WO2014053943A1

WO2014053943A1 - Multipurpose kit for bathtubs

Info

Publication number: WO2014053943A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/058762
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rosario LEGGIO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-03
Filing date: 2013-09-23
Publication date: 2014-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-03
Also published as: EP2904158A1; ITRM20120470A1

Description

"Multipurpose kit for bathtubs"

Description Field of the art

The present invention patent application generally refers to the field of bathroom furnishings and in particular to the bathroom fixtures; more particularly, the invention regards an innovative multipurpose kit to be used as accessory paired with any type of bathtub and more preferably with a bathtub with door.

The invention is applicable to any field where one such device type can be advantageously used, but it preferably regards the field of bathroom installations to be used by elderly and/or handicapped people.

Prior art

As is known, taking a bath in a bathtub is no longer simply and exclusively for the treatment of personnel hygiene, but has in recent times increasingly become a way to relax.

Currently, a part of the bathtubs are conceived for proposing high-level sensory experiences geared to the wellbeing of the body and mind. Sensory bath tubs derive therefrom; here, wellbeing is exclusively generated by the emotions deriving from the water.

The tubs can have various size and shape, capable of being adapted to any type of bathroom. The most used are rectangular, usually set against a wall lengthwise or in a corner, but there are other possibilities, such as angular, circular or even with irregular shape.

Nevertheless, regardless of the many various shapes and sizes, a fundamental distinction of the bathtubs consists of two main types, comprising the simple tubs and those with door. The door of the latter tub type is in fact watertight, in a manner such that the water which fills the tub itself does not exit outward. Tubs of this type have many different uses. It will suffice to recall that if the bathroom is small, there are many very small tub models with door which can be installed in very small spaces. On the other hand, there are also very large tub models with doors, which have all of the comfort and ease of normal tubs. Even if tubs with door are much loved by the elderly and by handicapped people, because it is easy to enter therein without the risk of sliding and hurting oneself, there is no reason why they cannot be used by all people. Mainly, due to current fashion and advertizing, the use of the bathtub with door has increased with respect to ten years ago, and has been highly recommended by interior decorators as well, since said tub type represents a safe, convenient product that is in particular quite durable over time.

Nevertheless, all of these embodiments known to the public up to now - notwithstanding the exceptional convenience and functionality of the aforesaid tubs with door - have as all user know several drawbacks that will be examined and overcome by means of the achievement of the present invention, consisting in the provision of a kit capable of being installed on said bathtubs, in a manner so as to make them even more adapted to the actual needs of elderly people or those having a disability in general.

Other advantages of the invention will be clearer from the detailed description of several exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments, illustrated hereinbelow.

Description of the invention

The innovative concept underlying the present invention consists of providing for a multipurpose kit for bathtubs capable of providing multiple additional functions.

The reason for the present invention essentially consists of preventing the main drawback ascribable to the tubs with door of the prior art, consisting of the fact that the user can access the tub by means of the proper opening only when said tub clearly lacks water, and only then await the filling with water while laying down at its interior. In reality, such characteristic is a source of serious discomfort, since the user must await the filling of the tub, unclothed, from several minutes up to tens of minutes in order to take a bath; this leads first of all to serious disadvantages for the health due to the inevitable and constant temperature changes, and also secondly it involves a useless waste of time.

Forming the specific object of the present invention is therefore the provision of a kit preferably installable on a tub with door capable of reducing or, even better, eliminating the aforesaid attributable problems of the prior art, i.e. by simplifying the immersion of the body in the water of all those elderly and/or handicapped subjects who require a more facilitated structure in order to take a bath; all this without omitting, but rather enhancing the wellbeing sensations obtained by means of the possible numerous inventive devices.

