Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a swivel open
bottom seat assembly for invalids and for use in conjunc-
tion with a facility, such as a toilet.
(b) Description of Prior Art
Handicapped people all have encountered many
difficulties in using facilities, and p~rticularly
invalids who are demembered or who have to use a wheel-
chair to displace themselves. In particular, they
experience great difficulty and require assistance from
another person when using a facility such as a toilet,
bathtub, shower, etc. Very few devices have been hereto-
fore provided to help such handicapped people. Often, in
bathrooms, the only device which is provided is a handle-
bar secured to a wall close to the facility so that
certain persons can support themselves by using their
arms. However, if such person cannot use his arms, he
cannot utilize the facility on his own.
SVMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to
provlde a swivel open bottom seat assembly for invalids
which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned dis-
advantages.
According to a further feature of the present
invention, there is provided a swivel open bottom seat
assembly for invalids and wherein the invalid can
position himself on the seat assembly at an embarking
posltion away from a facillty and then displace the seat
to a position of use over the facility.
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Another feature of the present invention is
to provide a swivel open bottom seat assembly for invalids
which is easy to use, easy to install, which is safe
to use and secure, which is adjustable and adaptable
to various types of facilities and which requires little
repair and service.
According to the above features, from a broad
aspect, the present invention provides a swivel open
bottom seat assembly for invalids. The assembly comprises
a cylinder of circular cross-section having an attachment
base for securement to a floor adjacent to a facility.
A pivot rod is disposed concentrically in the cylinder
for axial rotation therewith. One or more spacer sleeves
are provided intermediate the pivot rod and an inner
wall of ~he cylinder to provide for axial rotation of
the pivot rod in the cylinder. An open bottom seat is
provi.ded havlng a connecting arm extending therefrom
and connected to the pivot rod to provide for the seat
to be displaced on an arc relative to a central vertical
axis of the rod to position the seat from an embarking
position to a position of use. An annular support bushing
is disposed about an open top end of the cylinder. The
connecting arm is seculed to a top end of the pivot rod
and has a seating annular flange at the top end of the
pivot rod for seating engagement on a low friction annular
top wall of the support bushing.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the examples
thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a swivel open
bottom seat assembly which is secured adjacent a toileti
FIGURE 2 is a top view of Figure 1 illustrating
the open bottom seat dlsposed at an embarking position;
FIGURE 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but
showing the open bottom seat in a position of use over a
toilet bowl;
FIGURE 4 is a partly fragmented section view
showing the construction of the pivot post;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmented section view similar
to Figure 4 with the cylinder housing and pivot post
partly fragmented;
FIGURE 6 is a top view of the annular support
bushing;
FIGURE 7 lS a fragmented perspective view
illustrating the operation of the adjustable locking
:~ device;~
:~ FIGURE 8 is a top vlew of the seat support
. .
frame attached to the connecting arm of the pivot post;
FIGURE 9 is a side view of the attachment
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securlng the connecting arm to the seat support frame;
FIGURE 10 is a top view illustrating t~le
: relationship between the pivot post and the attachment
: base;
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FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of an adjust-
able side arm associated with the seat;
FIGURE 12 is a fragmented section view illus-
trating the principle of the adjustment mechanism for the
arm;
FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of another
example of the construction of a swivel toilet seat
assembly;
FIGURE 14 is a section view of the swivel
toilet seat assembly of Figure 13;
FIGURE 15 is a plan view showing the construc-
tion of the toilet seat support frame;
FIGURE 16 is a plan view showing the construc-
tion of the swivel toilet seat;
FIGURE 17 is a fragmented section view showing
the interconnection between the toilet seat support frame
and the toilet seat showing the construction of the
flange connector;
FIGURE 18 is a perspective view showing another
type of flange connector; and
FIGURE 19 is a fragmented section vlew showing
the construction of the seat arresting mechanism.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
~ Referring now to the drawings and more parti-
cularly to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown generally at
10, a swlvel open bottom seat assembly constructed in
accordance with the invention and for use by invalids -to
posi.tion themselves over a facility, herein a toilet Ii.
As herein shown, the assembly comprises a toilet seat 12
secured to a support frame 13 which is itself supported
elevated over the toilet bowl 14 by a pivot post 15. The
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pivot post is secured to a floor by an attachment flange
16 having fasteners 17 secured in each corner thereof.
The support frame 13 is interconnected to a pivot member
18 or shaft through a connecting arm 19. The pivot
member 18 is pivotally rotatable with respect to a
central vertical axis extending centrally of the pivot
post lS whereby to permit the seat to be displaced from
an embarking position 20 as shown in Figure 2, to a
position of use 21, as shown in Figure 3.
Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, there will be
described the construction of the pivot post. As herein
shown, the pivot member 18 is constituted by a steel tube
or a pivot rod which is of circular cross-section and
disposed within the piston post which is a hollow, open-
top end cylinder. The cylinder is also of circular
cross-section. One or more spacer sleeves 22 are posi-
tioned intermediate the pivot post and the inner wall 15'
of the cylinder 15 to provide support and axial rotation
of the pivot post 18 in the cylinder. A spacer disc 23
lS disposed in close fit with the cylinder at the bottom
thereof and rests on the connecting flange 16.
