EP1972729A2

EP1972729A2 - Sanitary article, in particular a toilet, designed to permit a physiologically correct position for defecation even for elderly or disabled persons

Info

Publication number: EP1972729A2
Application number: EP08152614A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Mattioli
Original assignee: Bronzini Srl
Current assignee: Bronzini Srl
Priority date: 2007-03-12
Filing date: 2008-03-11
Publication date: 2008-09-24
Also published as: ITMI20070484A1; EP1972729A3; US20080222783A1

Abstract

This invention concerns a sanitary article, in particular a toilet with a form that permits a physiologically correct position for defecation, and is so practical that it can be used even by elderly or disabled persons.
This toilet, which is a type that ensures that angle α, formed by the femur (3) with the lumbosacral segment (4) of the rachis, is less than 90°, is characterized by the fact that it provides a means of supporting said user's body (1), so that no burden is placed on the lower limbs, allowing the user to assume a position where the knees are higher than the pelvis, so that the knee joint is approximately at the height of the diaphragm.

Description

This invention concerns a sanitary article, in particular a toilet with a form that permits a physiologically correct position for defecation and is so practical that it can be used even by the elderly or disabled.
It is known that during defecation, the position is extremely important, but despite this, toilets usually found in homes require a defecation position that is substantially different from the ideal one. In so-called "Turkish" toilets, the position is significantly better, and the common experience of those who have had occasion to use a "Turkish" toilet is that they immediately notice that it facilitates defecation.
Thus, it is advisable to have a position with the trunk leaning forward and resting on the thighs, with the forearms between the thorax and the thighs and pushing toward the hip points; a small platform under the feet may also be useful. In this way, the abdomen does not expand when one of necessity strains to evacuate.
This position does not result in evacuation without straining, but rather produces the minimum necessary straining, avoiding efforts that congest the face and further increase straining to defecate. During this phase, the instinctive but erroneous movement is the so-called "Valsalva maneuver," which closes the glottis and congests the face, but also closes the anal canal as a reflex and excessively increases abdominal pressure. It is thus necessary to strain further to evacuate, as the effort is made when the anal canal is not completely dilated.
We should also consider that the "Turkish" position reduces the anal-rectal angle by shifting the sacrum forward 1-2 centimeters. This occurs through sacroiliac nutation and shifting the coccyx back.
In practice, in the "Turkish" position, the angle formed by the femur and the lumbosacral segment of the rachis is less than the approximately 90° angle normally seen in the seats of toilets found in most homes.
On the other hand, the "Turkish" position is uncomfortable and puts excessive pressure on the muscles of the lower limbs, both to stay balanced and to stand upright again after defecation. In fact, often after standing back up, irritation or even pain may be experienced in the lower limbs and feet. For this reason, the "Turkish" position is impossible for the elderly and anyone with a disability affecting the lower limbs.
This invention overcomes the problems in the known technology by proposing a toilet, in compliance with claim 1, formed in a way that allows the person to be seated comfortably, but with the limbs correctly positioned with respect to the trunk, in order to minimize the straining required to defecate, and thus eliminating the problems of the traditional position. In addition, the fact that the person is seated makes it possible for the elderly and disabled to benefit from a physiologically correct position without the significant negative effects that the "Turkish" toilet has on balance and the lower limbs. In practice, the toilet in this invention achieves the new result of combining the advantages of both types of toilet in the known technology, as it combines the convenience of the traditional toilet seat with the physiologically more correct position of "Turkish" toilets, with special benefits, as noted, for the elderly or disabled, for whom this position is presently precluded.
The position achieved by using the toilet according to the invention is also more correct than what is naturally achieved by squatting, as the body is resting against the surface of the toilet and the various parts of the body are resting in the most correct reciprocal positions for defecation, in physiological terms.
The invention will now be described, using one indicative example only that will show a preferred embodiment and will refer to the attached figures, where:

figure 1 shows a person in the act of defecating, seated on a toilet that conforms to the invention
figures 2 and 3 show two possible forms for the toilet according to the invention

