TOILET ASSIST FOR THE DISABLED
A hydraulically or pneumatically powered toilet assist lift device for use by disabled persons is described that includes a frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode, the frame having a lower frame portion for attachment to the floor surface that supports the commode and an upper frame portion hingedly attached to the lower frame portion at the forward end thereof, a toilet seat attached to the upper frame portion, and a pair of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders interconnecting the upper frame portion with the lower frame portion at the rearward end thereof whereby operation the cylinders rotates the upper frame portion between a lowered position and a raised position.
This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/074,180, filed Jun. 20, 2008.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to fixtures, devices, or other products configured to assist elderly or disabled persons in performing activities of daily living, and more particularly to a hydraulically or pneumatically powered toilet seat lift for assisting disabled persons in sitting on and rising from a toilet seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONElderly persons with physical disabilities or other disabled persons often encounter difficulties in performing some ordinary but necessary every day tasks in daily living. One such task that a disabled person may have difficulty in performing is the use of a toilet. Without help, the person may not be able to sit on or rise from an ordinary toilet. The disabled person must therefore engage the assistance of another person such as a health care provider or family member in order to access the toilet unless the toilet is equipped with a device for assisting the person in sitting on and rising from the toilet seat. The need for such a device is particularly acute in facilities for the care of the elderly or disabled, such as hospitals, rest homes, or the like. Having a device for assisting the disabled person to access the toilet may even allow the person a degree of independence so as to remain in his or her private home without the need to relocate to such a facility that provides care for the disabled. A need therefore exists for a device for use by persons with physical disabilities to access a toilet in sitting down on and rising from the toilet without the assistance of another person.
Devices in the prior art include those such as described in Patent Numbers U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,728 to Gyllenberg, U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,174 to Cool, U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,576 to Epstein, U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,552 to Austin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,446 to Robertson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,617 to Ward et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,709 to McGuire, U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,872 to Phillipa, U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,780 to Okita et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,447 to Lindsay, U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,769 to Luckenbill, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,585 to Lundstrom, U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,382 to Karash, U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,220 to Shea et al, DE 4215448 to Rommel, FR 2519861 to Fralch, DE 1554583 to Hellstrom, and Pub. No. US 2006/0207020 by Huff.
There remains, however, a need in assisting a disabled person to access a toilet for a device that is simple in structure, easy to operate, and can be conveniently applied to and around an existing toilet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention meets the need as just described for a hydraulically or pneumatically operated device for assisting a disabled person in accessing a toilet. The invention includes a frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode, the frame having a lower frame portion for attachment to the floor surface that supports the commode and an upper frame portion hingedly attached to the lower frame portion at the forward end thereof, a toilet seat attached to the upper frame portion, and a pair of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders interconnecting the upper frame portion with the lower frame portion at the rearward end thereof whereby operation of the cylinders rotates the upper frame portion between a lowered position and a raised position.
The invention therefore relates to a toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
a frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said frame having a lower frame portion and means for attachment of said lower frame portion to said floor surface, said frame further having an upper frame portion for supporting a toilet seat;
hinge means interconnecting said upper frame portion to said lower frame portion at said forward end thereof whereby said upper frame portion is rotatable between a lowered position and a raised position;
a toilet seat attached to said upper frame portion; and
first and second hydraulic cylinders or first and second pneumatic cylinders interconnecting said upper frame portion with said lower frame portion at the rearward end thereof whereby operation of said cylinders rotates said upper frame portion between said lowered position and said raised position.
The invention also relates to a toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
a tubular frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said tubular frame having a lower portion for attachment to said floor surface, said tubular frame further having an upper portion for supporting a toilet seat;
said lower portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed lower front leg segments at said forward end and first and second inclined lower rear leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and upwardly inclined toward said forward end, each of said lower front leg segments and said lower rear inclined leg segments having an upper end and a lower end and including means at each of said lower ends for attachment to said floor surface;
said upper portion having a raised position and a lowered position, said upper portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed upper leg segments abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower front leg segments in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second inclined upper leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and inclined downwardly toward said rearward end and abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower inclined leg segments at said upper ends thereof in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second spaced apart arm rest segments interconnecting said first and second upper leg segments with respective said first and second inclined upper leg segments;
first and second hydraulic cylinders or first and second pneumatic cylinders respectively interconnecting said first inclined upper leg segment with said first lower inclined leg segment and interconnecting said second inclined upper leg segment with said second lower inclined leg segment;
hinge means interconnecting said first upper leg segment with said first lower leg segment and interconnecting said second upper leg segment with said second lower leg segment whereby said upper portion is upwardly and forwardly rotatable with respect to said lower portion between said lowered position and said raised position; and
a toilet seat attached to said upper portion between said spaced apart arm rest segments.
