GB2603520A

GB2603520A - A bathing unit

Info

Publication number: GB2603520A
Application number: GB2101680.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Scott Jason
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-02-08
Filing date: 2021-02-08
Publication date: 2022-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2041-02-08
Also published as: GB202101680D0; GB2603520B

Abstract

A bathing hut comprising a screen 3 an air movement mechanism, and a plurality of nozzles 2, wherein the plurality of nozzles are dispersed internally across more than one part of the screen and air movement mechanism is arranged to move air from surroundings of the device to the plurality of nozzles. The screen may comprise at least two parts 6, 7 each being moveable with respect to one another while the two parts may be connected by a substantially vertical hinge. The nozzles may be directed downwards while the hut may comprise a base with raised 11 and lowered 10 surface portions. The hut may have an open top. The hut may comprise a two part, substantially cylindrical screen with a flattened oval sectional profile extending from a closed base. Also disclosed is a post bathing device comprising a cylindrical screen wherein at least one end of the screen is open.

Description

A BATHING HUT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bathing hut or post-bathing device, in particular a device for providing drying to a user after bathing or similar.

Background

Increasing numbers of people are cognisant of the benefits of regular bathing, in more societies.

However with an ageing population in most societies there is also a growing problem with mobility.

For many with mobility issues it can be difficult to dry the body after bathing, as towels can be difficult and time-consuming and uncomfortable to operate successfully.

Prior Art

CN 208 625 547 (XU et al) discloses an intelligent vertical whole-body air dryer is characterized by comprising a main control processor, an interaction module, a heating module, an induction module, an air compressor, an upper air guide pipe, a lower air guide pipe, a power indicator, an operation indicator, a circulation hole, an emergency stop switch and an air drying cabin, wherein three air channels are arranged in the air drying cabin; the interaction module is provided with a display screen so that man-machine interaction can be effectively realized; the heating modules are arranged at the alternate positions of the upper air guide pipe and the lower air guide pipe and are connected with the main control processor; the induction module is directly connected with the main control processor and mainly has the function of effectively inducing the condition change in the air drying cabin in real time.

DE 102 012 010 921 (STRICKER) discloses a shower cabin has an integrated air dryer with hollow corner pillars having triangular cross-sections, in which a pipeline with 35 connection junctions is arranged on air nozzles. The air nozzles are arranged facing each other at the inner side surface of the corner pillars to the centre of the shower cabin. The corner pillars support a housing, which includes the structural components of the hot air generation production, particularly a fan and a heating coil. The heated air is guided through the corners of the housing of the pipeline resting on the corner pillars.

GB 2011 22 071 (VVINSTON) discloses a powered body dryer comprising a blower, and a conduit system comprising a plurality of ducts. The ducts are arranged in an array extending from the blower, wherein each duct has one or more outlet nozzles/vents to direct air transverse to the axis of the duct, so the air is directed towards the torso of the user. The system may comprise a heater having one or more ceramic elements to heat the air. The dryer may be housed in a casing or cabinet mounted to the wall. The dryer may comprise a regulator to allow a user to adjust the airflow rate and or temperature. The system may also comprise a thermostat to regulate the temperature. The system may comprise an overhead proximity sensor to detect the presence of a user. The dryer may be a modular self-contained unit.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a bathing hut comprising a closable screen which when closed surrounds an occupant, the hut includes an air movement mechanism and a plurality of nozzles which are disposed across an internal surface of the screen, the air movement mechanism is arranged to move air from surroundings of the device to the plurality of nozzles to assist in drying the occupant.

In some embodiments the hut comprises a housing for the air movement mechanism. In some embodiments the housing includes one or more air intakes.

In some embodiments the screen comprises two parts, where the parts are interconnected by one or more hinges.

The housing may be envisaged to be included in or on one part of the screen. The 35 housing may be included on a first part of the housing.

The hinge may be envisaged to comprise connectors, enabling connection of the air movement mechanism to the second part of the housing.

The first part of the screen may be envisaged to be in contact with the floor or other 5 support structure. In this way the weight of the air movement mechanism may be supported. The first part of the screen and/or the housing may comprise a stand or foot.

In some embodiments the connectors may be envisaged to comprise flexible and/or 10 resiliently deformable connectors, for example so as to be repeatedly and reliably connected when the hinge is closed.

The parts of the screen may be envisaged to surround a user, to place the user within a drying zone within the screen when the hinge is closed, with the screen in a first position.

The user may be able to exit drying zone when the screen is in a second position, where the hinge is open.

In some embodiments it may be envisaged that the screen or hut may comprise a locking means, for locking the hinge in the first and/or second positions. The locking means may be envisaged to cooperate with automation of the air movement mechanism, such that for example the air movement mechanism is deactivated when the hinge is in the second position.

In some embodiments the drying zone may be envisaged to comprise a cylindrical volume that is open or closed and elevated from the floor at a lower end, and open at a top end.

