GB1577937A - Water closet assembly for fitting beneath a bed - Google Patents

Description

(54) A WATER CLOSET ASSEMBLY FOR FITTING BENEATH A BED (71) I, ELIZABETH MATILDA HO WARD, a British Subject, of "Normanor", North Littleton, Evesham, Worcestershire, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a, patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a water closet assembly for fitting beneath a bed, and is concerned more particularly, but not exclusively, with the provision of toilet facilities which reduce disturbance of hospital patients to a minimum and are such as to render bed-pans unnecessary.

According to the invention there is provided a water closet assembly for fitting beneath a bed, comprising guide means for attachment to the bottom of the bed, a toilet pan provided with cooperating means for sliding engagement with the guide means to support the pan beneath the bed whilst enabling detachment of the pan from the bed by sliding. flexible pipe means for connecting the pan to a water supply and to a waste outlet. arid ground-engaging support means for the pan.

The bed with which the assembly is used preferably includes a plastics-covered mattress having a generally central aperture to register with the pan. The aperture may be offset longitudinally from the centre of the mattress so that, bv reversal of the mattress, patients of different lengths can be catered for. the position of the pan being adjusted accordingly. Access to the pan or patient can be obtained from beneath the bed. the bed being drawn forward a short distance for patient attention and moved through a greater distance when access to the pan is required. The mattress may be formed in three sections. the offset aperture being included in the central section.

Said guide means conveniently comprise a pair of longitudinally extending angle section rails which are spaced apart trans versely of the bed and serve to support flanges on the pan. The pan is preferably connected, in use, by the flexible pipe means to a cistern which contains means for adding a measured quantity of disinfectant to each volume of water which is delivered to the pan, the cistern, in use, being either mounted on the wall of a hospital ward or contained within a cabinet disposed in a recess in the wall. The pan is conveniently formed as a one-piece moulding of a synthe tic plastics material and has a discharge outlet including a U-bend and connectable by flexible piping to drain. Said ground engaging support means may comprise a tubular steel legs with rubber feet at their free ends.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described. by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a hospital bed and a toilet pan. and Figure 2 is an end view, partly in section, of the bed and pan.

The hospital bed 1 has a plastics-covered foam, air or water filled mattress 2 on a wire mesh support 3. The mattress 2 is provided with a rectangular aperture 4 slightly offset longitudinally from the centre of the mat tress 2, the support 3 having a larger aperture 5 which will register with the aperture 4 when the mattress 2 is either way round. If a foam mattress-is used, it can be formed in three sections, the offset aperture being provided in the central section. An insert (not shown) is also provided which can be fitted into the aperture when the latter is not required.The bed 1 is adapted to support the toilet pan 6 by the provision of a pair of dngle-section longitudinal rails 7 -located beneath the mattress support 3 and arranged to provide a pair of horizontal support surfaces 8 spaced apart transversely of the bed 1.

The toilet pan 6 is formed as a one-piece plastics moulding and has side flanges 9 for fitment on the rail support surfaces 8. A U-bend 10 is included in the discharge outlet of the pan 6 and flexible piping 11 and 12 is provided for connection of the pan 6 to drain 13 and to a cistern 14 respectively. The cistern 14 is desirably of the "silent-flush" type and is operated by means of a pushbutton 15. For sanitary purposes, a disinfectant and/or detergent additive device (not shown) is incorporated in the cistern 14 to add a controlled quantity of disinfectant and/or detergent to the water in the cistern.

To permit ready detachment of the bed 1 from the toilet pan 6, the pan 6 is provided with a pair of legs 16 constituted by a U-shaped tubular steel element, the base 17 of the U being pivoted to the pan 6 and the free ends of the arms of the U having rubber feet 18 fitted thereon. When, therefore it is desired to remove the bed 1 in order, for example, to transfer the patient to another ward, the legs 16 of the pan 6 are lowered.

the bed I is raised on to its castors 19 and moved away from the pan 6. During removal of the bed 1, forward movement thereof by the nursing staff is sufficient to disengage the toilet pan and fitments from the bed proper.

To facilitate washing the patient. an electrically heated thermostatically controlled hot water tank 20 is provided. with a flexible hose 21 and a nozzle 22.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A water closet assembly for fitting beneath a bed. comprising guide means for attachment to the bottom of the bed. a toilet pan provided with cooperating means for sliding engagement with the guide means to support the pan beneath the bed whilst enabling detachment of the pan from the bed by sliding. flexible pipe means for connecting the pan to a water supply and to a waste outlet. and ground-engaging support means for the pan.

