Portable lift

Abstract

A personal assisting device that helps a person return to the standing position after they have been seated on a toilet. The assisting device is adapted for attachment to almost any toilet. The toilet's seat is removed, the assisting device is slid around the toilet's bowl, and the seat is re-attached to the device. A control switch is provided that allows the user to move the device's flexible chair frame from the seated position to the raised position. When the flexible chair frame is in the raised position, the user is assisted to the standing position. Two electric motors are used to move the device between the seated and raised positions, in the preferred embodiment.

1 . An assisting device that is adapted for attachment to a toilet, wherein the device is able to assist a person seated on the toilet to a standing position, the assisting device comprising: 
 a stationary base, the stationary base having a top and a bottom, and wherein the top of the base has a front portion and a back portion;    a flexible chair frame that is able to flex between a seated position and a raised position, the flexible chair frame comprising a leg section, a seat section, and a backrest section, wherein a bottom of the leg section is attached the front portion of the base, a top of the leg section is rotate-ably attached to a front of the seat section, and a back of the seat section is rotate-ably attached to a bottom of the backrest section; and,    a lifting mechanism that is able to move the chair frame between the seated and raised positions, the lifting mechanism comprising a nut, a screw, an electric motor capable of turning the screw, a control switch that controls operation of the electric motor and a power cord that is adapted for plugging into an electrical outlet, wherein the nut is permanently attached to the backrest section of the chair frame, the electric motor is attached to the back portion of the stationary base and the screw extends from the electric motor through the nut.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting mechanism includes a second electric motor, a second screw and a second nut, and wherein the second nut is permanently attached to the backrest section of the chair frame, the second electric motor is attached to the back portion of the stationary base and the second screw extends from the second electric motor through the second nut, and further wherein the control switch also controls operation of the second electric motor.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible chair frame further comprises an arm rest section that is rotate-ably attached to the flexible chair frame and wherein the control switch is located on the arm rest section.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control switch includes a first position that causes the flexible chair frame to move to the seated position and a second position that causes the flexible chair frame to move to the raised position, and wherein the person seated on the toilet is at least partially assisted to the standing position when the flexible chair frame is in the raised position.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary base has a general “U” shape that allows the base to be slid around a bottom of the toilet so that the flexible chair frame surrounds a bowl of the toilet.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary base includes a foot rest that is attached to and extends from the front portion of the base.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary base includes adjustable footings that allow a level of the base to be adjusted.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the leg section includes two vertical support legs.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the seat section includes three horizontal support bars.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the backrest section includes an up-side-down “U” shaped support member and a backrest cushion.