GB2155323A

GB2155323A - Chair for use in a bath

Info

Publication number: GB2155323A
Application number: GB08506075A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Evelyn Reilly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-08
Filing date: 1985-03-08
Publication date: 1985-09-25
Also published as: GB2155323B; GB8406113D0; GB8506075D0

Abstract

Frame member 2 (Figure 1) or 110-120 which support body portion (Figure 1) or 102-108 includes suction cups (6,8,10) or 116A,118A,120A to engage the bottom of the bath and removably secure said frame member thereto. In one embodiment of the invention (Figure 1), the body portion consists of a seat potion moulded integrally with a back rest portion (4), the body portion being pivotally secured to the frame member to enable relative movement between the frame member and body portion. In an alternative form of the invention (Figure 2), the body portion consists of a flexible seat portion 102 carried by the frame member, back rest portion 110 of the body portion being formed integrally with outwardly extending arms 112 for engaging the side flange of the bath. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bath time chair This invention relates to chairs, and is particularly concerned with chairs for use by a baby or young child whilst in a bath.

According to the present invention, there is provided a chair for use in a bath comprising a body portion for supporting a user of the chair, and a frame member for supporting said body portion, said frame member including means to engage the bottom of the bath and removably secure said frame member thereto.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said body portion will be a seat formed of a moulded plastics material, said seat being hingedly secured to said frame member so that the seat is movable relative to said frame member, support means extending between the seat and the frame member to maintain the seat member in any one of a member of desired positions.

The frame member will preferably be a horizontally disposed U-shaped member, the lower surface of the U-shaped member carrying one or more suction pads to maintain the frame member in position relative to the bath.

Preferably, said seat will incorporate a tray member which may be removable from said seat.

If desired, the frame member may include outwardly extending side arms for engaging the upper side flanges of the bath so as to give greater stability to the chair in use.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the seat may be rigidly secured to the frame member and the frame member may include legs carrying suction pads to maintain the chair in a desired position relative to the bath. In this embodiment of the invention, a seat portion of the seat will be formed of flexible material such as canvas or strong flexible plastics material, a back portion of the seat being secured to said seat portion.

Outwardly extending side arms for engaging the side flanges of the bath are formed integrally with the base portion of the seat, said side arms also serving to support the flexible seat portion.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I is a perspective view of a bath-time chair according to a first embodiment of the invention, the chair being shown in position relative to a bath; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is a front view of the chair of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figure 1, the bath-time chair comprises a frame member and a body portion, indicated generally by reference numerals 2 and 4 respectively.

As will be seen, the frame member comprises a horizontally located, generally U-shaped member having on its lower surface four suction pads three of which are indicated by reference numerals 6, 8, and 10 - for securing the chair in position relative to the bottom surface 12 of a bath 14.

The body portion 4 of the chair comprises a seat portion 16 and a back portion 18 having a head rest portion 18A which are formed integrally, preferably by moulding, of plastics material. Said body portion is hingedly secured to the legs 2A and 2Bone of the hinge positions is shown by reference number 20 - so that the body portion may be moved relative the frame member 2, stabilising bars 22 extending between the back portion 18 and the frame member 2 to maintain the body portion in any one of a number of selected positions.

As will be seen from the drawings, the body portion is provided with a series of apertures 24 for accommodating straps for securing a user in the chair, and the body portion carries a tray 26 which is removable from the body portion.

If desired, the chair may be provided with outwardly extending side arms for engaging the side flanges of the bath 14 so as to give additional stability to the chair in use.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, referring now to Figure 2, the chair comprises a body portion 102 composed of a flexible fabric or plastics material and having apetures 104 and 106.

The body portion 102 carries a metal or plastics material strip or band 108 to give the body portion a degree of rigidity and to secure the body portion 102 to a back rest 110 of the chair. Said back rest 110 is formed integrally with bath-engaging arms or members 112 and 114 which themselves are secured to the body portion 102 of the chair. The back rest 110 and arms or members 112 and 114 are preferably composed of a plastics material. The arm or member 112 is preferably lipped as indicated at 112A.

Projecting downwardly from the lower regions of the arms or members 112 and 114 are legs 116 and 118, and projecting from the lower region of the back rest 110 is a rearwardly inclined, centrally located leg 120, the legs 116, 118 and 120 each carrying a suction pad 116A. 118A, and 120A respectively.

Referring now to Figure 3, the chair is shown in position in a bath 122. As will be seen, the arm 112 engages the side flange 122A of the bath, the lipped portion 112A preventing sideways (to the right in the drawing) movement of the chair relative to the bath. The arm or member 114, carrying a suction pad or rubber strip 114A, engages the side of the bath, whilst the suction pads 116A, 118A and 120A of the legs 116, 118 and 120 engage the bottom of the bath. Thus the chair is stabilised relative to the bath.

Reference to Figures 2 and 3 will show that the back rest 110 is shaped at 110A so that the head of the user of the chair can rest thereon to enable hair washing to take place. Finally, instead of arm 114 engaging the side of the bath, the arm 114 may engage the side flange 122B of the bath, in which case the arm 114 will take the form as indicated in dotted line position at 114B, the suction pad or rubber strip 114A being dispensed with.

A chair according to the invention enables a baby or young child to sit comfortably whilst being attended to or whilst another child is being attended to without fear of the user of the chair inadvertently slipping.

Claims

1. A chair for use in a bath comprising a body portion for supporting a user of the chair, and a frame member for supporting said body portion, said frame member including means to engage the bottom of the bath and removably secure said frame member thereto.

2. A chair according to Claim 1, wherein said body portion is pivotally secured to said frame member so as to enable said body to be movable relative to said frame member.

3. A chair according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said frame member is a horizontally disposed generally U-shaped member, and wherein said means to engage the bottom of the bath consist of one or more suction pads.

4. A chair according to Claim 1, wherein said body portion is a member of flexible canvas or plastics material carried by a frame member, said frame member incorporating a plurality of legs carrying suction means for engaging the bottom of the bath.

5. A chair according to Claim 4, wherein said frame member is secured to one or more outwardly extending arms for engage side flange(s) of the bath so as to impart a greater degree of stability to the chair in use.

6. A chair according to Claim 5, wherein a back rest portion of the body portion is formed integrally with, and extends between outwardly extending arms.

7. A chair substantially as herein described.

8. A chair substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1, or Figures 2 and 3, of the accompanying drawings.