Basically, the present invention consists of a main device functioning as a tank applicable to the wall, on the wall facing the bathtub, capable of storing the hot water and/or possibly heating it to the set temperature and then quickly introducing it as desired in the bathtub, by means of at least two slits obtained at the base of the tank itself. The rapidity of one such quick outflow into the tub will inventively and drastically reduce the aforesaid times for awaiting the filling of the bathtub itself, consequently preventing the frequent cooling of those people most sensitive to temperature changes, while they wait unclothed for the tub to be optimally filled with water at the suitable temperature.

One objective of the present invention consists of obtaining said inventive kit with different degrees of complexity. Hence, entirely to the benefit of practical use and cost, the present invention provides for a range of preparations, from a basic kit that is easily and autonomously installable, lacking electrical connections, hence geared for a less sophisticated clientele (or more concerned with the overall cost of the product), to a kit equipped with an ever-increasing number accessories, hence geared to more exclusive and demanding users.

A further objective is to propose a multipurpose kit for bathtubs that can be achieved on an industrial scale, whose components are of standard type, easily found on the market, and whose production is fully sustainable from an economical and environmental standpoint. Another characteristic of the structure according to the present invention is that this is subject to stresses mainly of static type, hence it will be provided with appropriate suitable wall anchors of the structure of chemical and/or mechanical type, which must in a safe manner mainly sustain the weight of the water stored well beyond its extreme filling level. The invention must also satisfy all the current safety laws regarding electrical devices in contact with water, providing for screens, waterproofing, tensions and voltages perfectly compatible with said specific laws.

With regard to the constituent materials of said inventive multipurpose kit for bathtubs, these can be selected by the man skilled in the art in order to meet the technical characteristics in this particular field, including solidity, strength, anti-corrosiveness (resistance to prolonged contact with water) and lightness; nevertheless, said materials can comprise those of metal type, preferably steel and/or aluminum, and/or polymers of plastic type. In addition, said plastic polymer materials or metal materials can comprise those having galvanized external finish and/or colored external finish and/or plasticized external finish.

With regard to the size of said inventive multipurpose kit for bathtubs, it should be stated that this is merely indicative and non-limiting of the invention, since the constituent technical characteristics of the inventive kit lead to the achievement of a more elongated inventive device, installable on the side of the bathtub, or of a less elongated device, hence installable at the feet or on the lower side of the bathtub. Nevertheless, the dimensions of said inventive multipurpose kit can be expressed in the case of installation on the side of the bathtub, with regard to the width, in an interval comprised between 140 cm and 210 cm and more preferably between 170 cm and 180 cm; and in the case of obtainment of the device installable on the lower side of the bathtub, with regard to the width, in an interval comprised between 50 cm and 100 cm and more preferably between 70 cm and 80 cm. Regarding the capacity of the internal tank, both embodiments with different widths will tend to have similar capacities, comprised in a volume between 300 1 and 40 1, more preferably between 100 1 and 60 1 and still more preferably is 80 1.

Other characteristics of the present invention will be described in the following detailed description of one or more specific embodiments, protected by the various dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The preceding advantages, as well as other advantages and characteristics of the present invention, will be illustrated by referring to the enclosed figures, which are to be considered merely illustrative or binding for the purposes of the present patent application, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectioned side view of the kit of Fig. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top perspective view of a further multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectioned side view of the kit of Fig. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view of a further multipurpose kit for bathtubs with more accessories according to the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the inventive kit;

FIGURE 7 is a top perspective view of a further conformation of the central body with profile with steps of the inventive kit;

FIGURE 8 is a top perspective view of the inventive kit in the shower stall conformation;

FIGURE 9 is a top perspective view of the kit of Fig. 8 with the shower nozzles installed. Description of several preferred embodiments of the invention

It should be underlined that hereinbelow only some of the possible embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated, as a non-limiting example, given that it is possible to describe many other embodiments thereof on the basis of the particular technical solutions identified.

