GB2634271A

GB2634271A - A support device for positioning a user relative to a toilet

Info

Publication number: GB2634271A
Application number: GB2315211.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Campbell Stephen; Campbell Lee; Vandyke David
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-10-04
Filing date: 2023-10-04
Publication date: 2025-04-09
Also published as: GB202315211D0

Abstract

There is provided a support device for positioning a user relative to a toilet, wherein the support device comprises a seat assembly 60, a left side assembly 10L, a right side assembly 10R and a connecting portion (50, Fig.1). The support device has a working configuration (Fig 3) in which the seat assembly is connected to the left and right side assemblies and the connecting portion is connected to the left and right side assemblies and spaced apart from the seat assembly. The support device has a packed configuration in which each of the seat assembly, the left side assembly, the right side assembly and the connecting portion are folded together with one another or disconnected from one another.

Description

A SUPPORT DEVICE FOR POSITIONING A USER RELATIVE TO A TOILET

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support device for positioning a user relative to a toilet, for use particularly, but not exclusively, in assisting the physically disabled, elderly or infirm in assuming a seated position on a toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toilets are designed to support a user in a seated position, which is often a fairly low seated position. For various reasons some people are unable to lower themselves into a suitable position, or to lift themselves back up again. In order to assist in this situation it is known to provide lifting toilet seats which are raised to a position suitable to receive a standing user, and which then lower automatically back down into position, supporting the user as they do so. Such seats can also lift the user back up into a standing position once again. These lifting toilet seats comprise a frame designed to be situated around an existing toilet, and which supports a seat which is positioned over the top of the toilet bowl when in the lowered position. The frame also supports a powered lifting mechanism which is provided to lift and lower the seat, and which is strong enough to take the weight of a user.

For example, the Applicants earlier UK Patent No. GB 2542571 discloses such a lifting toilet seat. Lifting toilet seats need to be strong and stable, and as such do not lend themselves to portability. They are typically installed in a user's home as a permanent fixture. However, it would be desirable to provide a lifting toilet seat that could be easily transported between different toilets to enable users to travel more freely.

It is therefore an aim of the invention to provide a lifting toilet seat with improved portability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a support device for positioning a user relative to a toilet, wherein the support device comprises a seat assembly, a left side assembly, a right side assembly and a connecting portion. Each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly comprises a base portion and a lifting portion that is upwardly extendable from the base portion. The support device has a working configuration in which: the seat assembly is connected to the lifting portion of the left side assembly and to the lifting portion of the right side assembly at opposing sides of the seat assembly to one another; and the connecting portion is connected to the left side assembly and to the right side assembly at opposing ends of the connecting portion to one another, the connecting portion being spaced apart from the seat assembly.

The support device has a packed configuration in which each of the seat assembly, the left side assembly, the right side assembly and the connecting portion are folded together with one another or disconnected from one another, and wherein the support device is repeatedly movable between the packed configuration and the working configuration.

Splitting the support device into the four different parts described herein, namely the seat assembly, the left side assembly, the right side assembly and the connecting portion, allows the support device to be easily transitioned between the working and packed configurations, and to be disassembled into a much smaller volume in the packed configuration allowing it to be easily transported. Preferably the support device only consists of those four different parts, and so is simple to assemble and disassemble. These four parts are the minimal parts required to make a sufficiently strong and stable support device for positioning a user relative to a toilet.

Each one of the four parts is preferably formed of over 50% aluminium by weight, to help keep the overall weight of each part down and make the support device easier to transport.

The connecting portion may be connected to the base portion of the left side assembly and to the base portion of the right side assembly at opposing ends of the connecting portion to one another. Thus, the connecting portion strengthens the support device against loads along the left to right axis and reduces the amount of stress placed on the connections between the seat assembly and the left/right side assemblies. Preferably, the connecting portion consists of a single member that is configured to connect to the left side assembly and to the right side assembly at opposing ends of the member to one another. The connecting portion may be bolted to base frame members of the left and right side portions, or connected using quick-release clamps.

