Toilet assist for the disabled

Abstract

A hydraulically or pneumatically powered toilet assist lift device for use by disabled persons is described that includes a frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode, the frame having a lower frame portion for attachment to the floor surface that supports the commode and an upper frame portion hingedly attached to the lower frame portion at the forward end thereof, a toilet seat attached to the upper frame portion, and a pair of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders interconnecting the upper frame portion with the lower frame portion at the rearward end thereof whereby operation the cylinders rotates the upper frame portion between a lowered position and a raised position.

1 . A toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
 (a) a tubular frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said tubular frame having a lower portion for attachment to said floor surface, said tubular frame further having an upper portion for supporting a toilet scat;   (b) said lower portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed lower front leg segments at said forward end and first and second inclined lower rear leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and upwardly inclined toward said forward end, each of said lower front leg segments and said lower rear inclined leg segments having an upper end and a lower end and including means at each of said lower ends for attachment to said floor surface;   (c) said upper portion having a raised position and a lowered position, said upper portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed upper leg segments abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower front leg segments in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second inclined upper leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and inclined downwardly toward said rearward end and abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower inclined leg segments at said upper ends thereof in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second spaced apart arm rest segments interconnecting said first and second upper leg segments with respective said first and second inclined upper leg segments;   (d) hinge means interconnecting said first upper leg segment with said first lower leg segment and interconnecting said second upper leg segment with said second lower leg segment whereby said upper portion is upwardly and forwardly rotatable with respect to said lower portion between said lowered position and said raised position; and   (e) a toilet seat attached to said upper portion between said spaced apart arm rest segments.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (a) first and second hydraulically operated cylinders respectively interconnecting said first inclined upper leg segment with said first lower inclined leg segment and interconnecting said second inclined upper leg segment with said second lower inclined leg segment; and   (b) means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders between a retracted position and an extended position whereby said upper portion is rotated between said lowered position and said raised position.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders includes a control panel disposed in one of said arm rest segments, said panel including an up switch and a down switch operatively connected to said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders and instructing said upper portion to raise in response to an up command and to lower in response to a down command, said means further comprising a motor and source of power connected thereto, a hydraulic pump driven by said motor, a hydraulic reservoir connected to said pump, and three way control valves operatively connected to said first and second cylinders. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (a) first and second pneumatically operated cylinders respectively interconnecting said first inclined upper leg segment with said first lower inclined leg segment and interconnecting said second inclined upper leg segment with said second lower inclined leg segment; and   (b) means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders between retracted and extended position for said cylinders whereby said upper portion is rotated between said raised position and said lowered position.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders includes a control panel disposed in one of said arm rest segments, said panel including an up switch and a down switch operatively connected to said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders and instructing said upper portion to raise in response to an up command and to lower in response to a down command, said means further comprising a motor and source of power connected thereto, a pneumatic pump driven by said motor, a pneumatic reservoir connected to said pump, and three way control valves operatively connected to said first and second cylinders. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said lower rear leg segments are disposed at an angle of from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees to said floor surface. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said lower rear leg segments are disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees to said floor surface. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said tubular frame comprises one of a metal and a structural plastic. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said tubular frame has a cross-section having a shape that is round, oval or rectangular. 
   
   
       10 . A toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
 (a) a tubular frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said tubular frame having a lower portion for attachment to said floor surface, said tubular frame further having an upper portion for supporting a toilet seat;   (b) said lower portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed lower front leg segments at said forward end and first and second inclined lower rear leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and upwardly inclined toward said forward end, each of said lower front leg segments and said lower rear inclined leg segments having an upper end and a lower end and including means at each of said lower ends for attachment to said floor surface;   (c) said upper portion having a raised position and a lowered position, said upper portion including first and second substantially vertically disposed upper leg segments abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower front leg segments in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second inclined upper leg segments disposed at an angle to said floor surface and inclined downwardly toward said rearward end and abutting and substantially coaxial with respective said first and second lower inclined leg segments at said upper ends thereof in said lowered position, said upper portion further including first and second spaced apart arm rest segments interconnecting said first and second upper leg segments with respective said first and second inclined upper leg segments;   (d) first and second hydraulic cylinders or first and second pneumatic cylinders respectively interconnecting said first inclined upper leg segment with said first lower inclined leg segment and interconnecting said second inclined upper leg segment with said second lower inclined leg segment;   (e) hinge means interconnecting said first upper leg segment with said first lower leg segment and interconnecting said second upper leg segment with said second lower leg segment whereby said upper portion is upwardly and forwardly rotatable with respect to said lower portion between said lowered position and said raised position; and   (f) a toilet seat attached to said upper portion between said spaced apart arm rest segments.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders between a retracted position and an extended position whereby said upper portion is rotated between said lowered position and said raised position. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders includes a control panel disposed in one of said arm rest segments, said panel including an up switch and a down switch operatively connected to said means for simultaneously operating said cylinders and instructing said upper portion to raise in response to an up command and to lower in response to a down command, said means further comprising a motor and source of power connected thereto, one of a hydraulic pump or pneumatic pump driven by said motor, and three way control valves operatively connected to said cylinders. 
   
   
       13  The device of  claim 10  wherein said lower rear leg segments are disposed at an angle of from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees to said floor surface. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said lower rear leg segments are disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees to said floor surface. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said tubular frame comprises one of a metal and a structural plastic. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said tubular frame has a cross-section having a shape that is round, oval or rectangular. 
   
   
       17 . A toilet seat lift assist device, comprising:
 (a) a frame having a forward end and a rearward end for placement around a toilet commode supported on a floor surface, said frame having a lower frame portion and means for attachment of said lower frame portion to said floor surface, said frame further having an upper frame portion for supporting a toilet seat;   (b) hinge means interconnecting said upper frame portion to said lower frame portion at said forward end thereof whereby said upper frame portion is rotatable between a lowered position and a raised position;   (c) a toilet seat attached to said upper frame portion; and   (d) first and second hydraulic cylinders or first and second pneumatic cylinders interconnecting said upper frame portion with said lower frame portion at the rearward end thereof whereby operation of said cylinders rotates said upper frame portion between said lowered position and said raised position.   
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders between a retracted position and an extended position whereby said upper portion is rotated between said lowered position and said raised position. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein said means for simultaneously operating said first and second cylinders includes a control panel disposed in one of said arm rest segments, said panel including an up switch and a down switch operatively connected to said means for simultaneously operating said cylinders and instructing said upper portion to raise in response to an up command and to lower in response to a down command, said means further comprising a motor and source of power connected thereto, one of a hydraulic pump or pneumatic pump driven by said motor, and three way control valves operatively connected to said cylinders. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said frame comprises one of a metal and a structural plastic, said frame further having a cross-section having a shape that is round, oval or rectangular.