Bath

Abstract

A bath (16) for bathing a person (e.g. a patient) comprises a tub with at least one guard (24) attached to the bath which is movable on the bath from a stowed position where it does not obstruct entry

Description

The present invention relates to baths. More particularly it relates to baths for use with over-bath stretchers, bath-mounted stretchers, bath seats and other patient support devices. There are known stretchers that attach to a fixed object, typically a wall, and fold from a stowed position to a use position in which a patient can be laid on the stretcher for washing, dressing or examination. Such stretchers typically measure around 700 x 1900mm. A folding stretcher allows efficient use of space by allowing it to be stowed out of the way when not in use. There are also known stretchers that are either detachably mountable on a bath or hingedly attached to a bath. If the stretcher is mounted over a bath there is a second advantage, as well as space efficiency, in that the bath can double as a water collection tray, both while washing the patient and also while drying them, possibly after using the bath for washing. There are also known bath seats, some of which sit on the rim of a bath to sit on while washing and some of which aid in lowering a person into a bath. Stretchers, whether wall- or bath-mounted, often include a guard to protect an individual who is lying on the stretcher from falling off. As well as providing a general safety precaution this can be particularly important for individuals having conditions that make them tend towards thrashing or hyperactivity. A guard can avoid the need for restraining someone while caring for them, while at the same time keeping them safe. The guard may be detachable, engaging in sockets, or hingedly attached to an edge of the stretcher with a latching mechanism to keep it in its deployed position. When the guard is deployed it will extend above the edge of the stretcher to prevent an individual falling off. When not in use, with the stretcher deployed, an attached guard may hang vertically on its hinges below the stretcher. When the stretcher is folded to its stowed position the guard can be moved on its hinges to an orientation most convenient for stowing. Commonly this will involve the guard continuing to hang vertically, adjacent the vertically stowed stretcher. When not installed on a stretcher, a detachable guard can be stored on wall-mounted clips or hooks. The same applies to the stretcher if it is itself removable from the bath. With stretchers mounted on baths and stretchers mounted over baths, a folding guard is almost always unsuitable. It will protrude significantly over the bath when stowed and may interfere with the bath when the stretcher is deployed. For this reason overbath and bath-mounted stretchers use detachable guards rather than folding guards. This is particularly the case where a bath is mounted in peninsular configuration and needs guards on both sides. In this configuration the bulk of the stretcher with two guards, combined with the mechanical difficulties of stowing folding guards, make a folding guard solution almost impossible; meaning that detachable guards are the only known practical solution if guards are required. Although detachable guards overcome the problems associated with folding guards on over-bath and bath-mounted stretchers, they are also inconvenient to use. They have to be stowed remotely from the bath, meaning that a carer may need to step away from the individual using the stretcher to fetch a guard. The guards also usually need two hands to attach them to their stretcher, meaning again that the individual using the stretcher may not be able to receive proper support. A need for guards also exists with bath seats, bath lifts and inflatable bath cushions, which are used to help less-mobile individuals lower themselves into the bath. If a person lacks trunk control they may topple while being lowered. In practice there has been no mechanism provided with many of the lifts and cushions available to help protect a user of the lift or cushion. The present invention aims to provide an improved guarding system for over-bath stretchers, bath-mounted stretchers and other patients support devices, as well as providing safer bathing for individuals tending towards thrashing and hyperactivity. According to the present invention there is provided a bath for bathing a person, comprising a tub having a top with a rim defining a perimeter of the bath. The bath incorporates at least one guard which is attached to the bath and includes a guard member movable on the bath from a stowed position where it does not obstruct entry by a person into the tub to a use position in which it is locked to provide a barrier to protect against a person passing over the perimeter of the bath above the said rim at a portion guarded by the said guard member, while allowing access over the guard member to a person in the tub. Preferably the bath further includes a support surface which is deployable from a stowed position to a support position where it covers at least part of the top of the bath to provide a surface on which a person can lie or sit and where the guard member in its use position provides a barrier against a person falling from at least a portion of the support surface. Preferably the bath includes a side with a side panel and the guard member stows against or in the said side panel. Preferably the said guard member pivots from its stowed position to its use position. Preferably the said guard member slides from its stowed to its use position. Preferably