Optionally, the connecting portion may be connected to one of the left and right side assemblies with a hinge, allowing it to be folded flat against the left or right side assembly in the packed configuration, and connected to the other one of the left and right side assemblies with a bolt or quick release clamp.

To accommodate non-horizontal flooring, each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly may comprise an upright frame member and an adjustable height foot that is aligned with the upright frame member. The adjustable height foot may be at least partially retractable into the upright frame member to adjust the height of the foot. The adjustable height foot may comprise a footplate connected to the end of a rod, and the alignment of the adjustable height foot with the upright frame member enables the rod to retract inside the upright frame member to a degree depending on the height to which the foot is adjusted. Thus, the rod can be made long, enabling a large range of height adjustment, without the rod protruding upwardly from the support device and creating a hazard.

Each upright frame member may be a front upright frame member located at the front of the respective left or right side assembly, and each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly may further comprise a rear upright frame member located at the front of the respective left or right side assembly, and a base frame member having opposing ends connected to the front upright frame member and the rear upright frame member. The front upright frame member, base frame member and rear upright frame member may define the base portion, and the lifting portion may be slidably connected to the front upright frame member and the rear upright frame member. Thus, the front upright frame member, base frame member and rear upright frame member together define a frame that supports and guides the lifting portion as the lifting portion is moved upwardly and downwardly to control the height of the toilet seat.

Each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly may comprise another adjustable height foot that is aligned with the rear upright frame member, the another adjustable height foot being at least partially retractable into the rear upright frame member to adjust the height of the foot. These adjustable height feet may also comprise a footplate connected to the end of a rod, and the alignment of the adjustable height foot with the rear upright frame member enables the rod to retract inside the rear upright frame member to a degree depending on the height to which the foot is adjusted.

Each of the left side assembly and the right side assembly may comprise a lifting ram to raise and lower the height of the toilet seat in the working configuration. For example, the lifting ram may be electrically or hydraulically actuated to raise the toilet seat and move a user from a sitting position into a standing position. Preferably, the lifting ram is fixed in a vertical orientation between the base portion and the lifting portion, to move the toilet seat in a purely vertical direction, without any forward or rearward motion so the user can lock their knees before weight-bearing. The lifting portion of each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly may comprise a frame having an upper member extending from a rear to a front of the lifting portion, and the lifting ram may be connected to the upper member midway along the upper member. The lifting ram may be connected to the base frame member midway along the base frame member.

The seat assembly may comprise a seat panel and a toilet seat that is mounted on the seat panel. Each lifting portion may comprise a threaded rod extending upwardly from the lifting portion, and the seat panel may comprises apertures configured to receive the threaded rods so the seat panel can be easily fitted to the tops of the lifting portions. The seat assembly may comprise nuts for screwing downwardly onto the threaded rods once the threaded rods have been passed through the apertures, to secure the seat panel to the lifting portions. Preferably the nuts comprise hemispherical tops to save them from catching on anything such as the user's clothing.

To assist the user in getting on and off the toilet seat, the seat assembly may comprise two tubular arms positioned at left and right sides of the seat assembly respectively. Each tubular arm may be connected to a rear of the seat panel, extends forwardly towards a front of the seat panel, and terminate with a handle that the user can grasp to steady themselves whilst using the support device. The handles can also be used to hold the seat assembly whilst fitting the seat assembly to the tops of the lifting portions.

Preferably, the seat assembly has a centre of mass that is nearer to the front of the seat panel than to the rear of the seat panel. This makes it easier to move the seat assembly into position over the tops of the lifting portions when assembling the support device into the working configuration, since the person assembling the support device will typically be standing at the front of the toilet.

Each tubular arm may extends through the seat panel at the rear of the seat panel, and locate into a hole in the lifting portion in the working configuration. This may assist the person assembling the support device in moving the seat assembly to the correct position over the tops of the lifting portions.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising the support device of the first aspect and a storage case that is configured to store the support device inside the storage case in the packed configuration. This allows the support device to be easily transported from place to place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective diagram illustrating how three out of four parts of a support device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be assembled from a packed configuration; Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective diagram of the three parts of Fig. 1 when assembled together and a fourth part of the support device for assembling to the three parts to reach the working configuration; Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective diagram of the support device of Fig. 1 and 2 when assembled into the working configuration; Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective diagram of the support device of Fig. 3 in which a toilet seat of the support device has been moved into a raised position; and Fig. 5 shows a storage case for storing the support device in the packed configuration.

