US234230A - Folding commode - Google Patents

Description

G. 0. BOVE Y. Folding Oommode.

No. 234,230. Patented Nov. 9,1880.

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GEORGE O. BOVEY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

FOLDING COMMODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,230, dated November 9, 1880.

Application filed January 26, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. BOVEY, of Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Folding Oommode, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish a commode that can be folded up in the most compact shape when not in use, and which, when open, will afford a comfortable and se cure seat for an invalid or aged person.

The device consists, essentially, of a light but secure frame, to which is hinged two perpendicular leaves, wings, or small doors, that can be readily opened to support the commodeseat, which seat is hinged to the central rail of said frame, and preferably opens upwardly.

When the commode is fully opened an ordinary chamber-vessel, or box, or pan, is placed under the seat to receive the excreta, or the latter may be deposited in a receptacle temporarily applied to said seat.

The folding commode, as above described, may be separate and complete in itself, or it may be attached to the back of a wash-stand or dressing-case, or any other article of furniture that can be readily handled in a sick-room.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the rear side of my folding commode in its closed condition. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the front of the same in its open position. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, showing the device applied to the back of a wash-stand; and Fig. 4 represents, on an enlarged scale, the lockin g devices that secure the seat to the doors.

The principal member of my commode is a light but secure frame, composed of two uprights or posts, A A, united by a bottom rail, B, a top rail, 0, and an intermediate one, D, to which latter is hinged, at d d, a swinging seat, E, having a customary hole, F.

Hinged to the upright -A, at a, is a door, or leaf, or wing, G, which may be a solid piece of stufi, as shown, or it may be a mere frame. The other upright, A, has hinged to it, at a, a precisely similar door, or wing, or frame, Gr. Attached to the inner sides of these doors are brackets H H, to receive the hook-shaped retaining devices I 1, which latter are secured to the under side of seat E, and near the free edge of the latter.

Fastened to the uprights A A and rails (J D is a thick piece of canvas, J, between which and the back K is stuffed a suitable filling, L.

g and g represent the padded or upholstered sides of the leaves G G.

M are holes in the uprights A A, for the passage of screws or bolts when it is desired to apply the commode to the back N of a wash-stand, O, or other article of furniture.

A curtain or other screen, P, may be fastened to the seat E, for the purpose of concealing the chamber-vessel R under said seat, or dovetail grooves T may be cut in the under side of said seat, to receive a sliding receptacle, U, charged with earth or other material that will absorb the excreta. Or, if preferred, this seat may be adapted to slide upon cleats fastened within the Wash-stand, of which cleats one is indicated in Fig. 3 by the dotted lines V. When thus arranged the back N of the stand must be slotted horizontally to permit the ready passage of the sliding seat. Finally, a box, W, may be housed within the bottom of the stand 0, so as to enable the commode to be used as an earth-closet.

When the device is closed, as represented in Fig. 1, the seat E F depends from its hinged connections d d of rail D, while the doorsG G are folded up flush with the outside of the frame, said doors being now held together with hooks or with a strap and buckle or other convenient appliances. \Vhen thus closed the commode may be supported against a wall, or it may be suspended upon the same; but in either event the seat E F can be concealed by simply turning it toward said wall.

To use the device it is only necessary to open the doors G G, turn up the seat E F until its free edge is slightly above the level of rail D, and then drop said seat so as to cause its hooks I I to lock into the brackets H H, after which act the vessel R is properly placed and the commode is at once ready for use.

While being used the padded portion 9 g K serve as cushions for the sides and back of the invalid, while the seat E F supports the sick person in a very easy and comfortable position and prevents any injurious straining of the limbs which results from sitting on a low vessel for any length of time. When through with, the commode can be folded up in a few moments and hung out of sight.

When attached to the back of a wash-stand or other article of furniture, it is only necessary to wheel the stand away from the wall and then arrange the commode as above described, it being apparent that the latter, when closed, will not project more than two inches from the back of said stand.

When the curtain P is applied its free edge or margin can be gathered up and stuffed into the hole F, so as to allow all the hinged members of the commode to fold together in the I most compact manner.

In an inferior modification of my invention the seat E F may be adapted to swing or close up above the rail 1), instead of closing by droppingbelow the latter, but such an arrange ment would be very objectionable, because the upholstered back K could not then be applied to the frame of the commode. In some cases this frame may be a solid piece of stuff.

I claim as my invention- 1. Afolding commode consistingot' a frame, 1 to which are hinged a pair of doors and a seat, which seat is supported by and engaged with i said doors when the latter are thrown open, as 4 herein described. I

2. A folding commode consisting of the frame A A B C D, hinged doors or wings a (l a G, hinged seat d d E F, and retaining devices H H I l, as herein described.

3. A folding commode consisting of the frame A A B U D, hinged doors or wings a (l a G, hinged seat d d E F, and retaining devices H H I l, the upper portions of said frame and doors being cushioned, respectively, at K and g g, as herein described.

4. A folding commodeconsisting of the cushioned frame A A B C D K, hinged and cushioned wings a G g a G g, retaining devices H H I I, and curtain P, as herein described.

5. The folding commode herein described, applied to the back of a wash-stand or other readily-movable article of furniture, for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE C. BOVEY. Witnesses:

JAMES II. LAYMAN, \VALTER S. J. JONES.

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