Abstract: A bath (1) for use by an elderly or disabled person. The bath (1) includes a side opening (3) which extends over the full width and height of the bath (1) and is surrounded by and outwardly and downwardly extending skirt (8). A door (4) with a channel (9) on its inner surface is upwardly translatable in its own plane to bring the door (4) over the opening (3) and force the skirt (8) into sealing engagement with a seal (11, 40) in the channel (9) which may be a foamed rubber seal or a part fluid=filled flexible tube up which the fluid is squeezed to effect sealing in upper portions of the tube as closing is completed.

Abstract: A valve actuator comprises a stem extending through the actuator body for coupling to a valve such that axial movement of the stem opens and closes the valve. An outer shaft is arranged coaxially around, and in threaded engagement with the stem and is coupled to an electric motor for conveying rotational drive to the shaft and thus axial movement of the shaft relative to the stem against a spring bias. The shaft is releasably retained in a predetermined position by a solenoid-actuated latching mechanism with the spring in a compressed state, such that further rotation of the shaft causes axial movement of the stem relative to the shaft to actuate the valve. Deactuation of the mechanism releases the shaft to allow axial movement of both the shaft and the stem, under action of the spring in order to close the valve.

Abstract: A two-part connector for use in connecting and disconnecting fluid carrying conduits includes male and female connector parts each having sets of non-radially disposed fluid carrying bores therethrough. A rotatable valve member extends across each set of bores therethrough and is adapted to align with the bores in the connector part in which the valve member is mounted. Each of the bores in the male connector part is aligned with a respective bore in the female connector part when the two connector parts are assembled together. Each valve member is rotatable to a first position in which the holes therein are aligned with the bores in the connector parts to permit fluid flow and to a second position in which the body of the valve member obturates the bores so that no fluid flows therethrough. Releasable clamping means retain the two connector parts together in sealing engagement.