GB2321068A

GB2321068A - Body support means for use with a (toilet) seat

Info

Publication number: GB2321068A
Application number: GB9725977A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Robert Dominguez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-12-11
Filing date: 1997-12-08
Publication date: 1998-07-15
Also published as: AUPO414596A0; GB9725977D0

Abstract

A restraint assembly 50 is disclosed for restraining a user within a support assembly 13 (see WO 95/02985) supporting the user of a seating facility, the support assembly including user support means 14,15 moveable between an inoperative position and an operative position in which the user support means is engageable by the user when using the facility, the restraint assembly including:- barrier means 52, and mounting means 55,56 for releasably mounting the barrier means on the user support means; the arrangement being such that the mounting means can be positioned in a plurality of positions on the user support means.

Description

"RESTRAINT ASSEMBLY" This invention relates to a restraint assembly.

The invention has particular but not exclusive application to restraint assemblies suitable for restraining invalid, frail aged and physically disadvantaged persons against falling. In one application the invention is suitable for use with the toilet support assembly disclosed in my International Patent application PCT/AU94/0039S, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

It is known for invalid, frail aged and physically disadvantaged persons to be restrained against falling or slumping forward by providing restraining means which are fixed or fixable to supports such as toilet, shower and bath supports.

The present invention aims to provide an alternative to known restraint assemblies.

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a restraint assembly for restraining a user within a support assembly supporting the user of a seating facility, the support assembly including user support means moveable between an inoperative position and an operative position in which the user support means is engageable by the user when using the facility, the restraint assembly including: barrier means, and mounting means for releasably mounting the barrier means on the user support means; the arrangement being such that the mounting means can be positioned in a plurality of positions on the user support means.

It is preferred that the mounting means can be mounted on the user support means in a plurality of configurations at each of the plurality of positions, the position cf the barrier means relative to the support assembly varying for each configuration.

It is also preferred that the restraint assembly includes locking means for releasably locking the mounting means to the user support means.

The restraint assembly can be used in a variety of applications such as ablutions ie showers, baths etc as well as in non-ablution functions such as general seating ie dining, transportation etc. In a preferred embodiment the facility is a toilet and the user support means includes a pair of arms pivotally mounted relative to the toilet, the mounting means including a sleeve adapted to be received by an arm.

There may be one sleeve at one end of the barrier means with the other end adapted to be guided along and restrained by the other arm ie as by a keyway or other similar arrangement. However it is preferred that the mounting means includes a pair of sleeves each adapted to be received by a respective arm.

In a preferred embodiment the barrier means includes a central support and a lateral support at each end thereof and the mounting means is adapted to mount the barrier means on the user support means such that the plane of the central and lateral supports is inclined to the user support means.

The mounting means may be of any suitably arrangement but it is preferred that the mounting means includes a pair of sleeves each adapted to be received by a respective arm, the axis of the sleeves being inclined to the plane of the central and lateral supports.

Preferably the axis of the sleeves is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lateral supports. The angle of inclination may vary consistent with the position of the barrier means relative to the support assembly varying for each mounting configuration of the restraint.

However it is preferred that the angle of inclination is substantially 45 degrees thereby providing for uniform variations in each of four possible mounting configurations.

In another embodiment the restraint assembly can include adjustable bracing means adapted to brace or support a body portion of a user and adapted to brace or support the support assembly against a wall. Preferably the adjustable bracing means includes adjustable and releasably lockable brace mounting means on the barrier means and adjustable spacing means.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein: FIG 1 illustrates the toilet support assembly of my International Patent application PCT/AU94/00398; FIGS 2 and 3 are side views illustrating this support assembly with the user support arms in the operative and inoperative positions respectively; FIGS 4, 5 and 6 are plan, side and end views respectively of a restraint assembly in accordance with the invention; FIGS 7 to 11 are side views illustrating the restraint assembly located in different positions on the toilet support assembly in accordance with various user requirements, and FIG 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention in which an arrangement for positioning a back support is included in the restraint assembly.

As can be seen in FIGS 1, 2 and 3, the toilet support assembly of my International Patent application PCT/AU9/00398 has a pair of user support arms 14 and 15 which are pivotally connected to a base support assembly 12 and which can be individually positioned in an operative position as seen in FIG 2 to support an invalid user seated on a toilet, or in an inoperative position as seen in FIG 3 to enable access to the toilet by all users. The arms 1 and 15 are inclined at approxirnately 45 degrees to the horizontal when in the operative position. Each arm has a handle 21,22 inclined at approximately 45 degrees to the arm such that the handles are substantially horizontal when in the operative position.

As can be seen in FIGS 4 to 6, restraint assembly 5G has a barrier 51 comprised of a central restraint 52 and a pair of side restraints 53 and 54 incline at approximately 45 degrees to central restraint 52.

