TOILET APPARATUS PROVIDING A USER WITH A PHYSIOLOGICALLY NATURAL POSITION DURING BOWEL MOVEMENT

Abstract

A toilet bowl apparatus for positioning a user in a position that most closely approximates the physiologically natural position during bowel movement is disclosed. The toilet apparatus comprises a toilet bowl having a front end and a rear end, and a rim around the toilet bowl opening. The rim is curved and includes a raised portion proximate the front end of the toilet bowl. The apparatus further comprises a footstep positioned proximate to the toilet bowl. The footstep at least in part surrounds the toilet bowl and has a top surface including a foot placement area adapted to support the feet of a user while the user sits on the toilet bowl. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, one portion of the foot placement area is on one side of the toilet bowl while a second portion of the foot placement area is on the opposed side of the toilet bowl. The apparatus further comprises a water reservoir connected to the toilet bowl. The physiologically natural position created by the apparatus of the present invention facilitates the user's act of bowel movement and effectuates various therapeutic and prophylactic processes in the user's body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of medical physiotherapy and sanitary equipment, and more particularly, to a toilet apparatus having a structure facilitating a user to assume a position that most closely approximates the physiologically natural and therapeutic position during the act of bowel movement.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of toilet bowls is well known in the art. Several toilet bowls representative of the art are described below.

U.S. Publication No. 2002/0184701 to Johnson discloses a toilet having a toilet seat cover composed of a plastic material designed to protect the user from infection associated with the use of public toilets. A primary disadvantage of such a toilet is that the position of the user during bowel movement is not physiologically natural, potentially leading over time to various injuries of organs in the abdominal cavity and the rectum.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,854 to Nishikawa discloses a toilet including a cover that opens and closes for convenience of the user. Similarly to the toilet disclosed in Johnson, the structure of the Nishikawa toilet does not create a physiologically natural position for the user during bowel movement, and its repeated use over time could result in the above-described injuries.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,334 to Hillman discloses a toilet designed to facilitate bowel movements by causing a user to assume a more natural position during the act of defecation. This toilet comprises a toilet bowl, a detachable foot rest, and a foot pedal which is adapted to flush the toilet bowl. A primary reason preventing the achievement of the result desired in Hillman during the use of the toilet is that the profile of the upper surface of the toilet bowl cavity and the location of the foot rest are in an orientation that is opposite to the orientation desired to allow a user to assume a physiologically natural position during bowel movement. Accordingly, while using the toilet in Hillman during bowel movement, the user is not in a physiologically natural position.

Therefore, a need exists for a toilet bowl that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art and provides a structure designed to position the user in a maximally natural physiologic position bowel movement and, facilitating the act of defecation and promoting the health of the user's internal organs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies this need. The present invention realizes the creation of a user position during the act of bowel movement that maximally approaches the ideal physiologically natural and therapeutic bowel movement position. In use, the present invention allows the user to assume, independently of user age and gender, a maximally natural physiologic position during bowel movement.

When the user is in this position, the spinal column and the intervertebral discs are moved into a physiologically natural alignment, resulting in various positive therapeutic effects in the user's body. Specifically, a natural prophylactic massage is effected on the internal organs of the abdominal region while the user moves his bowels in a position created by the apparatus of the present invention.

This massage results from physiologic pressure by the spinal and the hip regions on the abdominal region and the diaphragm. This massage helps regulate the exchange processes in the abdominal cavity and improves peristalsis, eliminating various abnormal and pathological processes leading to excessive fattening, stone formation, etc. The resulting prophylactic massage improves function of the intestines, joints in lower extremities, and of various muscles.

According to the invention, there is provided a toilet apparatus for orienting a user in a physiologically natural position during bowel movement, comprising:

a toilet bowl having a front end a rear end and two opposed sides, an upper opening, a lower opening and a rim surrounding the upper opening, the rim having a top surface, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the rim being curved along a longitudinal axis of the toilet bowl and having a first raised portion proximate the front end of the toilet bowl;

a footstep positioned proximate to said toilet bowl, said footstep at least in part surrounding the toilet bowl and having a front wall, a back wall, and opposed sidewalls, said footstep having a top surface including a foot placement area adapted to support the feet of a user while the user sits on the toilet bowl, one portion of said foot placement area being on one side of the toilet bowl and a second portion of said foot placement area being on the opposed side of said toilet bowl; and

a water reservoir connected to said toilet bowl, said water reservoir adapted to flush water through said upper opening and said lower opening.

