Bath for invalid

Abstract

A bath for a disabled person, the bath having a body with a side opening which is closable by vertically displaceable door under the action of a door movement mechanism including a counter-weight beam ( 56 ) either end of which is linked to an end of the door by a chain. The weight of the counter-weight beam ( 56 ) is selected so as to bias the door towards its closed position. The beam ( 56 ) is connected by a pin ( 66 ) to over-centre lockable link arms ( 60, 62 ). When the beam approaches its lowermost position, as the door closes, a stub portion ( 72 ) of a pivot pin ( 64 ) connecting the link arms ( 60, 62 ) enters a locking fork ( 77 ) which is displaced by a motor ( 82 ) to effect over-centre locking of the link arms ( 60, 62 ) and thereby seal a channel on an inner face of the door against a lip disposed around the opening.

1 . A bath ( 2 ) particularly for use by an elderly or disabled person, the bath having a body ( 4 ) with a side shaped so as to form an opening ( 6 ), a movable door ( 8 ) arranged to selectively close the opening ( 6 ), guide means ( 30 ) for guiding the door ( 8 ) between open and shut positions and door actuating means ( 52 ,  56 ,  74 ) for moving the door between the open and shut positions, the door actuating means ( 52 ,  56 ,  74 ) including counter-weight means ( 56 ) connected to the door so as to substantially counter-balance the weight of the door ( 8 ) and bias it towards its shut position.  
     
     
         2 . A bath according to  claim 1  wherein the door ( 8 ) weighs slightly less than the counterweight means ( 56 ).  
     
     
         3 . A bath according to  claim 1  or  2  including latch means ( 68 ) arranged to latch the door ( 8 ) in its open position.  
     
     
         4 . A bath according to  claim 3  including manual latch release means.  
     
     
         5 . A bath according to  claim 3  including electromagnetically actuated latch release means.  
     
     
         6 . A bath according to any preceding claim including door lowering drive means ( 106 ).  
     
     
         7 . A bath according to any preceding claim wherein the door actuating means includes a linkage ( 60 ,  62 ) operatively connected to the counter-weight means ( 56 ) which linkage is reconfigurable between first and second configurations to respectively open and close the door and simultaneously move the counter-weight means ( 56 ) between raised and lowered positions.  
     
     
         8 . A bath according to  claim 7  wherein the linkage includes first and second link arms ( 60 ,  62 ) interconnected by a first pivot ( 64 ) and a second pivot ( 66 ) interconnecting a portion of the first link arm ( 62 ) distal from the first pivot ( 64 ) to the counter-weight means ( 56 ).  
     
     
         9 . A bath according to claims  7  and  8  wherein in its second configuration, corresponding to the door ( 8 ) being closed, the first and second link arms ( 60 ,  62 ) are substantially aligned with each other.  
     
     
         10 . A bath according to  claim 8  or  9  wherein a third pivot ( 38 ) interconnects a portion of the second link arm ( 60 ) distal from the first pivot ( 64 ) to an anchor point ( 36 ) fixed relative to the bath body ( 4 ).  
     
     
         11 . A bath according to any one of  claims 7  to  10  wherein the door actuating means includes a sealing mechanism ( 74 ) arranged to act on a portion ( 72 ) of the linkage to effect a seal between the door ( 8 ) and the opening ( 6 ).  
     
     
         12 . A bath according to  claim 11  including manual sealing mechanism actuation means.  
     
     
         13 . A bath according to  claim 11  including electric sealing mechanism actuation means ( 102 ,  112 ).  
     
     
         14 . A bath according to  claim 12  or  13  wherein the sealing mechanism ( 74 ) includes a rack ( 84 ) and a pinion ( 80 ) or screw engaging the rack ( 84 ) and displacing it to act on the portion ( 72 ) of the linkage ( 60 ,  62 ).  
     
     
         15 . A bath according to any one of  claims 11  to  14  wherein the sealing mechanism ( 74 ) includes an urging surface ( 88 ) adjacent to which the portion ( 72 ) of the linkage ( 60 ,  62 ) becomes positioned as the door ( 8 ) substantially reaches its closed position.  
     
     
         16 . A bath according to  claim 15  wherein the urging surface ( 88 ) is arranged to be displaced by the sealing mechanism ( 74 ) to effect an over-centre locking of the linkage ( 60 ,  62 ).  
     
     
         17 . A bath according to any one of  claims 11  to  16  including a door shut sensor for sensing when the door ( 8 ) substantially reaches its closed position.  
     
     
         18 . A bath according to any one of  claims 11  to  17  wherein the sealing mechanism ( 74 ) includes a sealing complete sensor ( 98 ) for sensing when sealing between the door ( 8 ) and the opening ( 6 ) has been at least substantially completed.  
     
     
         19 . A bath according to any preceding claim including locking means ( 100 ,  102 ) for preventing inadvertent opening of the door ( 8 ).  
     
     
         20 . A bath according to  claim 19  wherein the locking means ( 100 ,  102 ) includes a lock actuating device which actuates the lock automatically when water is present in the bath.  
     
     
         21 . A bath according to  claim 19  or  20  wherein the lock actuating device includes a water sensor ( 100 ) which provides an electrical signal when water is present in the bath.  
     
     
         22 . A bath according to any one of  claims 19  to  21  and  claim 13  or any claim dependent thereon wherein the locking means ( 100 ,  102 ) effects locking of the door sealing mechanism ( 74 ) by electric isolation of an electrical actuator ( 82 ) of the sealing mechanism ( 74 ).  
     
     
         23 . A bath according to any one of  claims 19  to  21  wherein the locking means effects locking by means of a physical stop member ( 62 ).  
     
     
         24 . A bath according to any of  claims 19  to  23  wherein the locking means ( 100 ,  102 ) includes means for automatically unlocking when the bath is substantially empty of water.  
     
     
         25 . A bath according to any preceding claim wherein the guide means ( 30 ) constrains the door ( 8 ) to move substantially within its own plane as it moves from the open to the shut position and as sealing between the door ( 8 ) and the opening ( 6 ) in the bath body ( 4 ) occurs.  
     
     
         26 . A bath according to any preceding claim including sealing means ( 18 ) for sealing between the body opening ( 6 ) and the door ( 8 ) comprising either a lip ( 14 ) or a channel ( 16 ) extending around the body opening ( 6 ) which is sealingly engageable with the other of the lip ( 14 ) or channel ( 16 ) projecting from an inner surface ( 10 ) of the door ( 8 ).