GB2147020A

GB2147020A - Tip-up lavatory seat

Info

Publication number: GB2147020A
Application number: GB08324220A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Asadoor Dekran Daghlian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-09-09
Filing date: 1983-09-09
Publication date: 1985-05-01
Also published as: GB8324220D0

Abstract

In numerous foreign lavatories an aperture is merely provided in the ground and a person has to crouch over this aperture. It is however difficult for the old and infirm to attain and maintain this crouched position. To aid the use of such lavatories a post (1) which can be mounted on the wall or floor adjacent the ground aperture carries a cantilevered tip-up lavatory seat 5. As shown, the seat, which may be of plastics-coated steel, has a lateral extension 9 pivoted at 13 in a post recess 11 whose front edge provides the cantilever support when the seat 5 extends horizontally over the ground aperture. The post 1 may be provided with an upwardly-directed bidet spray 18, and it is claimed that is may be of a length adjustable by manual or power means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to sanitary fitments The present invention relates to a sanitary fitment for use in lavatories.

More particularly the present invention relates to a sanitary fitment for use in lavatories of the type where the sole provision is an aperture in the floor.

With such an existing facility a person has to usually crouch over the aperture. However, this position is difficult to attain or maintain for old or infirm persons.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a universal sanitary fitment which modifies such primitive toilet facilities, making it easier for persons to use the facility.

According to the present invention there is provided a universal sanitary fitment for location adjacent to a lavatory aperture, comprising a support for location adjacent to the lavatory aperture, the support carrying a curved seat member which is pivotable between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the support is an elongate member which is vertically arranged adjacent to the lavatory aperture.

The elongate member may be bolted to the floor or an adjacent wall or embedded in the floor material.

The curved seat member is preferably in the form of a horse-shoe shaped toilet seat which is pivotally connected to the upper end region of the elongate member, so as to be pivotable between a horizontal usable position, and a generally vertical out of use, position. Alternatively, the curved seat member may be a complete ring or of a different curved shape to the horse-shoe shape of the preferred embodiment.

Thus, by virtue of the present invention the curved seat member can be pivoted to the generally horizontal position to allow a person to be supported above the lavatory aperture, the horse-shoe shaped preferred embodiment being suitable for easy use by either male of female. When not required the seat member can be pivoted to the generally vertical position.

Advantageously, the support can carry one or more nozzles for directing a water jet or jets upwardly towards the user in the manner of a bidet.

For this purpose, the or each nozzle is adapted to be connected to a hot and/or cold water supply via pipework containing a valve controllable by means of a suitable actuating device, such as a lever or push-button.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the curved seat member in the out of use position; and Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in the ready for use position.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises and elongate member 1 which can be bolted, as at 3, in a generally vertical position to the floor adjacent a lavatory aperture (not shown), and a curved seat member 5 which is pivotally secured to the upper end region 7 of elongate member 1.

As best seen in Figure 1, the curved seat member 5 is generally horse-shoe shaped with a laterally extending planar portion 9 secured to its middle region. This planar portion 9 extends into a recess 11 in the upper end region of elongate member 1, and is secured to horizontal pivotal axie 13. Thus, when the seat member 5 is pivoted to the generally vertical position shown in Figure 1, planar portion 9 engages against the wall ofthe recess 11 formed bythefront wall 15 of the elongate member 1. When the seat member is pivoted to the generally horizontal position illustrated in Figure 2, the planar portion 9 engages the wall of the recess 11 formed by the upper end wall 17 of the elongate member 1. Thus the pivotal movement of the seat member 5 is simply limited.

For use, the seat member 5 is pivoted to the generally horizontal position of Figure 2 so that a person may be supported thereon above a lavatory of the type comprising an aperture in the floor.

Whilst the horse-shoe shaped seat member is especially suitable for either male or female, any other desired shape can of course be used, even a complete ring. Further, any alternative desired limited pivotal connection between seat member 5 and elongate support member 1, can be used.

Additionally the support can be of any other desired configuration than the elongate member 1. For example, instead of being bolted to a horizontal floor, the support may be secured to an upright wall surface.

In other embodiments, the elongate support member 1 can carry one or more nozzles, as indicated by way of example at 18, which are adapted to provide water jets directed obliquely upwardly towards a user to achieve a bidet facility. The nozzle(s) can be connected via pipework (not shown) to a hot and/or cold water supply by way of a valve controlled by a suitable actuating device, such as a push-button or lever.

Preferably, the seat member is formed of cold pressed steel covered with a plastics material although other suitable materials can be used.

The present invention thus simply provides a universal sanitary fitment for simple installation to modify existing lavatories of the type comprising merely a hole in the ground, to make such lavatories easier to use, especially for older and/or infirm people.

1. A universal sanitary fitment for location adjacent to a lavatory aperture, comprising a support for location adjacent to the lavatory aperture, the support carrying a curved seat member which is pivotable between an in-use position and an out-of-use position.

