GB2149299A

GB2149299A - Foldable shower seat

Info

Publication number: GB2149299A
Application number: GB08321371A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacqueline Margeret Haslam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-08-09
Filing date: 1983-08-09
Publication date: 1985-06-12
Also published as: GB2149299B; GB8321371D0

Abstract

A bathing appliance includes a chair 10 for fitment in a shower- bath. The chair back is secured to a wall 20 below the shower-head 36. The chair has a folding seat 14 in order that it may be folded against the wall to enable the shower to be used by a person in the standing position. When the chair is folded down an invalid or elderly person can take a shower in the seated position. The arms and back of the chair may have detachable pads which are impregnated with antiseptic/cleaning compositions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bathing appliance This invention relates to a bathing appliance, particularly but not exclusively for use in bathing of a disabled person.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chair with an associated water dispenser means, the chair having a seat which is mounted for pivotal movement relative an off-ground support therefor between a first position for storage and a second position for use, the support preferably being a chair back having means for fixably securing the chair to a wall or the like.

The chair may be provided with a pair of arms for supporting the person, the pair of arms being mounted for pivotal movement in conjunction with the movement of the seat between the first and second positions. Preferably, the movement of the seat is transmitted to the pair of arms via a pair of legs interconnecting between the seat and the pair of the arms, the pair of legs being also movable between the first and second positions.

Preferably, a chair hereof is provided in combination with a shower-bath, the chair being fixably securable to a wall or the like below a shower-head.

One advantage of the invention as defined in the preceding paragraph is that a disabled person, whether physically or mentally, can be washed using a shower-bath whilst sitting down. A further advantage is that the chair, when not in use, does not take up as much space as a conventional rigid, non-collapsible, chair.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided with or for a chair hereof one or more antiseptic and/or cleaning means for the back and/or seat and/or arms of the chair. The antiseptic/cleaning means, which are preferably removable from the back and/or seat and/or arms (and thus replaceable), comprise pads or the like, each impregnated with slow-release antiseptic and/or cleaning substances.

The pads may be provided with adhesive tape (say double-sided tape) or means having cooperating interlatching formations (e.g.

"Velcro" Registered Trade Mark) for securement to the back and/or seat and/or arms of the chair, The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a chair according to a second aspect of the invention; and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a chair according to Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a chair 10 comprises a back 1 2 and a seat 1 4 which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the back. The back 1 2 is mounted on a support member 1 6 which carries means for fixably securing the chair to a wall or the like 20. The securing means are preferably bolts 18, but other types of securing means can be used.

The chair 10 has a pair of arms 22 which are mounted for pivotal movement in conjunction with the movement of the seat. Movement of the seat is transmitted to the arms 22 via a pair of legs 24 interconnecting between the seat and the arms.

One end 25 of each leg is pivotally connected to an arm, and the other end 26 of each leg is arranged for free standing on the floor, ground or the like. Each leg carries a stud 28 intermediate the ends 24 and 26, which is arranged to travel within a closed slot 30 disposed in the side of seat 14.

The arms are pivotally connected at one end 32 to the support member 16. Thus, because of the pivotal linkages, when the seat 14 is raised from the position of use (i.e.

generally horizontal) as shown in the drawings, the legs and arms are movable in conjunction with the seat to a storage position (not shown) where the chair is folded up against the wall. The chair therefore takes up less space in its storage position than a conventional rigid chair.

The chair is preferably made from a lightweight wood or plastics material. The securing bolts 1 8 are preferably coated or treated to prevent corrosion.

The chair is also provided with one or more antiseptic and/or cleaning means 34 which is or are disposed on the back and/or seat and/or arms of the chair. The antiseptic/ cleaning means, which are preferably removable from the back and/or seat and/or arms, comprises pads or the like impregnated with slow-release antiseptic and/or cleaning substances. The pads may be provided with adhesive tape, say double-sided tape, or with means having cooperating interlatching formations, say "Velcro" (Registered Trade Mark) tape, for securement to the back and/or seat and/or arms of the chair. Thus, the pads are replaceable.

The pads may cover part or all of the back and/or seat and/or arms of the chair. The antiseptic/cleaning substances may be released from the pads on contact with.water from a shower head 36. The pads comprise a foam or the like back adjacent the chair to provide for comfort. The antiseptic/cleaning substances are thus held between the pad and the user of the chair.

As the pads are removable from the chair (and thus disposable after use), there is less risk of cross-infection between users of the chair. The chair is suitable for use by a disabled person, whether physically or mentally. The chair can be secured to a wall adjacent a shower head and thus a disabled person can be left in comfort under the shower, whilst medical staff or helpers or relatives can attend to other matters. The chair is light-weight and can be folded up relatively easily for storage adjacent a shower wall.

It will be appreciated that water dispensing may be via means more intimately associated with a chair hereof, even as a shower head on a flexible pipe from a connection close to chair, say under the chair, if not from a connection in piping forming part of the framework of the chair or a support therefor.

Claims

1. A bathing appliance comprising a chair with an associated water dispenser means, the chair having a seat which is mounted for pivotal movement relative an off-ground support therefor between a first position for storage and a second position for use.

2. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support is a chair back having means for fixably securing the chair to a wall or the like.

3. An appliance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the chair has a pair of arms for supporting the person, the pair of arms being mounted for pivotal movement in conjunction with the movement of the seat between the first and second positions.

4. An appliance as claimed in claim 3, wherein the movement of the seat is transmitted to the pair of arms via a pair of legs interconnecting between the seat and the pair of arms, the pair of legs being also movable between the first and second positions.

5. A bathing appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a shower-bath, the chair being fixably securable to a wall or the like below a showerhead.

6. A bathing appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chair is provided with one or more antiseptic and/or cleaning means for the back and/or seat and/or arms of the chair.

7. A bathing appliance as claimed in claim 6 wherein the antiseptic cleaning means are impregnated with slow-release antiseptic and/or cleaning substances.

8. An appliance as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the antiseptic/cleaning means comprise pads or the like provided with adhesive tape or means have cooperating interlatching formations for securement to the back and/or seat and/or arms of the chair.

9. A bathing appliance substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.