the bath by extension of the belt from a reel and subsequently raised from it by retraction of the belt back onto the reel .

According to the present invention there is provided a bath-lift installation having a flexible belt that extends across the bath to provide a seat for raising and lowering a user in the bath, wherein a back-rest is mounted for movement lengthwise of the bath to enable its location to be adjusted relative to the belt in affording support to the user seated on the belt.

The back-rest may be mounted for adjustment of its location lengthwise of the bath between the flexible belt and a head of the bath. The mounting may incorporate rollers that run on a rim of the bath to facilitate the adjustment, and may involve an arm that extends transversely of the bath. Where a transverse arm is involved this may be coupled to a member that is mounted for movement lengthwise of the bath in adjustment of the location of the back-rest lengthwise of the bath. This member may be an arm that extends lengthwise of the bath and is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally in adjustment of the location of the back-rest.

Movement of the back-rest lengthwise of the bath may be effected manually or under control of a selectively-operable motor. The back-rest, which may be a cushion or pad, may extend above the belt when the belt is in its retracted condition, so as to provide back-support for the user when seated on the belt in this condition. As the belt is extended to lower the user into the bath, the back-rest may be moved rearwardly away from the belt towards the head of the bath so as to enable the user to lean back onto it and continue to receive back-support from it, together possibly with support for head/neck, while being lowered and also when fully lowered. Alternatively, the back- rest may remain fixed until the user has been lowered fully into the bath, and only then adjusted rearwardly of the bath.

The back-rest may comprise first and second parts that are attached together by a flexible or other hinge with the second part hanging from the first part to bear against the head-end of the bath when the back-rest moves away from the belt. The attachment may enable the second part of the back-rest when bearing on the head-end of the bath to take up the slope of that end and in this way provide the user with comfortable lower-back support and extend the support provided higher up by the first part.

Bath-lift installations in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of part of a bath-lift installation according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view to an enlarged scale of part of the bath-lift installation of Figure 1 incorporating a modified back-rest in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 3 is illustrative of the bath-lift installations of Figure 1 incorporating the modified back-rest of Figure 2 and modification for motor-drive. Referring to Figure 1, the bath-lift installation in this example involves a flexible belt 1 that extends from a wall- mounted unit 2 on the far-side of the bath 3 to a floor- anchoring unit 4 on the near-side. The belt 1 is wound on a reel (not shown) within the unit 2 and in the disposition illustrated, is stretched tightly across the bath 3. In this taut condition the belt 1 provides a seat for a person wishing to use the bath 3.

When the user is seated on the taut belt 1 with feet within the bath 3, operation of a control 5 of the wall-mounted unit 2 energises an electric motor (not shown) within the unit 2. This drives the belt-reel of the unit 2 in the direction to extend the belt 1 by unwinding it from the reel and thereby lower the user gently and fully into the bath 3. The user remains seated on the belt 1 within the bath 3, and when they wish to leave the bath 3, operation of a further control 6 on the unit 2 energises the motor again, but in the reverse direction. This retracts the belt 1 by winding it in onto the reel so as to raise the user gently until the belt 1 is again taut across the top of the bath 3. The user may then readily exit the bath from the seated position on the taut belt 1.

To the extent the installation of Figure 1 and its operation have so far been described, it is of well-known kind, but in accordance with the present invention it incorporates a backrest in the form of a waterproof cushion 10 for use in support of the user when seated on the belt 1 not only at entry and exit from the bath 3 but also when lowered into it. In this regard, the cushion 10 is mounted on an arm 11 that extends transversely of the bath 3 from an arm 12 of a unit 13 on the far-side of the bath 3. The unit 13 is wall-mounted beneath the unit 2, and the arm 12 extends through the unit 13 for sliding movement longitudinally. Sliding movement of the arm 12 longitudinally through the unit 13 enables the location of the cushion 10 between the belt 1 and the head 14 of the bath 3 to be adjusted. Adjustment is facilitated by rollers (not shown) that run on the rim 15 of the bath 3 and are incorporated in fittings 16 and 17 mounted respectively at the near-end of the transverse arm 11 and on the arm 12 within its coupling 18 with the arm 11; the rollers also give support against the effect of the user leaning down on the cushion 10. The cushion 10 and the arms 11 and 12 are shown in full line in Figure 1 with the cushion 10 located at the belt 1; this location of the cushion 10 is appropriate for the provision of back-support to a user when seated on the taut belt 1.