The specifications and measurements of the toilet apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the invention are chosen according to the following relationships:

H=(1.1-1.5)×H′, where H is the minimum distance from the top surface of the footstep to the lowermost point of the top surface of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening; and where H′ is the average statistical height from the anal opening of a user to the top surface on which the user's feet rest during the physiologically natural position during the act of bowel movement;

L=(2.0-2.5)×W, where L is the maximum length of the upper toilet bowl opening along the longitudinal axis of the toilet bowl; and where W is the maximum width of the upper toilet bowl opening along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the toilet bowl;

L_E=(1.05-1.2)×L, where L_E is the maximum length of the exterior rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening and L is the maximum length of the upper toilet bowl opening;

W_E=(1.05-1.4)×W, where W_E is the maximum width of the exterior rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening and W is the maximum width of the upper opening of the toilet bowl;

h=(0.4-0.6)×H, where h is the depth of the profile of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening, i.e., the distance between the uppermost point and the lowermost point of the upper surface of the rim surrounding the toilet bowl opening along the vertical axis, and H is the H is the minimum distance from the top surface of the footstep to the lowermost point of the top surface of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening;

The toilet bowl and the footstep may be integrally formed from the same material with the specifications and measurements having the following relationships:

A=(2.3-3.0)×H, where A is the overall height of the toilet bowl along the vertical axis; and H is the H is the minimum distance from the top surface of the footstep to the lowermost point of the top surface of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening;

T=(1.0-1.25)×H, where T is the height of the footstep along the vertical axis and H is the H is the minimum distance from the top surface of the footstep to the lowermost point of the top surface of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening;

C=(2.0-2.5)×W, where C is the width of the front wall of the footstep and W is the maximum width of the upper opening of the toilet bowl.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the front wall of the footstep is spaced apart along the horizontal axis from the front-most point of the top surface of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening according to the following relationship:

B=(0.2-0.4)×A, where B is the distance along the horizontal axis from the front wall of the footstep to the front-most point of the top surface of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening and where A is the overall height of the toilet bowl opening along the vertical axis.

The footstep may be shaped to surround the base of the toilet bowl and may have a variety of shapes. By way of example, the footstep may be rectangular, trapezoidal, or hemi-oval in shape. Similarly, the rim surrounding the toilet bowl opening may have a variety of shapes such as, by way of example, oval, hemi-oval, or cone-shaped.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a toilet seat cover is shaped to generally match the overall dimensions and curvature of the top surface of the rim surrounding the toilet bowl opening.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lower surface of the toilet seat cover is curved transverse to the longitudinal axis: of the seat cover while the upper surface of the toilet seat cover is substantially flat in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the seat cover.

In another embodiment of the invention, the toilet seat cover comprises two separate parts. In this embodiment, one part of the toilet seat cover is shaped to match the shape of the top surface of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening while the second part of the toilet seat cover is flat.

The toilet bowl of the preferred embodiment of the invention has a curved profile of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening. The curvature of the profile of the rim corresponds to the natural curvature along the gluteus maximus muscles of the user during a physiologically natural position of the act of bowel movement in nature, i.e., while fully squatting. This physiologically natural position occurring in nature results in a minimal vertical distance from the surface on which the user's feet are positioned to the user's anal opening. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this distance is recreated between the top surface of the footstep (on which the user's feet are positioned) and the lowermost point of the top surface of the rim surrounding the toilet bowl opening (on which the user sits).

The dimensions of the toilet apparatus of the present invention as described hereinabove allow the user to be in a position that most closely approaches the physiologically natural position during the act of bowel movement. In this position, the user's anal opening is positioned at a minimum vertical distance away from the surface supporting the user's feet. This position allows the user to move the ankle joints to create and regulate a physiologically natural pressure on the abdominal cavity and in the hip region. In addition, the curvature of the rim surrounding the upper toilet bowl opening is designed to match the natural curvature of the user's hips, and together with the dimensions and the orientation of the footstep allow the user to assume a physiologically natural position during bowel movement that facilitates bowel movement and causes the body to undergo a natural therapeutic and prophylactic exercise in the form of a self-massage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying figures, where:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a toilet apparatus of the present invention including a water tank, a toilet bowl, and a removable footrest.

FIG. 2 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention including a water tank, a toilet bowl, and a footrest that is integral to the toilet bowl structure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, illustrating a person using the apparatus of the present invention and positioned in a maximal physiologically natural position of during the act of bowel movement.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention where the footrest is an integral part of the toilet bowl structure.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention where the footrest is an integral part of the toilet bowl structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a toilet bowl apparatus in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The toilet bowl apparatus includes a toilet bowl 1 with a detachable footstep 2 and a water tank 7.

