Seat riser apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a riser apparatus which is configured to rise the height of a seat, such as a toilet seat. The present invention also provides a kit comprising a riser apparatus of the invention and a seat arrangement and provides for the use of the riser apparatus and kit in order to assist a mobility impaired subject to use a seat.

1 . A seat riser apparatus for coupling to a seat arrangement, comprising a riser member rotatably coupled to a seat component and, at an opposing end, the riser member comprising a coupling arrangement for rotatably coupling the riser member to a support component. 
     
     
         2 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a support component rotatably coupled to the riser member. 
     
     
         3 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 , configured for use with a toilet. 
     
     
         4 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the riser member is provided by a hinged rod. 
     
     
         5 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus comprises two riser members. 
     
     
         6 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the support component comprises one or more engagement portions configured to engage a portion of the seat component. 
     
     
         7 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the riser member comprises one or more engagement portions configured to engage a portion of the seat component. 
     
     
         8 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more engagement portions comprise one or more grooves, protrusions, and/or pins. 
     
     
         9 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more engagement portions comprise one or more rods rotatably coupled to the seat component at one end and comprising a coupling arrangement for rotatably coupling the engagement portion to the support component at the opposing end. 
     
     
         10 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more engagement portions are configured to prevent over-rotation of the seat component relative to the support component. 
     
     
         11 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more engagement portions prevent an edge of the seat component from being displaced by more than a maximum distance from the support component. 
     
     
         12 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the riser member coupling to the seat component is positioned away from the edge of the seat component configured to engage the one or more engagement portions. 
     
     
         13 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seat riser apparatus comprises a second seat component, wherein the second seat component is coupled to the support component and/or first seat component by a single hinge mechanism configured to enable rotational movement of the second seat relative to the support component and/or first seat component without simultaneous linear movement. 
     
     
         14 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat component comprises one or more movable support elements. 
     
     
         15 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the support component is configured to be capable of housing the first seat component. 
     
     
         16 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the seat riser apparatus comprising a further coupling means for releasably coupling a portion of the first seat component to the support component to enable simultaneous rotation of the support component and seat component without linear movement. 
     
     
         17 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the further coupling means comprises one or more magnets. 
     
     
         18 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus comprises an externally mounted release mechanism configured to release the further coupling to automatically deploy the seat component, wherein the release mechanism comprises a push button. 
     
     
         19 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein rotation of the first seat component relative to the support component, results in a linear movement of the seat component relative to the lid of 5-30 cm. 
     
     
         20 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first seat component comprises a graspable element configured to enable a user to move the first seat component relative to the support component. 
     
     
         21 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the support component comprises a back support element. 
     
     
         22 . The seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat component comprise at least one portion formed of a resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
         23 . A kit, comprising a seat arrangement and the seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein the seat arrangement comprises a toilet. 
     
     
         25 . A seat arrangement, comprising the seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . The seat arrangement of  claim 25 , wherein the seat arrangement comprises a toilet. 
     
     
         27 . A toilet of  claim 26 , wherein the seat riser apparatus is configured to be rotatable between a first position substantially parallel with a rim of the toilet and a second generally upright position, transverse to the rim of the toilet. 
     
     
         28 . A method of using the seat riser apparatus of  claim 1 .