US20100050328A1

US20100050328A1 - Heigh-adjustable toilet seat with splashguard

Info

Publication number: US20100050328A1
Application number: US12/583,327
Authority: US
Inventors: Marshall Laird Hennington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-20
Filing date: 2009-08-18
Publication date: 2010-03-04

Abstract

This machine sits atop a preexisting toilet, replacing the ordinary seat. A motorized mechanism raises and lowers the seat continuously at the user's discretion. In one embodiment, the seat is adjusted by cables pulled by the motor's shaft. The cables wrap around the outside of the toilet bowl, each cable redirected by a pulley to pull upward on the seat's lifting tray. The pulleys are situated symmetrically around the toilet bowl, allowing for the seat to be raised evenly with no tilting or seizing. The seat extends downward over the toilet, leaving no gap for waste products to splash out. A waterproof lining may be used for additional waterproofing. In its best mode, the motor's control is attached to the basetray or tethered to the motor, and handles on the lifting tray assist the user in getting on or off the toilet seat.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on provisional application Ser. No. 61/090,267, filed on Aug. 20, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of toilet aids and more specifically to a machine for adjusting the height of a toilet while the toilet is in use. The device is portable so that it can easily modify an existing toilet. The device is also enclosed so that it can be operated while the toilet is in use, without danger of splashing.
The indoor toilet has a difficult history to trace. Nevertheless, it is an indispensable part of modern sanitary life. Needless to say, everybody needs a toilet, yet the human body is not nearly as standardized as the toilet. Household toilets today come in two standard shapes and sizes. One kind of toilet has a more “round” bowl, and the other is more “elongated.” They are both approximately 16 inches high. People who are handicapped, weak or elderly, injured, ill, in pain, constipated, recovering from surgery, unusually short, tall, large or small may all have their own challenges using a one-size-fits-all toilet. Users who sit on a toilet with an inappropriate height may experience back, neck, or shoulder discomfort. Elderly or weak individuals experience challenges seating themselves and getting up from a low seat, as it requires a good deal of back and leg muscle exertion. Overweight people, too, can struggle with low seats.
Hospitals, apartment buildings, hotels, and other public places are subject to laws regarding access to the handicapped. This includes fair access to toilets that can be used by individuals with special needs.
Modern medical catalogs list certain standard toiletry products to accommodate special needs.
One common product is the “elevated toilet seat.” It is like a booster chair that sits atop the regular toilet seat or the toilet bowl rim. The elevated toilet seat adds several inches of height to the toilet. It may be useful for tall people or individuals who have trouble standing or sitting. The disadvantage to the elevated toilet seat is that it does not allow for adjustment. The seat is either “on” or “off,” with no height variation in between. Furthermore, if it replaces the toilet seat and sits on the bare toilet bowl rim, then it must remain on for all users.
The “commode” is a seat supported by a light frame, that can be positioned over top of a flush toilet or a chamberpot. It is also used by individuals who have difficulty sitting or standing from a low seat. It is an unattractive device that users can find embarrassing to have in the home.
The “toilet lift” is a mechanical device that assists a toilet user from a standing to sitting position, or from a sitting to standing position. It is a motorized device that rotates as it lifts, from a horizontal plane on the toilet seat to a nearly vertical plane when the user is standing. Therefore, it is not intended for adjustment while its operator is actually using the toilet.
At least three U.S. patents address the issue of adjustable-height toilets. These are U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,552 (referred to below as “the Austin patent,”) U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,582 (referred to below as “the Clark '03 patent,”) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,426,756 (referred to below as “the Clark '08 patent.”)
The Austin patent utilized a pair of jacks to elevate a toilet seat, one on each side of the toilet. The jacks were operated by a motor, and they were connected together with a chain or belt to ensure that they lifted at equal rates. The apparatus was rather bulky and unwieldy. It occupied space all around the toilet and had to be bolted to the floor. Furthermore, it lifted a flat seat. When the seat was elevated, it left a sizeable gap between the seat and the toilet bowl. This could lead to messes best left to the imagination, if the toilet seat were used in its elevated position.
The Clark '03 patent describes a system of hydraulic jacks anchored to the floor on one end, and to various points around the outer toilet bowl, on the other end. The bowl is allowed to pivot, and the jacks control the tilt of the bowl at an angle to the floor. This invention, however, does not allow for much variation in the toilet's height, and it is not sturdy for obese users (as disclaimed by Clark himself in his '08 patent). It also requires fairly serious modification of the toilet, to allow the bowl to pivot.
The Clark '08 patent describes an adjustable-height toilet. Intended for public use, it is a self-contained toilet rather than a device to be used in conjunction with an existing toilet. The product comes in two main parts. The lower part is a pedestal secured to the floor. The upper part, containing the bowl, is a pedestal of similar shape, which adjusts vertically over top of the lower part by means of vertical screws. This toilet is again unwieldy for use in a home, and necessitates the replacement of the old conventional toilet.
