Support apparatus

Abstract

A support apparatus for use with an appliance, the apparatus having a substantially rigid support member adapted to be engaged by a human being for access to the appliance; an assembly mounting the support member on the appliance for movement through a range of positions between a primary position and a secondary position elevated from the primary position; and a mechanism for moving the support member between the primary position and the secondary position to move the human being engaged therewith between the primary position and the secondary position.

1 . A support apparatus for use with an appliance, the support apparatus comprising a substantially rigid support member adapted to be engaged by a work object; means mounting the support member on the appliance for movement through a range of positions between a primary position and a secondary position elevated from the primary position; and means for moving said support member between the primary position and the secondary position to move said work object engaged therewith between the primary position and the secondary position. 
   
   
       2 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said mounting means is adapted to be mounted on said appliance for use and, alternatively, removed from said appliance when desired. 
   
   
       3 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said mounting means is adapted individually to be mounted on appliances of a variety of different forms. 
   
   
       4 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said work object is a human being, said appliance is a toilet and in which the support member is adapted to be engaged by said human being for movement between the primary position and the secondary position. 
   
   
       5 . The support apparatus of  claim 4  in which the toilet has a predetermined front portion and wherein said support member is pivotally mounted in a position adjacent to said front portion of the toilet for substantially pivotal movement between said primary position, disposed in substantially horizontal relation on the toilet, and said secondary position, disposed at an angle elevated from the primary position. 
   
   
       6 . The support apparatus of  claim 5  having a frame and wherein said moving means includes a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the frame and the support member remote from said position of pivotal movement and said hydraulic cylinder is contractible, to move the support member toward the primary position, and expandable, to move the support member toward the secondary position. 
   
   
       7 . The support apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the frame, support member and hydraulic cylinder are adapted for mounting on a toilet of a plurality of different configurations. 
   
   
       8 . The support apparatus of  claim 7  in which the toilet has a predetermined back portion and wherein said frame is adapted to be mounted on said back portion and, two hydraulic cylinders are mounted on the frame on proximal end portions on opposite sides of the toilet and are mounted on the support member on distal end portions spaced from the front portion of the toilet. 
   
   
       9 . A support apparatus for mounting on a fixture, such as a toilet or the like, to assist a human being in moving to and from a standing attitude and a seated attitude relative to said fixture, the fixture having a housing with a base portion and an upwardly facing receptacle, the support apparatus comprising a securing member adapted to be mounted on the base portion of the housing in substantially fixed relation thereto; a central unit adapted to be mounted on the housing in substantially horizontal relation having an opening extending therethrough for communication with said receptacle of the housing and a predetermined forward portion adjacent to said opening; a support member mounted for substantially pivotal movement on the central unit adjacent to said forward portion along a path of travel from a primary position, with said opening disposed in overlaying juxtaposition to the upwardly facing receptacle of said housing, to a secondary position, disposed in substantially upstanding relation to and spaced from said central unit; and a hydraulic system interconnecting the central unit and the support member operable to move the support member between the secondary position and the primary position whereby the human being, disposed in a substantially erect attitude, can be assisted by engaging the support member in the secondary position, operating said hydraulic system to move the support member to the primary position, so that the human being is in a seated attitude over said receptacle of the toilet for use thereof and after use thereof the hydraulic system can again be operated to return the support member to the secondary position and the human being to said substantially erect attitude. 
   
   
       10 . The support apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said central unit is adapted to be mounted on the housing of a fixture having any one of a number of different configurations.