Bath lift

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6199226
  • Patent Number
    6,199,226
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, February 15, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 13, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A bath lift comprising a U shaped frame (14) locatable on the bath. Each side limb (15) of the frame (14) mounts a respective roller (32) between which a flexible band (38) extends. The rollers (32) are interconnected to simultaneously feed the band (38) out or in whereby to raise or lower a person sitting thereon into a bath.
Description




This invention concerns bathlifts and particularly but not exclusively bath lifts for lowering or raising a person to or from a seated position on the bottom of a bath.




A number of bath lifts are available to lower and raise a person to an from a seated position on the bottom of a bath. Such lifts often do not provide security or at least a feeling of security, to a person thereon, or sufficient support to the person whilst they are being raised or lowered.




According to the present invention there is provided a bath lift, the lift comprising an elongate flexible band extendable across a bath from one side to the other such that a person can sit on the band, and means for selectively simultaneously feeding the band in or out from both sides of the bath such that the band is movable between a first position extending taughtly between the bath sides, and a second position such that the band is pressed by a person sitting thereon onto the bottom of the bath so that the person is sitting in the bath.




The lift may comprise two rollers which are locatable one on either side of the bath. The rollers may be interconnected to simultaneously rotate at the same speed, and desirably in opposite directions. The lift may comprise a motor, and gearing connecting with the rollers.




The lift may comprise a substantially U-shape frame with the base of the U locatable at an end of the bath, and the side limbs extendable along respective sides of the bath. A shaft driveable by the motor, may extend along the base of the U. The shaft preferably connects with the rollers via gearing, and perhaps also via further shafts extending partway along the side limbs of the frame.




The shaft may be threaded, and non-rotatable threaded members may be provided on the shaft engageable with an appropriately located switch or switches to automatically turn the motor off when the band reaches the first and/or second position. The positioning of the or each switch is preferably adjustable, and the or each switch may be mounted on a, or on a respective, threaded elongate member such that rotation of the member causes movement of one or more switches.




The lift may be removably locatable on a bath. Alternatively, means may be provided for mounting the lift on or adjacent to a bath. The mounting means may be such that the lift is selectively movable between an in-use condition extending over a bath, and an out-of-use condition clear of the bath. The mounting means may be arranged such that in the out-of-use condition the lift extends generally upwardly away from the bath.




The lift preferably comprises a back rest against which a person sitting on the band can lean. The back rest may be padded. The back rest may be pivotally mounted on the lift, or removably mounted thereon.




A support member may be provided engagable between the frame and the bottom of the bath. The support member may extend respectively from adjacent the free ends of the side limbs of the frame to the bottom of the bath, and the support member may comprise a generally U shape member with the base of the U engagable with the bottom of the bath. The support member preferably braces the free ends of the side limbs apart. The support member may be mounted on the frame by a ratchet arrangement such that it is restrainably held in a required position relative thereto.




The support member and/or back rest may be pivotally mounted on the frame to be able to lie substantially parallel thereto in the out-of-use condition.




The frame may be arranged such that at least one of the side limbs of the frame in the in-use condition lies on or alongside the side of a bath. Supporting members may be provided on one or both of the side limbs engageable with the top of the side of the bath, and the supporting members may be pivotally mounted to the or each side limb. Alternatively the supporting members may comprise adjustable feet.




The lift may be adjustable in size to be usable with different size baths. The support member may be adjustable in height. Any of the support member, back rest, base of the frame, or shaft extending along the frame base, may be adjustable across the width of the lift.




Electric control means may be provided to permit a user to control the feeding out or in of the band. The control means may be selectively locatable on either side of the lift as is required, and may comprise a plug in module.




A set member may be provided locatable on the band for a person to sit on. The seat member may be substantially rigid or semi rigid. The side edges of the seat member may be flexible or pivotable to accommodate tapering side walls of a bath. The side edges may comprise one or more strips of substantially rigid or semi rigid material joined to the main part of the seat member by a web or webs.