As shown in Figure 1, the inventive multipurpose kit for bathtubs in its basic version, i.e. the most economical version and hence designed for being easily installed without connection to the electrical network and without the aid of specialized labor, forms a main body 100 wall- installable by means of suitable chemical means, of glue type, or by means of common fixing means 600, constituted by a lower portion 1 10 having regular profile and by an upper portion 120 with rounded profile, which as can be seen in Figure 2 form at their interior the storage chamber 180 and on the front part thereof an air space 130 is obtained, in direct mutual connection by means of the upper opening 122, and through such air space the excess water will pass that overflowed from the aforesaid storage chamber 180, wherein said storage chamber 180 is arranged in connection with the outside by means of at least one tub filling mouth 200 situated on the lower portion 110 with the interposition of any suitable check means 140 capable of retaining the water in said storage chamber 180 and whose opening and closing is controllable by the control 150, wherein the aforesaid air space 130 is arranged in direct connection with the aforesaid tub filling mouth 200 in a manner so as to make the possible excess water overflowed from the storage chamber (180) freely flow into the tub and finally wherein, as shown in Fig. 2, at the upper rear part of said main body 100 a hydraulic connection system with male/female thread 190 is provided, capable of inserting the water in the storage chamber 180, connectable by means of a flexible load pipe 170 (Figs. 1 and 2) to a suitable double outlet selector 300, both provided in the present kit, the latter installed at the inlet on the thread of the flexible tube of the shower attachment conduit placed on the tub faucet group and with the two outlets connected respectively to the preexisting piping of the flexible tube of the shower attachment conduit 181 and to the flexible load pipe 170 and all this in a manner such that the user can, by acting on the aforesaid double outlet selector 300, select whether to use the shower attachment conduit or to fill said multipurpose kit for bathtubs.

Even if this type of kit can applied to any tub type, preferably it is inventively geared for tubs with door, in which the opening of the door itself prevents the previous filling of the bathtub.

It must also be considered that the greater or lesser extension height of the lower portion 110 relative to the main body 100 allows the entire inventive kit, in the cases of greater extension, to also constitute a valid furnishing element capable of covering most of the height of the bathroom wall. For such reason, preferably, the extension of the height of said lower portion 110 can be expressed in an interval comprised between 10 cm and 150 cm and more preferably between 30 cm and 120 cm.

The present invention provides for further alternative embodiments corresponding with several variations of its structure and the shape of its components.

For example, even if up to now a kit has been described geared for a less demanding clientele, tending to spend less on purchases, an alternative solution is provided which for the correct functioning - while still structurally simple - requires a series of additional devices comprising among other things the direct connection to the electrical network and to the water mains.

Said inventive kit illustrated in Figs. 3-6 provides for a main body 500 wall-installable by means of suitable chemical means, of glue type, or by means of common fixing means 600, constituted by a lower portion 510 having regular profile and by an upper portion 520 with rounded profile, which as seen in Figure 4 form at their interior the storage chamber 580, wherein said storage chamber 580 is arranged in connection with the outside by means of at least one tub filling mouth 200 situated on the lower portion 510 with the interposition of any suitable check means 540 capable of retaining the water in the aforesaid storage chamber 580 and whose opening and closing is controllable by the control 150, wherein on the front part of said storage chamber 580 a watertight service housing 590 is obtained capable of receiving the possible additional electrical devices supplied with the inventive kit, wherein on the rear part of said main body 500 a water load device of solenoid type 576 is provided that is connected to the water mains and in which the inflow or blocking of the water is governed by an electronic level sensor 577 placed inside the storage chamber 580, wherein inside the main body 500 an electrical wiring (not shown) is present that supplies electricity to all of the aforesaid possible electronic devices, connected to the rear cable 596 to be connected to the electrical network, wherein inside the aforesaid storage chamber 580 a heating element with thermostat 591 is present capable of heating the water to a temperature settable by the user by means of the control present in the control panel 700 (Fig. 5) and controllable by means of thermometer which is also situated in said control panel 700.

