Bathlift device

Jan. 19, 1965

3,166,282

Filed Feb. 13, 1962

J. E. NOLAN

BATHLIFT DEVICE

Sheets-Sheet 1 !O

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INVENTOR

John E. Nolan

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ATTORNEY

Jan. 19, 1965

3,166,282

J. E. NOLAN

BATHLIFT DEVICE

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United States Patent Office „ ,, ^{3 166,282}

Patented Jan. 19, 1965

The base 20 supports the cylinder assembly 18 which may extend perpendicular to the base 20 or preferably at some angle other than 90 degrees such as shown in FIGURE 1. Internally, the cylinder 40 operates with a piston which is movable in the cylinder 40 to raise and lower the seat 10 while externally the cylinder 40 serves as a guide and support for the seat 10 as it moves up and down or swivels.

The cylinder assembly 18 may be rotatably secured to the central portion 30 of the base 20 by any suitable means such as a bracket 39, which may be in the form of a pin and which is rotatable within the central portion 30 of the base 20.

The cylinder assembly 18 comprises a cylinder 40 having end caps 44 and 46 suitably secured to each axial end of the cylinder 40 for enclosing the cylinder ends. The cylinder caps 44, 46, may be detachably connected to the cylinder 40 by suitable means such as a threaded connection. The lower cap 46 is connected to the bracket 39 while the bracket 39 is held to the base 20 as previously described.

The upper cylinder cap 44 has a central opening for a piston rod 48 which extends into the cylinder 40. The opening also serves as a guide for the piston rod 48 as it slides in and out of the cylinder 40. The piston rod 48 carries a suitable piston (not shown) on one end which cooperates with the cylinder 40 to form means for developing the necessary force for raising, supporting and lowering the seat 10.

The other end of the piston rod 48 carries an M shaped bracket 50 which has two arms 52, 54, extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod 48. Each end of the two arms 52, 54 is connected to rods 56 and 58 respectively which extend downwardly and parallel to the cylinder 40. The lower ends of the rods 56, 58 terminate below the upper end of the cylinder 40 and are secured to the seat carrier 16 which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 40.

The carrier 16 consists of two members 60, 62 which 40 may be joined on one end and which straddle the cylinder 40 in a generally transverse direction. Two ends of the members 60, 62 may be joined by an integral cross member 64 or the two ends may be secured to a separate cross member by conventional means. The other 45 two ends of the members 60, 62 extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 40 to form a support for the seat 10.

The seat 10 is secured to the members 60, 62 by suitable means such as for example by providing the bottom 50 of tne seat 10 with threaded studs 66 (only one shown) which are received in suitable holes in the bracket members 68 extending from the sides of the members 60, 62. The studs 66 are held to the bracket 68 by nuts threaded on the studs 66. Any other suitable means or method 55 could also be used for securing the seat to the carriage arms 60 and 62.

In order to guide and support the members 60, 62 and the seat 10 as they move up and down, a pair of guide rollers 70, 72, rotatably carried between the two memG0 bers .60 and 62 are provided. The rollers 70, 72 have a curvilinear surface which engage the outside surface of the cylinder 40 to provide rolling contact between the rollers 70, 72 and the cylinder 40. Instead of rollers 70 and 72, any other suitable structure could be used in lieu 65 thereof, such as sliding shoes.

The curved surface of the rollers 70, 72 may be such that a longitudinal cross section passing through the axis of one of the rollers will define two opposed arcs of a circle having substantially the same diameter as the outer

-- · Such rollers will provide a continuous line contact between the cylinder 40 and the rollers 70, 72 thereby distributing the rolling contact be3,166,282 BATHLIFT DEVICE John E. Nolan, Jeffersontown, Ky., assignor to American Radiator &amp; Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware

Filed Feb. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 172,905

Claims. (CI. 248—124)

This invention relates to an improved lifting and lowering device which among its other uses is particularly welladapted for lowering and raising stout, handicapped and elderly people and is particularly useful in entering and leaving a bathtub, and in hydrotherapy treatments either assisted by or unassisted by an attendant.

_ Due to physical disabilities of various types, it is often difficult or impossible for a person to enter and leave a bathtub or other similar facilities unaided. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a device for assisting persons in and out of baths, bathtubs, and similar facilities which is of a simple design and easy to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting and lowering device which may be easily and readily placed in and removed from conventional bathtubs.

Still another object is to provide a bathlift device which does not require any structure connection to the bathtub.

Yet another object is to provide an improved lifting and lowering device which is of simple design, portable and of light weight construction.

A further object is to provide a bathlift which may be operated by the user or an attendant from a domestic water supply.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

. FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my bathlift positioned in a tub in a raised position.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of my bathlift in an intermediate position.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a further alternate embodiment of my bathtub lift in a raised position.

The apparatus of the present invention consists of a suitably shaped chair 10 having a seat portion 12 and a back portion 14 for assisting a person to lower and elevate his person into and out of a bathtub. The seat 10 is attached to a earner 16 and both the seat 10 and the carrier 16 are supported for up and down movement and for swivel movement relative to the support cylinder 40 to permit a person to enter and leave a bathtub in a manner which, requires a minimum of effort. The apparatus which supports the seat 10 and carrier 16 consists of a cylinder assembly 18 supported in a generally upright position by a base 20.

