Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to invalid aids and more particularly to an aid for helping invalids onto a commode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Previous workers in the field have considered a similar problem. Drury, U.S. Pat. No. 3,209,376, provided an elevated toilet seat having handholds. However, Drury did not provide for raising and lowering this seat.
Parsons, U.S. Pat. No. 3,209,375, had a seat which enabled a person to recline, however, it required the use of a special commode bowl.
Considerable work has been done on the problem of invalids entering and leaving a bath tub.
Daniels, U.S. Pat. No. 3,078,473, discloses a hoist for the purpose of helping invalids in and out of bath tubs, in which case, he uses a conventional toilet seat. Because of the likelihood of electrocution, Daniels uses a fluid hoist.
Whitaker, U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,660, uses an electrical hoist with a swing seat for entering and leaving a bath tub.
Applicant was aware of the following U.S. Pat Nos. at the time of preparation of this application:
Brown--2,562,598
Sarff--3,271,791
Eaton--3,349,411
Daniels--3,381,317
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. New and Different Function
Applicant has provided a lift with a seat for use at regular height and immediately above the bowl of the commode. the lift moves the seat to a convenient elevation of about 30 inches for the invalid to get on and off the seat. It is particularly adapted to be used with conventional, standard bowls as found in most homes. Therefore, there is no necessity for buying special plumbing fixtures. Furthermore, although a device according to this invention is bolted to the bowl of the commode when in use, it is still portable inasmuch as it may be quickly removed from one bowl and moved to another location; thereby, it does not become a permanent investment by the user.
2. Objects of the Invention
An object of this invention is to furnish an invalid with an aid which is to be attached to a commode.
Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, adjust, operate, and maintain.
Other objects are to achieve the above with a method that is versatile, rapid, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not require skilled people to install, adjust, operate, and maintain.
The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objets, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of this invention attached to a commode with parts broken away for clarity of illustration, showing the seat in an intermediate position between up and down.
FIG. 2 is a top sectional view taken substantially on lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the aid only (the bowl not shown) with parts broken away for clarity, showing the seat down.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing the aid only, with parts broken away for clarity and showing the seat in the up position.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken substantially on line 4--4 of FIG. 2 of the aid only with parts broken away for clarity and the carriage being shown in the full upper position.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the posts showing details of the rack and pinion and carriage.
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the aid only and is foreshortened for clarity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring more particularly to the drawing, there may be seen that this device is adapted to be used with the standard commode. Standard commodes are built to rest upon the floor 10. Conventionally, the commode will include bowl 12 and tank 14. For the purposes of attaching a toilet seat over the bowl, the conventional bowl has two holes 16 in the back of the commode bowl.
The aid includes two posts 18 and 20 connected by plate 22. The plate 22 has two holes 24 which match the holes 16 at the back of the bowl. Therefore, the aid may be positioned over a bowl and secured thereto by bolts 26 extending through the holes 24 and the holes 16.
Rollers 28 are at the bottom of the posts 18 and 20 and extend to the rear thereof. These rollers provide easy movement of the aid from one location to another. They are more important for demonstrator models than they are for models in actual usage inasmuch as models in actual use would not often be moved from one location to another.
Foot 30 is constructed of triangular tubular material. One vertical leg 32 of the foot is attached as by bolting to the front of each post and horizontal leg 34 extends forward or along the bowl. Therefore, the foot 30 braces the posts and keeps them in a secure position. The posts may be leveled by threaded leveling pad 36 as is conventional with articles of furniture or applicances. Levelling pads are also contained at the bottom of each post 18 and 20, although they are not shown in the drawing. It will be understood that most commodes have an open bowl, the top of which is a standard height of 15 inches above the floor and the position of the bolt holes 16 are standard so the toilet seats are readily interchangeable on any standard commode. However, there are slight variations in setting them, making it desirable to have it possible to adjust the height of the plate 22 slightly so it readily fits on any installation. It will be understood, however, that the aid does not rest upon the bowl and the plate 22 may contact the bowl, but the weight of the device is not supported by the bowl. The bolts 26 are to position the aid on the bowl and the aid is supported by the posts 18 and 20.
Horizontal rotatable shaft 38 is mounted in bearings or pillow blocks 40. The bearings or pillow blocks 40 are attached on the outside of the posts 18 and 20. The shaft 38 is at an elevation slightly above the plate 22.
Reversible electric motor 42 is attached by a suitable bracket to the post 20. Through a suitable gear reducer, the motor has an output shaft to which is attached a sprocket (FIG. 2). Chain 44 drives a sprocket mounted upon the shaft 38. Therefore, activation of the electric motor 42 will rotate the shaft in either direction, according to the direction it is driven.
The shaft 38 has pinions 46 mounted on each end within the posts 18 and 20, which are hollow (FIG. 5). Rack 48 is telescoped within each post. Each rack has roller 50 attached thereto at the top and a similar roller attached thereto at the bottom. These rollers roll within a track formed by front portion 52 of the post and plate 54 attached to the inner surface of the outside portion of the post.
The two are connected together by back bar 56. The back bar is rigidly attached to each of the racks. The back bar includes U-shaped support 58 rigidly attached thereto and, also, shield 60 attached thereto. The shield as illustrated is perforated metal. Slot 62 extends the full length of each of the posts 18 and 20. The back bar 56 runs in the slots 62. Toilet seat 64 is hinged by piano hinge 66 to the back of the U-shaped support 58. The toilet seat is supported by metal reinforcing plate 68. The racks, back bar, seat and shield for the carriage assembly.
Therefore, it may be seen that the electric motor can be actuated in an up direction so that it rotates the shaft 38 in an up direction, causing the pinions 46 to drive the rack 48 up, thereby, elevating the back bar 56 and the seat 64. Likewise, if the seat is in the up position, the electric motor 42 can be activated to run in reverse or down direction, thereby, lowering the seat 64 to a lowered position. As previously stated, the lowered position will be approximately 15 inches above the floor 10. The raised position will be approximately 30 inches above the floor 10. The up position is a convenient height for the average size adult to use.
To aid in getting on and off the seat 64, two handles 70 are provided. The handles are attached to ears 72 mounted upon the U-shaped support 58. The handles are tubular and contain electrical cables 74 which contain the controls which extend to switches 76 at the end of the handles, which are conveniently rubber covered as shown at 78. Conveniently, the switch in one handle can be an up switch and the switch in the other handle can be a down switch so they are easily activated by a person also manipulating crutches, wheel chairs or the like.
Upper limit switch 80 is mounted within the top of the post 20 so that when the racks reach their upper position, the switch 80 is activated by the top of the rack 48. Lower limit switch 82 is attached to the plate 22 to be actuated by the back bar 56 so that when the unit is in the full lower position, the switch 82 is activated. The details of the wiring would be standard and would be within the skill of ordinary electricians; therefore, they have not been shown in detail here. As stated before, the switch in one handle will cause the carriage to move up and pressing the switch in the other handle would cause the carriage to move down, and the stop at top and bottom would deactivate the motor when either was reached. It will be understood that the down limit switch 82 prevents the motor from moving the carriage down further, but it does not deactivate the motor from moving the carriage upward when the up switch 76 is pressed. The up limit switch 80 deactivates the motor from moving the carriage upward, but it does not prevent downward movement. The invalid may stop the carriage at any height by not pressing either switch.
Therefore, I have provided a convenient aid which is readily removable for movement from one location to the other.
The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims. The restrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.