AU601894B2 - Toiletry comforter - Google Patents

Description

~YI~L~LP liE~ ~3iL~-:I~Zi i'l^--LI"-ri 601894 1 This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for printing, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952 Name of Applicant(s): IN CHOL YI Address of Applicant(s): 2/58 PRIMROSE STREET, SHERWOOD, QUEENSLAND, 4075

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: IN CHOL YI G.R. CULLEN COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, Dalgety House, 79 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia, COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED:

I

J-^

TOILETRY COMFORTER The following statement is a full description invention including the best method of performing it me: of the known to YL_ j C I S2 THIS INVENTION relates to a device for assisting I bowel movement and is particularly concerned with a device for use with a water closet of the conventional pan type.

To date, there has been no device or equipment developed specifically to enable a person seated on a pan type water closet, to exert extra downward pressur. during bowel movement such as would be advantageous for those being obese, suffering from excess alcoholic imbibition, or constipation in general.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to fill this missing gap in existing technology by providing such a device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for use in association with a pan type water closet comprising two forearm rests each of which is S projected at an elevated location by a support frame and each of which is adapted, in use, to occupy a position on both sides of a person seated on a pan, at a location above the pan, wherein the support frame of each forearm rest is interconnected by a single brace adapted to extend across *4 4 the front of the pan, The frame may assume any structural configuration necessary to provide sufficient stability and weight bearing capability when either one or both of the forearm rests are pushed against in a substantially downward direction by a person seated on the pan with which it is used.

The single brace extending across the front of the a 3 pan is preferably located beneath the bowl portion thereof and may be contoured to the shape of the base portion of the pan. Such a configuration is preferred since it is the easiest to locate and does not interfere with any of the toilet plumbing.

This brace may be connected to each sub-frame by suitable locking pins, such as threaded bolts, so that the c

C

L-

entire device may be transported in a knock-down kit form.

The frame may be fabricated from any rigid material which has adequate strength characteristics for the intended use, such as metal, plastics material, wood or the like. It is preferred, however, to construct it from metal as this has been found to be the most suitable for making a structure of sufficient rigidity and strength to meet the in use requirements. The type of metal which may be used is not important and will generally be determined by what is suitably available on the market. Iron pipe has been found in practice to meet most requirements and this, in addition, may be readily worked. The pipe may, additionally, be galvanized or coated with baked enamel to prevent rusting.

Preferably, the frame is adapted for adjustment in height to suit people of different heights. Such adjustment may be accomplished by the provision of telescoping leg members which are housed in the base portion of the frame structure. These leg members may, additionally, include flat base plates, pads, or Lhe like to assist in the stability of the device. Alternatively, the base plates may be adapted for permanent fixing to the floor surface by adhesive or locking pins.

Another form of height adjustment may be effected by telescoping the forearm rests in a similar manner to which the leg members are telescoped.

The forearm rests are preferably adapted to extend

L.A

substantially horizontal in parallel alignment on each sJrle of a person seatea on a toilet pan. They may extend Ioutwardly f roma a support frame as in a conventioia~l "executive" type chair or, preferably, they are arranged in an elevated position above, and in the same plane as, the support frame, so as to be supported close to each end.

I~i The forearm rests may be fabricated from a wide <ftrange of materials including wood, plastics material, metal and various resiliently deformable materials such as rubber, sponge structured materials, padded fabrics, and the like, The main requirement beinq that they are comfortable in use.

The forearm rests will generally assume an elongated shape so that the fore-arm may rest thereon and will most preferably be a resiliently deforntable material such as padded fabriic. Particularly suitable forearm rests are those which are fabricated from sponge rubber and covered with a velvet c2',oth.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-., Fi g, 1 is a partial side-on perspective of a device according to the invention showing its relative positioning with respect to a toilet pan; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device depicted in Fig. 1; Fig, 3 is a front elevation of the device depicted in Fig. 1; ana Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device depicted in Fig. 1.

Referring to all the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, a device for assisting bowel movement is depicted at 10 and a conventional pan-type water closet is depicted at 11.

The device comprises two elevated forearm rests 12a, 12b supported on metal plates (not visible) by metal brackets 13a, 13b on top of a frame. The forearm rests comprise velvet covered sponge rubber rests of a length sufficient for a forearm to rest comfortably thereon.

The frame comprises two sub-frames 14a, 14b fabricated from metal tubing and having an inverted. U-shaped X115 conformation with transverse reinforcing m~embers i~a, extending between the legs thereof. A further reiniforcing strut 1,6a, 16b connects the upper portion of each sub frame to each transverse reinforcing member, The sub-frames 14a, 14b are inter-connected by a bracoe 17 extending between the reinforcing struts 16a, 16b, The brace is shaped to conform wi.th the base of a conventional pan water closet, and it includes an off-set truss 18a, 18b one each end to pcovide extra rigidity in the structure,, The brace 17 and trusses 18a, 18b are connected to each sub-frame by means of nuts and bolts at. locations 19.

This arrangement permits the device to be sold and *1 ;;.CCY I~-l FII1~I-l-ill~~ i1 7 transported in a knock-down kit form.

The base of each sub-frame includes a foot having a flanged end 20. Each foot includes a tubular section 23 (see Fig. 3) which slides in the sub-frame and is locked in position by a pin 21 extending through a fixed hole in the sub-frame and one of a pluraiiLty of holes 22 in the tubular section. This arrangement permits the device to be raised or lowered to accommodate people of different heights. The flanged end 20 preferably includes a rubber pad on its base.

The pin 21 preferably is a round headed bolt which is secured in place by a round headed nut. Such a shape is preferred to ensure that clothing is not caught on it and to prevent scratching of the ankle or foot.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skillod in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth in the following claims.

Claims (6)

1. A device for use in association with a pan type water closet comprising two forearm rests each of which is projected at an elevated location by a support frame and each of which is adapted, in use, to occupy a position on both sides of a person seated on a pan, at a location above the pan, wherein the support frame of each forearm rest is interconnected by a single brace adapted to extend across the front of the pan.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frames are fabricated from tubular pipe.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the height of each frame is adjustable in height by the provision of telescoping leg members housed in the base portion of each frame.

4, A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the forearm rests extend substantially horizontal in parallel alignment to each other.

A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the forearm rests are fabricated from a resiliently deformable material.

6. A device for use in association with a pan type wter closet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 12th day of June 1990 IN CHOL YI By his Patent Attorneys o CULLEN CO. ~K,