2. An assembly according to claim 1.

wherein said cooperating means comprises at least one outwardly directed flange.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2. wherein said ground-engaging support means comprises a leg assembly hinged to the pan so that the lee assembly may be swung out of engagement with the ground when the pan is supported beneath the bed.

4. An assembly according to claim 1. 2.

or 3. wherein the pan is formed of svnthetic plastics material.

5. An assembly according to anv preceding claim and a bed to the bottom of which the guide means are attached so as to support the pan beneath the bed.

6. An assembly and bed according to claim 5. wherein tlie guide means comprise a pair of longitudinally extending rails which are spaced apart transversely of the bed.

7. An assembly and bed according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the bed includes a mattress support nember having an aperture positioned to register with the paji and a mattress having an aperture positioned to register with the, aperture in the mattress support member.

8. An assembly and bed according to claim 7, wherein the mattress aperture is offset longitudinally from the centre of the mattress and the aperture in the mattress support member is of sufficient length to register with the mattress aperture which er way round the mattress is fitted to the bed.

9. An assembly and bed according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the mattress is formed in three sections each of which extends across the bed from side to side, the aperture being provided in the central sec tion: 10. A water closet assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A water closet assembly and bed substantiallv as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accom-.

panying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the bed 1. The toilet pan 6 is formed as a one-piece plastics moulding and has side flanges 9 for fitment on the rail support surfaces 8. A U-bend 10 is included in the discharge outlet of the pan 6 and flexible piping 11 and 12 is provided for connection of the pan 6 to drain 13 and to a cistern 14 respectively. The cistern 14 is desirably of the "silent-flush" type and is operated by means of a pushbutton 15. For sanitary purposes, a disinfectant and/or detergent additive device (not shown) is incorporated in the cistern 14 to add a controlled quantity of disinfectant and/or detergent to the water in the cistern. To permit ready detachment of the bed 1 from the toilet pan 6, the pan 6 is provided with a pair of legs 16 constituted by a U-shaped tubular steel element, the base 17 of the U being pivoted to the pan 6 and the free ends of the arms of the U having rubber feet 18 fitted thereon. When, therefore it is desired to remove the bed 1 in order, for example, to transfer the patient to another ward, the legs 16 of the pan 6 are lowered. the bed I is raised on to its castors 19 and moved away from the pan 6. During removal of the bed 1, forward movement thereof by the nursing staff is sufficient to disengage the toilet pan and fitments from the bed proper. To facilitate washing the patient. an electrically heated thermostatically controlled hot water tank 20 is provided. with a flexible hose 21 and a nozzle 22. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A water closet assembly for fitting beneath a bed. comprising guide means for attachment to the bottom of the bed. a toilet pan provided with cooperating means for sliding engagement with the guide means to support the pan beneath the bed whilst enabling detachment of the pan from the bed by sliding. flexible pipe means for connecting the pan to a water supply and to a waste outlet. and ground-engaging support means for the pan.

2. An assembly according to claim 1.

wherein said cooperating means comprises at least one outwardly directed flange.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2. wherein said ground-engaging support means comprises a leg assembly hinged to the pan so that the lee assembly may be swung out of engagement with the ground when the pan is supported beneath the bed.

4. An assembly according to claim 1. 2.

or 3. wherein the pan is formed of svnthetic plastics material.

5. An assembly according to anv preceding claim and a bed to the bottom of which the guide means are attached so as to support the pan beneath the bed.

6. An assembly and bed according to claim 5. wherein tlie guide means comprise a pair of longitudinally extending rails which are spaced apart transversely of the bed.

7. An assembly and bed according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the bed includes a mattress support nember having an aperture positioned to register with the paji and a mattress having an aperture positioned to register with the, aperture in the mattress support member.

8. An assembly and bed according to claim 7, wherein the mattress aperture is offset longitudinally from the centre of the mattress and the aperture in the mattress support member is of sufficient length to register with the mattress aperture which er way round the mattress is fitted to the bed.

9. An assembly and bed according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the mattress is formed in three sections each of which extends across the bed from side to side, the aperture being provided in the central sec tion:

10. A water closet assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A water closet assembly and bed substantiallv as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accom-.

panying drawings.