US20160262585A1

US20160262585A1 - Portable Frame and Toilet System

Info

Publication number: US20160262585A1
Application number: US14/641,548
Authority: US
Inventors: Mary Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-03-09
Filing date: 2015-03-09
Publication date: 2016-09-15

Abstract

A portable frame and toilet system includes a toilet, a bag, and a frame that is positionable around the toilet. The frame allows a user to mount and dismount the toilet and the frame is structured to be disassembled such that the frame is portable. The frame is positioned within the bag when the frame is disassembled.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to portable frame devices and more particularly pertains to a new portable frame device for assisting a user in mounting and dismounting a toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a toilet, a bag, and a frame that is positionable around the toilet. The frame allows a user to mount and dismount the toilet and the frame is structured to be disassembled such that the frame is portable. The frame is positioned within the bag when the frame is disassembled.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a portable frame and toilet system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new portable frame device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the portable frame and toilet system 10 generally comprises a toilet 12 that may be of any conventional design. A bag 14 is provided. A frame 16 is positionable around the toilet 12 and the frame 16 allows a user 18 to mount and dismount the toilet 12. The user 18 may be an elderly person, a physically disabled person or other user 18 that needs assistance to mount and dismount the toilet 12. The frame 16 is structured to be disassembled such that the frame 16 is portable and the frame 16 is positioned within the bag 14 when the frame 16 is disassembled.
The frame 16 comprises a pair of supports 20 and each of the supports 20 includes a first leg 22, a second leg 24, a central member 26, a first coupler 28 and a second coupler 30. The central member 26 has a first end 32 and a second end 34. The first coupler 28 is removably attached to the first end 32 and the second coupler 30 is attached to the second end 34. Each of the first leg 22 and the second leg 24 has a top end 36 and a bottom end 38. Moreover, each of the first leg 22 and the second leg 24 includes a top portion 40 slidably attached to a bottom portion 42 such that each of the first leg 22 and the second leg 24 has a telescopically adjustable length. A plurality of knobs 44 is provided and each of the knobs 44 is attached to the top portion 40 of an associated one of the legs 22,24. Each of the knobs 44 engages the bottom portion 42 of the associated leg 22,24 to retain the associated leg 22,24 at a selected length.
The top end 36 of the first leg 22 is removably attached to the first coupler 28 and the first leg 22 extends downwardly from the central member 26 such that the first leg 22 forms a right angle with respect to the central member 26. The top end 36 of the second leg 24 is removably attached to the second coupler 30 and the second leg 24 extends downwardly from the central member 26 such that the second leg 24 forms an obtuse angle with respect to the central member 26. The bottom end 38 of each of the first leg 22 and the second leg 24 are spaced apart from each other a distance that is greater than a length of the central member 26. Each of the pair of supports 20 is positioned on opposite sides of the toilet 12 wherein the central member 26 of each of the supports 20 may be gripped by the user 18 while the user 18 mounts and dismounts the toilet 12.
A front cross member 46 is removably attached between the bottom portion 40 of the first leg 22 and the bottom portion 40 of the second leg 24 such that the first leg 22 and the second leg 24 are spaced apart from each other. A back cross member 48 is removably attached between the first coupler 28 on each of the supports 20 such that the back cross member 48 forms a right angle with respect to the central member 26 of each of the supports 20. The front cross member 46 and the back cross member 48 have equal lengths with respect to each other such that the first legs 22 on the each of the supports 20 are spaced apart a distance that is equal to a distance between the second legs 24 of each of the supports 20.
A plurality of feet 50 is provided and the bottom end 38 of each of the first leg 22 and the second leg 24 has one of the feet 50 attached thereto. The feet 50 may abut a support surface 52 such that the frame 16 extends upwardly from the support surface 52. The feet 50 may be comprised of a textured material to facilitate the feet 50 to frictionally engage the support surface 52 thereby inhibiting the frame 16 from sliding on the support surface 52. The support surface 52 may be a floor or the like.
A pair of grips 54 is provided and the central member 26 of one of the supports 20 has one of the grips 54 attached thereto and the central member 26 of one of the supports 20 has one of the grips 54 attached thereto. Each of the grips 54 may be gripped by the user 18. Each of the grips 54 may be comprised of a textured material thereby facilitating the user 18 to have a firm grip on the central member 26 of each of the supports 20.
A panel 56 is provided that has bottom side 58, a top side 60, a front edge 62 and a back edge 64. The panel 56 is positionable to extend across the central member 26 of each of the supports 20 such that the bottom side 58 abuts the central member 26. The bottom side 58 has a pair of tabs 66 coupled to and extending downwardly therefrom and each of the tabs 66 is spaced apart from a center 68 of the panel 56. Each of the tabs 66 extends substantially between the front edge 62 and the back edge 64 and each of the tabs 66 abuts the central member 26 of one of the supports 20 thereby preventing the panel 56 from sliding laterally off of the supports 20. The top side 60 may support the user 18 when the frame 16 is positioned away from the toilet 12.
In use, the frame 16 is assembled and the frame 16 is positioned around the toilet 12 when the user 18 needs to utilize the toilet 12. The user 18 positions themselves between the pair of supports 20 so the user 18 is standing in front of the toilet 12. The user 18 grips each of the central members 26 and the user 18 lowers themselves onto the toilet 12. The user 18 grips each of the central members 26 and the user 18 raises themselves off of the toilet 12 when the user 18 has finished using the toilet 12. The panel 56 is placed across the central members 26 when the user 18 wishes to utilize the frame 16 in the convention of a chair. The user 18 utilizes the panel 56 for bathing purposes or other purposes involving the user 18 remaining stationary for an extended period of time.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A portable frame and toilet system configured to assist a disabled user in utilizing the toilet, said assembly comprising:

