WO1995031953A1

WO1995031953A1 - Rising seat for seating including toilets

Info

Publication number: WO1995031953A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/001134
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Bernard Paxon
Original assignee: Paxon John B
Priority date: 1992-10-15
Filing date: 1994-05-24
Publication date: 1995-11-30

Abstract

A rising seat that can be fixed permanently to or removable from seating or toilets. Comprising a top rising section pivoted on to a bottom section against the variable resilience of at least one torsion spring. If a number of springs are utilised one or more spring can be selected to alter the ease at which the top section can be lowered on to the bottom section to suit the weight of the user, and which can be moved within the confines of the rising seat to a neutral or non-operable position. The removable version can be fixed by releasable fixings and can be lowered and easily carried.

Description

RISING SEAT FOR SEATING INCLUDING TOILETS

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rising seat

5. for chairs and settees and which can be readily adapted for use on toilets for handicapped people. Most rising seats or lift seats by which name they are widely known, are fitted to a frame on a chair and are operated by a spring or gas mechanism the angle and bulk of which

10. is easily fitted into an existing chair where ample space permits bulky and at times heavy mechanisms to be used, and they are usually assembled during the manufacture of the furniture for which they are designed. For example ; T.Wear Smith U.K. 2193886 that teaches a torsion spring the

15. end of which is coiled around & fixed to two torsion bars one being moveable by threading a bolt into the bar to move bar and force spring upwards to increase its tension. Renray 1578395; that teaches a number of springs one leg of each having fixed to it an adjustment means, ϋ e

20. selected springs being made inoperable by inserting a screw into adjustment means and forcing the spring leg/s away from the pivoted seat, thereby adjusting the resil¬ ience required for a pre-determined load. A portable lift seat 1,475,561, invented by a certain LANDSTINGENS INKOPS -

25. CENTRAL LIC EKONOMISK FORENSING, a Swedish Corporate that teaches an 'auxilliary seat¹ comprising a "U*-shaped & resilient spring locking wire pivotly mounted at its inner end portions for pivtitting in a plane essentially parallel with the base board so that outward swing of the one or

30; other limb causing bending of the spring locking wire thereby tending to displace its middle portion from a locking position to a free position etc etc etc. There is reference to the fact that the base board may be covered with a sheet of rubber or other means to prevent slipping

35 but this would not prevent instability of seat. No method is explained how tilting or instability of the riser 'auxilliary' seat could be prevented, emphasis being placed on the method by which top rising section may be released and then locked in the downwards position, & how springs can be removed or added by the user. It would appear to be very useful for a sitter who wishes to 5. change his mind about rising from the seat and decides instead to remain seated.

The advantage of a portable lift seat; providing it is fairly simple in its construction and which can be adjusted easily by the user to suit his weight without

10. the need to have a supply of additional springs or other parts to fix to the riser seat, and which can be kept •stable on a chair seat for example, includet the practical and economic aspects of using an existing chair without having to purchase a more expensive chair with built-in

15. lift-seat mechanism and, being portable and easily adjust¬ able preferably, it can be used in most chairs in the users house, and can even be carried on a journey for use in seating provided by other people. The current invention is easily adjustable without the use of a tool

20. whether permanently or releaseably fixed to a chair or settee.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a rising seat an one that raises the sitter easily from a

25. sitting position and which lowers him gently into a sit¬ ting position from a standing position and which can be so located on an existing seat in a manner to ensure its stability when in use and one that can be readily adapted to suit the weight of most users, without removal or

30. replacement of working parts.