What is needed is a device that is easily portable and easy to use in conjunction with an existing conventional toilet, in order to allow for continuous height adjustment of the toilet seat. The product should be useful not only for mounting and dismounting the toilet, but for the user's comfort while seated on the toilet.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of this invention is to modify a toilet to adjust its height to meet the needs of different physical types, specifically the tall, disabled, heavy, and elderly.
Another object of the invention is to modify the toilet easily and unobtrusively without need of replacing the toilet.
A further object of the invention is to provide a height-adjustable toilet with a splashguard, so that the toilet may be adjusted while in use and not just for mounting and dismounting.
Another object of the invention is to eliminate the need for a commode.
Another object of the invention is to reduce back, neck, and shoulder pain associated with sitting on the toilet.
A further object of the invention is to allow public places to meet requirements regarding equal access to toilets for individuals with special needs.
Yet another object of the invention is to reduce stress and strain on the joints while sitting and standing from the toilet.
Still yet another object of the invention is to give the user complete control over the height of the toilet seat at any time.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
These objects are met by a device that is easily portable and interchangeable, that fits on a conventional toilet without need of replacing or seriously modifying the existing toilet, that maintains a seal around the toilet when in use, and that allows for the motorized, continuous height adjustment of the seat by a switch or remote control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The seat of the conventional toilet is replaced by a lifting tray. The toilet's own seat and lid are first removed. The lifting tray of the invention sits over top of the toilet bowl. The conventional seat and lid are then bolted to the lifting tray of the device. The lifting tray has a flat seating surface, cut with a central hole in the approximate size and shape of the toilet bowl opening. The walls of the lifting tray are contoured downward alongside the outer toilet bowl. The lifting tray may be fitted with handgrips alongside of the seat, to assist a user in standing and sitting.
A motor is affixed to the toilet, for instance on one side of the toilet behind and beneath the seat. The motor may be covered with a smooth casing to avoid any interference with clothes or body parts. The motor operates a lifting means, which can raise the lifting tray of the device several inches and lower it again.
A remote control allows the user to continuously adjust the seat to any desired height at any time. This remote control can be tethered to the motor, to ensure that it is not lost or dropped into the toilet. The remote control can alternatively be affixed to the body of the lifting tray.
The lifting tray not only provides a flat sitting surface, but also a splashguard. The contours of the basetray fold downward to fit snugly over the outer toilet bowl. Therefore, even when the lifting tray is in its elevated position, it leaves no gap open to the outside of the toilet environment. Any urination or splashing above the toilet bowl rim is caught by the inner wall of the lifting tray. To provide further splash protection, a waterproof lining may be draped from the lifting tray to the inner rim of the toilet. This would keep the lifting tray and the lifting mechanisms clean and dry, and would prevent leakage from the small gap between the toilet and lifting tray.
In its envisioned best mode, the present invention includes the inner waterproof lining, the remote control affixed or tethered to the device, and the handgrips.
In one embodiment disclosed in the drawings, the height adjustment of the lifting tray is accomplished with a plurality of cables that are controlled by the motor. Before the lifting tray is placed over the toilet bowl, a rigid basetray is secured to the toilet bowl using the bolts originally intended for the toilet's seat and lid. A plurality of pulleys are secured to the basetray. These pulleys direct the cables around the outer circumference of the toilet bowl. Each pulley directs a cable downward, where it is anchored to a lip at the bottom edge of the lifting tray. Thus, as the motor provides tension, the cables pull the lifting tray up, until the lip at the bottom of the lifting tray is nearly even with the rim of the toilet. The pulleys are arranged symmetrically around the toilet bowl, so they lift the lifting tray evenly and avoid any tilting, friction, or binding. Near the points where each cable pulls up on the lifting tray, a scissor connector is employed to secure the lifting tray stably to the base tray. In one embodiment of the invention, the scissor connectors attach to the underside of the basetray and extend downward to a lip on the lifting tray. In another embodiment, the scissor connectors attach to the underside of the lifting tray and extend downward to a lip on the basetray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the basetray in position above the toilet seat rim. In this embodiment, the scissor connectors are above the basetray.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the entire invention in various stages of use. FIG. 2A shows the lifting tray in its down position, at the height of the regular toilet seat. FIG. 2B shows the tray in a midway position. FIG. 2C shows the lifting tray at its highest position. In each figure, the basetray and lifting mechanism are shown behind the lifting tray. In this embodiment, the scissor connectors are secured to the underside of the basetray.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the motor with securing means, the shaft used to provide the lifting force for the lifting tray, and the cables that are driven by the shaft to lift the lifting tray. FIG. 3A shows the motor in its idle position, when there is no tension in the cables and the lifting tray is down. FIG. 3B shows the motor in its working position, when the cables are tense and the lifting tray is elevated.