The toilet bowl 1 includes a rim 3 surrounding the generally oval upper toilet bowl opening (identified by reference numeral 8 in FIG. 3). The top surface 19 of rim 3 has a curved profile with a depth h, measured from the uppermost point of top surface of rim 3 to the lowermost point of top surface of edge 3 along a vertical axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of toilet bowl 1. The curved profile of rim 3 surrounding upper toilet bowl opening 8 is configured to correspond to the natural curvature of the gluteus maximus muscles of an average human body during the flexing of the hip bones generally associated with sitting on a toilet.

The toilet bowl 1 comprises a front end 4, and a rear end 6. The rear end 6 of toilet bowl 1 includes a lower toilet bowl opening 9 designed to provide for disposal of human waste after the latter is flushed by water coming from a water tank 7, which is mounted on and operatively connected to the toilet bowl 1 proximate the rear end 6 of toilet bowl 1. As illustrated in FIG, 2, toilet bowl 1 has a maximum height A as measured from the uppermost point of the top surface of rim 3 surrounding the toilet bowl opening 8 to the ground on which toilet bowl 1 is mounted on.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, footstep 2 is detachable from toilet bowl 1. The footstep 2 includes a top surface 10, a front wall 11, a rear wall 12, and side walls 13. The top surface 10 of footstep 2 includes a foot placement portion 5. Foot placement portion 5 is preferably marked or contoured on top surface 10 in a way (as shown in FIG. 4) that facilitates the user to place his or her feet on the foot placement portion 5. Preferably, the foot placement portion 5 is configured to prevent or decrease slippage of the user's feet on the top surface 10 of footstep 2. By way of example, the foot placement portion 5 could include a plastic or rubber mat, or could be coated with a material that increases grip and prevents slipping.

The top surface 10 of footstep 2 is preferably located at a minimum distance H in relation to the lowermost point of the top surface 14 of rim 3. Distance H is preferably chosen based on an average statistical height H′ from the anal opening to the top surface 10 of footstep 2 with a height T, which provides a resting point for the feet of a user assuming the physiologically natural position during the act of bowel movement. The value of H′ is chosen on the basis of the average statistical height of a person. By way of example, for users with a height between 170 cm and 175 cm (approximately 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches), the value of height H′ is typically between 140 mm and 150 mm.

FIG. 2 illustrates toilet bowl apparatus in another preferred embodiment of the invention. The toilet bowl apparatus includes a toilet bowl 1 and a water tank 7 as described hereinbefore in reference to FIG. 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, toilet bowl 1 formed integrally with footstep 2 while maintaining the above-specified measurements and distances. As illustrated in FIG. 2, front wall 11 of footstep 2 and the front-most portion of rim 3 surrounding toilet bowl opening 8 are spaced apart by a distance B along the longitudinal axis of toilet bowl 1 (i.e., the horizontal axis). The position of footstep 2 as illustrated in FIG. 2 increases the user's comfort when using the toilet apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a position of a person 16 sitting on toilet bowl 1 with her feet on the foot placement portion 5 of footstep 2. The position of person 14 most closely approaches the physiologically natural position of a person during the act of bowel movement. FIG. 3 illustrates that the structure of toilet bowl 1 and footstep 2 allows the user 14 to be in a position which effectuates a physiologically natural pressure in the abdominal cavity and the hip region due to a more natural alignment of the vertebral column, the intervertebral discs and the hip bones. This physiologically natural pressure facilitates the user's act of bowel movement and effectuates a prophylactic therapeutic stimulation or massage on the user as described hereinabove.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2. As described hereinabove, toilet bowl 1 in this embodiment is integrally formed with footstep 2. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, rim 3 of toilet bowl 1 surrounding toilet bowl opening 8 is oval in shape. Rim 3 surrounding toilet bowl opening 8 includes an interior surface 17 having a maximum length L along the longitudinal axis of toilet bowl 1 and a maximum width W along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of toilet bowl 1. Rim edge 3 surrounding toilet bowl opening 8 also includes an exterior surface 18 having a maximum length L_E along the longitudinal axis of toilet bowl 1 and a maximum width W_E along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of toilet bowl 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, rear wall 12 of footstep 2 is in a shape of a hemi-oval. While rear wall 12 is linear and hemi-oval in shape in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, rear wall 12 of footstep 2 of the present invention can be of various different shapes.