With regard to figure 1, (1) shows a person seated on a toilet (2) according to the invention, in the act of defecating. Said toilet (2) has a conformation that allows the person (1) to assume a physiologically correct position for the function of defecating. In particular, the person's position is such that the knees are positioned higher than the pelvis. In practice, as seen in figure 1, the knee joint is approximately at the height of the diaphragm. Under these circumstances, angle α, formed by the femur (3) and the lumbosacral segment (4) of the rachis, is normally between 70° and 80°, while angle β of the knee opening, that is the angle formed by the femur (3) and the tibia (5), is normally between 65° and 75°.
It should be noted that the values of angles α and β are indicative, as they depend on the person and his momentary position on the toilet. In practice this means that, while the articulation point between the femur and the pelvis remains the same, the person can move the trunk forward or backward by a few centimeters, for purposes of finding the most comfortable position, thus changing angle α by a few degrees, while angle β depends on the length of the legs and how much the person extends them, again to find the most comfortable position. There is a ± 5° range of variability for both angles α and β, depending on the person's movements.
Observing figure 1, we see how the position assumed is substantially the same as the position assumed on "Turkish" toilets, but is rotated around the ankle to keep the trunk in an erect position. In reality, due to one's own weight, when using a "Turkish" toilet, the knee is flexed as far as possible, but the extent of this flexion does not determine the physiological correctness of the position, as the effectiveness of defecation depends essentially on said angle α, created by the lumbosacral rachis (4) and the femur (3).
In practice, the position illustrated is achieved by a seat whose height h, is lower than usual, which induces one to naturally bend the trunk forward, to keep it in an erect position.
To make the seat more comfortable, a curved slab (6) should be placed between the toilet (2) and the person (1), which will serve the specific function explained below.
The upper portion (7) of the toilet (2), that is the part on which the slab is placed (6), has a concave form and includes a front portion (7a), which helps support the thighs, and a rear portion (7b), that offers some support for the back.
The back support is necessary to avoid straining the abdominal muscles, while the support for the thighs is necessary as the feet would tend to slip forward, thus increasing angle α between the femur (3) and the lumbosacral rachis (4).
The height H of this front portion (7a) should be selected to provide the broadest possible support to the thighs, that is as close as possible to the knees, without interfering with the calves.
As the toilet (2) must be able to adapt to persons of different heights, this slab (6) can be made in different thicknesses to vary the height h of the seat. Particular attention should be placed on the fact that a short person will not only need a lower height h, but will also need a concavity with a smaller curvature. This means that, starting with a very thin slab, appropriate for small persons, slabs (6) for taller persons must have a differentiated thickness, thus remaining relatively thin at the edges and gradually becoming thicker in the middle. Similarly, using as an example a slab (6) with a uniform thickness for an average or tall person, an appropriate support for a short person can be achieved by shaping the upper part of the slab (6), making it thinner towards the front, so that the seat is moved forward to avoid interference of the front part of the WC (2) with the person's calves (1). A scheme of this kind is shown in figure 2, where the dotted line (6a) shows a slab (6) appropriate for an average to tall person, and the unbroken line (6b) shows a slab (6) appropriate for a short person.
Figures 2 and 3 show two possible schemes for the toilet (2). These schemes are completely equivalent, as they achieve the same physiological position, albeit with differences due to style. As we see in figures 2 and 3, the internal part of the toiler (2) is completely identical to that of traditional toilets, so that the plumbing is essentially the same as that commonly in use.
As a result of its reduced height, the toilet (2) should be equipped with a pair of handles (8) designed to provide to the user (1) a support in order to help him to pull himself up.
As is clear from the preceding description, a toilet (2) that conforms to the invention creates a physiologically correct position, not unlike the one achieved in "Turkish" toilets, but without the significant inconveniences that in fact make it prohibitive for the elderly and those with disabilities of the lower limbs.
The invention has been described using just one indicative example of a form of implementation. An expert in the sector will be able to find many other forms of implementation, all of which fall within the protection of the following claims.

Claims

Sanitary article, in particular a toilet (2) of a type that allows the user (1) to assume a physiologically correct position for defecation, said position creating an angle α, formed of the femur (3) with the lumbosacral segment (4) of the rachis, that is less than 90°, characterized by the fact that it provides means designed to support the body of said user (1), so that no burden is placed on the lower limbs, by having this user assume a position where the knees are higher than the pelvis, so that the knee joint is approximately at the height of the diaphragm.
Sanitary article, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said means designed to support the user's body (1) in a way which does not burden the lower limbs, also acts to keep said user's trunk (1) in a substantially erect position, or slightly inclined forward.
Sanitary article, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said means designed to support said user's body (1) in a way that does not burden the lower limbs, includes a surface (7), of said toilet (2), that is shaped in a way that when the user's body (1) is resting on said surface (7), it assumes said physiologically correct position for defecation, with said angle α formed by the femur (3) with the lumbosacral segment (4) of the rachis, between 70° and 80°.
Sanitary article, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said surface (7), on which the user's body (1) rests, includes a front portion (7a) against which the user's thighs (1) rest, and a portion (7b), against which the user's back (1) rests.
Sanitary article, according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that it interposes a curved slab (6) between the surface (7) of said toilet (2) and the user's body (1), with this slab (6) having a thickness that makes said toilet (2) adaptable to persons of different heights.
Sanitary article, according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that said slab (6) has a varying thickness, in order to make the curve of said slab (6) appropriate for persons of different heights.
Sanitary article, according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that said slab (6) has a varying thickness, in order to regulate the position of the user (1), based on his height, to avoid interference of the front part (7a) of said toilet (2) with the user's calves (1).
Sanitary article, according to claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that it provides a pair of handles (8) designed to provide to the user (1) a support in order to help him to pull himself up.