Foldable toilet accessory

Abstract

A foldable stool for improving bowel posture of a user includes a footrest platform, a first leg, and a second leg. The foldable stool is configurable into a plurality of positions including an opened position and a closed position. In the opened position, the first and second legs are arranged substantially perpendicular to the footrest platform, and the first platform member and the second platform members are arranged to form a footrest surface having a cutout profile to facility placement of the foldable stool adjacent to a toilet basin. In the closed position, the footrest platform is folded to form a cavity that houses the first and second legs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable stool for improving defecation posture of a user, the foldable stool comprising:
 a footrest platform including a first platform member and a second platform member;   a first support leg coupled to the first platform member; and   a second support leg coupled to the second platform member, wherein the foldable stool is configurable into a plurality of positions including:
 an opened position in which the first and second support legs are arranged substantially perpendicular to the footrest platform, and the first platform member and the second platform member are arranged to form a footrest surface having a cutout profile to facilitate placement of the foldable stool adjacent to a toilet; 
 a semi-closed position in which the first and second legs are folded against the footrest platform and arranged substantially parallel to the footrest platform; and 
 a closed position in which the first platform member and the second platform member are folded towards each other to form a cavity that houses the first and second support legs between the first platform member and a second platform member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The foldable stool of  claim 1 , further comprising a platform hinge mechanism disposed in a midsection of the footrest platform. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable stool of  claim 2 , wherein the platform hinge mechanism is disposed on an inner surface of the footrest platform. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable stool of  claim 2 , wherein the footrest platform has a lowered surface portion in the midsection of the footrest platform. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable stool of  claim 1 , wherein the footrest platform has a width greater than a sum of a height of the first support leg, a width of the first support leg, a height of the second support leg, and a width of the second support leg. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable stool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second support legs is height adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable stool of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second support legs includes a spring-loaded retention mechanism to set the corresponding support leg at one of a plurality of adjustable heights. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable stool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second support legs includes a releasable locking mechanism to secure the corresponding support leg in the opened position. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable stool of  claim 8 , wherein the releasable locking mechanism includes a latching mechanism to latch the corresponding support leg onto the footrest platform. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable stool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second support legs has a frontal height that is different than a rear height to provide a tilt to the footrest platform. 
     
     
         11 . A foldable stool for improving defecation posture of a user, the foldable stool comprising:
 a footrest platform including:
 a footrest surface extending between a first leg end and a second leg end of the footrest platform, and having a cutout profile to accommodate a portion of a toilet between the first leg end and the second leg end when the foldable stool is in an opened position; 
 a first leg hinge mechanism at the first leg end; 
 a second leg hinge mechanism at the second leg end; and 
 a platform hinge mechanism disposed in a midsection of the footrest platform between the first leg end and the second leg end to allow the first leg end to be folded towards the second leg end when the foldable stool is in a closed position; 
   a first support leg coupled to the first leg hinge mechanism; and   a second support leg coupled to the second leg hinge mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The foldable stool of  claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of the footrest platform opposing the footrest surface has a lowered surface portion in the midsection of the footrest platform between the first leg end and the second leg end. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable stool of  claim 12 , wherein the lowered surface portion is lowered to an depth that is greater than a width of the first or second support leg. 
     
     
         14 . The foldable stool of  claim 12 , wherein the platform hinge mechanism is disposed at the lowered surface portion. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable stool of  claim 11 , wherein a width of the footrest surface extending between the first leg end and the second leg end is greater a sum of a height of the first support leg, a width of the first support leg, a height of the second support leg; and, a width of the second support leg. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable stool of  claim 11 , wherein the first leg hinge mechanism and the second leg hinge mechanism allow the first support leg and the second support leg, respectively, to be folded towards the footrest platform. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable stool of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second support legs is a height adjustable leg. 
     
     
         18 . The foldable stool of  claim 17 , wherein the height adjustable leg includes a retention mechanism to set the corresponding support leg at one of a plurality of adjustable heights. 
     
     
         19 . The foldable stool of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second leg hinge mechanisms includes a releasable locking mechanism to secure the corresponding support leg in a substantially vertical position when the foldable stool is in the opened position. 
     
     
         20 . The foldable stool of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second support legs has a frontal height that is different than a rear height to provide a tilt to the footrest platform.