The unit 13 incorporates a manualIy-engageable locking device 19 (shown in Figure 1 in its disengaged, released condition) which when engaged with the arm 12 restrains it from longitudinal sliding movement through the unit 13 so that the cushion 10 is firmly held from rearward displacement; for example (not illustrated) , restraint may be by entry of a pin of the device 19 within one of a series of holes in the arm 12. The locking device 19 may be released by the user to allow the arm 12 to slide through the unit 13 and the cushion 10 to move rearwardly when the control 5 is operated to lower the user into the bath 3. In this respect, the user (or carer) may at this time take hold of a handle 20 on the arm 12 to regulate manually the extent and speed at which the cushion 10 is allowed to move rearwardly. By this it can be ensured that the location of the cushion 10 in the space between the belt 1 and the bath-head 14 is adjusted for comfort and appropriate back-support as the user's bodily-attitude changes in descent into the bath 3 from sitting upright on the taut belt 1 to a recumbent position within the bath 3. When the user is in this latter position, the cushion 10 will normally be against the bath-head 14 as indicated in chain-dotted line in Figure 1, however, movement of the cushion 10 can be halted at any stage in advance of that simply by re-engagement of the locking device 19. More especially, the locking device 19 may remain engaged until the user reaches the bottom of the bath 3, and then released to allow adjustment of the location of the cushion 10 for comfort.

When the user is to be raised on the belt 1, the cushion 10 is returned towards the belt 1 to provide the back-support and assistance required for the user to regain the upright sitting attitude, before the control 6 is operated. Return of the cushion 10 is effected by ensuring that the locking device 19 is released, and then sliding the arm 12 away from the bath-head 14 using the handle 20. The locking device 19 is re-engaged when the belt 1 has returned the user to the upright seated position.

The cushion 10 extends above the belt 1 to a sufficient extent to ensure that adequate back-support is provided for the user when seated on the taut belt 1. Desirably, as shown, it also extends below the level of the taut belt 1, so that good support is also provided for the user's back during lowering into the bath 3. However, since lowering of the user is also accompanied or followed by movement of the cushion 10 rearwardly towards the bath-head 14, it is desirable that the cushion 10 is capable of bending or otherwise adapting to the slope normally provided there. A modification of the bath-lift installation of Figure 1 to incorporate a feature having advantage in this respect, is illustrated in Figure 2 and will now be described.

Referring to Figure 2, the modification involves replacement of the back-rest provided by the cushion 10 by a waterproof double- cushion 21. The cushion 21 involves an upper cushion 22 corresponding to the cushion 10, and a lower cushion 23 that is attached to the bottom of the cushion 21 by flexible fabric 24 so as to give them an effective hinge interconnection.

When the double-cushion 21 is moved rearwardly with lowering of the user into the bath 3, the lower cushion 23 is brought onto the bottom of the slope of the bath-head 14 before descent has been completed. Attachment by the fabric 24 to the upper cushion 22 enables the lower cushion 23 to take up the slope of the bath-head 14 and through contact with it afford support for the user's back when the belt 1 is fully descended. In this way, the cushion 23 may be used to provide the user with comfortable lower-back support during descent and when descent is complete, and thereby extend the support provided higher up by the upper cushion 22.

The lower cushion 23 may be attached to the upper cushion 22 other than by fabric. A mechanical hinge (not shown) that allows angular displacement of the lower cushion 23 with respect to the upper cushion 22, may be used instead. The hinge in this case may be such that angular displacement of the lower cushion 23 relative to the upper cushion 22 is inhibited while the user, in leaning against the cushion 23, is exerting a backward force on it. The cushion 23 in these circumstances would be otherwise free to take up the slope of the head-end 14.