According to the invention there is provided a rising seat comprising:

1. A top rising pivoted section on which the user sits.

2. A bottom section on to which the top rising section 35 is pivotly hinged, there being a torsion bar and at least one torsion spring - the degree of ease at which the top section is lowered on to the bottom section being governed by the positioning of the legs of the springs such positioning being made when any pressure on the spring legs is released, said springs being retained on the torsion bar during their positioning, the said 5_* rising seat ay al o incorporate _a means of keeping it stable on the seating or toilet during its use. The degree of ease at which the top section is lowered may be governed by moving the toesion bar on which the spring/s is/are placed and the mechanism can be applied to a fift

10. seat permanently fixed to sealing or toilet.It may incorporate a means of lowering the top section on to the bottom section free of resilience, for carrying if portable, or to give the seat the appearance of a standard seat. The rising seat cushion may have attached to its surface

15. a suitable carrying handle. It may have a method of locking it down against the resilience of the spring and a method of adjustment to enable it to remain stable and effective irrespective of the width and depth of the seat in which it is placed. The invention shall now be descr-

20. ibed by way of example only by the following drawings in which 1-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG 1 shows side view in perspective a rising seat resting on a seat of a chair and kept stable by straps.

25. FIG 2 Side View in perspective A rising seat on a chair with retaining blocks under the chair and attached to the base of the rising seat cushion*

FIG 3 Side View in perspective A rising Seat, a extension to which is wedged into the back of a chair.

30. FIG 4 Front View of a rising βeat seen in perspective showing shaped extensions on either side wedged into the side of an arm chair.

FIG Front View in perspective of a rising seat with spikes attached thereto that penetrate the chairs 35. upholstery to stabilise the rising seat when in position on the chair. FIG 6 Perspective View from top of base or bottom section of the rising seat that has an adjustable bottom section that facilitates tight fit into chair.

FIG 7 Perspective top view - shows rising seat wedged 5* unto chair sides by adjustable knobs.

FIG 8. Side view of rising seat cushion in a low position when not in use.

FIG 9 Bottom underside view of top section of a rising seat that shows method of adjustment to a neutral

10. position that enables top section to be lowered without resilience from the springs.

FIG 10 Underside view - shows the method of increasing or decreasing the strength of a torsion spring.

FIG 11 Underside view with top section opened out to ¹5^» expose both sections shows method of substituting a weaker spring mechanism for example for a stronger one.

FIG 12 Shows an open plan view in which a spring leg travels into a cavity over which it has been positioned when pressure is away from the spring leg, the cavity 20. being in the top section, said cavity being covered.

FIG 13 Underside view when top section is opened out level with the top side of the riisng seat. Neutralising the torsion spring is shown by moving the torsion bar on whivh the spring/s is / are located.

25. FIG 14 Side view open plan of torsion bar fixed away from edge- of bottom section_*

FIG 1 shows top cut-out view to create open plan of the top section, the underside of a slideable board over the spindle drive and the top view of the

30. slidteable board under the spindle drive.

FIG 16a Front open plan showing the width adjustment mechanism using hook 4 loop drive. FIG 16b using gears. FIG 17. Top view of method of determining the ease at which top section can be lowered using sliding base.

35 FIG 18 Side view of hollowed out top section hinged on bottom section, or directly on to toilet. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG 1 a rising seat shown i-a 1 is positioned on a chair 2 the top section of the seat 3 in a raised position being pivoted at itg front end on to the front 5 edge of the bottom section by a hinge pin comprising a round bar lying at least part way across the width of the two sections that preferably comprise two boards of rigid material padded with foam or other suitable filling material and kept in place by a piece of material stretched

10 over the filling material and tacked down with staples. The bottom section of the rising seat shown as 4 is maintained in a staple position on a seat, a chair or toilet for exaample, by straps.6 Alternatively steel or other strong spring clips 6 could be used to clip on to the frame or

15. over the rim of the toilet bowl. If straps are used these could be placed over the bottom section which in the case of a toilet would be a frame and could be elasticated to facilitate fixing and could have fixed thereto hook and loop material cffør fixing to other straps or to the chair or

20. toilet In which hook and loop material is fixed. In FIG 2 retaining blocks 7 are fixed to the straps and wedged under the front edge of a chair 2 to keep the rising seat more stable, such instability most likely to occur when the user is either lowering himself or attempting to rise