The lift may be arranged to automatically stop rotation of the rollers upon a voltage change across the motor being detected.











An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a diagrammatic perspective view of a bath lift according to the invention in an in-use position;





FIG. 2

is a similar view but with the bath lift in an out-of-use position;





FIG. 3

is a similar view to

FIG. 2

of a further bath lift according to the invention;





FIG. 4

is a similar view to

FIG. 1

of a still further bath lift according to the invention;





FIGS. 5-8

are perspective diagrammatic views of components of the still further bath lift; and





FIGS. 9 and 10

are diagrammatic perspective views from opposite sides of part of the lift of FIG.


4


.












FIGS. 1 and 2

of the drawings show a bath lift


10


suitable for lowering a person in a sitting position level with the height of a bath


12


, to a position sitting on the bottom of the bath


12


, and back up again. The lift


10


comprises a U-shaped frame


14


. The base


16


of the frame


14


is of box section and rotatably locates a threaded shaft


18


. A non-rotatable threaded abutment member


20


is mounted on the shaft


18


to be movable therealong by virtue of rotation of the shaft. A low voltage electric motor


22


is mounted on the base


16


, driveably engagable with the shaft


18


.




Bevelled gears


24


are provided on each end of the shaft


18


and drivingly engageable with further bevelled gears


26


. Each of the gears


26


is provided on the end of a further shaft


28


which extends within a respective casing


30


which forms part of the side limbs


15


A and


15


B of the U-shaped frame


14


. The free ends of the further shafts


28


each mount a respective roller


32


. The rollers


32


extend to the free end of the side limbs


15


A and


15


B and are rotatably mounted at the free ends of the limbs


15


A and


15


B in bearings


34


. The portion


36


of the side limbs


15


of the frame


14


which locates the rollers


32


is in the form of inwardly and upwardly facing L-shaped section, closed off at each end.




A flexible band


38


extends between the rollers


32


, around which the free ends of the band


38


are rolled. Removable covers (not shown) are provided extendable over the top of the rollers


32


. A U-shaped support member


40


extends between the portions


36


towards their free end, and is pivotally mounted thereto by downwardly extending brackets


42


. The member


40


braces the portions


36


apart and provides support against the bottom of the bath. Rubber pads (not shown) or other protective members may be provided on the base of the member


40


to protect the bath from scratching or other damage.




On the furthest side limb


15


A of the frame


14


as shown in

FIG. 1

, resilient pads


44


are provided beneath the free end of the portion


36


and also beneath the casing


30


. Two support arms


46


are provided on the other side limb


15


B in positions corresponding to the pads


44


. The arms


46


are mounted to the side limb


15


B by brackets


48


to be pivotal about substantially vertical axes when in the condition shown in FIG.


1


. Further resilient pads


50


are provided on the underside of the support arms


46


.




A clamping member


52


in the form of a plate is mounted by a threaded bolt


54


to the underside of the casing


30


on the near side arm of the frame


14


as shown in

FIG. 1. A

mounting hinge


56


is provided extending along the length of the base


16


on the upper corner thereof furthest from the bath


12


, as shown in FIG.


1


. Two support feet


58


with an L-shaped cross-section are pivotally mounted to the base


16


, each adjacent a respective end thereof, at the lower edge furthest from the bath


12


as shown in FIG.


1


.




A back rest


60


with padding


62


is pivotally mounted between the side arms of the frame


14


, by respective brackets


64


between the band


38


and base


16


. The brackets


64


are such that the back rest


60


can readily be removed. Two micro switches


66


are mounted in the base


16


to be engageable with the abutment


20


. The positioning of the micro switches


66


can be varied as required, for a purpose hereinafter to be indicated.





