GB2237189A

GB2237189A - Bed pan support

Info

Publication number: GB2237189A
Application number: GB9020655A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christine Elizabeth Collyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-10-26
Filing date: 1990-09-21
Publication date: 1991-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-21
Also published as: GB9020655D0; GB8924131D0; GB2237189B

Abstract

A support for a bed pan comprises a substantially rectangular frame consisting of two spaced tubular members (1, 2) adapted to receive and hold a bed pan between them. The upper tubular member (1) has a pair of handles (11) spaced from the bed pan by means of which a patient can raise himself onto the frame and over the bed pan. A toilet seat (17) may be fitted to the frame and secured to tubular members (15) which extend across the frame and are secured at each end to the longer sides of the upper tubular member (1). The tubular members (15) are so spaced and arranged that they engage the sides of a bed pan which is inserted into the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: BED PAN SUPPORT This invention relates to a support for use in conjunction with a bed pan.

The use of a bedpan by a patient balanced on a mattress is a very difficult manoeuvre even if the patient is reasonably fit but more so after an operation when the patient may be weak or in pain owing to te necessity of trying to balance on a mattress which is often soft and uneven.

The present invention aims to solve this problem by providing a support for a bed pan.

According to the invention, there is provided a support for a bed pan which comprises a frame adapted to receive and hold a bed pan and having a pair of handles spaced from the bed pan by means of which a user can raise himself onto the frame and over the bed pan.

Preferably, the length of the frame is approximately equal to the width of a conventional single bed to provide a firm support for the bed pan. The handles are preferably spaced from the ends of the frame.

The height of the frame should desirably be such as just to accommodate the height of a bed pan to be used with the frame.

A toilet seat may be secured to the frame and the rear of the frame may be slightly higher than the front in order to give better support for a user.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a bed pan support frame according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the frame shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the frame shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a bed pan support frame according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the frame shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the frame shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of the bed pan support frame shown in Figs. 4 to 6; Fig. 8 is a rear view of the frame shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a side view of the frame shown in Fig. 7.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Reference will first be made to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings in which the support frame comprises a substantially rectangular framework with rounded corners consisting of two tubular members 1 and 2 which are spaced apart by spacing tubes 4 at the narrow ends of the frame. Secured to each of the longer sides of the tubular members 1 and 2, at the central regions thereof, are a further pair of tubular members 5 and 6 which are shaped to receive a bed pan and each of which is secured at one end to one side of a respective tubular member 1 or 2. The members 5 and 6 extend substantially at right angles to the said one side of the tubular members 1 and 2 to approximately the centre of the frame and then converge to the other side of the respective tubular member 1 or 2 where they meet and to which they are secured.Additional spacing tubes 7 are secured to the tubular members 1 and 2 at the said one side at the locations at which the ends of the arms of the tubular members 5 and 6 are secured and at the other side adjacent to the point at which the arms of the members 5 and 6 meet and are secured to the tubular members 1 and 2. The tubular members 5 and 6 are also spaced apart by spacing tubes 8 located substantially at the centre of the frame where the members 5 and 6 commence to converge towards one another.

A top panel (not shown) may be secured to the upper tubular member 1 to overlie the frame except in a central region defined by the tubular members 5 and 6 to leave an opening which is adapted to receive a bed pan 9. The bed pan is shown only in Fig. 1 and has been omitted from Figs. 2 and 3 in the interests of clarity.

The top panel can be secured to the tubular member 1 by any convenient fastening means (not shown) and is desirably made of a lightweight material such as fibre glass.

A pair of handles 11 are secured to the upper tubular member 1 at locations suitably spaced from the ends of the frame and the bed pan 9. The lower tubular member 2 is desirably provided with an upwardly bent or otherwise deformed portion 3 at the centre of its longer sides to prevent a bed pan from slipping out of the frame. The tubular members 5 and 6 serve the same function by preventing lateral displacement of the bed pan with respect to the frame.

Figures 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of a support frame which further comprises a pair of spaced, curved, upper tubular members 15 extending between the longer sides of the upper tubular member 1. The upper tubular members 1 5 are curved in an arcuate manner so as to support a gap fronted toilet seat 17 secured thereto.

The seat may be secured to the tubular members 15 by any suitable means such as screws.

The support frame further comprises a pair of spaced lower tubular members 19 extending between the longer sides of the lower tubular member 2. Support strips 21 extend between the support members 19.