FIG. 4 is a close up perspective view of the lifting mechanism, as mounted on the basetray on the rim of the toilet. This figure shows cables wrapping around the toilet and pulleys redirecting the cables.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the motor, switch, basetray, and lifting mechanism mounted on the toilet seat rim. This figure shows how the pulleys are arranged symmetrically around the toilet bowl. In this embodiment, the motor switch is in a remote controlled handheld unit, tethered to the motor.

FIG. 6 shows various views of the lifting tray. In this embodiment, the scissor connectors would be secured to the lip at the bottom of the tray. FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the top of the lifting tray. FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing the underside of the lifting tray. FIG. 6C is a side view of the lifting tray.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a scissor connector. FIG. 7A shows the scissor connector in an open position. FIG. 7B shows the scissor connector in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Turning now to the figures, the machine of course operates in the environment of a toilet 11. The regular seat 28 of the toilet is removed, and replaced with a rigid basetray 12 (see FIG. 1) with the toilet's own bolts fitted into slots 13. The edges of the basetray extend slightly beyond the toilet rim. Opening 32 is cut into basetray 12, with the approximate shape and size of the toilet bowl 33.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a motor 14 is affixed to the side of the toilet with securing means 15, and the motor is preferably covered for safety purposes. The motor drives a shaft 16. When the motor is operated, the shaft 16 rotates through an angle. A plurality of cables 17 are secured to one end of the shaft 16. (See FIG. 3). When the shaft 16 is in its idle position as in FIG. 3A, the cables 17 are not under tension and the lifting tray is down. When the shaft 16 is rotated to a working position as in FIG. 3B, the cables 17 are under tension and can lift and support weight.
The cables 17 pass through a common pulley 18, which redirects the cables 17 into a horizontal plane. As the cables wind around the outer surface of the toilet bowl 19 (see FIG. 4), they are encased in a sheath 20. At various points around the toilet bowl, each cable 17 exits the sheath 20 and passes over an individual pulley 21, secured to the basetray 12. FIG. 5 shows how the individual pulleys 21 are arranged symmetrically around the toilet bowl 19. This arrangement allows for the cables 17 to elevate the lifting tray at equal rates.
The lifting tray 22 is seen alone in FIG. 6. The lifting tray is also cut with an opening 34, in the approximate size and shape of the toilet bowl opening 33. This lifting tray 22 fits over top of the toilet bowl 19 and the basetray 12, as shown in FIG. 2B. The toilet seat 28 is then reattached on top of the lifting tray 22. The wall 23 of the lifting tray 22 extends downward over the toilet bowl 19, providing a moderately watertight splashguard as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C.
Secured to the lifting tray are a plurality of scissor connectors 24 (see FIG. 7). Each scissor connector 24 is adjustable in height from a fully open position as shown in FIG. 7A to a fully closed position as shown in FIG. 7B. The other end of each scissor connector 24 is secured to the basetray 12. The scissor connectors 24 may be attached above or below the basetray 12. FIG. 1 shows the scissor connectors attached at their bottoms to a lip 25 at the bottom of the basetray 12. In this embodiment, the top of each scissor connector would be affixed to the underside of the seating surface 26 of the lifting tray 22 (see FIG. 6B). FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment. In this arrangement, each scissor connector 24 is attached at its bottom to a lip 27 at the bottom of the wall 23 of the lifting tray 22 (Refer again to FIG. 6B). In this embodiment, the top of each scissor connector is attached to the underside of the basetray 12.
See FIGS. 2A and 6B. Each cable 17 is secured to the lip 27 of the lifting tray 22 by securing means 29 (for example, a bolt). When the cables 17 are pulled to their maximum extension, they lift the lifting tray 22 to its “highest” position (FIG. 2C). As the cables 17 are restored to their minimum extension, they restore the lifting tray 22 to its “down” position. (FIG. 2A). The motor may be operated smoothly and continuously between these two settings and may be stopped at any time. In this manner, the height of the lifting tray may be smoothly and continuously adjusted at the user's discretion.
The motor 14 is operated by a switch 30. (See FIG. 5). The switch 30 may be a remote control. It may alternatively be secured to the motor 14 with a tether 31. Still alternatively, the switch 30 may be affixed to the lifting tray 22, as shown in FIG. 6A.
Referring to FIG. 2B, the gap 31 between the lifting tray 22 and the toilet bowl 19 may be subject to leakage, if liquid is to splash over the rim of the toilet. For this reason, a waterproof lining 35 may be draped between the lifting tray 22 and the inner rim of the toilet bowl 19, as shown in FIG. 2C.
To facilitate sitting and standing from the toilet, the lifting tray 22 may be fitted with handgrips 36, as shown in FIG. 6C.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A machine for adjusting the height of a toilet, comprising:

A rigid fixed basetray secured atop a toilet bowl rim in place of the toilet seat, protruding slightly over the edges of the toilet rim;

An opening in said basetray in the approximate shape and size of the toilet bowl opening;

A rigid lifting tray in a horizontal plane atop said basetray;

A wall on said lifting tray to fit around the toilet bowl and act as a splashguard while the lifting tray is elevated;

An opening in said lifting tray, in the approximate shape and size of the toilet bowl opening;

Securing means for securing the regular toilet seat and/or lid on top of said lifting tray;

A motor affixed to the side of the toilet;

Lifting means operated by said motor and secured to said basetray, for raising and lowering said lifting tray;

An operating switch for said motor, to adjust said lifting tray up or down at the user's discretion.

2. A machine as in claim 1, where said lifting means comprise:

A lip on the lower edge of said wall of said lifting tray, extending in a horizontal plane, slightly inward toward the toilet;

A shaft driven by said motor;

A plurality of cables connected to said shaft, whereby said shaft adjusts the tension in said cables;

A sheath wrapped around said plurality of cables;

A common pulley for all said cables, redirecting the tension in said cables from the direction of said shaft to a path around the outside of the toilet bowl along the underside of said basetray;

A plurality of additional individual pulleys, attached symmetrically around the underside of said basetray and guiding the path of said cables around the toilet bowl;

A plurality of openings in the sheath, each opening allowing one said cable to leave said sheath and engage one said individual pulley, whereby each said individual pulley redirects one said cable vertically downward;

A plurality of affixing means, each for affixing the end of one said cable to said lip around the underside of said wall of said lifting tray, so that tension in said cables pulls said lifting tray up toward said basetray;

A plurality of scissor connectors, whereby each scissor connector is secured on top to said basetray, and on bottom to said lip of said lifting tray.

3. A machine as in claim 2, further comprising

A waterproof liner draped from the underside of said lifting tray to the inner rim of said toilet bowl.

4. A machine as in claim 2, further comprising

Handgrips affixed to the upper surface of said lifting tray.

5. A machine as in claim 2, whereby said motor switch is tethered to said motor with a cable.

6. A machine as in claim 2, whereby said motor switch is affixed to said lifting tray.