25. from the seat of the furniture or toilet on which the rising seat may be located. In FIG 3 the rising seat 1 is kept firmly fixed to a _t chair 2 by a tongue- shaped extension 8 attached to or being part of the bottom section 4 of the rising seat and the extension is

30. wedged between the seat of the chair and the vertical back of the chair 9. The same type of wedge also shown as 8 in FIG 4 can be used to protrude over the chair seat and under the arm/s such room generally being found for that purpose in most lounge-type seating and also in many

35 types of lighter seating and chairs in which the arms are filled in to the seat of the chair, the wedges ideally being placed under such arm where the arm joins the chair seat, and the said wedges being fixed one on each side of the rising seat cushioh. These wedges can be used either instead of or

5_* in conjunction with the straps 6 shown in FIGS 1 and 2,

Alternatively short spikes 10 may be used that are fixed in the rising seat edge for inserting into^* ta^β upholstery of a comfortable chair for example such spikes preferably being made from rigid plastic as shown in FIG or hook and loop

10. material may be used fixed to any surface/s of the rising seat and also the chair seat. Ideally the hook and loop material 11 is fixed to a strap 12 fixed to a chair where it can be tucked out of sight. To make the rising seat more stable it may be fixed to the chair or settee in place

15_* of a standard fixed seat. In FIG 6 the bottom section of the rising seat shown can be made adjustable by having an adjust¬ able frame 13 for example that can be moved outwards into the sides and/ or back of the chair 2 in which it is resting. This adjustment facility that could be effectively utilised in

20. a chair that might be otherwise too wide for the rising seat can instead be in the form of knobs 14 screwed into or out of the frame of the bottom section so thAt they can be wedged between the arms of a chair such knobs being attached to threaded bolts that can be screwed into bosses or lugs 15

25_* placed onto or being part of the bottom section of the rising seat as shown in FIG 7_* When screwed into a frame, inserts 16 16 may be inserted into the wood. FIG 8 shows cushion 1 folded for carrying. The top section 3 of the rising seat shown as 1 may be lowered or folded or hinged down on to the bottom

30. 4 section after neutralising the resilient action of a torsion spring, that in its 'active' or positive mode is used to enable the user to lower himself gently on to the chair the top section of the seat pivoting against the resilience of the said spring that also enables the sitter to raise himself

35* from a sitting to a standing position. Pressure may be released from the spring by moving a part of the top and bottom sections away from the spring /s. neutralising the resilience of the spring is shown in Figs 9 and 13_* The hinge pin 5 also acts as a torsion bar that is circular and rests across the ends of either section of the riser seat. Any selected number of torsion springs 17 5. are plaβed over the bar that is to say the main body of the spring so ooiled to leave ample room for contraction as weight if applied to the ends of the spring, one leg of each spring coming into contact at . least indirectly with the inner face of the top section and the other leg coming

10. into contact at least -indirectly with the bottom section 4 as weight is applied and the top section 3 is pivoted down¬ wards towards the bottom section. The angle of the torsion spring 17 is such that when the top section is opened out¬ wards to form the configuration similar to that of an open

15. book the spring/s can be moved along the torsion bar unhiad- ered by the pressure of either board or section. In at least one of the boards from which the top section would preferably be made and from which the bottom section may be made and towards the surface of which one leg or two legs

20. of the torsion spring is pointing is a cavity 18 of a shape that will allow the leg or legs of the spring to fall as the top section of the r si seat is lowered. When the spring leg drops into the cavity the spring then has no surface agsinst which it can be pressed to give the spring

25. and the top board resilience when the top section is lowered so that the top section can thus be freely lowered to rest on the bottom section enabling it to be easily carried or to be placed in a chair without the top section being raised. The cavity 18 may be covered on the opposite sur-

30. face of the rising seat this being shown in FIG 12 so that the leg of the spring does not dig into the face of the rising seat cover. The spring leg can be covered by a dome-shaped cover 19 that can be placed either over the area where the spring leg would otherwise protrude or the whole of the