The base 20 has support feet 22, 24, 26, 28, extending outwardly from the center portion 30 of the base 20 i having approximately the width of a bathtub to give maximum support. The ends of the support feet 22, 24, 26, 28, are provided with plastic or rubber caps 32, 34, 36, 38, which contact the bottom of the bathtub to prevent the support feet 22, 24, 26, 28, from sliding in the bath- ( tub and from scoring or otherwise damaging the bathtub.

The length of the feet and their spacing from one another are such that the base 20 may be able to rest on the bottom of any ordinary bathtub. The legs are also _u arranged to.support the device over a wide area to prevent 70 surface of the cylinder 40^ it from tipping over within the tub when someone is sitting on the seat 10.

3,166,383 tween the cylinder and the rollers over a maximum area. The shafts 74, 76 which support the rollers 72, 74 are rotatably supported in openings in the members 60, 62. If desired, a suitable bearing may be provided in the members 60, 62 to reduce the friction between the rotating shafts 74, 76, arid the members 60, 62. Alternatively, the shafts 74, 76 may be secured against rotation within the openings of the members 60, 62 while the rollers 70, 72 rotate around the shaft 74, 76 in which case suitable tearings may be provided between the shafts. 74, 76 and the rollers 70, 72.

In the. embodiment shown the distance between the two rollers 70, 72 is greater than the diameter of the cylinder 40 plus the smallest radius of both rollers, such that the two rollers contact the cylinder when the plane containing the axes of rotation of both rollers 7®, 72 is at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylirider 49. Consequently, the two members 60, 62 which support the seat 1® and rollers 70, 72 will extend at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 40. However, the. members 6®, 62 and the seat 1® will still be parallel to the bottom of the bathtub if the angle between the cylirider 48 arid the carrier 16 is equal to the acute angle between the cylinder 40 and the base 28. If another angular arrangement is used a similar adjustment 25 may be made in the carriage or seat support to impart the inclination desired to the seat.

Because of the acute angle between the carrier 16 and the cylinder 4®, the center of gravity of the person sitting in the seat 10 will be directed to a more centralized loca- 30 tion of the base 20 thereby stabilizing the base 20. Also because of the acute angle between the carrier 16 and the cylinder 40, the weight of a . person in the seat 10 will insure solid contact between the cylinder 40 and the rollers 70, 72 since the carrier 16 will tend to pivot about 35 the ends of the rods 56, 58 to thereby seat the rollers 70, 72 solidly against the sides of the cylinder 40.

It will be noted that the carrier 16 may rotate about the cylinder 40 since the concave rollers 70, 72 may slide around the cylinder 40. However, it is preferable that 4.0 the cylinder assembly rotate about the swivel connection between the cylinder assembly 18 and base 20 as previously explained. Any rotatable movement of the carrier 16 about the cylirider 40 may be prevented by providing guideways on the cylirider 18 for receiving the rods 56 arid 58.,

In order to raise and lower the seat 10, means are provided for conducting a fluid under pressure to the area beneath the piston, This means consists of an inlet connection 9® to the bottom of the cylinder 49. Conduit means SO, such as a rubber or plastic hose, is connected 50 to the inlet connection 90 by suitable means such as a slip joint connection 82 or a threaded connection such as commonly used on a garden hose.

Fluid under pressure is admitted to the lower portion Of the cylinder 40 to raise the piston and thereby raise the piston rod 48, the rods 56, 58, the carrier 16, and the seat 10. As the carrier 16 rises, the rollers 70, 72 will rotate on the cylinder 40 to guide the carrier 16. An opening 83 is provided in the top cylinder cap 44, to - exhaust air from the cylinder 40 as the piston rises in the 60 portion of the bathtub, cylinder 40 and to prevent a vacuum from forming in ^p va the Upper portion of the cylinder 49 as the piston descends in the cylinder.

The cylinder 40 and piston are designed to produce Sufficient force to raise a. person sitting in the seat 10 65 ⁷⁸· when the cylinder inlet 99 is connected to a domestic water supply such as the faucet of a bathtub or other suitable source. In order to provide means for controlling the raisins arid lowering of the piston in the cylinder ---------,---- - - . -, - ,,

40, a two-way valve may be connected to the bathtub 70 sitting in the seat lOJo more conveniently ^P®¹^/^® faucet arid to the hose 80 leading to the cylinder inlet 90.. The two-way valve 84 as shown in FIGURE 2 is connected to operate an alternate embodiment of the bathlift device which is similar to FIGURE 1 except that an off10 ί':

.assembly 18 and the base 20. The control valve 84 may be located in any suitable location such as on the faucet •85, on the carrier 16 or to bracket 50.

.In FIGURE 2 the valve 84 is connected to the faucet 85 and to the hose §0’and has a discharge opening 86 directed to the inside of the tub. The valve 84 has a handle 88 which may be placed in either one of two positions. In one position the valve 84 will direct the water from the faucet to the hose 89 to raise the piston while in the other position the valve 84 will shut off the faucet water supply to the valve 84 and direct the water from the hose 80 to the discharge opening §6 to discharge the water into the tub and thereby lower the piston.

