18052/PAT/08

Ergonomic bathtub

The subject of the invention is an ergonomic bathtub that facilitates retaining correct spinal curvature and proper pelvis position (as well as facilitates rest and relax during taking a bath) .

Therefore, the invention relates to the sphere of preventive treatment of spinal diseases. The modern man, spending long hours daily in the sitting position, runs a risk of having problems with the musculoskeletal system, especially with the spine. It is believed that it is the sitting position which is responsible for pandemic dimension of spinal diseases.

A bathtub is a place where men wash themselves, rest and relax, mostly in the sitting position, frequently spending a lot of time there. The traditional half-sitting position in the bathtub is detrimental and strenuous for the user' s spine, because it forces large bends in the hip joints, which fosters an incorrect pelvis position and, by the same, makes the physiological lumbar lordosis shallower.

Bathtubs produced to date have been provided with various shapes of both the tub itself and the places where relaxing nozzles influencing the user's body are mounted.

The prior art knows specially shaped bathtubs of the company SANPLAST, which comprise specially shaped elbowrests that facilitate standing up inside the tub, and nozzles seated in the sidewalls and in the bottom surface of the tub.

Examples of such solutions are also disclosed in patent descriptions US 20020289910 and US 20000544268.

The application WO 98/33423 describes a multi-purpose bathtub. Said bathtub comprises a specially shaped sitting surface raised above the bottom surface of the tub and it also comprises specially shaped foot supports facilitating a comfortable position for the feet.

The European application EP 1 279 360 also discloses a bathtub solution comprising a specially shaped bottom surface and functionally shaped sidewalls. The bathtub shown there comprises at one end a portion, which is convexly shaped with respect to the vertical plane, designed to provide support to the user' s back, and at the other end it comprises a rising bottom surface that provides support to the user's feet, thus allowing an ergonomic position of the pelvis.

According to the invention, an ergonomic bathtub having a specially shaped back-support portion and a variably shaped surface of the side and bottom portions, is characterised in that one shorter sidewall comprises a convex portion constituting a support for the lumbar region, which at the bottom passes into a hollow portion designed to accommodate the pelvis and situated below the bottom level of the tub, and the longer sidewalls comprise hollow portions to accommodate the feet.

Preferably, the support for the lumbar region comprises a recess relieving the spinous processes.

Along the recess relieving the spinous processes, on both sides of it and below it, there is placed a set of nozzles, preferably comprising nine or more nozzles.

Moreover, the support for the lumbar region is preferably lengthened to also constitute a support for the thoraco-cervical and cervical regions.

According to an embodiment, the bathtub comprises in its hollow portion for the pelvis an additional recess to accommodate the ischial tuberosities.

In its most preferable embodiment, the hollow portion for the pelvis is lined with a resilient, waterproof material, possibly silicone or other resilient materials.

The hollow portions for the feet placed on the sidewalls of the tub are preferably placed at a distance of 70 to 90 cm from the point of connection of the lumbar region support with the hollow for the pelvis in the bottom of the tub.

In a preferable embodiment the bathtub comprises on its bottom surface small convex anti-slip points.

The ergonomic bathtub facilitates retaining correct spinal curvature and a proper pelvis position. The ergonomic bathtub comprises a support for the lumbar region, and a hollow portion in the bottom of the tub coexisting with the support for the lumbar region, due to its shape facilitating a correct pelvis position and relieving tender ischial tuberosities. The hollow portions on the sidewalls serve as the supporting points for the right and/or left foot. The foot support closes the muscle chain, which facilitates stabilisation of the pelvis and, therefore, proper position of the spine.

The bathtub is used in household conditions as well as in balneology to treat spine problems and other diseases. Proper position of the pelvis and the spine prevents spine troubles and provides conditions to treat them.

The subject of the invention in a preferable embodiment is shown in the drawing, in which fig. 1 presents a lateral cross-section of the ergonomic bathtub along the longer sidewall, fig. 2 - a top view of the ergonomic bathtub, and fig. 3 - a lateral cross-section of the ergonomic bathtub along the shorter sidewall.

The ergonomic bathtub in a preferable embodiment comprises a specially shaped back-support portion and a variably shaped surface of the side and bottom portions, wherein one shorter sidewall comprises a convex portion constituting a support for the lumbar region (1) at the bottom passing into a hollow portion designed to accommodate the pelvis (2) situated below the bottom level of the tub (3) , and the longer sidewalls of the tub comprise hollow portions to accommodate the feet (4, 5) .

The support for the lumbar region (1) comprises a recess (6) relieving the spinous processes. Along the recess (6) relieving the spinous processes, on both sides of it and below it, there is placed a set of nozzles (7), preferably comprising at least nine nozzles. The support for the lumbar region is preferably lengthened to include a support (8) for the thoraco-cervical and cervical regions.

The bathtub comprises in the hollow portion for the pelvis an additional recess (9) to accommodate the ischial tuberosities. The hollow portions to accommodate the feet (4, 5) are placed in the sidewalls at a distance of 70 to 90 cm from the point of connection (10) of the lumbar region support with the hollow for the pelvis situated below the bottom level of the tub.

In the most preferable embodiment, the hollow for the pelvis is lined with a resilient, waterproof material, possibly silicone or other resilient material.