FIG. 1

shows the lift


10


installed for use with the bath


12


. The base


16


is mounted to a wall


68


at one end of the bath


12


. The base


16


is mounted by the hinge


50


and at a height such that with the feet


50


pivoted to rest against the underside of the base


16


, the feet


58


engage on the top of the end of the bath


12


. The side limbs of the frame


14


extend along the sides of the bath


12


. The side limb


15


A rests on top of the side of the bath


12


with the pads


44


engaging therewith. The side limb


15


B lies just inside the side of the bath


12


, with the support arms


46


pointing outwardly and the pads


50


thereon engaging with the top of the respective side of the bath. The plate


52


is positioned using the bolt


54


against the inside of the bath


12


.




In use, with the lift


10


in the condition shown in

FIG. 1

, a person can sit on the band


38


. The motor


22


can then be actuated by any suitable switch such as a hand-held waterproof switch. Actuation of the motor


22


causes rotation of the shaft


18


and hence rollers


32


, to feed out the band


38


such that the person will be lowered into the bath


12


. If required the person can rest against the back rest


60


. When the band


38


reaches the bottom of the bath


12


, if the motor


22


is not switched off by the user, the abutment


20


will contact a respective one of the micro switches


66


and automatically turn the motor


22


off.




Once bathing has been finished, the lift


10


can be operated in a similar manner but with the motor


22


operating in an opposite direction such that the band


38


is wound on to the rollers


32


to raise a person. Again, if the person does not switch off the motor


22


, the abutment


20


will contact and actuate the other respective micro switch


66


to turn off the motor


22


. During installation the positioning of the micro switches


66


can be set correspondingly for a particular location and with regard to the weight of a user. For instance for a heavier person the band


38


will require to be tauter in the raised position. The switches


66


may be mounted on one or more threaded bars (not shown) to enable positioning by rotation of the bar. Handles (also not shown), which may be removable, may be provided on the or each threaded bar.




If the lift


10


is not required for use, it can be folded to the out-of-use position shown in

FIG. 2

as follows. The clamping member


52


is released and the support arms


46


folded in. The lift


10


can then be pivoted upwardly about the hinge


56


. When extending vertically upwards, the support fee


58


can be positioned to support the base


16


as shown. The back rest


60


is folded against the top surface of the band


38


, with the support member


40


folded against the underside of the band


38


.




It is to be realized that baths come in many different shapes and sizes. In some instances there would not be sufficient exposed side of the bath for the limb


15


A to rest thereon. In such an instance on that side of the bath the weight of the lift would be borne entirely by the support member


40


. Further clamping members would then probably be provided on that side of the frame. The support arms


46


are usable with small differences in bath widths. However, in some instances it may be required to provide a lift which is adjustable in size. Such a lift


68


is shown in FIG.


3


. The lift


68


is as per the lift


10


except as indicated below. The length of the side limbs of the support member


40


are adjustable by virtue of a telescopic arrangement


70


with locking screws


72


. The width of the base of the member


40


is adjustable by virtue of a further telescopic arrangement


74


with a locking screw


76


. The base


16


is also telescopic and the shaft


18


therein (not shown in

FIG. 3

) is also adjustable in length by a similar arrangement. The back rest


60


can either be omitted or arranged to be adjustable in width by virtue of one side telescoping out of the other.





FIGS. 4-10

show a still further bath lift


80


which is generally similar to the lift except as outlined below. The lift


80


can be placed on and off a bath and has four adjustable feet


82


comprising rubber based pads


81


mounted on threaded shafts


83


. The back rest


84


is removably mounted on the back of the U shaped frame by strips of fleece and hook fastener


86


.




The band


38


emerges from the rollers


32


at the top thereof to cross the bath, rather than the bottom as in the lift


10


. The arrangement of the lift


80


in this respect is generally found to be preferable. A seating board


88


is mounted on the band


38


such that a person sits on the board


88


. The board


88


is made of laminated plastics material. The side edges of the board


88


each comprise two strips


90


of similar material joined to the main part of the board


88


by a web


92


which extends therethrough (FIG.