FIG. 5 Illustrates a front view of the toilet bowl apparatus of FIG. 2. As hereinbefore mentioned, in this embodiment, footstep 2 is formed integrally with the structure of toilet bowl 1. FIG. 5 shows that front wall 11 of footstep 2 has a Width C and a height T. As seen in FIG. 5, width C of front wall 11 of footstep 2 has a larger dimension than width W_E of exterior surface 18 of rim 3.

In the user position realized by the structure of the present invention, the user's large intestine is in a maximally natural physiologic position which facilitates the act of bowel movement. In this position, the hips of the user effectuate a natural pressure on the abdominal region and the diaphragm, thereby providing the user with a natural prophylactic and therapeutic stimulation or self-massage. This pressure provided by the self-massage helps regulate and improve the exchange processes in the intestines, improves the function of the large and the small intestines, and improves peristalsis. The user can regulate the amount of pressure on the abdominal region by, for example, leaning forward while sitting on the toilet bowl, bringing his or her chest closer to his or her knees, or by raising his or her heels to flex or bend the ankle joints.

The prophylactic self-massage also stimulates all joints of the user's lower extremities, and, if performed at least once per day, can be a therapeutic exercise helping to regulate and improve the function and the health of the user's joints. In addition, the muscles of the user's back and the lower extremities also actively stimulated and participate in the prophylactic self-massage.

The toilet bowl of the present invention can be comfortably used by people regardless of age, sex, height, or weight. The dimensions of the toilet apparatus of the present invention can be changed to comfortably accommodate users of various height and weight, so long as the above-described relationships between the dimensions of the components of the present invention are maintained. By way of example, the structure of a toilet apparatus of the present invention could have the following dimensions. H=150 mm; L=370 mm, W=170 mm, L_E=420 mm, W_E=220 mm, h=70 mm, A=370 mm, T=150 mm, W=340 mm, B=80 mm, H′=125 mm.

Thus, there has been disclosed in the above description and the drawing, a toilet apparatus that allows a user to assume a position that most closely approaches the physiologically natural position during the act of bowel movement. Although various embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration and are for purposes of example only and not limitation, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, modifications, and substitutions may be incorporated in these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toilet apparatus for orienting a user in a physiologically natural position during bowel movement, comprising:

a toilet bowl having a front end, a rear end and two opposed sides, an upper opening, a lower opening and a rim surrounding the upper opening, the rim having a top surface, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the rim being curved along a longitudinal axis of the toilet bowl and having a first raised portion proximate the front end of the toilet bowl;

a footstep positioned proximate to said toilet bowl, said footstep at least in part surrounding the toilet bowl and having a front wall, a back wall, and opposed sidewalls, said footstep having a top surface including a foot placement area adapted to support the feet of a user while the user sits on the toilet bowl, one portion of said foot placement area being on one side of the toilet bowl and a second portion of said foot placement area being on the opposed side of said toilet bowl; and

a water reservoir connected to said toilet bowl, said water reservoir adapted to flush water through said upper opening and said lower opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said footstep is removably connected to said toilet bowl.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said footstep is integrally formed with said toilet bowl.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said foot placement area includes a cover comprised at least in part from a material selected from one of rubber, plastic, and metal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seat cover configured to be placed over said rim, the seat cover being at least in part curved and having a curvature corresponding to a curvature of said rim.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said seat cover includes an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having a shape corresponding to a shape of said rim of said toilet bowl, said upper surface being substantially flat.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said seat cover is comprised of two separate pieces.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rim includes a second raised portion proximate the rear end of the toilet bowl

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said toilet bowl opening includes a maximum length between said front end and said rear end and a maximum width between said opposed sides, said maximum length being greater than said width.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said toilet bowl opening includes a width between said opposed sides, the width proximate said rear end being greater than the width proximate said front end.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the width between said opposed sides along a bisecting plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said toilet bowl is greater than the width proximate said rear end.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top surface of said rim of said toilet bowl has a varying height along the longitudinal axis of said toilet bowl.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top surface of said rim of said toilet bowl hats a height hat is greater at said front end of said toilet bowl than at a portion of said toilet bowl intersected by a bisecting plate perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said toilet bowl.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said toilet bowl opening and said front wall of said footstep each include a maximum width, the maximum width of said front wall of said footstep being greater than the maximum width of said toilet bowl opening.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said front wall of said footstep extends beyond the front end of said toilet bowl in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said toilet bowl.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said front end of said toilet bowl extends beyond the front end of said front wall of said footstep in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said toilet bowl.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a maximum distance between said opposed sidewalls of said footstep is greater than a maximum distance between a maximum distance between a maximum width of said toilet bowl.