GB2427133A

GB2427133A - A bath board

Info

Publication number: GB2427133A
Application number: GB0512479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon John Buckingham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-18
Filing date: 2005-06-18
Publication date: 2006-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-18
Also published as: GB0512479D0; GB2427133B

Abstract

A bath board comprises a back edge 11 spanning at least the width of the bath, and two parallel side edges 12A, 12B that extend from the ends of the back edge. The length of each of the side edges is such that the bath board covers the back end of the bath thereby allowing a person to lean against a wall behind the back of the bath. The board may have adjustable securement members 14A, 14B that engage the inside walls of the bath. The front edge 13 of the board may have a cut out 16 to allow cleaning of the genital or anal areas of the body. The board may also have apertures to act as handles. Preferably the board includes a recess for toiletries and has a raised wall 18 to prevent water from running off the edge of the board onto the floor.

Description

Title: Novel Bath Board The present invention relates to a bath board,

which term shall include shower boards.

Many elderly people use a bath board. Most baths, in plan view, have a front end supporting taps, two parallel sides, and a generally semicircular back end integral with and extending from the parallel sides. Most known bath boards are generally rectangular and designed to fit across the parallel sides. They have adjustable sliding frames which can be made to engage the side walls of the bath to prevent horizontal movement of the bath board. Bath boards are used for showering as well as a platform from which a person can lower themselves onto a bath seat When sitting on a board, a person cannot lean back with the back supported and this can be uncomfortable, especially for infirm persons. It is not possible to move the bath board to the back end of the bath because the bath wall is curved here making it impossible for the sliding plates to secure the board against horizontal movement. Also it is often difficult to clean genital or anal areas of the body. Some boards have elevated handles to hold onto when getting on or off the board.

The invention seeks to provide an improved bath board.

According to the present invention there is provided a bath board for a bath having have a front end supporting taps, two parallel sides, and a generally semi-circular back end integral with and extending from the parallel sides, said bath board comprising: a) a back edge spanning at least the width of the bath, b) two parallel side edges extending from the ends of the back edge, c) a front edge connected to the ends of the side edges, the length of each of the side edges being such that the bath board covers the back end of the bath and part of the bath between the parallel edges, and d) adjustable securement members to engage the inside walls of the bath under its parallel edges, in use the bath board being positioned and secured by said securement members with the back edge over the back end of the bath whereby a person can lean back against the wall behind the bath back end.

Preferably the back edge is linear. Preferably the side edges are normal to the linear back edge.

Preferably the front edge includes a cut-out to allow cleaning genital or anal areas of the body.

The cut out may be half elliptical in shape. Preferably the front edge is curved.

Preferably apertures are provided in the bath board to act as handles. The apertures may elongate or elliptical. The apertures may extend at an angle to the side walls, e.g. 450 The upper surface of the board may include a recess for toiletries.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a perspective view of a bath board and bath.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a bath board 10 for a bath 1.

Bath 1 is like the majority of bath having have a front end 2 supporting taps 2A,2B, two parallel sides 3A,3B, and a generally semi-circular back end 4 integral with and extending from the parallel sides. For the purpose of illustration back end 4 has a length of"Y".

Bath board 10 comprises a linear back edge 11 spanning the width or more of the bath 1 and two parallel side edges 12A,1 2B extending normal from the ends of the back edge ii. A curved concave front edge 13 is connected to ends of the side edges 12A,12B. The length "X" of each of the side edges being such that the bath board covers the back end 4 of the bath and part of the bath between the parallel edges shown by length "Z" so that the length "X" is equal to -- "Z" . V Adjustable securement members, e.g. of a type known in the art such as wire frames 14A,14B with adjustable locking nuts I 5A,i 5B,l 1 5C,l 5D, are provided to engage the inside walls of the bath under its parallel sides.

The front edge includes a cut-out 16, half elliptical in shape, to allow cleaning genital or anal areas of the body.

Elongate apertures 17A,17B are provided in the bath board 10 to act as handles. The apertures 17A,1 TB extend at an angle to the side walls, e.g. 450 Other shapes such as elliptical slots could be provided.

The upper surface of the board 10 may include a raised wall 18 to prevent water from running off the edge of the board onto the floor. The area of the board inside the wall may slope gently towards the cut-out 16 to drain water back into the bath.

The upper surface of the board may also include a recess for toiletries (not shown).

In use the bath board is positioned and secured by said securement members with the back edge over the back end of the bath against the wall whereby a person can lean back against the wall behind the bath back end. Handles I 7A,1 7B help a person to get on and off the board.

The board of the invention may be made of any suitable material such as plastics or metal or combinations thereof i'he invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example rubber feet may be provided at the corners of the board to engage with the upper surface of the bath.

The invention also extends to a bath board comprising a generally planar board with one or more apertures therein, said apertures acting as handles. The or each aperture may elongate or elliptical. The or each aperture may extend at an angle to the side walls, e.g. 45 .

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bath board for a bath having have a front end supporting taps, two parallel sides, and a generally semi-circular back end integral with and extending from the parallel sides, said bath board comprising: a) a back edge spanning at least the width of the bath, b) two parallel side edges extending from the ends of the back edge, c) a front edge connected to the ends of the side edges, the length of each of the side edges being such that the bath board covers the back end of the bath and part of the bath between the parallel edges, and d) adjustable securement members to engage the inside walls of the bath under its parallel side edges, in use the bath board being positioned and secured by said securement members with the back edge over the back end of the bath whereby a person can lean back against the wall behind the bath back end.

2. A bath board according to claim I, wherein the back edge is linear.

3. A bath board according to claim 2, wherein the side edges are normal to the linear back edge.

4. A bath board according to claim 1,2, or 3, wherein the front edge includes a cut-out to allow cleaning genital or anal areas of the body.

5. A bath board according to claim 4, wherein the cut-out is half elliptical in shape.

6. A bath board according to any preceding claim, wherein the front edge is curved.

7. A bath board according to any preceding claim, wherein apertures are provided in the bath board to act as handles.

8. A bath board according to claim 7, wherein the apertures are elongate or elliptical.

9. A bath board according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the apertures extend at an angle to the side walls.

10. A bath board according to claim 9, wherein the apertures extend at an angle of 45 .

11. A bath board according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper surface of the board may include a recess for toiletries.

12. A bath board substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.