US3209375A

US3209375A - Invalid's toilet

Info

Publication number: US3209375A
Application number: US293292A
Authority: US
Inventors: Parsons Louis Birdsey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-08
Filing date: 1963-07-08
Publication date: 1965-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-05

Description

Oct. 5, 1965 L. B. PARSONS INVALID'S TOILET SEAT Filed July 8, 1965 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,209,375 INVALIDS TOILET Louis Birdsey Parsons, Sandy Hook, Conn. Filed July 8, 1963, Ser. No. 293,292 5 Claims. (Cl. 4-237) This invention relates to an improved toilet and, more particularly, to such a toilet especially adapted for use by invalids and convalescents.

Invalids and convalescents are often forced to use bedpans because of their inability to sit upright as required by the standard toilet. The use of bedpans is not only unsanitary but is unpleasant for the patient and for his attendants. Past efforts to solve these problems have often involved the use of accessories mounted on standard toilets. These accessories interfered with use of the toilet by well persons or else they had to be designed for removal and storage.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a toilet bowl which may be used by invalids and convalescents. Other objects are to provide such a toilet bowl which is adapted for use by the patient in either a reclining or a sitting position; which is equally suited for use by well persons; which is sturdy and sanitary; and which is easily operable by an attendant.

The manner in which the foregoing objects are achieved will be more apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the figures of the attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a toilet incorporating this invention showing its back rest in the lowered position in solid lines and in the raised position in phantom lines; and

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of a toilet incorporating the invention showing the back rest in the raised position.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, a floormounted porcelain toilet bowl is provided with a hinged back rest 12 which is secured thereto by means of suitable hinges 14 and has a length sufiicient to accommo date a human torso. The back rest is movable to either a lowered horizontal position, as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 1, or to a raised vertical position, as illustrated by the phantom lines of FIG. 1 and as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. In order to provide the necessary clearance for the back rest, the flush box 16 is side-mounted as illustrated, and connected to the toilet bowl 10 by means of a suitable water pipe 18.

The back rest 12 includes a pair of retractable legs 20 formed by the angled ends of a cylindrical rod 22 which is rotatable Within a pair of arcuate brackets 24. The legs 20 are thus pivoted to rotate about the center line of rod 22 to either lie against back rest 12 or extend therefrom. The legs may be fixed in their extended position by means of the hinged brackets 26. The back rest 12 may be latched into the desired position by means of a sliding latch 28 comprising a rod bent in the approximate shape of an inverted U. The arms of latch 28 are slidable in a pair of tubular arcuate bracket guides 30 mounted on the back rest 12, and, when the back rest is in the raised position as illustrated in FIG. 2, the ends of the latch arms extend downwardly into a pair of latch ing bracket sockets 32 which are mounted on the rear of the porcelain bowl 10. The guides 30 and the sockets 32 are separated sufliciently to provide clearance for the rotation of back rest 12 between its raised and lowered positions. A cross brace 34 is secured to the arms of latch 28 and prevents them from seating too deeply into guides 30 and sockets 32, keeping the latch raised sufiiciently to function as an eflicient brace for the back rest. In the illustration of FIG. 2, latch 28 is shown slightly raised to better illustrate its construction.

When the back rest 12 is in the raised position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, it may be lowered by simply raising the latch 28, thereby sliding the latch arms within guides 30 and lifting their lower ends out of the latching sockets 32. The back rest 12 is lowered by pivoting it about its hinges 14, and the legs 20 are pivoted in their brackets 24 and extended to the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 1, where they are locked in place by the hinged brackets 26, which are extended at such time. The legs 20 are then positioned on the floor as illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1. In order to raise the back rest 12, it is merely lifted upwardly and swung into the vertical position, as illustrated by the schematic arrow of FIG. 1. The hinged brackets 26 are folded, allowing the legs 20 to swing downwardly against the back rest and the sliding latch 28 is lowered so that its leg ends once again are inserted into the latching sockets 32.

The toilet of this invention may be utilized by a patient with its back rest either in the lowered or raised position. In either case, the invention dispenses with the necessity for a bedpan. Also, when a patient desires to use the toilet with the back rest in the raised position but lacks the ability to raise himself to a sitting position, he may be placed upon the toilet in a reclining position with the back rest lowered. The back rest may then be raised, automatically raising the patients torso to the sitting position. It is easier for the attendant to raise the relatively stifi back rest than it is to handle the body of a person.

It will be noted that the sliding latch 28 serves an important dual function in this invention. It serves both as a latch to lock the back rest 12 in its raised position, and as a brace for the back rest to further strengthen it. Accordingly, it is advisable to make this member of relatively sturdy material.

It will be apparent that a number of variations and modifications may be made in this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. For example, legs 20 are illustrated as being unitary with the rod 22. It will be apparent, however, that these legs could be separate and individually hinged and latched into position. Furthermore, a single leg centered on the back rest could be employed, rather than a pair of legs. Also, the toilet may be designed so that back rest 12 may be secured in intermediate positions between the horizontal and vertical. Other structural details may be changed to suit the configuration of the porcelain bowl and many of the fittings, such as hinges, may be varied as desired by the designer. Accordingly, it will be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative only, rather than limiting. This invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An invalids toilet which comprises: a toilet bowl; a back rest pivotally secured to the rear of said toilet bowl for movement between at least a vertical position and a horizontal position extending outwardly and rearwardly from said toilet bowl; means for latching said back rest into its vertical position; and means for supporting said back rest in its horizontal position.

2. The toilet of claim 1 wherein said means for latching comprises: bar means mounted on said back rest for longitudinal movement toward and away from said toilet bowl; and socket means on said toilet bowl positioned to receive said bar means.

3. The toilet of claim 2 wherein said bar means is in the shape of an inverted U and wherein said socket means are positioned to receive the arms of said U.

4. The toilet of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting comprises leg means hingedly secured to said back rest.

5. An invalids toilet which comprises: a floor-mounted toilet bowl; a back rest having a length sufiicient to support a human torso pivotally secured to the rear of said toilet bowl for movement between at least a vertical position and a horizontal position extending outwardly and rearwardly from said toilet bowl; first and second guide means mounted on the rear of said back rest defining, respectively, first and second parallel passageways therethrough; first and second socket means on the rear of said toilet bowl defining, respectively, first and second recesses therein, said first recess being axially aligned with said first passageway and said second recess being axially aligned with said second passageway; latching bar means including first and second parallel arms slidably mounted, respectively, in said first and second guide means and insertable, respectively, into said first and second socket means when said back rest is in its raised position, said latching bar means further including a connecting member between said arms in supporting relationship to said back rest when in its vertical position; leg means pivotally secured to the rear of said back rest at the end thereof removed from said toilet bowl, said leg means having a first position folded against said back rest in its vertical position and a second position extended outwardly against the floor to support said back rest in its horizontal position; and locking means arranged to selectively retain said leg means in its second position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. AN INVALID''S TOILET WHICH COMPRISES: A TOILET BOWL; A BACK REST PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE REAR OF SAID TOILET BOWL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AT LEAST A VERTICAL POSITIN AND A HORIZONTAL POSITION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FORM SAID TOILET BOWL; MEANS FOR LATCHING SAID BACK REST INTO ITS VERTICAL POSITION; MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BACK REST IN ITS HORIZONTAL POSITION.