Transfer platform assembly for a lavatory seat

Abstract

A transfer platform assembly for use as an aid for a handicapped person to move from the seat of a, preferably mobile and wheeled, seating device to a lavatory seat is pivotally secured or securable to toilet bowl of a lavatory and to a lavatory seat. The assembly has an elevator platform and a transfer platform pivotally connected to the elevator platform. The elevator platform may be extended into an elevated platform configuration and the transfer platform raised into an upright position to place the assembly in a functional configuration in which the transfer platform extends substantially horizontally from the lavatory seat to the seat of the seating device and is supported thereby to provide a supporting surface for the person to slide therebetween. A notch is formed in the transfer platform to receive, when the assembly is in the functional configuration, a wheel of the seating device.

1 . A transfer platform assembly for passage between a device seat of a seating device and an upper seat surface of a lavatory seat of a lavatory, the lavatory having a rear portion extending adjacently from a bowl rim defining a bowl aperture thereof and the lavatory seat being sized and shaped for abuttingly overlaying the top bowl rim with a seat aperture of the lavatory seat aligned with the lavatory aperture and with an outer seat edge of the lavatory seat substantially aligned with an outer rim edge of the bowl rim, the assembly comprising:
 an elevator platform connectable to the lavatory seat and to the bowl rim with the elevator platform overlaying the bowl rim and the lavatory seat overlaying the elevator platform; and   a transfer platform connected to the elevating device, the transfer platform and the elevator platform being movable into a functional configuration in which said transfer platform extends in an upright position therefor in substantially horizontal extension from the outer seat edge and vertical alignment with the upper seat surface and in which said elevator platform is extended into an elevated platform configuration in which said transfer platform in said upright position lies across the device seat and is supported thereby for enabling passage thereon of a person between the lavatory seat and the seating device.   
     
     
         2 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said transfer platform assembly further comprises at least one registration notch disposed on said transfer platform and adjacent the lavatory seat when said transfer platform is in said upright position, a wheel of the seating device being positively receivable in said registration notch for registration therewith when said assembly is in said functional configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said registration notch is provided in an outer plate edge of the transfer platform adjacent the lavatory seat. 
     
     
         4 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said transfer platform is pivotally connected to said elevator platform by a platform hinging arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the transfer platform is pivotal about the platform hinging arrangement between said upright functional position and a stowed position therefor. 
     
     
         6 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the transfer platform, when in said stowed position, depends generally downwardly from said elevator platform. 
     
     
         7 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a guideway disposed circumferentially on said elevator platform and in which said platform hinging arrangement is movably mounted, said guideway providing a track for movement of said platform hinging arrangement, and thereby said transfer platform, to a desired location on said elevating platform relative the lavatory seat. 
     
     
         8 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 1 , where said elevator platform, and thereby said transfer platform, is selectively extendable and retractable between said elevated platform configuration and a lower retracted platform configuration in which said elevator platform, and thereby said transfer platform, is disposed generally lower than said device seat when said elevator platform overlays the bowl rim. 
     
     
         9 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a controller connected to said elevator platform, said controller controlling extension and retraction of said elevator platform between, respectively said elevated platform configuration and said retracted platform configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said elevator platform comprises first and second plates and at least one elevating cylinder movably connecting said first and second plates and extending therebetween, said first plate being pivotally connectable to and overlaying the bowl rim and said lavatory seat being pivotally connectable to and overlaying said second plate, said transfer platform being pivotally connected to said second plate, said at least one elevating cylinder selectively extending said second plate away from said first plate to extend said elevator platform into said into an elevated platform configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second plates each have a respective plate aperture, each said respective plate aperture aligning with the bowl aperture when said first plate overlays the bowl rim and said respective plate aperture of said second plate being aligned with said seat aperture when said seat overlays said second plate. 
     
     
         12 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said transfer platform is pivotally connected by a platform hinging arrangement to a plate bottom surface of said second plate in proximity to a respective outer plate edge thereof, said respective outer plate edge extending generally parallel and proximal the outer seat edge and generally recessed relative thereto when said lavatory seat overlays said second plate. 
     
     
         13 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one elevating cylinder is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one elevating cylinder comprises a rear elevating cylinder and two front elevating cylinders, said rear elevating cylinder connecting respective plate rear portions of said first and second plates and said front elevating cylinders connecting respective front portions of said first and second plates, said rear elevating cylinder being disposed substantially equidistant each said front elevating cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said platform hinging arrangement comprises first and second platform hinge connectors disposed substantially parallel one another and hingeably and pivotally connecting said transfer platform, on a transfer platform bottom surface thereof, to said plate bottom surface. 
     
     
         16 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each said platform hinge connector comprises a respective longitudinal hinge member connected to said plate bottom surface, a respective hinge bracket connected on an upper bracket portion thereof to said platform bottom surface, and a platform hinge pivotally connecting a lower bracket portion of said respective hinge bracket to said respective longitudinal hinge member, said lower bracket portion extending beneath said upper bracket portion. 
     
     
         17 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising, on said first platform hinge connector, a first hook disposed adjacent said platform hinge and, on said lower bracket portion, a hook member pivotally mounted thereon and having a second hook disposed on a hooked end thereof proximal said platform hinge, a spring connecting a distal spring end of the hook member to the upper bracket portion and biasing said distal spring end theretoward, and a handle, said first and second hooks being configured for mating engagement with each other when said transfer platform is in said upright position, said hooks being releasable from one another by exertion of an upwardly directed force with said handle to release said hooks. 
     
     
         18 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a controller connected to each hydraulic cylinder and adjacently attached to said first plate, said controller controlling extension and retraction of said elevator platform respectively between said elevated platform configuration and said retracted platform configuration, by controlling extension and retraction of said at least one cylinder between an extended cylinder position, corresponding to said elevated platform configuration, and a retracted cylinder position, corresponding to an retracted cylinder position. 
     
     
         19 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said controller comprises a lever pivotally mounted thereon and extending alongside said first plate, said lever being movable between an upper first position, for extending the elevator platform into said extended platform configuration, and a lower second position, for retracting said elevator platform into said retracted platform configuration to respectively raise and lower said transfer platform between said raised position and said lowered position. 
     
     
         20 . The transfer platform assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said controller further comprises a slidable locking member, said slidable locking member being slidably movable from an locked position, in which said locking member extends transversally across said lever and prevents pivotal movement thereof between said first and said second positions, and an unlocked position, in which said locking member is spaced apart from said lever, said lever being thereby freely movable between said first and second positions.