35_* top surface of the rising seat as seen can be covered and then upholstered over the hard surface of a larger dome-shaped cover. The method of neutralising the effect of the spring can also be used for adjusting the resilience of the top section of the rising seat either by having blind hole cavities of different depths that will decrease the tension of a spring by lengthening the distance between the end of the 5 leg or point of contact of a spring in relation to the top section or by neutralising totally the resilience of a selected number of springs of varying strengths, and posit¬ ioning only that spring or springs of a predetermined strength so that it/they become resilient only if its/their

10. legs are positioned away from the cavities & onto a firm surface of the board around the said cavities. For example, ideally two springs would be used to raise the top section of the rising seat, such springs being joined together by a connecting wire or handle so that springs

15" can be moved in one action by lifting the connecting wire & moving the springs connected by the connecting wire, or handle See FIG 11. If there are three sets of springs for example comprising two springs per set, each set can be a different thickness and strength. Two sets 21 ά 22 can be

20. located with their legs over holes 23 & 24 so that they cannot be under resilience when the top section 3 of the rising seat shown is pressed down by the weight of the user, leaving the selected spring- set 25 only to be com¬ pressed onto the inner surface of one of the boards 3 as

25_* the board is lowered, the pressure of the board activating the resilience of the spring set 25 selected for the resilience needed to suit the weight of the user; the selection of the springs can either be numerical or by the thickness of the spring/s that could be calibrated to suit

30. a variance in body weights. The spring can instead be located on the torsion bar 5 so that when the torsion bar or hinge pin, if also used as a hinge pin, on which the top section pivots on the bottom section, is moved one way or the ,other, it carries with it at least one

35* spring that can, with the two boards opened out and free of the pressure of the spring, lags.in that -opened out position, be located over a cavity, so that when the top section is lowered on to the bottom section no resilience is felt from that spring or set of springs in the cavities. Movement of the springs for adjustment or neutralising the tension can be assisted by small rollers 20 on the spring

5^« legs as jhown in FIGS 10 & 11 if springs are near to boards. FIG 13« An alternative method of creating a neutral position that enables the top section to be lowered without resilience from the spring or springs is to move a separate torsion bar 26 on which the springs 17 would be located

10. towards the centre of the board; in which the torsion bar can be fitted in a guide 27 fitted to one of the boards- As the torsion bar 26 is moved, preferably in slots 27 to stabilise its movement, so one of the ends or legs of at least one spring, depending on the number of springs placed

^5^« on the torsion bar, is drawn away from one of the boards thereby neutralising the effectiveness of the spring when the top section 3 is lowered on to the bottom section of the aforesaid rising seat ^b° h spring legs of each spring resting over one board only. To enable such movement of a torsion

20. bar on which the springs are fitted it is necessary to use the existing hinge 5 only for pivoting the two .sections or some other form of hinge in addition to a torsion bar on which the springs are located. If positive mode i-> required; Return of torsion bar is assisted if spring is bent up-

25^« wards. The strengthening of individual torsion springs can be made by raising the spring 17 by locating at least one leg of the spring either directly or perhaps indirectly on a wedgeshaped base 28 that is moveable on the board by ^' a screw mechanism 29 that holds the wedge in position under

30 the spring when adjustment has been made as shown in FIG 10 With reference to FIG 13s To enable the top board to be lowered onto the bottom board cavities 18 are made in the board opposite to the board on which the torsion spring/s are fitted to enable the two legs of each spring to travel

35• through the said cavities in the said board as tnc board is lowered.

