GB2457069A

GB2457069A - Bath with overflow collector

Info

Publication number: GB2457069A
Application number: GB0801851A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Thomas Golden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-01
Filing date: 2008-02-01
Publication date: 2009-08-05
Also published as: GB0801851D0

Abstract

A bath 1 comprising a bathing container 2 and an adjacent overflow collector 3, a lowered sidewall portion 6 of the bathing collector 2 separates the two and allows water to flow over the lowered section 6 into the overflow collector 3. The majority of the bathing container sidewall 5 is higher than the lowered sidewall portion 6 and the lowered portion 6 defines a seat. The overflow collector 3 comprises a surrounding sidewall 18 defining a step of height intermediate of the floor and the seat portion 6. The overflow collector 3 and bathing container 2 may comprise an integral unit. Also a bath 1 comprising a sidewall portion having a lipped channel 10 arranged to receive a flow of water which flows over the lip and into the bath 1 in a waterfall effect.

Description

I

BATHING APPARATUS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to bathing apparatus

Background

The elderly and infirm often encounter difficulties when bathing, particularly when entering or getting out of the bath. Known bathing apparatus are available that allow easier access by way of various means of motorised or inflatable seats or a trapeze arrangement. Bathing apparatus are also known which comprise a door to allow the bather to walk into and out of the apparatus. In this latter type of bathing apparatus a bather has to remain in the apparatus to wait for the water to fill the enclosure and for soiled water to drain out of the enclosure.

Also, it frequently occurs that baths are left unattended during filling with the result that flooding, sometimes severe, occurs.

Furthermore difficulties are also encountered when bathing infants due to the height of known bathing apparatus being too high as compared to the low level of water required.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved bathing apparatus.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided bathing apparatus comprising a bathing container and an overflow collector, the bathing container comprising a lowered sidewall portion which is so arranged such that, in use, water in the bathing container is capable of flowing over the lowered sidewall portion and into the overflow collector.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bathing container comprising a sidewall portion which is provided with a lipped channel, the lipped channel comprising a channel portion and the channel portion comprising a lip portion, the channel portion is arranged receive a supply of water and water in the channel portion is arranged to flow over the lip portion and into the bathing container.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a bathing apparatus which enables easy and safe access to the bathing container by way of a step and a lowered threshold portion on a sidewall of the bathing container. The embodiment also comprises safety handles and provides a gentle flow of water entering the bath enclosure by way of a cascade arrangement. The lowered threshold portion can conveniently be used as a seat for easy access and exit to and from the bathing container. An overflow collector is arranged below the lowered threshold portion and collects water which has passed from the bathing container and over the threshold portion. Once in the overflow collector the water is allowed to drain away.

Brief description of the drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of bathing apparatus, Figure 2 is a plan view of bathing apparatus, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of bathing apparatus on A-A.

Detailed description

With reference initially to Figure 1 there is shown bathing apparatus I comprising a bathing container 2 and an overflow collector 3. The overflow collector 3 may be termed a font.

The bathing container 2 comprises a surrounding sidewall 5 comprising a lowered ledge portion 6. The lowered ledge portion 6 is located substantially in register with the overflow collector 3. The overflow collector 3 is arranged to extend for at least the full length of the lowered ledge portion 6.

The lowered ledge portion 6 is of a suitable height above the base 7 of the bathing container 2 to allow sufficient water to be retained in the bathing container 2 in which to bathe. The lowered ledge portion 6 may be provided with an outwardly protruding curved edge portion which in use allows water to flow directly into the overflow collector.

The major part of the sidewall 5 is raised above the height of the lowered ledge portion 6 so as to be sufficient to contain any surges of water resulting from movement of the bather in the bath container 2.

Water is supplied into the bathing container 2 by way of a mixer arrangement (not shown). The mixer arrangement may be arranged to supply water directly into the bathing container or by way of an indented lipped-channel profile 10 located at the top of the rear sidewall 9 of the bath container. It will be appreciated that the mixer arrangement may be free-standing, wall-mounted or attached to the bathing apparatus I. The lipped channel 10 is so constructed as to permit and contain water distribution along its length. The lipped channel 10 comprises a channel 11 and a lip portion 12. In use, as water fills the channel 11 it will eventually flow over the lip 12 and down the rearward sidewall 9 so as to create a pleasing cascade effect. The mixer arrangement may be directly and physically coupled to the profiled indentation. So, a rearward surface of the channel Ii may be provided with water outlet ports (not shown).

A waste water outlet 16 is provided in the basal surface 7 of the bathing container 2 and is provided with a removable plug device (not shown) to prevent water from draining away whilst bathing.

The overflow collector 3 comprises a sidewall 18 which serves to ensure that water does not escape from the collector 3. The basal portion 14 of the overflow collector conveniently forms a step portion which is of a height intermediate of that of the lowered sidewall portion 6 and ground level. Handles may be conveniently located to assist a bather using the step. The overflow collector 3 is also provided with a waste water outlet 17 which in normal use would be fully open.

Indicia (not shown) is provided on an inner surface of the sidewall 5 to indicate the level to which water should be filled to in the bathing container prior to immersion of the bather into the container. The indicia may be in the form of a guideline or marker to indicate the appropriate water level.

The basal surface 7 of the bathing container is provided at a higher level than that of the basal surface 14 of the overflow collector 3, and is intermediate of the height of the lowered ledge portion and the basal surface 14 of the collector 3.

The bathing apparatus I may be made from glass reinforced plastic (GRP), steel or any other suitable material.

The ergonomic bathing apparatus 1 provides numerous advantages. Since the bathing container 2 can be allowed to safely overflow, over the lowered ledge 6, a bather can fill the container without the need to be present for the entire filling process. The lowered ledge portion 6 allows the water to overflow into the overflow enclosure in a substantially unrestricted manner. The overflow enclosure holds the overflowed water momentarily before allowing it to drain away.

The lowered ledge portion 6 forms a threshold to and from the bath enclosure and is designed to be of sufficient width to allow a bather to sit thereon.

Claims

1. Bathing apparatus comprising a bathing container and an overflow collector, the bathing container comprising a lowered sidewall portion which is so arranged such that, in use, water in the bathing container is capable of flowing over the lowered sidewall portion and into the overflow collector.

2. Bathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the overflow collector is adjacent to the bathing container.

3. Bathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which a major portion of the sidewall which surrounds the internal volume of the bathing container is higher than ihe lowered sidewall portion.

4. Bathing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the lowered sidewall portion comprises an uppermost portion which defines a seat portion.

5. Bathing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the overflow collector comprises a step portion which is intermediate of the height of the lowered sidewall portion and ground level.

6. Bathing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the overflow collector comprises a basal portion which is located at a height which is intermediate of the height of the lowered sidewall portion and ground level.

7. Bathing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the overflow collector comprises a surrounding sidewall so that, in use, overflowed water is collected within the volume bounded by the sidewall.

8. Bathing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is an integral unit.

9. Bathing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the bathing container comprises a channel, the channel being provided with a lip portion which extends for substantially the length of the channel, and in use the channel is arranged to receive a water supply and water flows from the channel into the bath container.

10. Bathing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which channel is provided in a sidewall of the bath container.

11. Bathing container comprising a sidewall portion which is provided with a lipped channel, the lipped channel comprising a channel portion and the channel portion comprising a lip portion, the channel portion is arranged to receive a flow of water and water therein is arranged to flow over the lip portion and into the bathing container.

12. Bathing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings

13. Bathing container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.