Convertable bed and bathroom combination

• US 4,821,348 A
• Filed: 02/22/1988
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IDD Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Richard Paterson
• Inventors: Pauna, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/158,661
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 4/538, 4/546, 4/547, 4/553, 4/554, 4/663, 4/664, 5/90
• US Class Current: 4/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0005 Means for bathing bedridden persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets

Abstract

A combination bed, toilet, and bath for handicapped person includes a tub with a built-in toilet. Inflatable air bags or cushion are used to raise and lower the patient between resting positions and toilet and bathing positions.

Claims

1. A patient care apparatus comprising:

a tub;

a plurality of inflatable cushions positioned in the tub for supporting a patient; and

means for selectively inflating and deflating the cushions for moving the patient between a plurality of positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a toilet having a portion positioned within the tub.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tub has an upper body portion and a leg well portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the toilet has a toilet seat and a toilet opening in the upper body portion of the tub.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising:

a toilet cover; and

means for moving the toilet cover from a closed position over the seat to an open position in which the toilet seat is uncovered.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for moving the toilet cover comprises an air cylinder connected to the toilet cover to slide the toilet cover between the closed and open positions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising:

upper body platform means positioned within the tub above the upper body portion for supporting at least one of the inflatable cushions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the open position of the toilet cover is located below the upper body platform means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of inflatable cushions includes a seat cover cushion positioned over and connected to the toilet cover.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the plurality of inflatable cushions includes left and right hip support cushions positioned adjacent the toilet seat.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 and further comprising:

hip support platform means for supporting the left and right hip support cushions above a bottom surface of the tub.

12. The apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising:

leg support platform means positioned in the leg well region for supporting at least one of the inflatable cushions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising:

means for pivotally mounting the leg support platform means with respect to the tub.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising:

means for moving the leg support platform means between raised and lowered positions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means for pivotally mounting defines a pivot axis for pivotal movement of the leg support platform means adjacent the toilet.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the inflatable cushions supported by the leg support platform means include at least one knee support cushion and at least one leg support cushion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the inflatable cushions include a heel support cushion positioned at one end of the tub.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

upper body platform means pivotally mounted within the tub for supporting at least one of the inflatable cushions.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 and further comprising:

drive means for pivotally moving the upper body platform means.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the upper body platform means supports left and right shoulder cushions.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a frame for supporting the tub; and

wheel means for supporting the frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a plurality of jets for directing fluid into the tub; and

means for selectively connecting the jets to a source of water and a source of warm air.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a sink; and

an arm pivotally supported with respect to the tub for supporting the sink.

24. A patient care apparatus comprising:

a tub having a bottom with an upper body section and a leg well section;

a toilet having a toilet opening in the upper body section of the bottom of the tub, a toilet seat surrounding the toilet opening and a toilet bowl below the bottom of the tub;

a toilet cover; and

means for moving the toilet cover from a closed position over the seat to an open position in which the toilet seat is uncovered.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the means for moving the toilet cover comprises an air cylinder connected to the toilet cover to slide the toilet cover between the closed and open positions.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 and further comprising:

upper body platform means positioned within the tub above the upper body section.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the open position of the toilet cover is located below the upper body platform means.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 and further comprising:

a plurality of inflatable cushions positioned in the tub for supporting a patient; and

means for selectively inflating and deflating the cushions for moving the patient between a plurality of positions.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the plurality of inflatable cushions includes a seat cover cushion positioned over and connected to the toilet cover.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the plurality of inflatable cushions includes left and right hip support cushions positioned adjacent the toilet seat.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 and further comprising:

leg support platform means positioned in the leg well region for supporting at least one of the inflatable cushions.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 and further comprising:

means for pivotally mounting the leg support platform means with respect to the tub.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 and further comprising:

means for moving the leg support platform means between raised and lowered positions.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the means for pivotally mounting defines a pivot axis for pivotal movement of the leg support platform means adjacent the toilet.

35. The apparatus of claim 28 and further comprising:

upper body platform means pivotally mounted within the tub for supporting at least one of the inflatable cushions.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 and further comprising:

drive means for pivotally moving the upper body platform means.