WO2001015589A1

WO2001015589A1 - Toilet support

Info

Publication number: WO2001015589A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/001010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Robert Dominguez
Original assignee: Peter Robert Dominguez
Priority date: 1999-08-27
Filing date: 2000-08-25
Publication date: 2001-03-08
Also published as: AUPQ252599A0

Abstract

A toilet support for supporting a user of a toilet facility, having a toilet bowl (10) and a toilet seat (29) for mounting thereto, the toilet support including: a rear support assembly (11) mountable to the rear of the toilet bowl (10) by means of the toilet seat mounting (13); a front support assembly (19) for supporting the toilet support on the front of the toilet bowl (10); and side arm members (23) interchangeably engageable with said front and rear support assemblies (11, 19).

Description

"TOILET SUPPORT"

Technical Field

This invention relates to a toilet support.

The invention has particular but not exclusive application to a toilet support for supporting an invalid of physically disadvantaged person during movement to and from a seated position on a toilet. However it will be realised that the invention has wide-ranging application and can be used by other than invalids and physically disadvantaged persons.

Background Art

As the average age of the population increases, the number of carers of frail aged persons who are themselves aged also increases. This is because public health authorities in attempting to lower the increasing public health cost of geriatric care, are encouraging and assisting a healthy partner of a frail or invalid aged person to care for the person at home rather than admitting the person to an institution. The need for toilet, shower and bath supports for the elderly as well as invalids and physically disadvantaged persons is thus increasing. Toilet, shower and bath supports for invalids and physically disadvantaged persons are well known. My Australian patents 674600 and 724114 illustrate one such toilet support and a restraint for use therewith.

Summary of Invention The present invention aims to provide an alternative to known toilet supports.

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a toilet support for supporting a user of a toilet facility having a toilet bowl and a toilet seat for mounting thereto, the toilet support including:- a rear support assembly for mounting to the rear of the toilet bowl by means of the toilet seat mounting; a front support assembly for supporting the toilet support on the front of the toilet bowl, and side arm members interchangeably engageable with the front and rear support assemblies.

It is preferred that the front and rear support assemblies and the side arm members include substantially U-shaped members. It is also preferred that respective legs of the front and rear support assembly U-shaped members engage with respective legs of the side arm members.

It is also preferred that the legs of the side arm U-shaped members are of differing lengths whereby when assembled, the bases of the side arm members are interchangeably inclined upwardly or downwardly.

It is also preferred that the rear support assembly includes a plate member pivotally connected to the U-shaped member and adapted to be received between the rear surface of the toilet bowl and the toilet seat mounting, the plate member being sufficiently flexible to conform to the surface configuration of the rear of the toilet bowl when pressure is applied thereto in use.

It is also preferred that the front support assembly includes a support bracket mounted to the front support U-shaped member for support by the front of the toilet bowl. In a preferred embodiment the toilet assembly also includes cross members adapted to be supported on opposite side arm members.

In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a toilet support for supporting a user of a toilet facility having a toilet bowl and a toilet seat for mounting thereto, the toilet support including:- side arm members interchangeably engageable with front and rear support assemblies supportable on the toilet bowl; the side arm members being substantially U-shaped and the legs of the side arm members being of differing lengths whereby when assembled, the bases of the side arm members are interchangeably inclined upwardly or downwardly.

Description of Drawings In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:-

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a toilet bowl rear support assembly; FIG 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rear support assembly and a toilet bowl;

FIG 3 is an exploded perspective view of toilet bowl front and rear support assemblies and side arm members for assembly therewith;

FIGS 4 and 5 illustrate the toilet support of the present invention in first and second configurations, and

FIGS 6 to 9 illustrate the toilet support of the present invention with cross arms located in various configurations, with FIG 9 illustrating an elevated toilet seat located in the configuration of FIG 7.

Description of Preferred Embodiment of Invention

As can be seen in FIGS 1 and 2, a toilet bowl rear support assembly 11 is attached to a toilet bowl by means of nuts and bolts 18 used for attaching the toilet seat/lid assembly 29 (as seen in FIG 4) to toilet bowl 10.

Toilet bowl rear support assembly 11 includes a base plate 13 pivotally affixed to hollow U-shaped member 14 by sleeves 39 fixedly attached to base plate 13. D-shaped stop members 40 prevent member 14 sliding in sleeves 39 relative to base plate 13 and also prevent member 14 from rotating in sleeves

39 beyond a given position relative to base plate 13.

Member 14 has opposed upstanding legs 15 with openings 16 to receive spigot members 26 of side arm member 23 (see FIG 3) in a manner to be subsequently described.

Base plate 13 is relatively thin thereby providing a degree of flexibility rather than being rigidly stiff. Consequently when base member 13 is positioned on toilet bowl 10 and clamped thereto, the weight of a person resting on arms 23 will cause the base plate member 13 to conform to variations in surface configurations of toilet bowl 10 as can occur in different toilet bowls. This slight flexibility permits base member 13 to adjust for toilet bowls having rear surfaces which are slightly dished or bowed, or which slope slightly forward or slightly backwards. This avoids heavy loads making point contact on the toilet bowl surface.

