GB2584612A

GB2584612A - Frame

Info

Publication number: GB2584612A
Application number: GB1906604.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rice Lee
Original assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Current assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Priority date: 2019-05-10
Filing date: 2019-05-10
Publication date: 2020-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-10
Also published as: GB201906604D0; GB2584612B; GB2584612A8

Abstract

A height adjustable frame 10. The frame 10 comprises four adjustable legs 16. Each respective leg comprises an adjustment means 20. The adjustment means comprises a plurality of fixing positions 22. The length of each leg is adjustable by selecting one of the fixing positions. The adjustment means of one of the legs comprises additional intermediate fixing positions 23, such that it has more than the others; this aids positioning the frame on uneven surfaces. Each leg may be fixed in place by snapping a C-shaped clip with a pin around one of the legs, with the pin extending between overlapping positioning holes in the telescopic legs. The frame may also be suitable for supporting a toilet seat over a toilet, or a commode. A method of adjusting the leg with additional fixing positions relative to the others is also disclosed.

Description

TITLE Frame

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Examples of the disclosure relate to a frame, and in particular to a height

adjustable frame.

BACKGROUND

Frames for supporting a person are known. It is often desirable to adjust the height of a frame, and it is known to provide a frame with four adjustable legs for this purpose.

There is a requirement to provide height adjustable frames that can be more precisely adjusted to accommodate uneven surfaces on which the frame may be 20 located.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a height adjustable frame, the frame comprising: four adjustable legs, wherein each respective leg comprises an adjustment means; the adjustment means comprising a plurality of fixing positions, wherein the length of each leg is adjustable by selecting a one of the fixing positions; wherein the adjustment means of a one of the four legs also comprises a plurality of intermediate fixing positions.

An intermediate fixing position may be provided between each pair of fixing positions.

The distance between a fixing position and an adjacent intermediate fixing position is less than the distance between adjacent fixing positions, wherein the intermediate fixing position is provided between the adjacent fixing positions.

The adjustment means may comprise an inner leg portion slidably moveable within an outer leg portion. The fixing positions may comprise openings in the inner leg portion. The intermediate fixing positions may comprise openings in the inner leg portion. The outer leg portion may comprise an opening which is alignable with any one of the openings in the inner leg portion by adjusting the relative positions of the inner and outer leg portions, wherein a fixing member is locatable through aligned openings to fix the relative positions of the inner and outer leg portions to determine the length of the leg.

The fixing member may comprise a clip locatable around the outer portion of the leg, the clip comprising an elongate member shaped to be received through the aligned openings. The clip may be a c-clip.

The height adjustable frame may be a frame for supporting a person over a toilet. The frame may comprise a toilet seat on which a person may sit above an underlying toilet. The frame may comprise a pan underlying the seat so that the frame is useable as a toilet commode.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method, the method comprising: selecting an intermediate fixing position on an adjustment means of a one of four legs of a height adjustable frame, wherein the intermediate fixing position selected is adjacent to a fixing position which corresponds to a fixing position selected on the adjustment means of each of the other three legs of the frame.

The method may comprise any of the features described in any of the

preceding statements or following description.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method of providing a height adjustable frame according to any of the preceding paragraphs.

The method may comprise any of the features described in any of the preceding statements or following description.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there may be provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of various examples that are useful for understanding the detailed description, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective views of a frame; Fig. 2 illustrates a view from above of a part of the adjustment means of a leg of the frame of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 illustrates a view from above a part of the adjustment means of another of the legs of the frame of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures illustrate a height adjustable frame 10. In the illustrated example, the height adjustable frame 10 is of the type for supporting a person over a toilet. The frame 10 comprises a pair of side members 12, and a support arrangement 14 connecting the pair of side members 12.

The frame 10 may comprise a toilet seat (not illustrated) on which a person may sit above an underlying toilet. In such examples, the toilet seat mounts to the support arrangement 14. The toilet seat is mounted on top of the support arrangement 14. The frame may also comprise a pan (not illustrated) underlying the toilet seat so that the frame 10 is useable as a toilet commode. The pan may be located in a bracket (not illustrated), which bracket mounts to the support arrangement 14. The bracket locates the pan below the support arrangement 14.

The frame 10 comprises four adjustable legs 16, wherein there are two legs 16 per side member. The legs 16 of each side member are connected by a handle portion 18. Each leg 16 comprises a ground engaging foot 19.

Each respective leg 16 comprises an adjustment means 20. The adjustment means 20 comprises a plurality of spaced apart fixing positions 22. In use, the length of each leg 16 is adjustable by selecting a one of the fixing positions 22.

In the illustrated example, the adjustment means 20 comprises an inner leg portion 24 which is slidably moveable within an outer leg portion 26. The fixing positions 22 are openings 28 in the inner leg portion 24. The outer leg portion 26 comprises an opening 30 which is alignable with any one of the openings 28 in the inner leg portion 26 by adjusting the relative positions of the inner and outer leg portions 24, 26. The adjustment means 20 comprises a fixing member 32. The fixing member 32 is locatable through aligned openings 28, 30 to fix the relative positions of the inner and outer leg portions 24, 26. In use, the relative positions of the inner and outer leg portions 24, 26 determines the length of the leg 16. For example, aligning the opening 30 with the lowermost opening 28 illustrated in the drawings, and locating the fixing member through the aligned openings 28, 30 would represent the shortest possible in use leg 16 length.

In the illustrated examples, the fixing member 32 comprise a clip 34 locatable around the outer portion 26 of the leg 16. The clip 34 comprises an elongate member (not illustrated) shaped to be received through the aligned openings 28, 30. The clip 34 may be a c-clip.