The invention further relates to a toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
a tubular frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said tubular frame having a lower portion for attachment to said floor surface, said tubular frame further having an upper portion for supporting a toilet seat;
said lower portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed lower front leg segments at said forward end and first and second inclined lower rear leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and upwardly inclined toward said forward end, each of said lower front leg segments and said lower rear inclined leg segments having an upper end and a lower end and including means at each of said lower ends for attachment to said floor surface;
said upper portion having a raised position and a lowered position, said upper portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed upper leg segments abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower front leg segments in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second inclined upper leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and inclined downwardly toward said rearward end and abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower inclined leg segments at said upper ends thereof in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second spaced apart arm rest segments interconnecting said first and second upper leg segments with respective said first and second inclined upper leg segments;
hinge means interconnecting said first upper leg segment with said first lower leg segment and interconnecting said second upper leg segment with said second lower leg segment whereby said upper portion is upwardly and forwardly rotatable with respect to said lower portion between said lowered position and said raised position; and
a toilet seat attached to said upper portion between said spaced apart arm rest segments.
Beneficial aspects of the invention include a toilet seat lift device that can be easily applied to and around an existing conventional toilet, that provides safe, convenient and easy accessibility to the toilet by a disabled person without assistance from another person, that is simple in structure and easy to operate with a conveniently accessible control panel, that comprises either hydraulic or pneumatic operation, and that can be installed around an existing toilet without physical attachment to the toilet.
It may be noted at the outset that frame 11 may comprise structural members other than tubular members, such as rod, bar or angle stock, although it is considered that the tubular structure may provide aesthetic and functional advantages. Further, frame 11 may comprise substantially any material of construction, such as aluminum, steel or other metal or alloy, or structural plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) conventionally used as tubing material, in a size (such as about 1 to 3 inch diameter) as would occur to the skilled artisan practicing the invention guided by these teachings, the selected material or size not considered limiting of the invention or of the appended claims. Also, the cross-sectional shape of the tubing that may comprise frame 11 may be round, rectangular, oval or other shape other than the round configuration shown in the drawings, the same also not considered limiting of the invention or of the appended claims.
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made additionally to
The structure of frame 11 may include one or more stiffening members 55 and 56 on either side of frame 11. Members 55 may connect frontal segments 38 and 48 with the respective inclined rear segments 39 and 49 of armrest portions 37 and 47. Members 56 interconnect frontal leg segments 19 and 20 with respective inclined rear segments 23 and 24 of the lower frame portion 11a of frame 11. Toilet seat 15 may be attached front and rear to segments 38 and 39 on the left side of frame 11 (shown in
With further reference to
Power control box 70 contains the various electrical and hydraulic or pneumatic control elements for the operation of device 10. For convenience, box 70 may be located near floor surface 28 to the rear of and below toilet commode 27 and near a source of household electrical current, such as suggested in
Referring now to
It is understood that the foregoing described hydraulic or pneumatic flow control circuit 71 and the electrical control circuit 81 are representative only of the control means that may be used in the operation of the toilet assist device 10 described and claimed herein. Other alternative control arrangements could be envisioned by one with skill in the applicable art as means for performing the functions herein described for circuits 71 and 81 and are considered to be within the scope of these teachings and the appended claims.
The invention therefore provides a hydraulically or pneumatically powered toilet seat lift for assisting disabled persons in sitting on and rising from a toilet seat. It is understood that modifications, adaptations and alternatives to the invention as described may be made as might be envisioned by one with skill in the applicable art, within the scope of the appended claims. All embodiments contemplated hereunder that achieve the objects of the invention have therefore not been show in complete detail. Other embodiments may be developed without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
- (a) a tubular frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said tubular frame having a lower portion for attachment to said floor surface, said tubular frame further having an upper portion for supporting a toilet scat;
- (b) said lower portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed lower front leg segments at said forward end and first and second inclined lower rear leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and upwardly inclined toward said forward end, each of said lower front leg segments and said lower rear inclined leg segments having an upper end and a lower end and including means at each of said lower ends for attachment to said floor surface;
- (c) said upper portion having a raised position and a lowered position, said upper portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed upper leg segments abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower front leg segments in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second inclined upper leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and inclined downwardly toward said rearward end and abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower inclined leg segments at said upper ends thereof in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second spaced apart arm rest segments interconnecting said first and second upper leg segments with respective said first and second inclined upper leg segments;
- (d) hinge means interconnecting said first upper leg segment with said first lower leg segment and interconnecting said second upper leg segment with said second lower leg segment whereby said upper portion is upwardly and forwardly rotatable with respect to said lower portion between said lowered position and said raised position; and
- (e) a toilet seat attached to said upper portion between said spaced apart arm rest segments.
2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
- (a) first and second hydraulically operated cylinders respectively interconnecting said first inclined upper leg segment with said first lower inclined leg segment and interconnecting said second inclined upper leg segment with said second lower inclined leg segment; and
- (b) means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders between a retracted position and an extended position whereby said upper portion is rotated between said lowered position and said raised position.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders includes a control panel disposed in one of said arm rest segments, said panel including an up switch and a down switch operatively connected to said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders and instructing said upper portion to raise in response to an up command and to lower in response to a down command, said means further comprising a motor and source of power connected thereto, a hydraulic pump driven by said motor, a hydraulic reservoir connected to said pump, and three way control valves operatively connected to said first and second cylinders.
4. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
- (a) first and second pneumatically operated cylinders respectively interconnecting said first inclined upper leg segment with said first lower inclined leg segment and interconnecting said second inclined upper leg segment with said second lower inclined leg segment; and
- (b) means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders between retracted and extended position for said cylinders whereby said upper portion is rotated between said raised position and said lowered position.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders includes a control panel disposed in one of said arm rest segments, said panel including an up switch and a down switch operatively connected to said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders and instructing said upper portion to raise in response to an up command and to lower in response to a down command, said means further comprising a motor and source of power connected thereto, a pneumatic pump driven by said motor, a pneumatic reservoir connected to said pump, and three way control valves operatively connected to said first and second cylinders.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said lower rear leg segments are disposed at an angle of from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees to said floor surface.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein said lower rear leg segments are disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees to said floor surface.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein said tubular frame comprises one of a metal and a structural plastic.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein said tubular frame has a cross-section having a shape that is round, oval or rectangular.
10. A toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
- (a) a tubular frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said tubular frame having a lower portion for attachment to said floor surface, said tubular frame further having an upper portion for supporting a toilet seat;
- (b) said lower portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed lower front leg segments at said forward end and first and second inclined lower rear leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and upwardly inclined toward said forward end, each of said lower front leg segments and said lower rear inclined leg segments having an upper end and a lower end and including means at each of said lower ends for attachment to said floor surface;
- (c) said upper portion having a raised position and a lowered position, said upper portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed upper leg segments abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower front leg segments in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second inclined upper leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and inclined downwardly toward said rearward end and abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower inclined leg segments at said upper ends thereof in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second spaced apart arm rest segments interconnecting said first and second upper leg segments with respective said first and second inclined upper leg segments;
- (d) first and second hydraulic cylinders or first and second pneumatic cylinders respectively interconnecting said first inclined upper leg segment with said first lower inclined leg segment and interconnecting said second inclined upper leg segment with said second lower inclined leg segment;
- (e) hinge means interconnecting said first upper leg segment with said first lower leg segment and interconnecting said second upper leg segment with said second lower leg segment whereby said upper portion is upwardly and forwardly rotatable with respect to said lower portion between said lowered position and said raised position; and
- (f) a toilet seat attached to said upper portion between said spaced apart arm rest segments.
11. The device of claim 10 further comprising means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders between a retracted position and an extended position whereby said upper portion is rotated between said lowered position and said raised position.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders includes a control panel disposed in one of said arm rest segments, said panel including an up switch and a down switch operatively connected to said means for simultaneously operating said cylinders and instructing said upper portion to raise in response to an up command and to lower in response to a down command, said means further comprising a motor and source of power connected thereto, one of a hydraulic pump or pneumatic pump driven by said motor, and three way control valves operatively connected to said cylinders.
13 The device of claim 10 wherein said lower rear leg segments are disposed at an angle of from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees to said floor surface.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein said lower rear leg segments are disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees to said floor surface.
15. The device of claim 10 wherein said tubular frame comprises one of a metal and a structural plastic.
16. The device of claim 10 wherein said tubular frame has a cross-section having a shape that is round, oval or rectangular.
17. A toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
- (a) a frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said frame having a lower frame portion and means for attachment of said lower frame portion to said floor surface, said frame further having an upper frame portion for supporting a toilet seat;
- (b) hinge means interconnecting said upper frame portion to said lower frame portion at said forward end thereof whereby said upper frame portion is rotatable between a lowered position and a raised position;
- (c) a toilet seat attached to said upper frame portion; and
- (d) first and second hydraulic cylinders or first and second pneumatic cylinders interconnecting said upper frame portion with said lower frame portion at the rearward end thereof whereby operation of said cylinders rotates said upper frame portion between said lowered position and said raised position.
18. The device of claim 17 further comprising means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders between a retracted position and an extended position whereby said upper portion is rotated between said lowered position and said raised position.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders includes a control panel disposed in one of said arm rest segments, said panel including an up switch and a down switch operatively connected to said means for simultaneously operating said cylinders and instructing said upper portion to raise in response to an up command and to lower in response to a down command, said means further comprising a motor and source of power connected thereto, one of a hydraulic pump or pneumatic pump driven by said motor, and three way control valves operatively connected to said cylinders.
20. The device of claim 17 wherein said frame comprises one of a metal and a structural plastic, said frame further having a cross-section having a shape that is round, oval or rectangular.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 19, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2009
Inventors: Carl Russell Campbell (Trenton, OH), John A. Riley (Franklin, OH)
Application Number: 12/487,848
International Classification: A47K 13/10 (20060101);