Mounting means in the form of a pair of sleeves 55,56 are located at opposite ends of barrier 51 for mounting restraint assembly 50 to the arms 14,15 or handles 21,22 of the toilet support assembly. Sleeves 55,56 are dimensioned to form a neat fit over the arms and handles.

Sleeves 55,56 are fixed to the arms or handles by means of locking screws 57 which fasten each sleeve to a respective arm or handle.

As can be seen in FIG 6, the axis of sleeves 55,56 is inclined at approximately 45 degrees to the plane of central restraint 52 and side restraints 53 and 5 Accordingly, when the arms are in the operative position and barrier 51 is affixed to handles 21,22, the barrier is inclined to the horizontal at substantially 45 degrees (as can be seen in FIGS 7 to 10). Similarly, when the arms are in the operative position and barrier 51 is affixed to arms 14,15, the barrier is substantially horizontal (as can be seen in FIG 11).

FIGS 7 to 11 illustrate the universality of the restraint assembly of the present invention. FIG 7 illustrates barrier 51 affixed to handles 21,22 to prevent a tall stout person from slumping forward when seated on a toilet. FIG 8 illustrates barrier 51 affixed to handles 21,22 to prevent a tall thin person from slumping forward when seated on a toilet. FIG 9 illustrates barrier 51 affixed to handles 21,22 to prevent a short stout person from slumping forward when seated on a toilet. FIG 10 illustrates barrier 51 affixed to handles 21,22 to prevent a short thin person from slumping forward when seated on a toilet. FIG 11 illustrates barrier 51 affixed to arms 14,15 to support the toilet seat and act as a back rest for a person when seated on a toilet.

Thus it will be realised that with the arrangement of the present ir.vention, because the mounting means in the form of sleeves 55,56 mounts the barrier 51 on the arms 14,15 or handles 21,22 of the user support means such that the plane of central support 52 and lateral supports 53,54 is inclined to the user support means, the position of the barrier means relative to the support assembly varies in each of four configurations in which the mounting means can be mounted on the user support at any of a plurality of positions along the arms and handles.

When not in use the restraint assembly can be stored by positioning one sleeve on a handle. In use, the restraint is removed from the toilet support assembly, the user seated on the toilet and the restraint positioned as appropriate to most effectively restrain the user.

As can be seen in FIG 12, a positioning sleeve 58 is slidably located along barrier 51. Bracing means in the form of spacer 59 is carried by sleeve 58 and can be adjustably located thereon to adjustably space barrier 51 from the toilet wall when supported thereby when the barrier is mounted along arms 14,15. Sleeve 58 can be selectively locked in position along barrier 51 by means of locking screw 60 so that spacer 59 carried by sleeve 58 avoids toilet wall fixtures such as a down pipe, cistern etc. Alternatively to the arrangement shown, spacer 59 can be threaded and itself constitute the locking screw.

In an alternative arrangement not illustrated, it will be appreciated that if barrier 51 is mounted on handles 21,22, a suitable support mounted on spacer 59 can be used to support the head or other body portion of an incapacitated user.

The restraint assembly of the present invention has a number of advantages over known restraining arrangements including ease of assembly and a variable and universal operational functionality.

Claims

Claims

1. A restraint assembly for restraining a user within a support assembly supporting the user of a seating facility, the support assembly including user support means moveable between an inoperative position and an operative position in which the user support means is engageable by the user when using the facility, the restraint assembly including:- barrier means, and mounting means for releasably mounting the barrier means on the user support means; the arrangement being such that the mounting means can be positioned in a plurality of positions on the user support means.

2. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting means can be mounted on the user support means in a plurality of configurations at each of the plurality of positions1 the position of the barrier means relative to the support assembly varying for each configuration.

3. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 2, and including locking means for releasably locking the mounting means to the user support means.

4. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the facility is a toilet and the user support means includes a pair of arms pivotally mounted relative to the toilet, the mounting means including a sleeve adapted to be received by an arm.

5. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 4, the mounting means including a pair of sleeves each adapted to be received by a respective arm.

5. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier means includes a central support and a lateral support at each end thereof.

7. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mounting means is adapted to mount the barrier means on the user support means such that the plane of the central and lateral supports is inclined to the user support means.

8. A restraint assembly as claimed an claim 7, wherein the mounting means includes a pair of sleeves each adapted to be received by a respective arm.

9. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the axis of the sleeves is inclined to the plane of the central and lateral supports.

10. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the axis of the sleeves is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lateral supports.

11. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the angle of inclination is substantially 45 degrees.

12. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 1, and including adjustable bracing means adapted to brace or support a body portion of a user and to brace or support the support assembly against a wall.

13. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the adjustable bracing means includes adjustable and releasably lockable brace mounting means on the barrier means and adjustable spacing means.