The adjustment means 20 of a one of the four legs 16 comprises a plurality of intermediate fixing position 23. In the illustrated examples, an intermediate fixing position 23 is provided between each pair of fixing positions 22. The intermediate fixing positions 23 are also openings 28 in the inner leg portion 24.

Fig. 2 best illustrates the arrangement of fixing positions 22 of the adjustment means 20 common to three of the legs 16. Fig. 3 best illustrates the arrangement of fixing positions 22 and intermediate fixing positions 23 of the adjustment means 20 of the remaining leg 16.

The distance between a fixing position 22 and an adjacent intermediate fixing position 23 is less than the distance between adjacent fixing positions 22. The intermediate fixing position 23 is provided between the adjacent fixing positions 22.

The distance between a fixing position 22 and an adjacent intermediate fixing position 23 is substantially half the distance of the distance between adjacent fixing positions 22.

In use, a user may wish to adjust the height of the height adjustable frame 10, and/or ensure that each of the ground engaging feet 19 are simultaneously in contact with the surface to prevent the frame 10 from wobbling in use.

Accordingly, the height of the frame 10 is adjusted by selecting a corresponding fixing positions 22 on the adjustment means 20 of each leg 16. The length of the legs 16 determines the height of the frame 10, and therefore adjusting the length of the legs 16 adjusts the height of the frame 10. Selecting a corresponding fixing positions 22 on the adjustment means 20 of each leg 16 ensures that the length of each leg 16 is the same.

If the frame 10 is located on an uneven surface, the frame 10 may wobble because not all of the ground engaging feet 19 are simultaneously in contact with the surface, even though each of the four legs 16 is of the same length.

Accordingly, a user may select an intermediate fixing position 23 on the adjustment means 20 of the one of the four legs 16 adjacent the corresponding fixing position 22. The corresponding fixing position 22 is the fixing position 22 that had been selected on the adjustment means 20 of each leg 16 to ensure that the length of each leg 16 is the same. A user would select the adjacent intermediate fixing position 23 either above or below the corresponding fixing position 22 depending on the layout of the uneven surface to prevent wobbling.

The provision of intermediate fixing positions 23 on the adjustment means 20 of a one of the four legs 16 therefore permits fine adjustment relative to the other three fixed points of contact, that is, the points of contact provided by the ground engaging feet 19 of the other three legs 16. This permits a user to more precisely make adjustments to prevent wobbling of the frame 10 on an uneven surface.

Accordingly, the intermediate fixing positions 23 offer more variety in height adjustment. This allows the user to have a more precise height adjustment to fit their needs, in addition to providing a more precise and secure frame when the underlying surface is uneven allowing the frame 10 to be more widely and readily used.

Accordingly, the figures also illustrate a method comprising selecting an intermediate fixing position 23 on an adjustment means 20 of a one of four legs 16 of a height adjustable frame. The intermediate fixing position 23 selected is adjacent to a fixing position 22 which corresponds to a fixing position 22 selected on the adjustment means 20 of each of the other three legs 16 of the height adjustable frame 10.

The figures also illustrate a method of providing a height adjustable frame 10 as described above, that is, a method of manufacturing the height adjustable frame 10.

There is thus described a frame 10 and a method with a number of advantages as described above.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the frame 10 could comprise any suitable material, for instance, metal or rigid plastics.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

The term "comprise" is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use "comprise" with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to "comprising only one..." or by using "consisting".

In this brief description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term "example" or "for example" or "may" in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus "example", "for example" or "may" refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that comprise some but not all of the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that features described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A height adjustable frame, the frame comprising: four adjustable legs, wherein each respective leg comprises an adjustment means; the adjustment means comprising a plurality of fixing positions, wherein the length of each leg is adjustable by selecting a one of the fixing positions; wherein the adjustment means of a one of the four legs also comprises a plurality of intermediate fixing positions.
2. A height adjustable frame according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate fixing position may be provided between each pair of fixing positions.
3. A height adjustable frame according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the distance o 15 between a fixing position and an adjacent intermediate fixing position is less than the C\I distance between adjacent fixing positions, wherein the intermediate fixing position is provided between the adjacent fixing positions.
4. A height adjustable frame according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the leg portion.
5. A height adjustable frame according to claim 4, wherein the fixing positions comprise openings in the inner leg portion.
6. A height adjustable frame according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the intermediate fixing positions comprise openings in the inner leg portion.
7. A height adjustable frame according to claims 5 or 6, wherein the outer leg portion comprises an opening which is alignable with any one of the openings in the inner leg portion by adjusting the relative positions of the inner and outer leg portions, wherein a fixing member is locatable through aligned openings to fix the relative positions of the inner and outer leg portions to determine the length of the leg.
CO 20 adjustment means comprise an inner leg portion slidably moveable within an outer 8. A height adjustable frame according to claim 7, wherein the fixing member comprises a clip locatable around the outer portion of the leg, the clip comprising an elongate member shaped to be received through the aligned openings.
9. A height adjustable frame according to claim 8, wherein the clip is a c-clip.
10. A height adjustable frame according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height adjustable frame is a frame for supporting a person over a toilet.
11. A height adjustable frame according to claim 10, wherein the frame comprises a toilet seat on which a person may sit above an underlying toilet.
12. A height adjustable frame according to claim 11, wherein the frame comprises a pan underlying the seat so that the frame is useable as a toilet commode.C\I
13. A method, the method comprising: selecting an intermediate fixing position on an adjustment means of a one of o four legs of a height adjustable frame, wherein the intermediate fixing position selected is adjacent to a fixing position which corresponds to a fixing position CO 20 selected on the adjustment means of each of the other three legs of the frame.