Device and assembly for, and method of, converting a sitting toilet to a squat toilet

Abstract

A sitting toilet is converted to a squat toilet. A seat having a bottom surface is formed with a channel. A support has a central hinged portion, a pair of leg portions that extend away from the hinged portion, and a footrest structure mounted on the leg portions. The hinged portion is mounted on a front of the bottom surface of the seat for movement between a stowed position in which the support is at least partly received in the channel, and a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture. The leg portions extend toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position. The footrest structure is positioned forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.

1 . A device for converting a sitting toilet having a seat to a squat toilet, comprising:
 a support having a central hinged portion, a pair of leg portions that extend away from the hinged portion, and a footrest structure mounted on the leg portions, the hinged portion being mounted on a front of a bottom surface of the seat for movement to a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture, the leg portions extending toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position, and the footrest structure being positioned forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each leg portion is elongated and terminates in a base that contacts the floor in the deployed position, and wherein each leg portion is adjustable in length between the hinged portion and a respective base. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the footrest structure includes a pair of footrests respectively mounted on the leg portions. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein each footrest is mounted on a respective leg portion for pivoting movement between a folded-up position adjacent the respective leg portion, and a folded-out position extending transversely of the respective leg portion. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein each footrest is adjustably mounted on a respective leg portion for movement between a plurality of different elevations relative to the floor in the deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support has a generally U-shaped configuration, and wherein the hinged portion includes a shaft that is mounted on the front of the bottom surface of the seat for pivoting movement. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support is detachably mounted on the front of the bottom surface of the seat. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly for converting a sitting toilet to a squat toilet, comprising:
 a seat having a bottom surface formed with a channel; and   a support having a central hinged portion, a pair of leg portions that extend away from the hinged portion, and a footrest structure mounted on the leg portions, the hinged portion being mounted on a front of the bottom surface of the seat for movement between a stowed position in which the support is at least partly received in the channel, and a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture, the leg portions extending toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position, and the footrest structure being positioned forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each leg portion is elongated and terminates in a base that contacts the floor in the deployed position, and wherein each leg portion is adjustable in length between the hinged portion and a respective base. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the footrest structure includes a pair of footrests respectively mounted on the leg portions. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each footrest is mounted on a respective leg portion for pivoting movement between a folded-up position adjacent the respective leg portion, and a folded-out position extending transversely of the respective leg portion. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each footrest is adjustably mounted on a respective leg portion for movement between a plurality of different elevations relative to the floor in the deployed position. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support and the channel each has a generally U-shaped configuration, and wherein the hinged portion includes a shaft that is mounted on the front bottom surface of the seat for pivoting movement. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support is detachably mounted on the front of the bottom surface of the seat. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support is permanently mounted on the front of the bottom surface of the seat. 
     
     
         16 . A method of converting a sitting toilet having a seat to a squat toilet, comprising:
 configuring a support with a central hinged portion;   extending a pair of leg portions on the support away from the hinged portion;   mounting a footrest structure on the leg portions;   mounting the hinged portion on a front of a bottom surface of the seat; and   moving the support to a deployed position in which the support maintains a user seated on the seat in a squatting posture, by extending the leg portions toward a floor on which the toilet is supported in the deployed position, and by positioning the footrest structure forwardly of the seat to support a seated user's feet at a raised elevation above the floor in the deployed position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , and forming a channel in the bottom surface of the seat, and moving the support from the deployed position to a stowed position in which the support is at least partly received in the channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , and contacting the floor with a base on each leg portion, and adjusting each leg portion in length between the hinged portion and a respective base. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , and configuring the footrest structure with a pair of footrests respectively mounted on the leg portions, and mounting each footrest on a respective leg portion for pivoting movement between a folded-up position adjacent the respective leg portion, and a folded-out position extending transversely of the respective leg portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , and configuring the footrest structure with a pair of footrests respectively mounted on the leg portions and adjustably mounting each footrest on a respective leg portion for movement between a plurality of different elevations relative to the floor in the deployed position.