2. Afitment as claimed in claim 1, in which the support in an elongate member.

3. A fitment as claimed in claim 2, in which the elongate member is adjustable in length.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to sanitary fitments The present invention relates to a sanitary fitment for use in lavatories. More particularly the present invention relates to a sanitary fitment for use in lavatories of the type where the sole provision is an aperture in the floor. With such an existing facility a person has to usually crouch over the aperture. However, this position is difficult to attain or maintain for old or infirm persons. The aim of the present invention is to provide a universal sanitary fitment which modifies such primitive toilet facilities, making it easier for persons to use the facility. According to the present invention there is provided a universal sanitary fitment for location adjacent to a lavatory aperture, comprising a support for location adjacent to the lavatory aperture, the support carrying a curved seat member which is pivotable between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the support is an elongate member which is vertically arranged adjacent to the lavatory aperture. The elongate member may be bolted to the floor or an adjacent wall or embedded in the floor material. The curved seat member is preferably in the form of a horse-shoe shaped toilet seat which is pivotally connected to the upper end region of the elongate member, so as to be pivotable between a horizontal usable position, and a generally vertical out of use, position. Alternatively, the curved seat member may be a complete ring or of a different curved shape to the horse-shoe shape of the preferred embodiment. Thus, by virtue of the present invention the curved seat member can be pivoted to the generally horizontal position to allow a person to be supported above the lavatory aperture, the horse-shoe shaped preferred embodiment being suitable for easy use by either male of female. When not required the seat member can be pivoted to the generally vertical position. Advantageously, the support can carry one or more nozzles for directing a water jet or jets upwardly towards the user in the manner of a bidet. For this purpose, the or each nozzle is adapted to be connected to a hot and/or cold water supply via pipework containing a valve controllable by means of a suitable actuating device, such as a lever or push-button. The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the curved seat member in the out of use position; and Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in the ready for use position. The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises and elongate member 1 which can be bolted, as at 3, in a generally vertical position to the floor adjacent a lavatory aperture (not shown), and a curved seat member 5 which is pivotally secured to the upper end region 7 of elongate member 1. As best seen in Figure 1, the curved seat member 5 is generally horse-shoe shaped with a laterally extending planar portion 9 secured to its middle region. This planar portion 9 extends into a recess 11 in the upper end region of elongate member 1, and is secured to horizontal pivotal axie 13. Thus, when the seat member 5 is pivoted to the generally vertical position shown in Figure 1, planar portion 9 engages against the wall ofthe recess 11 formed bythefront wall 15 of the elongate member 1. When the seat member is pivoted to the generally horizontal position illustrated in Figure 2, the planar portion 9 engages the wall of the recess 11 formed by the upper end wall 17 of the elongate member 1. Thus the pivotal movement of the seat member 5 is simply limited. For use, the seat member 5 is pivoted to the generally horizontal position of Figure 2 so that a person may be supported thereon above a lavatory of the type comprising an aperture in the floor. Whilst the horse-shoe shaped seat member is especially suitable for either male or female, any other desired shape can of course be used, even a complete ring. Further, any alternative desired limited pivotal connection between seat member 5 and elongate support member 1, can be used. Additionally the support can be of any other desired configuration than the elongate member 1. For example, instead of being bolted to a horizontal floor, the support may be secured to an upright wall surface. In other embodiments, the elongate support member 1 can carry one or more nozzles, as indicated by way of example at 18, which are adapted to provide water jets directed obliquely upwardly towards a user to achieve a bidet facility. The nozzle(s) can be connected via pipework (not shown) to a hot and/or cold water supply by way of a valve controlled by a suitable actuating device, such as a push-button or lever. Preferably, the seat member is formed of cold pressed steel covered with a plastics material although other suitable materials can be used. The present invention thus simply provides a universal sanitary fitment for simple installation to modify existing lavatories of the type comprising merely a hole in the ground, to make such lavatories easier to use, especially for older and/or infirm people. CLAIMS

2. Afitment as claimed in claim 1, in which the support in an elongate member.

4. A fitment as claimed in claim 3, in which the elongate member is adjustable manually or by power-operated means.

5. A fitment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the seat member is horse-shoe shaped.

6. A fitment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the seat member is in the form of a ring.

7. A fitment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the seat member is pivotable between a horizontal in-use position, and a generally vertical out-of-use position.

8. A fitment as claimed in claim 7, in which the seat member has a laterally extending planar portion which extends into a recess provided in the support, and is secured to a horizontal pivotal axle, the planar portion engaging against a wall of the recess when the seat member is horizontal, to thus hold the seat member horizontal.

9. Afitment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which one or more nozzles are mounted on the support for providing a water jet or jets.

10. Afitment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the seat member is made of cold pressed steel covered with a plastics material.

11. A universal sanitary fitment for location adjacent to a lavatory aperture, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.