As can be observed in Figs. 5-9, the aforesaid embodiments of the inventive kit provide for further accessories capable of increasing the enjoyment of the bath, and constituted by at least one monitor 810, preferably retractable inside the aforesaid watertight service housing 590 or in the main body 100, adapted for receiving TV channels and/or for photo-video display and/or for online navigation, by the hot air outlet mouths 820 capable of heating and drying the user of the tub at the end of the bath and/or heating the room, by the compartment 900 containing a microphone and/or loudspeaker and/or devices adapted for detecting main vital parameters such as blood pressure and/or pulse and/or respiratory frequency and/or blood oxygenation.

As can be specifically observed in Figure 7, a further alternative embodiment geared for a more exclusive clientele provides that said upper portion 120, or the aforesaid upper portion 520, has a profile squarer on the lower part, constituted by at least two overturned steps 850 on the lower face which are preferably provided with spotlights or hot air diffusers.

A further alternative embodiment represented in Figs. 8-9 is inventively geared for obtaining a more specific product constituted by a multipurpose kit for bathtubs characterized in that the aforesaid main body is shaped with at least two hollow vertical walls 810 internally interconnected or constituting the aforesaid storage chamber, in that overall said vertical walls 810 obtain the function and have the appearance of a shower stall 800, in that between the two non-contiguous vertical walls 810 a curtain or an openable shower glass is positioned, and finally in that at least two shower nozzles 820 are present on said vertical walls (Fig. 9) in communication with the water contained in the aforesaid storage chamber and actuatable by common check means controllable by a control placed on at least one aforesaid vertical wall 810. A further aspect, in addition to all the technical solutions described up to now, but particularly important for the achievement of the invention, is that as specifically represented in Fig. 6, it is provided that a suitable electromechanical emptying pump 650 can be installed on the drain, such pump activatable by the user and capable, once the bath has been completed, of more quickly emptying the aforesaid bathtub, expediting the steps of opening the tub door and hence the exit from the tub itself.

From that stated above, it is understood that all of the aforesaid characteristics preferably modify the aforesaid inventive kit for elderly users and/or users affected by disabilities, who can fully qualitatively benefit therefrom; nevertheless, this must not be considered preclusive and/or limiting of the present invention, since these characteristics can also be clearly advantageous to all those who, while not suffering from particular hardships, wish to equally enjoy a bath and all the innovative characteristics characterizing said inventive kit.

Of course, the information provided herein is merely exemplifying and absolutely non- limiting of the scope of the present invention, since it exclusively serves to assist a man skilled in the art in comprehending several possible applications and embodiments of the finding. Different and obvious modifications can be clearly made by the average man skilled in the art to the preceding exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments with reference to the figures, without implying an extension beyond the inventive concept underlying the present invention, as defined by the following dependent claims.

Claims

1. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs comprising a main body (100) wall-installable by means of suitable chemical means, of glue type, or by means of common fixing means (600), constituted by a lower portion (110) having regular profile and by an upper portion (120) with rounded profile which at their interior form the storage chamber (180) and on the front part thereof at least one air space (130) is obtained in direct mutual connection by means of the upper opening (122), and through such air space the excess water will pass that overflowed from the aforesaid storage chamber (180), in that said storage chamber (180) is arranged in connection with the outside by means of at least one tub filling mouth (200) situated on the lower portion (110) with the interposition of any suitable check means (140) capable of retaining the water in said storage chamber (180) and whose opening and closing is controllable by the control (150), in that the aforesaid air space (130) is arranged in direct connection with the aforesaid tub filling mouth (200) in a manner so as to make the possible excess water overflowed from the storage chamber (180) freely flow into the tub and finally in that at the upper rear part of said main body (100), a hydraulic connection system is provided with male/female thread (190), capable of inserting the water in the storage chamber (180), such system connected by means of a flexible load pipe (170) to a double outlet selector (300) installed at the inlet on the thread of the flexible tube of the shower attachment conduit placed on the tub faucet group and with the two outlets connected respectively to the pre-existing piping of the flexible tube of the shower attachment conduit (181) and to the fiexible load pipe (170) and all of the above in a manner such that the user can, by operating on the aforesaid double outlet selector (300), select to use the shower attachment conduit or to fill said multipurpose kit for bathtubs.

2. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs comprising a main body (500) wall-installable by means of suitable chemical means, of glue type, or by means of common fixing means (600), constituted by a lower portion (510) having regular profile and by an upper portion (520) with rounded profile which at their interior form the storage chamber (580), in that said storage chamber (580) is arranged in connection with the outside by means of at least one tub filling mouth (200) situated on the lower portion (510) with the interposition of any suitable check means (540) capable of retaining the water in the aforesaid storage chamber (580) and whose opening and closing is controllable by the control (150), in that on the front part of said storage chamber (580), a watertight service housing (590) is obtained that is capable of receiving the possible supplied additional electrical devices, in that on the rear part of said main body (500) a water load device is provided, of solenoid valve type (576), connected directly to the water mains and in which the inflow or the blocking of the water is governed by an electronic level sensor (577) placed inside the storage chamber (580), in that an electrical wiring is present inside the main body (500) that provides electricity to all of the aforesaid possible electronic devices, such wiring connected to the rear cable (596) to be connected to the electrical network and finally in that inside the aforesaid storage chamber (580), a heating element with thermostat (591) is present that is capable of heating the water to a temperature settable by the user by means of the control present in the control panel (700) and possibly controllable by means of thermometer that is also situated in said control panel (700).

Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the presence of at least one monitor (810), preferably retractable inside said watertight service housing (590) or said main body (100), adapted for receiving TV channels and/or for photo -video display and/or for online navigation.

Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the presence on the main body (100) or on the main body (500) of hot air outlet mouths (820).

5. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the presence in the main body (100) or in the main body (500) of the compartment (900) containing a microphone and/or a loudspeaker.

6. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the presence in the main body (100) or in the main body (500) of the compartment (900) containing devices adapted for detecting main vital parameters, such as blood pressure and/or pulse and/or respiratory frequency and/or blood oxygenation.

7. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the installation at the bathtub drain of an electromechanical emptying pump (650) activatable by the user.

8. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the constituent materials can comprise those of metal type preferably steel and/or aluminum and/or polymers of plastic type and in that said plastic polymer materials or metal materials can comprise those having galvanized external finish and/or having colored external finish and/or having plasticized external finish.

9. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width of said main body (100) or of said main body (500), in the case of installation on the side of the bathtub, is comprised in an interval between 140 cm and 210 cm and more preferably between 170 cm and 180 cm and in that in the case of kit adapted for installation at the feet of the bathtub is comprised in an interval between 50 cm and 100 cm and more preferably between 70 cm and 80 cm, in that the extension of the height of the lower portion (110) can be expressed in an interval comprised between 10 cm and 150 cm and more preferably between 30 cm and 120 cm and finally in that the capacity of the storage chamber (180) or the storage chamber (580) is comprised in a volume between 300 1 and 40 1, more preferably between 100 1 and 60 1 and still more preferably is 80 1.

10. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main body is shaped by at least two hollow vertical walls (810) that are internally interconnected or constituting the aforesaid storage chamber, in that overall said vertical walls (810) achieve the function and have the appearance of a shower stall (800), in that between the two non-contiguous vertical walls (810) a curtain or an openable shower glass is positioned and finally in that at least two shower nozzles (820) are present on said vertical walls, such nozzles in communication with the water contained in the aforesaid storage chamber and actuatable by common check means controllable by a control arranged on at least one aforesaid vertical wall (810).

11. Multipurpose kit for bathtubs according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper portion (120) or the upper portion (520) has a profile that is squarer on the lower part, constituted by at least two overturned steps (850) on the lower face which are provided with spotlights or hot air diffusers (850).