Abstract: A powered lift assist toilet seat assembly is disclosed for assisting physically impaired persons in being raised from and lowered to a position above a conventional toilet to perform normal toilet functions. The seat assembly includes a movable platform having a central opening, a toilet seat secured over the opening, and a pair of handrails secured to the platform on both sides of the toilet seat. An arrangement of link members are pivotally connected between the movable platform and a lower frame for controlling a movement of the platform upon actuation of a drive member. The arrangement of link members is such that the movable platform is pivoted and moved forwardly when the platform is raised by actuation of the drive member. The arrangement of link members includes first and second link assemblies positioned on respective sides of the platform which are interconnected by a pair of transverse shafts to increase a load capacity and stabilize the platform during operation.

Abstract: The present invention features a seat-lifting device for use with commonly available toilets, which is easily manufactured, easily installed in a household about the toilet. Such a seat-lifting device also would be simple and safe to use by the persons who desire to use the toilet. Such a seat-lifting device also would repeatedly, reliably and safely move the person from and between the upright and seated positions. Also featured are methods related thereto. A seat-lifting device according to the present invention features a toilet seat, a motor, a drive mechanism and seat lift linkage. The seat lift linkage is operably interconnected to the motor by the drive means and also is interconnected to the toilet seat. In this way, motion of the motor in a first direction causes the seat lift linkage to move the toilet seat from a one position, corresponding to a seated position, to a second position, an elevated position.

Abstract: A toilet seat provides a lifting operation to assist a user to safely engage and disengage a toilet. A toilet seat is pivotally arranged to swing between two positions, an incline position and a horizontal position. While the seat is in the incline position, a user may approach it from a slightly bent standing position. By pushing against the seat, the user's weight loads an energy storing strut and forces the seat to lower gently into its horizontal position. After which, the user may benefit from energy stored in the strut. The seat applies a pressure which lifts the user from the toilet and into a natural standing position. In some versions, the seat is powered by a compressed gas strut which is loaded by a user's weight when the user engages the device. The loaded strut energizes the pivoting seat to provide a force which operates to remove the user from the toilet. Additionally, the seat may be arranged with armrests so the user's arm strength may be used to aid the transition to and from the toilet.

Abstract: A portable commode with spring assisted lifting seat has a lightweight self-supporting stand, a seat hinged to the frame and a pair of pneumatic springs for lifting the seat to an elevated position. The springs yield under the body weight of the user to depress the seat to a lowered position. The springs can be easily set at different positions on the seat to adjust for users of different body weights. A removable waste receptacle on the frame permits the commode to be used by itself, as at a bedside location, or over a conventional toilet bowl installation.

Abstract: A combination wheelchair and seat lifting device for a disabled person. The wheelchair includes a pair of conventional wheelchair wheels centrally positioned and four small stabilizer wheels one at each corner of the chair support structure. The wheelchair includes a padded seat pivotally attached to a toilet seat. The toilet seat is manually pivoted from a use position to a stowed position. When used as a wheel chair, the padded seat is parallel with the chair support surface and when not in use as a wheel chair is pivoted to a position normal to the chair support surface. When pivoted the toilet seat is exposed for use. The toilet seat and pivotally attached padded seat are translatable vertically by a electric motor operating a cable system that is controlled by the user of the chair. When utilized as a wheel chair, the seats can be elevated to a suitable comfortable elevation selected by the user of the chair.

Abstract: A device for raising and lowering a toilet seat. Such a toilet seat enables the elderly and disabled to more easily use toilets. In its broadest context, the present invention includes a toilet seat which is pivotally secured to the remaining toilet bowl. To the rearward extent of the toilet seat a pair of opposing drive cylinders are secured. Each of the drive cylinders is further threadably interconnected to a drive shaft. Each of these drive shafts is further interconnected to a horizontal drive shaft via a beveled gear assembly. A transverse drive shaft serves to drive the entire assembly and is interconnected to both of the horizontal drive shafts. A motor is interconnected to the transverse drive shaft for use in powering the entire assembly.

Abstract: A seat-lifting device having a pair of left and right units 3, 4 arranged on both sides of a stool 1 in a toilet. The units 3, 4 are connected mutually by a connecting frame 5. Each unit 3, 4 has a guide portion 7 and a cable-driving portion 10 which are connected with a pair of conduits for guiding a cable. The guide portion 7 has a static guide 11, 14, a sliding plate 13 slidably supported with the static guide, a seat-supporting member 15 tiltably mounted on the sliding member, and a gas spring 17 urging the rear portion of the seat-supporting member. The sliding plate 13 is driven by the cable-driving portion through a loop of cable.

Abstract: A compact powered lift toilet for assisting a person in rising from or being seated upon a toilet by duplicating the natural motions of the human body. The toilet set accomplishes three separate motions simultaneously: (1) vertical translation, (2) horizontal translation, and (3) rotation. A sun and planet gear mechanism lifts and moves forward the front of the toilet seat while a lever action on the rear of the toilet seat causes the rear of the seat to rise and tilt forward with respect to the front of the seat. Both the sun and planet gear and the rear lever action are effected by a single linear actuator.

Abstract: Lavatory assistance device for supporting and assisting persons having difficulty in sitting or standing. A stationary frame (5) is maintained in place by two jack-screws (29) pressing on the ceiling. Two moving connecting rods (25, 26) actuated by a cylinder (2), shift a cradle (20) supporting the user under the armpits. The user controls the lowering, stopping or raising manoeuvre by operating a control having handles (9) which are placed in front of the cradle. The force necessary for these manoeuvres is provided by pressure of water from the main supply acting on the cylinder piston (2) before falling again into the cistern for normal use. The hydraulic connection is made by fitting a special joint (17) in place of the existing tap. The arm-cradle assembly can be folded and blocked in a high position, for normal access to the lavatory. The device can be used in hospitals, homes for the elderly or the sick, rehabilitation centers, or it can be rented out.