The restraint exerted by the locking device 19 on the arm 12 may be progressive in the sense that as it is engaged it exerts an increasing frictional resistance to freedom of the arm 12 to slide. In this case, it is possible by suitable adjustment of the device 19 to arrange that movement of the cushion 10 or 21 rearwardly is at least to some extent related to the increasing pressure of the user's back on the cushion as the user is lowered into the bath 3. It may indeed be possible to provide that the sliding of the arm 12 is regulated automatically in dependence upon movement of the belt 1 during lowering and raising of the user, to give optimum back-support throughout.

A bath-lift installation which is the same as that of Figure 1 but which includes the hinged back-rest of Figure 2 and provision for motorised regulation of the sliding arm, is illustrated in Figure 3, and will now be described. The same references as used in Figures 1 and 2 are used in Figure 3 for corresponding parts.

Referring to Figure 3, the unit 13 is replaced in this case by a control unit 25 which includes an electric motor (not shown) for regulating the longitudinal sliding movement of an arm 26 corresponding to the arm 12 of Figure 1. The unit 25 has two controls 27 and 28 that respectively control the motor to drive the cushion 21 in the directions rearwardly from the belt 1 and forwardly towards it. Each control 27 and 28 enables the speed of drive to the arm 26 to be varied.

The belt-controlling unit 2 may be interconnected with unit 25 to enable the movements of the belt 1 and arm 26 to be coordinated with one another.

The back-rest according to the invention has the advantage that its use is not dependent on use of the belt 1 for lowering and lifting the user. The belt 1 may be retracted fully from across the bath 3 without affecting the availability and ultimate benefit of the back-rest to a user who does not wish to utilise the bath-lift.

The bath-lift of the present invention has the advantage that it is of a modular form that enables it to be readily utilised with baths of different sizes and configurations. More especially, the transverse arm 11 is selectively extendable at its coupling 18 with the sliding arm 12,26 so as to enable it to be adjusted in length according to bath-width.

Claims

Claims :

1. A bath-lift installation having a flexible belt that extends across the bath to provide a seat for raising and lowering a user in the bath, wherein a back-rest is mounted for movement lengthwise of the bath to enable its location to be adjusted relative to the belt in affording support to the user seated on the belt.

2 A bath-lift installation according to Claim 1 wherein the back-rest is mounted for adjustment of its location lengthwise of the bath between the flexible belt and a head of the bath.

3. A bath-lift installation according to Claim 2 wherein the back-rest is mounted on an arm that extends transversely of the bath between the flexible belt and the head of the bath.

4. A bath-lift installation according to Claim 3 wherein the transverse arm is coupled to a member that is mounted for movement lengthwise of the bath in adjustment of the location of the back-rest lengthwise of the bath.

5. A bath-lift installation according to Claim 3 wherein the transverse arm is coupled to an arm that extends lengthwise of the bath and is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally in adjustment of the location of the back-rest lengthwise of the bath.

6. A bath-lift according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the back-rest is mounted for movement lengthwise of the bath under control of a selectively-operable motor.

7. A bath-lift installation according to Claim 5 wherein the sliding arm extends through a unit that incorporates a locking device which is selectively engageable for restraining the sliding arm from longitudinal movement.

8. A bath-lift installation according to Claim 7 wherein the locking device exerts frictional resistance against longitudinal movement of the sliding arm.

9. A bath-lift installation according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the mounting of the back-rest incorporates rollers that run on a rim of the bath to facilitate adjustment of the location of the back-rest lengthwise of the bath.

10. A bath-lift installation according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the back-rest is a cushion or pad.

11. A bath-lift installation according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the back-rest comprises first and second parts that are hinged together with the second part hanging from the first part to take up slope of the head-end of the bath when the backrest is located with the second part bearing against the head-end of the bath.

12. A bath-lift installation according to Claim 11 wherein one or both of the first and second parts is a cushion or pad.