The figures are not to scale, and same or similar reference signs denote same or similar features.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the support device of the illustrated embodiment comprises four different parts, a left side assembly 10L, a right side assembly 10R, a connecting portion 50 and a seat assembly 60. The parts 10L, 1OR and 50 in Fig. 1 and the part 60 in Fig. 2 are shown in the packed configuration, since they are disassembled from one another, and may be stowed in a storage case 100 (see Fig. 5) for transporting them.

The assembly of the four parts 10L, 10R, 50 and 60 into the working configuration is illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. The parts 10L and 1OR may be mirror images of one another, and so may be formed of similar components to one another. Each one of the left and right side assemblies 10L and 1OR comprises a base portion 11 and a lifting portion 30 that is upwardly extendable from the base portion. The left and right side assemblies 10L and 1OR may each comprise an electric or hydraulic lifting ram 20 to raise and lower the lifting portion 30 relative to the base portion 11. The lifting ram 20 may for example be controlled by a switch or button (not shown) on the support device, or via an app installed on a mobile phone.

Each base portion 11 may comprise a rear upright frame member 12, a front upright frame member 14, and a base frame member 13 connected to the frame members 12 and 14 at opposing ends of the base frame member 13. The frame members 12, 13 and 14 may each be formed of a tubular member, and the tubular members preferably have a square or rectangular cross section to enable strong and stable joints to be made between them. In this embodiment, lower ends of the frame members 12 and 14 abut against an upper surface of the frame member 13. The frame members 12, 13 and 14 may be formed of aluminium to minimise their weight. Fig. 2 includes arrows designating the up U, down D, left LT, right RT, forward FD and rearward RD directions with respect to the support device.

The rear upright frame member 12 may be fitted with a rail 12r extending along the length of the rear upright frame member, and the front upright frame member 14 may be fitted with a rail 14r extending along the length of the front upright frame member. The rails 12r and 14r allow upward and downward movement of the lifting portion 30 along the rails.

Each base portion 11 may also comprise a stub member 15 for connecting to the connecting portion 50. The stub member 15 may extend perpendicular from the front upright frame member 14 and the base frame member 13, at the front of the support device, and towards the other base portion 11. Each stub member may comprise a hole 15h for receiving a corresponding bolt 58. The connecting portion 50 may comprise a single member 52, and the single member 52 may be formed of aluminium. The single member 52 may connect to the stub members 15 to secure the left and right side assemblies 10L and 1 OR to one another in the working configuration. The single member may comprise an end piece 53 at each end of the single member, and the end pieces may be riveted at the ends of the single member with rivets 54. Each end piece 53 may be sized to fit inside the corresponding stub member 15, and may have a threaded aperture 56 for aligning with the hole 15h and receiving the bolt 58.

The stub members 15 and the connecting member 50 preferably have non-circular cross sections at the connections between them to help resist torsional forces applied between the two stub members 15, improving the rigidity of the support device. In this embodiment the stub members 15 and the end pieces 53 that fit into the stub members may have a square or rectangular cross section.

Each base portion may also comprise two adjustable height feet, one adjustable height foot 40 being aligned with the front upright frame member 14 and the other adjustable height foot 41 being aligned with the rear upright frame member 12. Each adjustable height foot may comprise a footplate 42 connected to the end of a rod 44, and the rod 44 may be retracted into or extended from the corresponding upright member 12 or 14 to help level the support device. The rod 44 may have a screw thread, enabling the rod to be retracted into or extended from a threaded aperture in the base frame member 13 or in the corresponding upright member by rotating the rod 44.

