Bath lift

Abstract

A bath lift including an inflatable part 10 locatable in a bath to raise or lower a person sitting thereon. The part 10 comprises a seat section 12 and a support section 20 . The sections 12, 20 are connected in series such that with a person sitting on the part 10 the section 12 will deflate first, and when the part 10 is being inflated with a person sitting thereon the section 20 will inflate prior to the section 12.

1 . A bath lift, the bath lift comprising an inflatable member locatable in a bath such that a person can sit thereon and be raised as the member is inflated, and lowered as the member is deflated, the inflatable member comprising an inflatable seat section upon which a person can sit, and an inflatable support section the support section being adjacent the seat section and arranged such that when the support section is inflated and the seat section is at least partially deflated, the support section can provide support for a person sitting on the seat section.  
     
     
         2 . A bath lift according to  claim 1 , in which the support section extends on two opposite sides of the seat section.  
     
     
         3 . A bath lift according to  claim 2 , in which the support section extends on three sides of the seat section.  
     
     
         4 . A bath lift according to  claim 3 , in which the support section extends along the rear of the seat section and also each side thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A bath lift according to  claim 4 , in which the support section has a portion of increased width at the free end of each side thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A bath lift according to  claim 5 , in which the seat section has a front part of decreased width to accommodate the increased width portions of the support section.  
     
     
         7 . A bath lift according to any of  claims 2  to  6 , in which the support section comprises two separate inflatable side portions.  
     
     
         8 . A bath lift according to  claim 3  or any of  claims 4  to  7  when dependent on  claim 3 , in which the support section comprises a separate rear portion.  
     
     
         9 . A bath lift according to  claim 8 , in which the rear portion when inflated diverges upwardly.  
     
     
         10 . A bath lift according to claims  8  or  9 , in which the rear portion when inflated extends above the side portions and seat section.  
     
     
         11 . A bath lift according to any of  claims 8  to  10 , in which the rear portion when inflated is inclined rearwardly, to in use generally conform to the shape of the end of a bath.  
     
     
         12 . A bath lift according to any of the preceding claims, in which the inflatable member comprises an inflatable base section.  
     
     
         13 . A bath lift according to  claim 12 , in which the base section is located in use beneath the seat and support sections.  
     
     
         14 . A bath lift according to any of the preceding claims, in which the inflatable member is arranged such that during inflation with a person sitting on the seat section, the support section inflates substantially before the seat section, and during deflation with a person sitting thereon the seat section deflates substantially before the support section.  
     
     
         15 . A bath lift according to  claim 14 , in which an air inlet/outlet is provided on the exterior of the seat section.  
     
     
         16 . A bath lift according to  claim 15 , in which the interiors of the seat and support sections are interconnected in series such that air entering the support section has already passed through the seat section, and air exiting the support section passes into the seat section.  
     
     
         17 . A bath lift according to  claim 16 , in which the base section is interconnected in series between the seat and support sections such that during inflation air enters the base section from the seat section, and air entering the support section enters from the base section.  
     
     
         18 . A bath lift according to  claim 17 , in which one or more holes is provided respectively between the seat and base, and support and base sections.  
     
     
         19 . A bath lift according to any of the preceding claims, in which an inflatable bracing section is provided, which bracing section extends from at least the rear of the support section.  
     
     
         20 . A bath lift according to  claim 19 , in which the bracing section extends from the base section.  
     
     
         21 . A bath lift according to claims  19  or  20 , in which the bracing section is engageable in use with the end of a bath.  
     
     
         22 . A bath lift according to  claim 21 , in which the bracing section increases in width upwardly to in use generally conform to the shape of the end of a bath.  
     
     
         23 . A bath lift according to any of  claims 19  to  22 , in which the bracing section is connected in series with the support section such that air entering the bracing section comes from the support section.  
     
     
         24 . A bath lift according to any of  claims 19  to  22 , in which the bracing section is connected in parallel to the support section such that air entering thereinto passes from the base section.  
     
     
         25 . A bath lift according to any of the preceding claims, in which the bath lift also comprises mounting means for selective mounting of the inflatable member in a bath.  
     
     
         26 . A bath lift according to  claim 25 , in which the mounting means comprises a first mounting member fixable on a bath, and a second mounting member on the inflatable member which is selectively engageable with the first member.  
     
     
         27 . A bath lift according to  claim 26 , in which two first and second mounting members are provided, one of each on respective side of the bath and inflatable member.  
     
     
         28 . A bath lift according to  claim 27 , in which the first and second mounting members comprise profiled strips alignable substantially horizontally in use.  
     
     
         29 . A bath lift according to  claim 28 , in which the first member has a substantially n-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         30 . A bath lift according to claims  28  or  29 , in which the second member has a substantially u-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         31 . A bath lift according to  claim 28 , in which the first member defines a horizontally open channel with an opening of reduced width, and the second member has a substantially T-shaped cross-section but turned through 90°, with the stem of the ‘T’ extendible through the channel opening and the head of the ‘T’ restrainably located in the channel, or vice-versa.  
     
     
         32 . A bath lift according to  claim 25 , in which the mounting means comprise suckers on the underside and perhaps also the side of the inflatable member.  
     
     
         33 . A bath lift according to any of  claims 25  to  27 , in which magnetic mounting means are provided.  
     
     
         34 . A bath lift according to  claim 33 , in which the mounting means comprise complimentary magnetic members locatable respectively on the inflatable member and a bath.  
     
     
         35 . A bath lift according to  claim 33 , in which the mounting means comprises magnetic members locatable on the inflatable member and engageable with a metal bath.  
     
     
         36 . A bath lift according to any of the preceding claims, in which the bath lift also comprises a pump for selectively blowing into or suing air out of, the inflatable member.  
     
     
         37 . A bath lift according to  claim 36 , in which the pump is battery operated.  
     
     
         38 . A bath lift according to any of the preceding claims, in which the bath lift also comprises a control unit for operating the pump.  
     
     
         39 . A bath lift according to  claim 38 , in which the control unit is hand-held and remote from the pump.  
     
     
         40 . A bath lift according to claims  38  or  39 , in which the control unit floats in water.  
     
     
         41 . A bath lift substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  4  of the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         42 . A bath lift substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS.  5  to  8  of the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         43 . Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.