An annular support bushing 24 is disposed about
~the open top end 25 of the cylinder lS. As can be seen,
the connecting arm 19 is provided with a seating annular
flange at its connecting point wlth the pivot rod 18.
The connecting flange has a flat bottom face resting on
the flat annular shoulder 27 of the arm support bushing
24 for seating thereon. The bushing 24 is constructed of
nylon to offer very little frictional resistance with the
annular flange 26.
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The support bushing 24 is further provided with
a sleeve section 28, as best seen in Figure 5, which
extends in close fit into a top end portion of the
cylinder 15. The sleeve section 28 is provided with
adjustable means, constituted by at least two series of
axially aligned spaced-apart holes 29 disposed in the
sleeve section and in substantially opposed wall portions
of the bushing. These series of holes 29 permit the
bushing to be secured to the top end portion of the
cylinder, at a desired adjustable height from the top end
25 of the pivot post. This is done by connecting pins 30
which extend through a plurality of holes 31 associated
with each series of holes 29. Accordingly, if the
support frame 13 of the toilet seat 12 is to be disposed
slightly higher, then the support bushing 24 is moved up
in the top end of the cylinder. Still further, in order
to support the pivot rod 18, one or more spacer discs 32
are seated over the bottom disc 23 and on which rests the
pivot rod 18. Accordingly, there is no strain on the arm
support bushing 24 to subject it to unnecessary wear.
The spacer discs 32 have a -thickness c~orresponding to the
distance between adjacent holes 29.
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As shown in Figure 6, the arm support bushing
24 is further provided with a series of spaced-apart
arresting holes 33 disposed in a spaced-apart manner
about the periphery of the top wall 27' of the bushing.
~ ~ These holes are best illustrated in Figure 7.
;~ ~eferring now additionally to Figure 7, there
will be described the constructlon of the adjustable lock
means to lock the connecting arm 19 at any desired posi-
tion, be it the embarking position 20 as shown in Figure
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2, or the position of use 21 or any other position on the
swivel arc 34 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The adjust-
able lock means is provided between the seating annular
flange 26 and the annular support bushing 24. The
adjustable lock means also includes an arresting pin 35
which is removably positioned in aligned ones of the
holes 33. The arresting pin is secured to a spring latch
mechanism 36 which biases the arresting pin 35 downwardly
through a guide hole 37 in the seating annular flange 26
towards a top end of the holes 33 in the bushing 24. A
spring latch 38 disables the latch mechanism 36 to main~
tain the arresting pin 35 out of the holes 33 thereby
unlocking the connecting arm l9 permitting the seat
assembly to swivel. A leaf spring 39 biases the latch
cover in the position as shown in Figure 7 pushing the
latch cover upwardly on its pivot connection 41 until the
arresting pin 35 seats at the bottom of the holes 33. By
pressing on the front end portion 42 of the latch cover
40, the spring latch 38 is moved outwardly in the direc-
tion of arrow 43 and its prong end 44 moves over the
front end of the latch cover 40 when positioned thereover
to arrest the cover at a tilted angle as illustrated by
the;tllt line 45 to maintain the arresting pin 35 out of
the holes 33 but still within the guide hole 37. A
spring 46 biases the spring latch member 35 in an
engaged position. In order to re-engage the arresting
pin, all that is necessary to do is to pull back on the
top end 38' of the spring latch, in the direction Or
arrow 43, and the arresting pin is then biased downwardly
towards the holes 33. If the pin is not in line with a
hole, all that is necessary to do is to displace the seat
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slightly until the pin moves into a hole. As herein shown,
holes are positioned every tenth degree about the bushing 24.
Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there is
shown the construction of the seat support frame 13,
and as herein shown, it is formed from steel stock of
rectangular cross-section and formed as a hexagon. The
connecting arm 19 can be connected to any one of the
; legs 47 of the hexagon. This connection can be made
by a clamp 49, as shown in Figure 9, and which is secured
at the free end of the connecting arm 19. The clamp
is provided with opposed shoe members 5~ interconnected
by bolts 51. The shoes 50 receive therein one of the
legs 47 of the support frame and can be clamped at any
location along any of the legs 47 of the hexagon frame.
Thus, there is provided infinite adjustment to adapt
a seat to any utility or for any use. The support frame
and also the seat is adjusted angularly with respect
to the connecting arm 19 and is also adjustable in elevation
with resect to the top end of the support cylinder 15.
The seat clea~s the top part of the clamp by the use
of spacers usually secured under such seats.
As shown in Flgure 10, the cylinder 15 is
; also secured in an offset positlon with respect to the
; attachment base 16. The purpose of this is to locate
~ the post as close as possible, when necessary, to a
- facility.