Each lifting portion 30 may comprise a frame defined by an inner member 32, an upper member 33 and front member 34. The inner member 32 may be substantially planar and have an upper edge connected to the upper member 33, and a front side edge connected to the front member 34. The upper member 33 and the front member 34 may also be planar, and an upper edge of the front member 34 may be connected to a front side edge of the upper member 33. The lifting portion 30 may also comprise two threaded rods 35 that are fixed to and extend upwardly from the upper member 33. Preferably, one of the threaded rods 35 is at the rear of the support device and the other threaded rod is at the front of the support device, as shown. The upper member 33 may also comprise an aperture 36 that passes fully through the upper member 33 at the rear of the support device.

Each front member 34 may have a carriage 34c fixed to the front of the front member 34, preferably at the lower half of the front member 34. The carriage 34c runs along the rail 14r connected to the front upright frame member 14, and so provides a slidable connection between the base portion 11 and the lifting portion 30.

Each inner member 32 may have a carriage 32c (see Fig. 2) fixed to the rear of the inner member 32, preferably at the lower half of the inner member 32. The carriage 32c runs along the rail 12r connected to the rear upright frame member 14, and so provides another slidable connection between the base portion 11 and the lifting portion 30.

The electric or hydraulic lifting ram 20 may control the sliding movement of the lifting portion 30 within the base portion 11. The ram 20 may be fixed to the middle of the base frame member 13 and to the middle of the upper member 33. The ram 20 comprises a piston 24 that can be extended or retracted to raise or lower the lifting portion 30 relative to the base portion 11. The ram 20 may also comprise a strut 25 that is connected from a sheath of the piston 24 to the front or rear upright frame member 14 or 12 and that is aligned in the forward or rearward directions, to help keep the piston in the correct position along the front/rear axis.

The seat assembly 60 is shown in Fig. 2, and may comprise a seat panel 62 and a toilet seat 70 that is mounted on the seat panel. The seat panel 62 may be planar and substantially square shaped, and have an aperture 65 around which the toilet seat 70 is fitted. The seat panel 62 may comprise apertures 63 that are sized to receive the threaded rods 35 of the lifting portions. Accordingly, there may be four of the apertures 63, one at each of the corners of the substantially square shaped seat panel 62. The seat assembly 60 also comprises bolts 61 (see Fig. 3) for screwing onto the tops of the threaded rods 35 once the threaded rods have been passed through the apertures 63. The bolts 61 preferably define caps over the tops of the threaded rods 35, and may have rounded or hemispherical tops to prevent them from catching on the user's clothing.

The seat assembly may comprise two tubular arms 66 positioned at left and right sides of the seat assembly respectively. Each tubular arm 66 may be connected to a rear of the seat panel 62 and extend upwardly and forwardly towards a front of the support device. Each tubular arm 66 preferably comprises a tubular member 68 and a handle 67 that is fixed over a frontmost end of the tubular member 68. Each tubular member 68 may have a circular cross-section and is preferably formed of aluminium, and the seat panel 62 may also be formed of aluminium. Each tubular member 68 may be welded into an aperture 64 of the seat panel 62 at the two rearmost corners of the seat panel, and may have an end portion 69 extending through the aperture 64 and protruding beneath the seat panel 62.

When the seat assembly is fitted to the tops of the lifting portions 30, the end portions 69 of the tubular members 68 may locate into the apertures 36 that pass through the upper members 33 of the lifting portion 30. Preferably, the seat assembly 60 has a centre of mass that is nearer to the front of the seat panel 62 than to the rear of the seat panel.

Fig 3. shows the support device when it has been fully assembled into the working configuration, and Fig. 4 shows the support device when the lifting portion 30 has been raised upwardly using the ram 20. As shown, the carriages 32c and 34c have moved upwardly to the tops of the rails 12r and 14r.

In use, the left side assembly 10L, right side assembly 10R, connecting portion 50 and seat assembly 60 may be withdrawn from the storage case 100 separately from one another in the packed configuration, and then assembled together into the working configuration as illustrated through Figs. 1 to 3. Then, the ram 20 may be actuated to raise the lifting portion 30 as shown in Fig. 4, ready for a user to sit upon the toilet seat. Once the user is in position the lifting portion 30 may be slowly moved back down to the position shown in Fig. 3. Then when the user has finished with the toilet, the lifting portion 30 can be raised back up to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the user can move away from the toilet. Once the support device is no longer needed, it may be moved into the packed configuration by disassembling it into its four constituent parts, and stowed away into the storage case 100 again, for use at another time or location.