A new supply of fresh water is used to raise the piston each time while the water used each time is discharged into the bathtub. The valve 84 may have suitable markings labeled “Up” and “Down.” The hose 80 may be secured to the valve 84 by a simple disconnect joint to facilitate the securing arid removing of the hose SO from the valve 84 or if desired, the valve 84 may have a simple disconnect joint with the faucet for the same reason..

It will be appreciated that the device may be operated without the valve 84. If the hose 80 is connected directly to the faucet, the opening of the faucet valve will cause the seat to rise. In such a case the seat may be lowered by means which will be described later.

In order to provide for accidental disconnection or breakage of the hose 80, which could cause the seat to descend when the seat 10 is in an elevated position, a check valve 78 may be provided at the inlet connection 99 if desired. The check: valve 78 (see FIGURE 1) will permit water to enter the cylinder 40, but will prevent it from leaving unless it is opened manually. A remotely controlled device (not shown) may be provided to open the check valve 78 such as a wire control rod enclosed witbin a flexible casing. In this way, the check valve 78 may be opened by the person sitting in the seat 10 or by an attendant without reaching down into the bottom of the bathtub.

Also in cases where a two way valve 84 is not used on the faucet, the lowering of the seat 10 may be controlled by opening the check valve 78 which may discharge the water from the cylinder 4® directly into the tub without first passing through the hose 89.

The operation of the bathtub lift device is as follows: The device is first placed in the rearward portion of the bathtub and the hose 80 is connected to a convenient faucet. The water is then turned on either by turning on the faucet or the two-way valve 84 (shown in FIGURE 2) to admit water to the bottom of the cylinder 4®. The water entering the cylinder 40 will raise the piston which in turn raises the piston rod 48, arms 52, 54, carrier 16, and the seat 10. The seat 10 is then manu55 ally swiveled 90 degrees so that the front: of the seat 1® will face one side of the bathtub. In this position, a person can easily seat himself in the seat. The seat 10 is then manually swiveled either by an attendant or the person sitting in the seat to a position facing the forward ____' ' ' ’ . The seat 10 is then lowered by moving the two-way valve 84 to a “Down” position and opening the check valve 78 (if such a check valve is provided) by the remote control device, or if a two way valve 84 is not used, merely by opening the check valve 3. The weight of the person in the seat will force the water out of the cylinder. After the person has completed bathing, the seat 10 may be raised and swiveled to the side of the tub as previously described.

If desired, means may be provided to permit a person two way valve 84. This may be desired in cases where an attendant is not present and the person sitting in the seat 10 is not able to reach the bathtub faucet. This uevice wuivu n wuiueu lw x ___ — may be accomplished by providing a hose (not shown) set'cantilever mounting is provided between the cylinder 75 between the bathtub faucet and the two way valve 84 §,166,282 in Order that the two way valve 84 may be located adjacent to the seat 10, where it can be conveniently reached by a person sitting in the seat 10. An opening 132 may be provided in the back portion of the seat 10 to facilitate the. handling of the device when it is placed into or removed from the bathtub.

FIGURE 3 shows another alternate embodiment similar to FIG. 2 in that there is an offset pivotal mounting between the cylinder assembly and the base but which differs from FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the carrier arms thereof are formed with a bend as will be described. As shown in FIG. 3 the cylinder assembly 18 is designed to be pivoted around an axis removed from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. In this embodiment, the lower cylinder end cap 102 carries a bracket 104 which has a cylindrical opening designed to receive a pin 106 extending vertically from the base 108. The cylindrical opening and the pin 106 form a bearing about which the cylinder 110 may pivot. It will be appreciated that a sleeve type bearing or roller type bearing may be provided at this pivot connection if desired.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, the carrier members 112 (only One shown), are formed with a bend which serve to carry the seat 116, lower than the portion of the carrier members adjacent to the cylinder 110. This will permit the seat 116 to sit lower in the tub when it is in its lowered position. In this embodiment, a pair of connecting members 118 (only one shown), on either side of the cylinder 110 serve to support the shafts 122, 124 of the concave rollers 126, 128. The carrier members 112, are secured to the connecting members 118, by suitable connecting means such as the threaded screws 130.

In order to make the device portable and light weight so that it can be easily lifted by one person, all structural parts may be made of aluminum. The seat 10, 116 may be made of suitable plastic such as polypropylene or molded fiber glass which is of relatively light weight and which also presents a smooth stain proof surface. The rollers 70, 72, 126, 128 may also be made of plastic.

While I have shown and described an operating device much wherein the chair is attached to the piston rod for activation, this arrangement could be reversed and the chair attached to the cylinder which would move up and down on a piston. In this case, fluid would be admitted in between the top of the piston head and one end of the cylinder.

The invention hereinabove described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims. The inven- . —_Λ---------- —.--------- —„ tion, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise 50 base, a hydraulic cylinder extending upwardly from said details of the structure shown and described. ’