The upper tubular members 15 are spaced apart by such an extent that a bed pan can be accommodated between them, the edges of the bed pan resting on the lower tubular members 19.

The two pairs of tubular members 15, 19 are spaced apart by the spacing tubes 8 which, as shown in Fig. 5, are angled outwards from the lower members 19 to the upper members 15.

As best shown in Figure 6, the back part of the support frame is slightly higher than the front part in order better to support the body weight of a patient. The spacing tubes 4, 7 and 8 are made progressively longer from the front to the rear of the framework in order to achieve this.

A bed pan (not shown) may be placed between the tubular members 15 and 19. The strips 21 support the bed pan in this condition and also prevent the mattress from pushing the bed pan upwardly when the patient places his weight on the frame.

Figures 7 to 9 show a third embodiment of a support frame which does not have a toilet seat. This support frame is intended for patients with a greater degree of mobility and/or fitness than the previous embodiments.

The upper tubular member 1 has a gap 23 in its rear longer side between the points at which the upper tubular members 15 join the member 1. In use, a bed pan (not shown) may be slid through the gap and held against lateral displacement relative to the frame by the members 15. In this condition the members'15 are flush with or below the upper surface of the bed pan to increase patient comfort. This also results in a support frame which is thinner, less obtrusive and lighter. This support frame is otherwise similar in every respect to the support frame shown in Figs. 4 to 6.

The length of the frame should be approximately equal to the width of a single bed and just sufficiently high to accommodate a bed pan. The handles serve to impart strength to the framework and enable a user to hold onto the frame to give the user much greater balance than with use of a bed pan alone and will create a feeling of confidence and greater comfort in use.

Use of the frame according to the invention in hospitals, nursing homes or the like, or even at home, will avoid patients sustaining further injuries, or damage after operations and will eliminate the possibility of a patient overbalancing or slipping off a bed pan. The nursing profession would have an additional benefit with the support frame according to the invention in that a nurse can remove a bed pan, after use, from the support frame and then wash a patient before removing the frame. It is no more difficult to raise a patient on the support frame according to the invention than onto a conventional bed pan since the height of the frame is only slightly greater than that of a conventional bed pan. On the contrary, the handles on the support will enable a patient to assist the nurses since the patient can lift himself or herself by means of the handles while the nurses assist in the correct positioning of the patient and frame for use. The frame will ensure that the bed pan remains fixed in position and does not move about over a soft mattress while the patient is being raised onto it. The support frame according to the invention is also suitable for use at home for people suffering from long term bed confinements and for those who are permanently disabled.

The support frame according to the invention should desirably be made from lightweight materials, such as aluminium alloy or stainless steel, so that the frame is light to carry and easy to handle. Preferably, the frame is made of tubular steel and coated in plastics although it could be chromium plated if desired.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments but variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A support for a bed pan which comprises a frame adapted to receive and hold a bed pan and having a pair of handles spaced from the bed pan by means of which a user can raise himself onto the frame and over the bed pan.

2. A support for a bed pan according to claim 1, wherein the length of the frame is approximately equal to the width of a conventional single bed to provide a firm support for the bed pan.

3. A support for a bed pan according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the handles are spaced from the ends of the frame.

4. A support for a bed pan according to any preceding claim, wherein the height of the frame is such as just to accommodate the height of a bed pan to be used with the frame.

5. A support for a bed pan according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame has a toilet seat attached thereto.

6. A support for a bed pan according to any preceding claim, wherein the rear part of the frame is higher than the front.

7. A support for a bed pan according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is provided with support strips to support the bed pan and to prevent the bed pan from being pushed upwardly when a user places his weight on the frame.

8. A support for a bed pan according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame comprises an upper tubular member spaced from a lower tubular member by spacing tubes, the upper and lower tubular members being arranged to accommodate a bed pan between them.

9. A support for a bed pan according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the frame is provided with a pair of upper tubular members spaced from a pair of lower tubular members, the pair of upper tubular members being wider than the pair of lower tubular members so as to accommodate a bed pan placed between the upper and lower tubular members.

10. A support for a bed pan according to claim 9, wherein the frame is provided with a gap at the rear between the points at which the upper tubular members join the frame so that a bed pan may be slid through the gap with its upper surface lying flush or below the level of the upper tubular members.

11. A support for a bed pan substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

12. A support for a bed pan substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 4 to 9 of the drawings.