In some embodiments the stand may comprise a height adjustment means. In some embodiments the height adjustment means may thereby enable the user to adjust the height of the screen upwards or downwards so as to adjust for their height, in order to elevate the bottom end of the cylindrical drying zone from the ground or lower the top end of the cylindrical drying zone.

Such height adjustment means may comprise coaxially telescoping parts.

In some embodiments the screen may comprise the height adjustment means. Such height adjustment means may enable the user to elevate the top end of the screen, or lower the bottom end of the screen, so as to hide modesty. The screen may be 5 envisaged to comprise coaxially telescopic parts.

In some embodiments the screen may comprise wholly rigid parts. In some embodiments the screen may comprise flexible parts, for example a skirt below the drying zone's bottom end. In this way it may be envisaged that liquid exiting the drying 10 zone may not be liable to stray from the hut.

In some embodiments the hut may comprise a base, which base may provide somewhere for the user to stand. The base may comprise a drainage means, which may be envisaged to be plumbed into a sewage or foul water system. In some 15 embodiments therefore the base may comprise one or more perforations for drainage.

In some embodiments the base may comprise a surface arranged for standing. For example the base may comprise raised nodes, which may be resiliently deformable.

In some embodiments the base may comprise a heating means. For example in some embodiments the base may comprise a heating element. Said heating means may be envisaged to dry the user's feet separately, and/or comprise a wholly different and separately activated system. The heating means may be envisaged to be in the base directing upwards, or directed at the base, for example from the screen.

In some embodiments the nozzles of the screen may be directed downwards, such that the air movement in the drying zone tends towards the base, thereby encouraging liquid to travel from the user's body in use into the base.

In some embodiments the screen may comprise a heating means, which heating means may be envisaged to heat the drying zone in addition or alternative to the air movement within the drying zone. Heating may improve the comfort and/or dissipate water droplets blown from the user's body. The user may be enabled to control the temperature.

In some embodiments the air movement mechanism may comprise a heating means, which may be envisaged to heat the air as, after or before it is moved into the drying zone In some embodiments the screen may comprise moveable and/or controllable venting, for example wherein air flow into or out of the drying zone is optimized by adjusting the size of the vents and a control panel allows the user to adjust the airflow and temperature of drying zone.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the hut according to the present invention, in a first position; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the hut as shown in 20 Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the hut shown in Figure 1, in a second position; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the hut as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the hut shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the hut shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Fiqures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a hut generally comprising a post-bathing device 99 comprising a screen 3 formed of two parts 6,7, an air movement mechanism, and a plurality of nozzles 2, wherein the plurality of nozzles are dispersed internally across both parts of the screen and the air movement mechanism is arranged to move air from surroundings of the hut to the plurality of nozzles.

With particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a bipartite cylindrical screen structure with a flattened oval sectional profile, extending 10 upwards from a closed base 1 at the lower end to an open top end.

The parts of the screen comprise curved vertical screen parts, joining on one side of the flattened oval at a vertical hinge 12 and on the opposing side including a locking means comprises a sprung catch 4.

A door part 6 of the screen hinges open to allow access to an internal drying zone.

The other part 7 provides a housing 5 for the air movement mechanism, and provides the base 1.

The base 1 comprises a mat 10 for the user to stand on, which has raised nodes 11 to allow for passage of water.

The base includes feet 9 on its bottom face, to elevate the embodiment from the 25 ground.

The housing includes side vents 15 to allow entrance of air.

Internally the screen parts include sets of three horizontally spaced nozzles 2 on each 30 part, wherein the parts each have five sets stacked vertically and fed by horizontal feed tubes 22.

The nozzles 2 are directed downwards towards the base.

The tubes 22 are internally connected within the screen and the door part by resiliently deformable hose connectors 13.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely 5 combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1 A bathing hut comprising a closable screen which when closed surrounds an occupant, the hut includes an air movement mechanism and a plurality of nozzles which are disposed across an internal surface of the screen, the air movement mechanism is arranged to move air from surroundings of the device to the plurality of nozzles to assist in drying the occupant.
2. A hut according to claim 1 wherein the screen comprises at least two parts, each being movable with respect one to another.
3. A hut according to claim 2 wherein the two parts are connected together by way of a substantially vertical hinge.
4. A hut according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the nozzles are directed downwards.
5. A hut according to any preceding claim comprising a base with raised and lowered surface portions
6. A hut according to any of the preceding claim wherein the hut has an open top.
7. A hut according to any preceding claim comprising a two-part, substantially cylindrical screen structure with a flattened oval sectional profile, extending upwards from a closed base at a lower end to an opened top.
8. A post-bathing device comprising cylindrical screen formed of more than one part, an air movement mechanism, and a plurality of nozzles, wherein the plurality of nozzles are dispersed internally across more than one part of the screen and air movement mechanism is arranged to move air from surroundings of the device to the plurality of nozzles, wherein at least one end of the screen is open.