6


). This allows the board to be used with baths which have tapering side walls, as the strips


90


can pivot upwards by virtue of the web


92


.




The support member


40


is mounted to the side limbs


14


by ratchet arrangements


94


(

FIGS. 9 and 10

) which permits the member


40


to be restrainably held in a required position thereby providing better support on the bottom of the bath as well as bracing the limbs


15


apart. Each ratchet arrangement


94


comprises a plurality of teeth


96


on a plate member


98


provided on the side limb


15


, and a sprung finger


100


mounted on the support member and selectively engageable with the teeth


96


. The finger


100


is provided on the free end of a cranked handle


102


to permit manual release of the finger


100


from the teeth


96


.




Electric control means are provided for the lift


80


. The control means comprise a plug in unit


104


(

FIG. 7

) which can be plugged in on either side limb


15


as is required. The lift


80


is arranged such that the motor


106


automatically switches off upon a voltage change thereacross being detached. Such a change occurs when the band


38


becomes slack at the bottom of the bath and the motor has less work to do, or when the motor is strained as the band


38


becomes taught.





FIG. 8

shows the general roller drive arrangement for the lift


80


. In this instance the motor


106


is parallel to the base of the U shaped frame


14


. Leads


108


connects to the control means


104


. The motor


106


connects by a reduction gear


110


to a worm wheel


112


on a transverse shaft


114


. This connects at one side by bevelled gears


116


to a shaft


118


, the opposite end of which serves as a one of the rollers. The connection to the other shaft


118


is again through bevelled gears


116


and incorporates a size adjustment arrangement


120


. The arrangement


120


incorporates a split in the shaft


114


which is filled by a larger hollow shaft


122


which overlaps the ends of the shaft


114


. The shaft


122


is adjustable lockable on the part of the shaft


114


which extends from the bevelled gears


116


, by a screw


124


engageable in a keyway


126


formed on the shaft


114


.




As well as the drive shaft


114


from the motor


106


being adjustable in width the casing


30


covering this is provided in two slidably connected covers


128


,


130


to allow the width to be varied.




There are thus provided bath lifts with a number of advantageous features. The provision of the band being fed out or fed in simultaneously from both sides of the bath, provides for a stable arrangement such that the person does not have to walk to their position on the band or lean during raising or lowering. The back rest provides support and an increased security and feeling of security for persons on the lift. The pivotal arrangement of the lift means that it can readily be moved to and from an in-use condition, and otherwise takes up very little space.




Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the lift may be arranged such that it can be removably mountable on a bath, and further clamping members would probably be provided. With the above described folding arrangement clamping members may not be required. The rollers could be driven other than as shown in the specific embodiment. The motor may be located elsewhere, for example on a one of the side limbs of the frame. Different means could be provided for automatically stopping the lift when the respective upper and lower positions are reached. For instance, one or more trigger bars may be provided with which the band is engageable when the end positions are reached.




Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.