Abstract: Sanitary seat on which the disabled or the elderly can sit to wash--or have washed--parts of their lower body. The seat (61) comprises two parts, an inner part (64) and an annular part (62), which can be moved relative to each other in the vertical direction. When the inner part (64), is projecting above the annular part (62), the part of the lower body projecting outside the inner part can be washed. When the inner part (64), is below the annular part (62), the particular person is sitting on the annular part (62). In that situation the other part on which the person was first seated can be washed. The inner part (64) is preferably provided with a spray head, and the inner part (64) with a downward projecting part of the annular part (62) preferably forms a watertight seal for forming a space which can be filled with water in which the lower body can be cleansed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for moving a toilet seat between a lowered position immediately above a toilet bowl and a raised position above the toilet bowl to assist a physically disabled person to use a toilet. The apparatus includes a toilet seat having a passageway therethrough, a baseplate positioned about the base of a toilet bowl, and a pair of fluid power cylinders supporting the toilet seat for vertical movement between a lowered position immediately above the toilet bowl and an raised position from which the person can easily move between a standing position and a position at least partially supported on the toilet seat. Each of the cylinders has a piston rod extending downwardly therefrom and connected to the baseplate. Fluid lines provide pressurized fluid to the cylinders through the passageway in the toilet seat.

Abstract: A power actuated toilet seat comprising a frame; a hinge mounted on the frame; a standard padded toilet seat connected at a forward end to the hinge; an actuator assembly in electrical communication with an external source of electricity and connected to a rear end of the toilet seat for raising and lowering the toilet seat; and a switch mounted to the frame and in electrical communication with the actuator assembly to permit the user to selectively raise and lower the toilet seat in response to manipulation of the switch.

Abstract: A frame of square tubular metal includes a U-shaped base and a pair of parallel spaced support members projecting upwardly from the base at an inclined angle for supporting a pair of telescopic arms. A seat extends between the arms and is supported by a pair of brackets adjustably clamped to the arms. Each arm is connected to a corresponding reversible motor driven screw jack which extends vertically under the arm to the base, and the motors are electrically connected for simultaneous operation to move the arms and seat member between an upper elevated position and a lower retracted position. The seat may be removed by lifting the seat from the brackets which also support the seat for automatic tilting. The seat may be a toilet seat with side wings or may be a seat connected to a back support panel.

Abstract: A device is intended to make it easier for a person to arise from and/or sit down on a toilet bowl. The device comprises a first member being a part of the toilet bowl or attachable thereto, a second member adapted to carry a sitting surface-forming arrangement and which is vertically movable with respect to the first member, and a linkage defining the movability of the members with respect to each other so that the members are located close to or onto each other in a first relative position and spaced apart in a second relative position.

Abstract: A toilet seat lifting device comprised of a box fastened to the toilet bowl of a toilet at the top near the back, two sliding racks made to slide in two bevel guide channels on the bottom of the box at two opposite sides, a transmission assembly driven by a slow speed motor to move the sliding racks up and down along the guide channels, and a toilet seat covered on a toilet bowl and having a rear end pivotably connected between the sliding racks, whereby the toilet seat is lifted and lowered between a horizontal position and a bevel position to help the user sit on the toilet seat or stand up from the toilet seat as the slow speed motor is controlled to move the sliding racks forward and backward alternatively.

Abstract: A powered toilet seat used in association with a toilet bowl or throw-away waste receptacle and which may be used to assist a person in being raised and lowered relative to the toilet bowl. The present invention provides separate sets of mechanical linkages in order to provide the optimum motion for raising and lowering of the seat and for raising and lowering of the armrest. While the seat is constrained to both lift and move forward slightly while it is being rotated forwardly, the armrests follow a circular arc in which the armrests initially move predominately in the upward direction and complete the motion by moving predominately in a forward direction. In addition, the armrests are maintained in a horizontal orientation at all time.

Abstract: An invalid assistance device mounted on a wall in which a supported locked and guided flexible line is used to stabilize an invalid in the range of desired vertical positions from sitting to standing while a single attendant can work with the stabilized invalid.

Abstract: A lift stool for use in conjunction with removable pot or a stationary toilet bowl is provided to assist disabled person in being lowered toward a seated position and elevated back up to a standing position and the lift stool includes elevated arms rests which may be swung upwardly to out of the way positions to enable a person to assist a more seriously disabled person in using the lift stool, a control for raising and lowering the associated toilet seat being mounted from one of the free swinging ends of the upwardly swingable arms rests and the lift stool including support wheels normally spaced slightly above a horizontal surface upon which the lift stool rests and over and onto which the lift stool may be rearwardly tilted to a position in which the raised armrests may be used as handlebars for manually rolling the lift stool over a floor surface.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated commode seat assembly provides lowering a handicapped person from a standing position to a seated position through a natural range of movement. The assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder that operates on household water pressure. A control device for the hydraulic cylinder which controls the position of the seat. A linkage mechanism connected to a support arrangement for one seat includes a dog leg linkage connected to the hydraulic cylinder. The device is free standing and is designed to have a lifting capacity of 885 lbs. The primary use of the device is in helping physically limited persons to safely and comfortably lower themselves to a sitting position or raise themselves to a standing position with little or no assistance, and this is accomplished by either raising or lowering the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder using the control device.