Referring again to Figure 1 and Figures 11
and 12, it can be seen that the seat assembly is also
.
provided with armrests 52. These armrests 52 are also
adjustable in height and may be lowered to a position
which extends at or below the top surface 12' of the
seat 12.
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As shown in Figure 11, the armsrest is provided with
a support post 53 having a plurality of axially aligned
through holes 54 therein. An armrest flange 55 is provided
in a top end thereof on which is secured a padded armrest
52' as shown in Figure 1. The support post 53 is slidingly
secured in a channel 56 provided at a free end of a support
flange 57 extendlng from the seat support frame 13, as
shown in Figure 12. A securing latch mechanism 58, cons-
tructed, as shown in Figure 7, may also be provided at
the free end of the support frame 57 to move a lock pin
59 in and out of engagement with the holes 54. By pushing
one end of the latch cover 60, in a similar manner to
the latch described in Figure 7, the pin can be permanently
disengaged to lower the arm completely.
Referring now to Figures 13 to 17, there will
be described another construction of a swivel toilet seat
assembly. The swivel toilet seat assembly 75 is com-
prised of a toilet seat support frame 76 having attach-
ment means 77 (see Figure 15) to secure the frame over an
open top end 78 of a toilet bowl 79. Bearing support
means, in the form of roller bearings 80, are disposed on
a circular arc in a top wall 81 ~see Figure 17) of the
support frame. A toilet seat 82 lS displaceably con-
nected over the support frame 76 and has a flat planar
bottom surface 83 disposed over the bearings 80 whereby
the toilet seat can rotate over the support frame. It is
pointed out that the bottom surface of the toilet seat
may not be totally flat as long as there is a flat wall
adjacent the bearing 80.
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The toilet seat 82 is displaceably connected to
the support frame 76 by means of a flange connector 84
which is secured under the toilet seat 82. As more
clearly shown in Figure 17, the flange connector 84 has a
connecting flange 85 engaged under a projecting friction
flange 86 of the frame 76. The arcuate connecting flange
85 is disposed under and closely spaced to the projecting
arcuate flange 86 and need not be in friction contact
therewith. The frame and the seat also have an open
front end! as is customary with toile-t seats. The flange
also has a connecting flange portion 87 with holes
therein whereby fasteners 88 may connect it to the seat
82. A nylon strip or a plurality of nylon pads 89 may be
secured on a rear surface of the connecting flange 85 for
smoother swivelling.
Figure 18 shows another alternative embodiment
of the connector. As herein shown, a plurality of con-
nector clamps 90 may be secured spaced-apart under the
seat 82 to connect the seat to the support frame 76. The
connector 90 may also be provided with a nylon friction-
less bushing 91 to remove friction. This connector would
be secured in the same manner as the other connector and
as illustrated in Figure 17.
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In order to arrest the seat 82 on the station-
ary support frame 76, and at a desired position, there is
provided a plurality of holes 95 dlsposed to each side of
the support frame 76 and equidistantly spaced-apart at
about 10 from the center point of rotation. A lock
member 96 is also provided in the seat 82 and aligned
with the arc on which lie the holes 95. This lock con-
sists of a downwardly biased lock pin 97 which has a
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retractable head 98 engageable by the fingers whereby to
move the locking end 99 of the pin out of engagement with
one of the holes 95. A spring 100 biases the lock pin 97
downwardly. The spring 100 is located in compression
between a flange 101 secured to the pin and the bottom
end of a spring housing 102. By pulling upwardly in the
direction of arrow 103, the pin moves out of the locking
holes 95 and the seat is free to rotate on the support
frame. If desired, a suitable latch member could be
engaged with the head 98 of the lock pin to retain it in
a disengaged position. The advantages of this lock
mechanism are many. For example, if an invalid having no
legs wishes to position himself on the seat, he firstly
rotates the seat, as shown by arrow 75' in Figure 13,
wlth the opening of the seat facing the toilet bowl 79'.
He then embarks onto the seat facing the toilet bowl and
rotates himself around to face outwardly and then locks
the seat in position. Armrests lOS are also provided on
both sides of the seat and are located in armrest
cavities 106 as shown in Figure 16. They may also be
adjustable, as previously described, with references to
Figures ll and 12. In order to disembark, the invalid
then rotates the seat again facing the toilet bowl and
locks the seat. By supporting h~mself on the armrest, he
pushes himself off the seat and onto his wheelchair which
has been positioned in front of the toilet with the
wheels locked in position.
There are numerous other advantages not
described herein but which become readily obvious to
people skilled in the art and understandable of the
problems that invalids face when using various types of
facilities. For example, the posts and the swivel seat
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may be positioned adjacent a bathtub under a shower head.
By swivelling the seat immediately over the bathtub and
under the shower head, the invalid can take a shower
without the assistance of anyone. He can thereafter
swivel himself back onto his wheelchair or other device
which he uses for assistance.
It is within the ambit of the present invention
to cover any obvious modifications, provided such modifi-
cations fall within the scope of the appended claims.
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