EP0287621B1 - Wash-basin, particularly for washing infants - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a container (1) having a sidewall (2) with facing wall portions presenting variable spacings and delimiting an internal contour of the container. The device is characterized in that it comprises a platform (8) with a perforated bottom (9) and having an external contour nested in the internal contour of the container and presenting parts complementary thereto, and in that the platform comprises lifting means (16).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for washing, in particular for washing infants.

We know that to wash an infant it is generally desirable to wet it, then soap it, and finally rinse it. During the soaping, it is desirable that the infant is out of the water, which generally involves having on the one hand a small bathtub in which the child must be soaked and an adjacent plane on which the infant is applied during soaping. This arrangement has several disadvantages: on the one hand it is necessary to have sufficient space to have the bathtub and the soaping plan one next to the other, on the other hand the water which has remained on the body of the infant flows on the soaping plan, and finally it is difficult to handle the body of an infant coated with soap and there is therefore a risk of hitting it during the transfer.

There are known documents CH-A-483,244, US-A-4,028,751 and GB-A-1,370,610 a device for the toilet comprising a container in which is disposed a perforated platform with which lifting means are associated mechanical hydraulics arranged to move the platform vertically between a high position and a low position inside the container. The structure described in these patents is complex and requires permanent installation of the container. In addition, the dirt which is usually diluted in the water of a bath may accumulate in the operating mechanism and cause the blocking thereof or in any case pollution of the bath water. GB-A-1 370 610 corresponds to the preamble of claim 1.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for the toilet, in particular the toilet of infants, which allows to perform it in a reduced space and with maximum comfort for both the infant and the person who is busy.

With a view to achieving this aim, a device for the toilet is provided according to the invention comprising a container having a side wall to delimit an internal contour, the opposite parts of which have various spacings, a platform comprising a perforated bottom and having an external contour, and means for lifting the platform, the external contour of the platform having a profile complementary to the internal contour of the container so that the platform can be moved vertically in the container when the external contour of the platform and the internal contour of the container are brought into coincidence, characterized in that the parts opposite the lateral paros include means for allowing lateral displacement of the platform shape with respect to the representation in at least one position of the platform with respect to the container so that the platform can then rest on a part of the side wall of the container.

Thus, the platform on which the infant is placed is easily submerged by making the complementary parts of the internal contour of the container and the external contour of the perforated platform coincide. On the contrary, when it is desired to soap the infant, it suffices to raise the platform using the lifting means and slightly shift the platform in the high position relative to the container so that the wide parts of the platform coincide with more closely spaced parts of the side wall of the container so that the platform is then supported by the top edge of the container, the water flowing from the infant's body then returning to the container by platform perforations.

According to an advantageous version of the invention, the outline of the container has guide grooves opening out along the upper edge of the side wall and the platform has projecting members arranged to engage in the guide grooves. Thus, when the platform is submerged, it is held against untimely movements in the container.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the guide grooves include support notches extending laterally on one side of the guide grooves. Thus, the projecting members of the platform can be engaged in the support notches at different levels depending on the desired degree of immersion.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the side wall has a support surface comprising locking notches and the projecting members include locking ribs arranged to engage in the locking notches. Thus, when the platform is in the high position, it is kept in a stable position relative to the container even if an effort is transmitted to it by the movements of the infant.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective, partiellement écorchée, du dispositif selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe agrandie d'un détail, selon la ligne II - II de la figure 1.
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe agrandie d'un détail, selon la ligne III-III de la figure 1.
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle en perspective d'une variante de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings, among which:

• FIG. 1 is a partially cut away perspective view of the device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail, along the line II - II of FIG. 1.
• Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail, along the line III-III of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the figures, the toilet device according to the invention comprises a container, generally designated at 1, comprising a side wall 2 delimiting an internal contour of the container and provided at its upper part with a horizontal rim 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse sides of the side wall 2 are substantially planar; the longitudinal sides also have substantially flat wall portions 4 joined by U-shaped portions 5 forming guide grooves. The bottom of the guide grooves, taken in a transverse direction, is set back with respect to the wall parts 4 so that the wall parts facing the longitudinal sides of the side wall of the container have various spacings.