As can be seen in FIG 3, toilet bowl forward support member 19 is substantially U shaped with two upstanding legs 20 having apertures 21 for receiving spigots 26 of side arm member 23. An angle shaped bracket 22 is welded to forward support member 19 and in use is supported on the forward edge of toilet bowl 10 as seen in FIG 4.

Front and rear support members 19 and 14 and side arm members 23 are integral tubular members preferably made from high quality stainless steel. Side arm members 23 have opposed upstanding legs 24 and 25. One upstanding leg 24 is shorter than the other longer upstanding leg 25. Both legs 24 and 25 have spigots 26 for being received in apertures 21 and 16 as previously described.

Side arm members 23 are engaged with front and rear support assemblies 11 and 19 by positioning spigots 26 in apertures 17 whereby the toilet support is assembled and fastened together by screws (not shown) or by other suitable fastening means.

FIG 4 illustrates a configuration in which the forward leg 25 of side arm members is longer that the rearward leg 24 to provide a configuration of the toilet support with the side arms sloping upwardly to the front.

In use the arrangement in FIG 4 is suitable for use by a person requiring a high arm rest because of an inability to lower their arms.

Alternatively as can be seen in FIGS 3 and 5, the toilet support can be assembled with the forward leg 24 of side arm members shorter that the rearward leg 25 to provide a configuration of the toilet support with the side arms sloping downwardly to the front.

In use the arrangement in FIGS 3 and 5 is suitable for use by a person requiring a lower arm rest because of an inability to lift their arms.

In a configuration not illustrated, one side arm can slope upwardly and the other downwardly to suite a person with one arm which cannot be lowered or raised.

As seen in FIGS 6 to 10, cross members 27 can be utilised in a wide variety of configurations to provide support for users or to support seats or other aids, as for example in FIG 9 which illustrates an elevated toilet seat 28 for use by a person unable to bend their knees sufficiently to adopt a normal seated position on a toilet.

Suitable cross members 27 are described in my Australian patent 724114. As can be seen in FIGS 6 and 9, the rear cross member can be directed inwardly to provide a low rear support, or as seen in FIGS 7 and 8, can be directed outwardly to provide a high rear support. A front cross member can also be used and similarly can be directed inwardly or outwardly.

The toilet support in accordance with the present invention has a number of advantages. It is particularly strong and stable and hence constitutes a safe pan attached toilet assist access and support equipment. Its strength and stability derive from being supported at both front and rear of the toilet bowl.

Furthermore the toilet support is universal because it fits most toilets and can be used by users who are young or old, large or small, or light or heavy. By reversing the reversible arm rests its use and applications are doubled.

It can be manufactured at relatively low cost and is simple to use and install or remove. It is portable and when dismantled forms a small compact parcel. Made of quality stainless steel, it is durable yet relatively light-weight.

It will of course be realised that whilst the above has been given by way of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations hereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

PETER ROBERT DOMINGUEZ by PIZZEYS PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS

Claims

The Claims defining the Invention are as follows:-

1. A toilet support for supporting a user of a toilet facility having a toilet bowl and a toilet seat for mounting thereto, said toilet support including:- a rear support assembly for mounting to the rear of the toilet bowl by means of the toilet seat mounting; a front support assembly for supporting the toilet support on the front of the toilet bowl, and side arm members interchangeably engageable with said front and rear support assemblies.

2. A toilet support as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said front and rear support assemblies and said side arm members include substantially U-shaped members.

3. A toilet support as claimed in claim 1, wherein respective legs of said front and rear support assembly U-shaped members engage with respective legs of said side arm members.

4. A toilet support as claimed in claim 3, wherein said legs of said side arm U-shaped members are of differing lengths whereby when assembled, the bases of said side arm members are interchangeably inclined upwardly or downwardly.

5. A toilet support as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said rear support assembly includes a plate member pivotally connected to said U-shaped member and adapted to be received between the rear surface of the toilet bowl and the toilet seat mounting, said plate member being sufficiently flexible to conform to the surface configuration of the rear of the toilet bowl when pressure is applied thereto in use.

6. A toilet support as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said front support assembly includes a support bracket mounted to said front support U-shaped member for support by the front of the toilet bowl.

7. A toilet support as claimed in claim 1 , and including:- cross members adapted to be supported on opposite side arm members.

8. A toilet support for supporting a user of a toilet facility having a toilet bowl and a toilet seat for mounting thereto, said toilet support including:- side arm members interchangeably engageable with front and rear support assemblies supportable on the toilet bowl; said side arm members being substantially U-shaped and the legs of said side arm members being of differing lengths whereby when assembled, the bases of said side arm members are interchangeably inclined upwardly or downwardly.