The spring leg can be placed in a groove 23 as seen in FIGS 10, 11 and 13 to prevent slippage. The top section 3 nay be placed on a hinge 5 -ΗC 14 hinge being positioned two to four inches approximately away from the edge of the bottom section, that is to say the front edge, so that when the spring leg 17 5. travels through the cavity 18 the spring leg if in line or forming a large angle with its opposite leg will rest on the end of the bottom section when the top section is lowered freely without reβilienoe from the spring, and will not jut out from the front of the 10. risng seat cushion. An alternative method of adjusting the rising seat cushion and a means of keeping it stable in a chair irrespective of the chairs width_^, FIG 15, A mass 34 & 35 on either side preferably of the rising seat and located in grooves 36 or holes, grooves being 15. preferable and made in a frame 37 fixed to the bottom section 4> A spindle 3B may be inserted through a hole 39 in the frame and a knob 40 attached to the spindle. As the spindle is turned it drives a board/s 34 & 3 along the grooves 36. Ideally two grooves would be made 20. in the frame, the spindle being positioned between them.

Attached to the spindle is hook and ^'loop material 4 that adhers to hook and loop material 42 on each board, on the top of one board and under the board positioned over the spindle. As the spindle is turned the top board moves to 25. the right when the spindle is turned clockwise and the bottom board moves to the left, each board or an attachment thereto butting up against the inside face of the chair over the seating area thereby wedging the rising seat more firmly in position making it more βtable on the chair. A 30. gear in the form of rack and pinion may be used instead of book and loop material. If a spring 44 is incorporated or elaβtic belting the board carrying the protrusions would be moved inwards against its resilience see FIG 16a Chair is shown as 2. On the release of the knob the protrusion 35. would thrust outwards into the side of the chair and help to keep it stable on the chair. Padding shown as 45 can be placed over the end of each board to ensure even pressure on each side of the chair and to protect the fabric cover and at the same height to compensate for the fact that one board will be higher than the other board if two boards are used, and a shaped moulding for example may be fixed to or be part of the board in 5. place of the padding, or spikes could be incorporated.

In FIG 17 & 18; When determining the degree of ease at which the top section 3 can be lowered on to the bottom section 4 of the rising seat shown, the spring 17 may be placing on the torsion bar transversely, and spaced pro-

10. trusions or blocks 6 on a sliding section 47 located under spring legs selected by the user or they may be so moved away from the spring legs altogether so that the spring legs are positioned over gaps between the blocks so that when the top section is lowered on to the bottom section

15» there is no resilience from the springs and it may be 30 folded, down into a neutral position to facilitate its carrying Gaps are shown as 48. Alternatively the blocks & gaps may be incorporated on a fixed section and the spring legs placed on to the blocks or over the gaps between the

20. blocks as required by either sliding the springs along the torsion bar or by locating the springs to the torsion bar and moving the bar until the spring legs are alig¬ ned with the blocks or gaps between the blocks as required thereby determining the degree of ease at which the top

25. section 3 can be lowered on to the bottom section _* The gaps may be formed from cut-outs in a solid block that may be fixed to the inside face of one of the sections that is to say the top or bottom section or may be located to slide on one of the sections for positioning

30. spring legs in the latter construction that would preferably be fixed transversely along the torsion bar. When used as a toilet seat 49 there shall be at least one spring leg under the seat rim its oposite leg resting on the toilet edge or attachment thereto. FIG 18 . In any 5« application the rising seat described may have attached at least one steadying handle for the user to hold to steady him. A mass may be added to spring leg/3 to lower the pressure per square inch on contact area.

Claims

1. A Rising Seat for seating and toilets comprising; A top risng section on which section the user sits and which is pivotly hinged to a bottom section, there being a torsion

5. bar and at least one torsion spring, the degree of ease at which the top section is lowered on to the bottom section being governed by the positioning of the free ends of the legs of the spring/s after the pressure on the spring legs has been released said spring/s being retained

10. on the torsion bar during their positioning.

2. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the torsion spring is characterised by being located on a hinge pin that acts also as a torsion bar.

3 A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the torsion 15. spring is characterised by being located on a torsion bar separate from the hinge.

4. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the release of pressure from the legs of the spring/s to enable at least one selected spring to be moved in order to govern

20. the ease at which the top section can be lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by opening the top section outwards and away from the bottom section to form the configuration of an open book.

5. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the release 25. of pressure from the legs of the spring/s to enable at least one selected spring to be moved in order to govern the ease at which the top section can be lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by moving an area of the section/s on which the springs are resting away from 30. the spring legs, said area/s being a moving part/s of the said sections .

6. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3 in which the torsion spring is characterised by being fixed to a torsion bar that when moved across the rising seat carries

35 the spring/s -attached thereto to the required position.

7_* A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3 in which the torsion spring/s are characterised by being a slide fit along a fixed torsion bar.

8. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the 5. positioning of the spring legs to govern the ease at which the top section is lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by cavities in at least the bottom section into which cavity/ cavities all the spring legs travel as the top section is lowered thereby 10. rendering all the springs inoperable, thus enabling the top section to be lowered on to the bottom seotion free from pressure by the top section on to the spring/s thereby neutralising the resilience of the so-positioned spring s.

15.

9. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1 snd 8 in which the positioning of the spring legs to govern the ease at which the top section is lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by moving a selected number of spring legs on to the firm inside surface of at least

20. the bottom section so that when the top section is lowered resilience of the selected springs is achieved and transferred to the top section that will require weight/pressure to lower it, the remaining springs not required to give additional resilience for a particular

25. weight of user being positioned over the cavities thereby rendering the latter such springs inoperable.

10. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 3 in which the positioning βf the spring legs to govern the ease at which the top seotion is lowered on to the bottom

30. section is characterised by moving the torsion bar on which the spring/s is/are located away from the edge of the bottom section and out of reach from the edge of the top section also thereby ensuring that no resilienoe is created by the springs during the initial lowering

35 of the top section, and resilienoe being prevented as the top section is lowered further towards the bottom section by holes at least in the top section through which holes the legs of the spring/s travel thereby rendering them inoperable.

11. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1, 8 and 9 in

5. which the positioning of the spring legs to govern the ease at which the top section is lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by moving the spring/ springs along the torsion bar to the required position.

12. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the 10. torsion springs are characterised by joining at least two springs to facilitate the movement of the springs with one movement to a position that will govern the ease at which the top section will be lowered on to the bottom section when pressure against the legs has 15. been released to make such adjustment possible.

13_* A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the inside face of at least the bottom section has grooves therein into which grooves the leg/a of the spring/s is / are located to prevent slippage of the said spring 20. leg/s as the top section is lowered on to the bottom section.

14. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 8 in which the degree of ease at which the top section i3 lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by

25. cavities into which the spring legs travel being covered by a cap to prevent the spring legs penetrating the filling in a seat.

15. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the positioning of the spring leg/s to govern the ease at

30. which the top section is lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by a wedge on which the spring leg is resting such wedge being driven further under and or drawn away from the said spring leg thereby raising or lowering the spring leg in relation to the

SUBSTITUTESHE-TIM*^**^* coil of the spring and increasing or decreasing the resilience of the said spring against the top section.

16. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the bottom section is characterised by incorporating 5. thereon a means of keeping it stable on the seating or toilet during its use.

17_* A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1 and 16 in which the means of keeping the rising seat stable on seating or a toilet is characterised by fixing the 10. rising seat on top of the seating area in place of standard seating by a releaseable fixing mechanism.

18. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1 & 16 in which the means of keeping the rising seat stable on a chair or settee is characterised by locating the

15_* rising seat on top of an existing cushion or seat of the chair or settee by a releaseable fixing mechanism.

19. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 and 16 & Claim 17 in which the method of stabilising the said rising seat on a seat or toilet is characterised by strap/s

20. fixed at their one end to the rising seat cushion and at its other end to the seat or toilet or at least indirectly to the floor.

20. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1, 16 & 17 in which the method of stabilising the said rising seat 25. on a chair or settee is characterised by retaining blocks under the chair/ settee such retaining blocks being attached to a belt/s fixed at its /their one end to the rising seat.