Many other variations of the described embodiments falling within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, it would be possible to use quick-release levers rather than bolts to fix the four parts of the support device together if desired, or the connecting portion 50 could be permanently attached to one of the left or right side assemblies 10L or lOR with a hinge, allowing the connecting portion 50 to be folded against that side assembly in the packed configuration rather than being separated from it.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A support device for positioning a user relative to a toilet, wherein the support device comprises a seat assembly, a left side assembly, a right side assembly and a connecting portion, wherein each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly comprises a base portion and a lifting portion that is upwardly extendable from the base portion, wherein the support device has a working configuration in which: the seat assembly is connected to the lifting portion of the left side assembly and to the lifting portion of the right side assembly at opposing sides of the seat assembly to one another; and the connecting portion is connected to the left side assembly and to the right side assembly at opposing ends of the connecting portion to one another, the connecting portion being spaced apart from the seat assembly, wherein the support device has a packed configuration in which each of the seat assembly, the left side assembly, the right side assembly and the connecting portion are folded together with one another or disconnected from one another, and wherein the support device is repeatedly movable between the packed configuration and the working configuration.
2. The support device of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is connected to the base portion of the left side assembly and to the base portion of the right side assembly at opposing ends of the connecting portion to one another.
3. The support device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting portion consists of a single member that is configured to connect to the left side assembly and to the right side assembly at opposing ends of the member to one another.
4. The support device of any preceding claim, wherein each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly comprises an upright frame member and an adjustable height foot that is aligned with the upright frame member, the adjustable height foot being at least partially retractable into the upright frame member to adjust the height of the foot.
5. The support device of claim 4, wherein each upright frame member is a front upright frame member, wherein each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly comprises a rear upright frame member and a base frame member having opposing ends connected to the front upright frame member and the rear upright frame member, wherein the front upright frame member, base frame member and rear upright frame member define the base portion, and the lifting portion is slidably connected to the front upright frame member and the rear upright frame member.
6. The support device of claim 5, wherein each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly comprises another adjustable height foot that is aligned with the rear upright frame member, the another adjustable height foot being at least partially retractable into the rear upright frame member to adjust the height of the foot.
7. The support device of any preceding claim, wherein each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly comprises a lifting ram, wherein the lifting portion of each one of the left side assembly and the right side assembly comprises a frame having an upper member extending from a rear to a front of the lifting portion, and wherein the lifting ram is connected to the upper member midway along the upper member.
8. The support device of claim 7 when dependent on claims 5 or 6, wherein the lifting ram is connected to the base frame member midway along the base frame member.
9. The support device of any preceding claim, wherein the seat assembly comprises a seat panel and a toilet seat that is mounted on the seat panel.
10. The support device of claim 9, wherein each lifting portion comprises a threaded rod extending upwardly from the lifting portion, wherein the seat panel comprises apertures configured to receive the threaded rods, and the seat assembly comprises nuts for screwing onto the threaded rods once the threaded rods have been passed through the apertures.
11. The support device of claim 9 or 10, wherein the seat assembly comprises two tubular arms positioned at left and right sides of the seat assembly respectively, wherein each tubular arm is connected to a rear of the seat panel, extends forwardly towards a front of the seat panel and terminates with a handle.
12. The support device of claim 11, wherein the seat assembly has a centre of mass that is nearer to the front of the seat panel than to the rear of the seat panel.
13. The support device of claim 11 or 12, wherein each tubular arm extends through the seat panel at the rear of the seat panel and locates into a hole in the lifting portion in the working configuration.
14. The support device of any preceding claim, wherein the support device is greater than 50% aluminium by weight.
15. An apparatus comprising the support device of any preceding claim and a storage case that is configured to store the support device inside the storage case in the packed configuration.