the said guard member moves from its stowed to its use position by means of a pantograph mechanism. Preferably the guard member is supported by a frame within the side panel. Preferably the guard member can withstand a horizontal force applied to any point of the guard from within the bath of at least 50kgf. The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a known wall-mounted stretcher installed above a bath and incorporating a guard, shown in its stowed position. Figures 2 and 3 show a known bath-mountable stretcher incorporating a detachable guard, both away from and positioned on a bath, with a guard mounted. Figures 4 and 5 show a bath incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 6 and 7 show a bath incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 shows a bath incorporating a third embodiment of the present invention. Figures 9 and 10 show a bath incorporating a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 and 12 show a bath incorporating a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shows a bath (1) with a stretcher (2) mounted above it, shown in its stowed position. The stretcher has a bed (3) that can be folded down over the bath, allowing it to be used as a changing and showering surface. The surface of the bed (3) includes drain holes which allow water to drain into the bath during showering on the surface. When deployed, the bed is around 20cm above the top of the bath (1), this being a convenient height for showering and changing a person. The stretcher includes a guard (4) hingably fixed to the bed and latchable in a guarding position when the bed is deployed. When not in its guarding position, the guard is stowable against the underside of the bed, as shown. When the bed is deployed, there is room enough to unfold the guard from beneath the bed and latch it into a guarding position if needed when an individual is on the bed (3). It will be seen that the guard (4) hangs over the bath (1) when the bed (3) is stowed. Although it is about 90cm above the bath, it can interfere with hoisting an individual out of the bath. Figures 2 and 3 show a removeable bath-mountable stretcher (5) of a known type. Figure 2 shows the stretcher alone while Figure 3 shows it mounted on a bath. The stretcher comprises a substantially rectangular metal perimeter frame (6) over which is stretched a woven nylon sheet (7). The metal frame has rounded corners (8) which are not covered by the nylon sheet. Welded into each corner is a socket (9). The stretcher further includes two transverse members (10, 10) between long sides (11, 11) of the rectangular frame. Extending from these members in a direction away from the nylon sheet (7) and slightly inboard of the frame are legs (12). Also shown is a detachable guard (14) Figure 3 shows the stretcher of Figure 2 mounted on a bath (13) having a rim (15) largely hidden by the stretcher. The perimeter frame of the stretcher rests on the rim of the bath. The legs (12) extend down into the bath to locate the stretcher on the rim, ensuring it cannot move when in use. The stretcher is shown with one detachable guard (14) in place, engaged into two of the sockets (9). To use the stretcher, it is lifted onto the rim of the bath, using the legs to locate it. If needed, a first guard can then be mounted. An individual is hoisted or otherwise got onto the stretcher. If needed, a second guard can be mounted. The person can then be showered, washed or changed. The process is then reversed. It will be seen that several awkward steps are needed to mount and demount the stretcher and guards. The guards could be hinged to the stretcher but this would considerably increase its bulk and weight. Figures 4 and 5 show a bath (16) incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention. The bath comprises a substantially rectangular tub (17) having a rim (18), side panels (19) and end panels (20). The side and end panel are shown partially cut away so the structure behind them can be seen. The tub (17) is supported by a metal frame comprising legs (21) at each comer of the tub, together with longitudinal (23) and transverse (22) members which connect between the legs and support the tub (17) under its rim (18). At least one longitudinal member also incorporates mounting means comprising a hinge mechanism (25) to which a guard (24) is fixed. The guard is shown in its stowed position in Figure 4 and its deployed position in Figure 5. The guard comprises a trapezoidal rigid sheet fixed at its base to the hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism (25) allows the guard to be moved from a stowed position alongside the tub (17) to a use position where it extends above the rim of the tub. The hinge mechanism includes detent means such that the guard can be locked in its use position. When locked in position, the guard is able to withstand forces pushing out from within the tub of up to 50kgf. This is sufficient to ensure that a person on a stretcher above the bath or resting on its rim will be safe from falling off the stretcher even if they are thrashing. The guard may include padding material to protect a person who is thrashing from harm. In this embodiment the guard stows into an aperture (26) in the side panel (19) so an attractive flush surface is presented when it is stowed. The guard also includes a trapezoidal cutout (27) to reduce weight and to make a person in the bath or on a stretcher over the bath feel less enclosed. In the embodiment shown, the guard is made of steel, which has the strength to withstand the forces that may be applied to it by a person thrashing or trying