a toilet;

a bag; and

a frame being positionable around said toilet, said frame being configured to allow a user to mount and dismount the toilet, said frame being structured to be disassembled such that said frame is portable, said frame being positioned within said bag when said frame is disassembled, said frame comprising a pair of supports, each of said supports including a first leg, a second leg, a central member, a first coupler and a second coupler, said central member having a first end and a second end, said first coupler being removably attached to said first end, said second coupler being attached to said second end, each of said first leg and said second leg having a top end and a bottom end, each of said first leg and said second leg including a top portion slidably attached to a bottom portion such that each of said first leg and said second leg has a telescopically adjustable length, wherein said top end of said first leg is removably attached to said first coupler, said first leg extending downwardly from said central member such that said first leg forms a right angle with respect to said central member, said top end of said second leg being removably attached to said second coupler, said second leg extending downwardly from said central member such that said second leg forms an obtuse angle with respect to said central member, said bottom end of each of said first leg and said second leg being spaced apart from each other a distance being greater than a length of said central member, each of said pair of supports being positioned on opposite sides of the toilet wherein said central member of each of said supports is configured to be gripped by the user while the user mounts and dismounts said toilet; and

a back cross member, said back cross member being removably attached between said first coupler on each of said supports such that said back cross member is perpendicular and coplanar with said central member of each of said supports, said back cross member further being perpendicular and coplanar with each said first leg.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of knobs, each of said knobs being attached to said top portion of an associated one of said legs, each of said knobs engaging said bottom portion of said associated leg to retain said associated leg at a selected length.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising

a front cross member, said front cross member being removably attached between said bottom portion of said first leg and said bottom portion of said second leg such that said first leg and said second leg are spaced apart from each other.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising

said front cross member and said back cross member having equal lengths with respect to each other such that said first legs on said each of said supports are spaced apart a distance being equal to a distance between said second legs of each of said supports.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising

a plurality of feet, said bottom end of each of said first leg and said second leg having one of said feet attached thereto, said feet being configured to abut a support surface such that said frame extends upwardly from the support surface.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of grips, said central member of one of said supports having one of said grips attached thereto, said central member of one of said supports having one of said grips attached thereto, each of said grips being configured to be gripped by the user.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a panel having bottom side, a top side, a front edge and a back edge, said panel being positionable to extend across said central member of said supports such that said bottom side abuts said central member, said bottom side having a pair of tabs coupled to and extending downwardly therefrom, each of said tabs being spaced apart from a center of said panel, each of said tabs extending substantially between said front edge and said back edge, each of said tabs abutting said central member of one of said supports thereby preventing said panel from sliding laterally off of said supports, said top side being configured to support the user.

10. A portable frame and toilet system configured to assist a disabled user in utilizing the toilet, said assembly comprising:

a toilet;

a bag;

a frame being positionable around said toilet, said frame being configured to allow a user to mount and dismount the toilet, said frame being structured to be disassembled such that said frame is portable, said frame being positioned within said bag when said frame is disassembled, said frame comprising

a pair of supports, each of said supports including a first leg, a second leg, a central member, a first coupler and a second coupler, said central member having a first end and a second end, said first coupler being removably attached to said first end, said second coupler being attached to said second end, each of said first leg and said second leg having a top end and a bottom end, each of said first leg and said second leg including a top portion slidably attached to a bottom portion such that each of said first leg and said second leg has a telescopically adjustable length, said top end of said first leg being removably attached to said first coupler, said first leg extending downwardly from said central member such that said first leg forms a right angle with respect to said central member, said top end of said second leg being removably attached to said second coupler, said second leg extending downwardly from said central member such that said second leg forms an obtuse angle with respect to said central member, said bottom end of each of said first leg and said second leg being spaced apart from each other a distance being greater than a length of said central member, each of said pair of supports being positioned on opposite sides of the toilet wherein said central member of each of said supports is configured to be gripped by the user while the user mounts and dismounts said toilet,

a plurality of knobs, each of said knobs being attached to said top portion of an associated one of said legs, each of said knobs engaging said bottom portion of said associated leg to retain said associated leg at a selected length,

a front cross member, said front cross member being removably attached between said bottom portion of said first leg and said bottom portion of said second leg such that said first leg and said second leg are spaced apart from each other,

a back cross member, said back cross member being removably attached between said first coupler on each of said supports such that said back cross member is perpendicular and coplanar with said central member of each of said supports, said back cross member further being perpendicular and coplanar with each said first leg, said front cross member and said back cross member having equal lengths with respect to each other such that said first legs on said each of said supports are spaced apart a distance being equal to a distance between said second legs of each of said supports,

a plurality of feet, said bottom end of each of said first leg and said second leg having one of said feet attached thereto, said feet being configured to abut a support surface such that said frame extends upwardly from the support surface,

a pair of grips, said central member of one of said supports having one of said grips attached thereto, said central member of one of said supports having one of said grips attached thereto, each of said grips being configured to be gripped by the user, and

a panel having bottom side, a top side, a front edge and a back edge, said panel being positionable to extend across said central member of said supports such that said bottom side abuts said central member, said bottom side having a pair of tabs coupled to and extending downwardly therefrom, each of said tabs being spaced apart from a center of said panel, each of said tabs extending substantially between said front edge and said back edge, each of said tabs abutting said central member of one of said supports thereby preventing said panel from sliding laterally off of said supports, said top side being configured to support the user.