Claims
  • 1. A bath lift (10,80), the lift (10,80) comprising an elongate flexible band (38) extendible across a bath (12) from one side to the other such that a person can sit on the band (38), means (32) for selectively simultaneously feeding the band (38) in or out from both sides of the bath (12) such that the band (38) is movable between a first position extending tautly between the bath sides, and a second position such that the band (38) is pressed by a person sitting thereon onto the bottom of the bath (12) so that the person is sitting in the bath (12), a substantially U-shape frame (14) with the base (16) of the U locatable at an end of the bath (12), and the side limbs (15A,15B) extendible along respective sides of the bath (12), characterised in that a support member (40) is provided engageable between the frame (14) and the bottom of the bath (12).
  • 2. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that the lift (10,80) comprises two rollers (32) which are locatable one on either side of the bath (12), the rollers (32) preferably being interconnected to simultaneously rotate at the same speed, and desirably to simultaneously rotate in opposite directions.
  • 3. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 2, characterised in that the lift (10,80) comprises a motor (22,106), and gearing (24,26,116) connecting with the rollers (32).
  • 4. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 3, characterised in that a shaft (18,114) driveable by the motor (22,106), extends along the base (16) of the U, the shaft (18,114) preferably connecting with the rollers (32) via gearing (24,26,116), and desirably also via further shafts (28,118) extending partway along the side limbs (15A,15B) of the frame (14).
  • 5. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 4, characterised in that the shaft (18) is threaded, and non-rotatable threaded members (20) are provided on the shaft engageable with an appropriately located switch or switches (56) to automatically turn the motor (22,106) off when the band (38) reaches the first and/or second position, the positioning of the or each switch (66) being preferably adjustable, and desirably the or each switch (66) is mounted on a, or on a respective, threaded elongate member such that rotation of the member causes movement of one or more switches (66).
  • 6. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 3, characterised in that the lift (10,80) is arranged to automatically stop rotation of the rollers (32) upon a voltage change across the motor (22,106) bring detected.
  • 7. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that the lift (10,80) is removably locatable on a bath (12).
  • 8. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that means (56) may be provided for mounting the lift on or adjacent to a bath (12), the mounting means (56) may be such that the lift (10,80) is selectively movable between an in-use condition extending over a bath (12), and an out-of-use condition clear of the bath (12), and desirably the mounting means (56) may be arranged such that in the out-of-use condition the lift (10,80) extends generally upwardly away from the bath (12).
  • 9. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that the lift (10,80) comprises a back rest (60,84) against which a person sitting on the band (38) can lean, the back rest (60,84) may be padded (62), may be pivotally mounted on the lift (10,80) and/or may be removably mounted on the lift (10,80).
  • 10. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that the support member (40) comprises a generally U shape member with the base of the U engagable with the bottom of the bath (12), the support member (40) may extend respectively from adjacent the free ends (36) of the side limbs (15) of the frame (14) to the bottom of the bath (12), and the support member (40) preferably braces the free ends (36) of the side limbs apart (15).
  • 11. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that the frame (14) is arranged such that at leas tone of the side limbs (15) of the frame (14) in the in-use condition lies on or alongside the side of a bath (12).
  • 12. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that supporting members (46,82) are provided on one or both of the side limbs (15) engageable with the top of the side of the bath (12), the supporting members (46) may be pivotally mounted to the or each side limb (15) and/or may comprise adjustable feet (82).
  • 13. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that the lift (10,80) is adjustable in size to be usable with different size baths (12), and any of the support member (40), back rest (60,84), base (16) of the frame (14), or shaft (18,114) extending along the frame base (16) may be adjustable across the width of the lift (10,80).
  • 14. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that electric control means are provided to permit a user to control the feeding out or in of the band (38), the control means may be selectively locatable on either side of the lift (10,80) as is required and/or may comprise a plug in module (104).
  • 15. A bath lift (10,80) according to claim 1, characterised in that a seat member (88) is provided locatable on the band (38) for a person to sit on, the seat member (88) may be substantially rigid or semi rigid, the side edges of the seat member (88) may be flexible or pivotable to accommodate tapering side walls of a bath (12) and may comprise one or more strips (90) of substantially rigid or semi rigid material jointed to the main part of the seat member (88) by a web or webs (92).
Parent Case Info

This application is a 371 of PCT/GB98/02444 Filing date Aug. 14, 1998 which claims benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/055/788 Filing date Aug. 15, 1997.

PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind 102e Date 371c Date
PCT/GB98/02444 WO 00 2/15/2000 2/15/2000
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO99/08643 2/25/1999 WO A
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
2045110 Spiess Jun 1936
2123398 Bowers Jul 1938
3317928 Root May 1967
3581316 Petersen Jun 1971
5185892 Mitchell Feb 1993
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
0 486 215 A1 May 1992 EP
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/055788 Aug 1997 US