Adjacent to the guide grooves 5, the upper edge of the side wall 2 has locking notches 6 which, seen in a cross section (Fig. 2) have a triangular shape, the bottom of the notch being inclined towards the inside the container. At the level of the locking notches 6, the rim 3 has notches 7.

According to the invention, the device for the toilet also comprises a platform generally designated at 8, comprising a bottom 9 provided with perforations 10. The length and width of the platform 8 are slightly less than the corresponding dimensions of the container 1 , so that the platform has an external contour which fits into the internal contour of the container and can be moved in the high position by the value necessary for the positioning of the legs 12 in the notches 7. The platform 8 has a rim 11 extending upwards from the bottom 9. The function of this rim is to prevent the infant from escaping from the platform by sliding or rolling. Tabs 12 in the form of hooks turned downward extend horizontally projecting from an upper edge of the rim 11 of the platform. Legs 12 have a shape complementary to that of the guide grooves 5 of the side wall 2 of the container and are arranged along the longitudinal sides of the platform 8 so as to be able to engage in the guide grooves 5. On their underside, the hooking lugs 12 have locking grooves 13 which, in a cross section (fig. 2) have a triangular shape, the free side of the groove 13 being opposite the face inclined towards the inside of the notch corresponding blocking 6 of the side wall 2 of the container.

At its base, the platform 8 has feet 14. The feet which are in the vicinity of the ends of the platform have slots 15, for example in inverted L, in which is engaged a lifting strap 16 in closed loop .

In the vicinity of one end, the bottom 9 of the platform 8 straightens up to form a backrest 17 and anchoring means 18, for example openings in the wall of the platform, are provided in the vicinity of the backrest 17 for fixing a holding strap 19.

At the end opposite the backrest 17, the platform 8 has a notch 20 allowing access to the water and to a drain plug 21 of the container.

On one side of the container 1, the device comprises a padded mat 22 having a side mounted to pivot relative to a side of the container. For example, the mat 22 is made of foam and is fixed to the rim of the container by rivets 23, its flexibility allowing it to pivot relative to the edge of the container between a position where it hangs vertically, as shown in FIG. 1 and a position where it is folded horizontally over the container.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the container comprises a series of support notches 24, extending laterally on one side of the guide grooves 5, these support notches 24 further comprising a flange 25. In this case, the hooked portion of the legs 12 is removed.

In use, the platform 8 is first of all placed in abutment on the upper rim of the container with the locking ribs 13 engaged in the locking grooves 6 and the hooks of the lugs 12 engaged in the notches 7. In this position, the platform 8 is held stably both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction and it is therefore possible to place the infant on the platform, for example to undress him. If it is desired to increase the comfort of the platform in this position, the padded mat 22 can also be folded down on the platform. If you wish to have your hands completely free afterwards, you can also fix the infant in a sitting position by means of the retaining strap 19. To immerse the infant, simply lift the platform by taking the two strands of the strap 16 with one hand then put the legs 12 in coincidence with the guide grooves 5 and allow the platform to descend into the liquid previously introduced into the container. The water penetrates through the perforations 10 and wets the infant who, if fixed by means of the holding strap 19, can play quietly without risking to tip over into the liquid, the platform in the low position being once still maintained both longitudinally and transversely.

To dry the infant after the bath, the reverse operation is carried out with the platform and it is noted that during this transfer the water which flows both from the infant and from the platform simply falls back into the container and this avoids wetting the space surrounding the toilet container. In addition, the platform is easily maneuvered with one hand so that the second hand remains available, for example to support the head of the infant when the latter is not attached to the platform. The variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 makes it possible to maintain the platform at intermediate positions according to the degree of immersion that is desired. We will also notice that if it is desired to rinse the infant by means of a shower, it will suffice to put the platform 8 in the high position so that the water flows as it is projected onto the infant.

