Mobility aid for use with toilet bowl fixture

Abstract

A mobility aid for use in conjunction with a toilet bowl fixture includes first and second side frames, each side frame having front and rear legs and a rail connecting upper ends of the front and rear legs, and a transverse member having first and second opposite ends. When the lower ends of the legs rest on the floor of the water closet, the transverse member is substantially horizontal and is above the upper surface of the toilet bowl. The transverse member is pivotally attached at its first end to the rear leg of the first side frame and is pivotally attached at its second end to the rear leg of the second side frame, whereby the first and second side frames are pivotable relative to the transverse member between an unfolded disposition, in which the side frames are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the transverse member, and a folded disposition, in which the side frames are substantially parallel to each other and to the transverse member.

1 . A mobility aid for use in conjunction with a toilet bowl fixture disposed in a water closet and including a bowl having an upper surface at a height h relative to a horizontal floor of the water closet, the mobility aid comprising: 
 first and second side frames, each side frame having front and rear legs and a rail connecting upper ends of the front and rear legs, and    a transverse member having first and second opposite ends, the transverse member being at a location relative to the lower ends of the rear legs such that when the lower ends of the legs rest on the floor of the water closet, the transverse member is substantially horizontal and is at a height greater than h above the floor,    and wherein the transverse member is pivotally attached at its first end to the rear leg of the first side frame and is pivotally attached at its second end to the rear leg of the second side frame, whereby the first and second side frames are pivotable relative to the transverse member between an unfolded disposition, in which the side frames are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the transverse member, and a folded disposition, in which the side frames are substantially parallel to each other and to the transverse member.    
   
   
       2 . A mobility aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear leg of each frame is circular in cross section and the transverse member includes first and second parallel tubes, at the first and second ends respectively of the transverse member, threaded by the rear legs of the first and second side frames respectively.  
   
   
       3 . A mobility aid according to  claim 2 , including a mechanism at each end of the transverse member to restrain the respective tubes against longitudinal movemement relative to the respective rear legs and to limit rotational movement of the respective tubes relative to the respective rear legs.  
   
   
       4 . A mobility aid according to  claim 2 , including first and second releasable mechanisms, at the first and second ends respectively of the transverse member, for holding the first and second side frames respectively each at a selected orientation relative to the transverse member.  
   
   
       5 . A mobility aid according to  claim 1 , wherein each leg includes an upper segment and a lower segment in telescoping engagement with the upper segment.  
   
   
       6 . A mobility aid according to  claim 5 , wherein each leg includes a releasable mechanism for holding the lower segment at a selected longitudinal position relative to the upper segment.  
   
   
       7 . A mobility aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the rail of each side frame includes a first portion that has first and second opposite ends and is concave downward, the first end of the first portion being substantially aligned with the rear leg of the frame, a second portion that has first and second opposite ends and is concave upward, the first end of the second portion being substantially aligned with the second end of the first portion, and a third portion that has first and second opposite ends and is concave downward, the first end of the third portion being substantially aligned with the second end of the second portion and the second end of the third portion being substantially aligned with the front leg of the frame.  
   
   
       8 . A mobility aid according to  claim 7 , wherein the third portion is of smaller radius of curvature than the first portion and the second portion.  
   
   
       9 . A mobility aid according to  claim 1 , comprising friction pads attached to the lower ends of the legs for resting on the floor.  
   
   
       10 . A retainer mechanism for a bolt having a threaded part and a non-circular head, the retainer mechanism comprising a cylindrical block formed with a passage including a cylindrical portion for receiving the threaded part of the bolt and a non-circular part for receiving the head of the bolt, and a compression spring for engaging the head of bolt and urging the threaded part of the bolt to project from the block through the cylindrical portion of the passage.