WO2006050566A1

WO2006050566A1 - A shower chair

Info

Publication number: WO2006050566A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/001719
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Thomas Raymond Blinco
Original assignee: Cajee, Mohamed, Ismail
Priority date: 2004-11-10
Filing date: 2005-11-10
Publication date: 2006-05-18
Also published as: AU2004100961A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a shower chair (1) comprising a frame having two sides, wherein the sides are connected by a brace (12), the brace disposed across a front section of the shower chair, and a pair of opposed seat sections (2 and 3) supported by respective sides of the frame, and separated for access to the posterior region of a patient and wherein the shower chair has an unobstructed rear section whereby access to the patient from the rear of the shower chair is unhindered.

Description

A SHOWER CHAIR

FIELD

The present invention relates to the washing, bathing and showering of patients and in particular to a shower chair.

BACKGROUND

The washing and bathing of patients with reduced or impaired physical capabilities is physically demanding on caregivers. Patients generally have to be physically supported in the shower, often to the detriment of the person supporting the patient. Whilst shower chairs can be used, shower chairs give limited access to all regions of the patient, mainly due to the presence of obstructing structural elements of the chair.

Often with patients with reduced or impaired physical capabilities due to age, illness or injury the care giver is required to pay particular attention to the washing of the rear regions of the patient that may be difficult to adequately clean during toileting. With shower chairs of the type generally used, access to these rear regions of a patient are not possible or restricted whilst the patient is being supported on the shower chair and it is accordingly necessary for the care giver to physically support the patient while attending to the washing of these regions.

We have now found that by providing a shower chair without rear obstruction, unhindered access to the rear regions of the patient is possible, which overcomes at least one of the disadvantages of the shower chairs currently available.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a shower chair comprising a frame having two sides, wherein the sides are connected by a brace, the brace disposed across a front section of the shower chair, and a pair of opposed seat sections supported by respective sides of the frame, and separated for access to the posterior region of a patient, and wherein the shower chair has an unobstructed rear section whereby access to the patient from the rear of the shower chair is unhindered. The frame of the shower chair can be manufactured from any suitable material, but is preferably manufactured from stainless steel.

The sides of the frame preferably each comprise two legs and an armrest connecting the two legs. The armrest preferably extend above the plane of the seat. The sides of the frame may also be braced in addition to having an armrest to provide increased structural integrity. The legs of the sides of the frame may be extendable such that the chair can be raised or lowered depending upon the size of the patient. The legs may also be independently extendable so that the chair can be levelled not withstanding an uneven surface. Suitable extension mechanisms include an outwardly sprung detent extending from an inner leg that engages with corresponding apertures in a hollow outer leg allowing the inner leg to telescope within the outer leg and be retained in a desired position by aligning the sprung detent with the desired aperture.

The legs of the sides can be made extendable by any appropriate means. For example, it is preferred that the upper member be shaped, such as including a U-shaped section, so that the access to the front of the patient is substantially unrestricted.

The end of the legs can be capped with any appropriate capping means, such as wheels or welded caps, but are preferably capped with rubber caps to prevent slipping, this is particularly desirable on wet surfaces, such as the wet tiled surface of a shower.

The brace connecting the two sides of the frame can be any convenient shape. Preferably the brace is composed of two members extending between the respective sides: a lower straight horizontal member connecting the two sides and an upper member. The unhindered nature of the rear of the shower sheet permits the shower chair to be readily slid back over the top of a fixed toilet such that the patient can be readily toileted on the shower chair and using a fixed toilet.

The seat sections can be manufactured from any appropriate material, but are preferably manufactured as a foam core supported on a rigid member and covered in plastic. The seat sections can be any width and any distance apart, but are preferably of a width and separation to maximise the comfort of the patient, while facilitating access to the posterior regions of the patient. The rear section of the shower chair can have a back support attached to the sides, but is preferably free of any obstruction to access to the patient from the rear.

The shower chair of the present invention may be incorporated into a wheeled chair to form a mobile shower chair that can be used to transport the patient to and from the shower.

According to another form of the invention, the shower chair is used as a commode chair. In the first embodiment of this form of the invention, the frame of the shower chair has an opposing rail under each seat section, the rail running at right angles to the front brace, and which accommodates the rim of a collection means with or without a lid. The collection means can be centred under the separation between the seat sections, or removed therefrom, via the unobstructed rear of the shower chair. The collection means can be any suitable vessel, but is preferably a bucket with or without a lid. The shower chair of the present invention may be readily placed over a fixed toilet.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings briefly described hereafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a front view of the shower chair according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a top view of the shower chair according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a front angled view of the shower chair according to one embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 4 shows a front angled view of the shower chair according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As may be seen in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the shower chair 1 comprisf a frame and a seat having two sections 2 and 3. The frame has two sides, each comprising two legs 4, 5, 6 and 7, and a handle 8 and 9, the handle extending above the plane of the seat sections 2 and 3. The legs 4, 5, 6 and 7 can be height adjusted by conventional means, and the legs end in rubber feet 8, 9, 10 and 11 to prevent the shower chair from slipping. The two sides are connected by a brace 12 comprising two members,

13 and 14, the brace being disposed at the front the shower chair, below the plane of the seat sections 2 and 3.

The two seat sections 2 and 3 are separated to facilitate access to the posterior regions of the patient. The width of the seat sections and the separation distance are maximised for the comfort of the seated patient, and the ease of accessibility for the caregiver.

The rear of the shower seat remains unencumbered by bracing elements to facilitate unhindered rear access to the patient.

As may be seen in Figure 1 and Figure 4, the preferred embodiment of the invention additionally has a rail 15 and 16 under each seat section 2 and 3, for insertion and removal of a collection means 17 under the seat sections. Figure 4 shows the collection means 17 as a bucket with a lid in place, centred under the opening between the seat sections 2 and 3.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

The term "comprise", or variations of the term such as "comprises" or "comprising", are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A shower chair comprising a frame having two sides, wherein the sides are connected by a brace, the brace disposed across a front section of the shower chair, and a pair of opposed seat sections supported by respective sides of the frame, and separated for access to the posterior region of a patient and wherein the shower chair has an unobstructed rear section whereby access to the patient from the rear of the shower chair is unhindered.

2. A shower chair according to claim 1 wherein the two sides each comprise two legs and an armrest connecting the tops of the legs, the armrest extending above the plane of the seat sections.

3. A shower chair according to claim 1 wherein the legs are height adjustable.

4. A shower chair according to claim 3 wherein the legs include an extension mechanism comprising an outwardly sprung detent extending from an inner leg that engages with corresponding apertures in a hollow outer leg allowing the inner leg to telescope within the outer leg and be retained in a desired position by aligning the sprung detent with the desired aperture.

5. A shower chair according to claim 1 wherein the legs are independently extendable whereby the chair can be levelled not withstanding an uneven surface.

6. A shower chair according to claim 5 wherein the legs include an extension mechanism comprising an outwardly sprung detent extending from an inner leg that engages with corresponding apertures in a hollow outer leg allowing the inner leg to telescope within the outer leg and be retained in a desired position by aligning the sprung detent with the desired aperture.

7. A shower chair according to claim 1 wherein the shower chair is incorporated in a wheel chair frame.

8. A shower chair according to claim 1 further comprising a rail under each seat section, the rail running at right angles to the front brace, and used for insertion and removal of a collecting means.

9. A shower chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.