to push themselves off a stretcher. Figures 6 and 7 show a further embodiment of the present invention with guards in their stowed and deployed positions. In this embodiment there are two guards on the side of the bath. Each guard is formed by a slightly more than semicircular disc (28) fixed through its axis to the longitudinal member (17) by a stud (29) about which it can rotate. In its stowed position the guard lies flush with the side panel (19), in an aperture therein. To deploy the guard, it is rotated 180 degrees around the stud so most of the disc is above the rim (18) of the bath. It is held in this position by locking means incorporated in brackets (30) which also serve to transfer load from the disc (28) if forces are applied to it. Similarly to the previous embodiment, the guard is able to withstand forced from inside the bath of up to 50kgf. Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the guard (31) moves up on a parallel linkage rather than pivoting. In this embodiment, the guard is shown midway in its movement between stowed and use positions, in order that the mechanism can be shown. The guard (31) is formed by a sheet (32) supported by a parallel linkage mechanism (33). In this embodiment the guard includes padding (34) on its bath ward face. Figures 9 and 10 show a further embodiment of the present invention incorporating a bath-mounted stretcher (36). In this embodiment there are two guards (35) on each side of the bath. The guards fold out and latch in a manner similar to the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5. Two smaller guards on each side offer some advantages over one large guard. They are easier to deploy one-handed, which leaves the other had free to support or handle a patient. They allow better access to the patient because of the gap between them. Also, in many cases only one guard will need to be deployed to leave a patient safe and feeling secure. The bath (16) is in a peninsular configuration. The stretcher (35), of a known type is shown in its stowed position in Figure 9 and in its deployed position in Figure 10, with the guards (35) also deployed. It will be seen that the guards can easily be stowed and deployed in a way that has not previously been possible. When deployed, the guards protect a person from sliding off the stretcher, passing over the rim of the bath and potentially falling onto the floor. Figures 11 and 12 show a bath incorporating an embodiment of the present invention using the same guards as the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 but with an inflatable-cushion type patient-lowering seat (37) of a known type installed in the bath (16). Figure 11 shows the cushion-type seat (37) fully inflated, ready to support a person before they lower into the bath, while Figure 12 shows the bath with guards raised and a person part-way lowered into the bath. At this stage the cushion is partially-deflated and potentially unstable to sit on. The guards protect the person from toppling, such that the pass over the rim of the bath and fall to the floor. Guards embodying the invention can with be used with patient-lowering bath seats, bath lifts, bath stretchers and inflating bath cushions to give a user added security as they lower into the bath. The guards can also give a person something they can safely grab for support. They can also protect a carer from being inadvertently struck if a person with a tendency to thrash is in the bath. In different embodiments of the invention, the bath may be provided just with guards or with a stretcher purpose-built to operate with the guards, or with a seat purpose-built to operate with the guards.

Claims

1. A bath for bathing a person, comprising a tub having a top with a rim defining a perimeter of the bath, characterised in that the bath incorporates at least one guard attached to the bath and including a guard member movable on the bath from a stowed position where it does not obstruct entry by a person into the tub to a use position in which it is locked to provide a barrier to protect against a person passing over the perimeter of the bath above the said rim at a portion guarded by the said guard member, while allowing access over the guard member to a person in the tub.

2. A bath as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the bath further includes a support surface which is deployable from a stowed position to a support position where it covers at least part of the top of the bath to provide a surface on which a person can lie or sit and where the guard member in its use position provides a barrier against a person falling from at least a portion of the support surface.

3. A bath as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the bath includes a side with a side panel and the guard member stows against or in the said side panel.

4. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the said guard member pivots from its stowed position to its use position.

5. A bath as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the said guard member slides from its stowed to its use position.

6. A bath as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the said guard member moves from its stowed to its use position by means of a parallel linkage mechanism.

7. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the guard member is supported by a frame within the side panel.

8. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the guard member can withstand a horizontal force applied to any point of the guard from within the bath of at least 50kgf.

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