The structure of the container and of the platform is such that each of these two elements can be produced by plastic molding. It is of course possible to use any desired material and any manufacturing process suitable for the material. In particular, if desired, the platform 8 can be made of a material having a density lower than that of water and provision is made for removable ballast members to put the platform in the submerged position. If necessary, the bottom of the platform can be covered with perforated padding.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and it is possible to make variant embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the internal contour of the container and the external contour of the platform can be arbitrary as soon as the external contour of the platform fits into the internal contour of the container for a given position and where certain parts of these contours are complementary in order to ensure stability of the platform when it is in the low position or at any possible level. Likewise, the lifting means may be produced in the form of rigid arches articulated to the platform longitudinally or transversely relative to the latter, where also separate straps fixed on either side of the platform. If desired, the quilted carpet can be made waterproof by means of a waterproof envelope.

It will also have been noted that, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the notches 6 and the notches 7, respectively associated with the locking ribs 13 and with the hooked part of the lugs 12, duplicate the maintenance of the platform in position high in a longitudinal direction. The ribs actually have a double function of blocking and reinforcing the connection between the tab 12 and the flange 11 of the platform. If desired, the legs 12 can therefore be flat and the notches 7 can be removed. In the case of FIG. 4, on the contrary, it has been assumed that the material constituting the platform was strong enough for the legs 12 not to have ribs 13; the support notches 24 therefore do not include notches similar to the notches 6. Of course, if it is desired to provide ribs 13 as reinforcement, these notches should be restored.

The container can also be fitted with water taps and various accessories such as a soap dish. In addition, the container can be a bottomless container then acting as a simple support arranged for example, in a normal bathtub. The side wall of the frame container then delimits a volume of water in which the platform is lowered.

Although the invention has been more particularly described in connection with the toilet of infants, it will be noted that the device can also be used for the toilet of disabled adults, the materials used must of course be chosen to have sufficient strength.

Claims (12)

1. A bathing device comprising a receptacle (1) including a side wall (2) delimiting an internal periphery having facing portions at different distances apart, a platform (8) including a perforated bottom (9) and having an external periphery, and platform lifting means, the external periphery of the platform showing a contour complementary to the internal periphery of the receptacle so that the platform can be moved vertically within the receptacle when the external periphery of the platform and the internal periphery of the receptacle are put into coincidence, characterized in that the facing portions of the side wall include means for permitting a lateral movement of the platform with respect to the receptacle in at least one position of the platform with respect to the receptacle so that the platform can then bear on a portion of the side wall of the receptacle.
2. A bathing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the periphery of the receptacle includes guide grooves (5), opening along the top edge of the side wall, and in that the platform includes projecting members (12) disposed to engage in the guide grooves (5).
3. A bathing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide grooves (5) include support notches (24) extending laterally from one of the sides of the guide grooves (5).
4. A bathing device according to claim 2 or to claim 3, characterized in that the support notches or the top edge of the side wall include lock notches (6), and in that the projecting members (12) of the platform include lock ribs (13) disposed to engage in the lock notches.
5. A bathing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lock ribs (13) and notches (6) are triangular in cross-section.
6. A bathing device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the projecting members (12) are in the form of downwardly directed hooks.
7. A bathing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the platform includes a rim (11) extending upwardly from the bottom (9).
8. A bathing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the platform includes legs (14), and in that the lifting means comprise a strap (16) engaged in slots (15) provided in said legs.
9. A bathing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the platform (8) includes a raised end (17) providing a back piece.
10. A bathing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the back-piece forming end of the platform includes anchor points (18) for a retaining strap (19).
11. A bathing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the receptacle includes a plug (21) and in that the platform (8) includes an indentation (20) giving access to the plug.
12. A bathing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it includes a padded member (22) having one side pivotally mounted relative to one of the sides of the receptacle.

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