21.A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1, & 16 in whioh 30. the method of stabilising the said rising seat on a chair/ settee is characterised by a tongue-shaped extension fixed to the said rising seat and wedged into the back or sides of &- chair / settee in an area where the back or sides of the chair/ settee 35_* meat the seat of the chair / settee.

22. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1, 16 & 18 in which the method of stabilising the said rising Seat in a chair / settee is characterised by spikes fixed to the said rising seat that are pushed into the

5. upholstery of the chair / settee.

23. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1, & Claim 16 in which the method of stabilising the aforesaid rising seat in the chair / settee or on the toilet is characterised by an adjustable frame from which the

10. bottom section is made said frame being extendable to a size to enable it to be wedged between the arms of of a chair or within the rim of a toilet bowl.

24. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1, 16 & 17 in which the method of stabilising the aforesaid rising

15. seat in a chair / settee or on a toilet is charact¬ erised by knobs attached to bolts screwed into the sides of the bottom section of the said rising seat said positioning of bolts causing the knobs to be wedged between the arms of a chair or within the rim

20. of a toilet bowl.

25. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1, 16 & 17 in which the said rising seat is characterised by attaching thereto a carrying handle.

26. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1, in which the 25. top section is kept in position on top of and in a downwards position on the bottom section against the resilience of the spring is characterised by placing a rod through appertures in each section said appertures being near to the front of the rising seat.

30.

27. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the top section is kept in position on top of and in a down¬ wards position on the bottom section against the resilience of the spring is characterised by placing a rod over a protrusion in the top section and under a

35. protrusion in the bottom section near to the front of the rising seat.

28. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the top section is pivotly hinged to the bottom section said hinging being characterised by being located on the bottom section away from the edge of the bottom section.

5.

29. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the springs are characterised by being localised in a fixed transverse position on the torsion bar.

30. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 & 16 in which the means of keeping it stable on a chair is characterised 10. by moveable protrusions located on the bottom section and which are forced against the inside surface of the chair by turning a gear that drives in an outwards and inwards direction at least one rack fixed at least indirectly to the said protrusion/s

15.

31_* A Rising Seat as claimed in Claims 1 & 16 in which the means of keeping it stable on a chair or toilet is characterised by spring-loaded protrusions on at least one side of the said rising seat that press against the inside surface of the chair or toilet

20.

32. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the means of keeping it stable on a chair is characterised by moveable protrusions forced against the inside face of the chair by turning a spindle on which is fixed hook and loop material that adhers to hook and loop material

25. fixed at least indirectly on to the protrusion butted up against the spindle moving the protrusion towards or away from the inside surface of the chair as the spindle is turned one way or the other.

33. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the degree 30. of ease at which the top section is lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by protrusions fixed to a sliding base said protrusions being positioned under the legs of those springs selected by the user_*

34. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the degree 35. of ease at which the top section is lowered on to the bottom section is characterised by protrusions fixed to at least one inside face of the said rising seat over which protrusions the selected springs are positioned.

35. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the degree of ease at which the top section is lowered

5. on to the bottom section is characterised by a gap between protrusions in to which the leg of each spring selected by the user falls as the top section is low¬ ered, thereby rendering the selected spring s inoperable.

36. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the top 10. section is characterised by being hollowed out to form a seat for a toilet the aforesaid rising seat being fixed by its bottom section to the toilet on to which at least indirectly rests one end of the torsion spring/s its other end resting at least indirectly under sides of 15. top section that is hinged at front of toilet.

37_* A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the said rising seat is characterised by fixing a handle thereto to enable the user to steady himself by holding the handle whilst he is lowering himself on to or rising 20. from the seat or toilet.

38. A Rising Seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which an additional mass may be placed on the spring leg/s to lower the pressure per square inch on the area of contact of the spring leg and the top and/ or bottom

25 section.

39_* A Rising Seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings