Abstract:
A toilet chair includes a support frame, and a platform connected to the support frame. The platform is connected to the support frame at a first end with at least one horizontal strut. The platform is configured to move with respect to the support frame and includes at least one clamp at a second end. The at least one clamp is configured to lock the platform to the support frame at the second end forming a horizontal platform. The toilet chair also includes a toilet seat assembly connected to the platform. The toilet seat assembly is configured to support a user and move with respect to the platform.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/141,730 entitled “PORTABLE FOLDING TOILET CHAIR” filed on Apr. 1, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates in general to a portable toilet and, more particularly, to a portable folding toilet chair that is sturdy and resistant to collapse. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    A number of different portable toilets are available in the marketplace. Sanitation systems for camping often consist either of a fixed toilet with a large waste holding tank and a water storage reservoir or of a bucket fixed with a toilet seat. 
         [0004]    The fixed toilet with the holding tank design generally requires some means to provide a flush of water or chemicals through a receiving chamber and into the holding tank. While this type of camp toilet has proven suitable for use in camper vehicles, boats, and for long term camping, it is not satisfactory for all outdoor uses. For example, situations where the bulk and weight of the system is not desired would make the size and weight of the camp toilets having receiving chambers, water reservoirs and holding tanks unwieldy and inconvenient. 
         [0005]    The bucket type design generally has a toilet seat attached to a bucket including a bag-type receptacle suspended beneath the toilet seat. These systems can be more portable than the tank design due to the lack of the water reservoir and holding tank. However, they tend to be unstable, and often may collapse or overturn resulting in the undesirable outcome of spilled raw waste within the environment. Therefore, a need for a light weight yet secure and stable portable toilet chair is desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    The disclosure relates in general to a portable toilet and, more particularly, to an portable folding toilet chair that is sturdy and resistant to collapse. 
         [0007]    In one implementation, the present invention is a toilet chair. The toilet chair includes a support frame, and a platform connected to the support frame. The platform is connected to the support frame at a first end with at least one horizontal strut. The platform is configured to move with respect to the support frame and includes at least one clamp at a second end. The at least one clamp is configured to lock the platform to the support frame at the second end forming a horizontal platform. The toilet chair also includes a toilet seat assembly connected to the platform. The toilet seat assembly is configured to support a user and move with respect to the platform. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates the portable folding toilet chair in its assembled configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates the portable folding toilet chair of  FIG. 1  in its folded or collapsed configuration that allows for easier transportation and storage, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the portable folding toilet chair of  FIGS. 1 and 2  being extended from its folded configuration as shown in  FIG. 2  into a deployed position, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the frame of the portable folding toilet chair of  FIGS. 1-3  illustrating two clamp brackets on the stabilizing platform rod of the toilet seat assembly that clamp to the chair structure rods to provide a stable toilet seat assembly platform, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the portable folding toilet chair of  FIGS. 1-4  illustrating the underside of the toilet seat assembly and stabilizing platform rod as shown in  FIG. 4 , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a view of the portable folding toilet chair of  FIGS. 1-5  illustrating the toilet seat lid in the closed position anchored by a securing strap and snap, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a view of the portable folding toilet chair of  FIGS. 1-6  illustrating a foldable table as an accessory, in the assembled position which further provides a cup holder, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The disclosure relates in general to a portable toilet and, more particularly, to a portable folding toilet chair that is sturdy and resistant to collapse. The present portable folding toilet chair allows a user to transition between a folded portable configuration and an assembled sturdy configuration. The user can sit comfortably on the portable toilet seat without fear of the structure collapsing, tipping or overturning. 
         [0016]    The portable folding toilet chair can also include a table surface and cup holder that are configured to be correctly oriented for holding beverages and providing a sturdy horizontal surface when extended from the portable folding toilet chair. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-7  show various views of the portable folding toilet chair  100  in different view angles and in different configurations.  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the portable folding toilet chair  100  in a fully assembled configuration.  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the portable folding toilet chair  100  in a fully folded or collapsed configuration.  FIG. 3  shows a side view of the portable folding toilet chair  100  in a partially folded or collapsed configuration.  FIG. 4  shows a close side view of two clamp brackets on the stabilizing platform rod of the toilet seat assembly that clamp to the portable folding chair  100  structure rods to provide a stable toilet seat assembly platform. In  FIGS. 1-7  some element numbers have not been duplicated across all figures where features of the frame have been obscured by a different view or to avoid unnecessary clutter of the drawings. However,  FIGS. 1-7  should be considered to show different views of the same frame structure where a numbered component in one view is shown in all views, even if not identified with an element number in a different figure. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , portable folding toilet chair  100  includes frame  102  having a chair frame  104  and support structure  106 . Chair frame  104  includes a back support  105  connected to the support structure  106 . Support structure  106  provides support for portable folding toilet chair  100  and is made up of five u-shaped tubular members, a left frame member  108 , a right frame member  110 , a left arm rest  112  and a right arm rest  114  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), and is interconnected by a stabilizing platform rod  116  which supports toilet seat assembly  118 . 
         [0019]    Left frame member  108  and right frame member  110  of support structure  106  are pivotally connected intermediate their lengths by pins  120   a  and  120   b.    
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , u-shaped left frame member  108  of support structure  106  includes leg portions  122   a  and  122   b  while right arm rest  114  includes leg portions  124   a  and  124   b.  Each of leg portions  122   a  and  122   b  are pivotally connected at a distal end to leg portions  124   a  and  124   b,  respectively at pivot points  126   a  and  126   b.  Likewise, u-shaped right frame member  110  of support structure  106  includes leg portions  128   a  and  128   b  while left arm rest  112  includes leg portions  130   a  and  130   b.  Each of leg portions  128   a  and  128   b  are pivotally connected at the distal end to leg portions  130   a  and  130   b,  respectively at pivot points  132   a  and  132   b.    
         [0021]    Left support bars  134   a  and  134   b  pivotally connect each side of the u-shaped portion of left frame member  108  to leg portions  130   a  and  130   b  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Similarly, right support bars  136   a  and  136   b  pivotally connect each side of the u-shaped portion of right frame member  110  to leg portions  124   a  and  124   b.    
         [0022]    Leg stretcher  127  is connected to leg portions  124   a  and  124   b  of right arm rest  114  at curved distal ends  129  to provide balance and support to assembled portable folding toilet chair  100 . Similarly, leg stretcher  133  is connected to leg portions  130   a  and  130   b  of left arm rest  112  at curved distal ends  135  also to provide balance and support to assembled portable folding toilet chair  100 . 
         [0023]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , back support  105  of chair frame  104  is used to connect left arm rest  112  and right arm rest  114  to chair frame  104 . To provide the back support  105  upon which a user rests, a fabric, or other material, is connected between the back support rods  112   a  and  114   a  of left arm rest  112  and right arm rest  114 , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 1 , fabric  125  includes a sleeve allowing fabric  125  to be attached by sliding over back support rods  112   a  and  114   a  of portable folding toilet seat  100 . Fabric  125  provides a surface upon which a user may lean back on when using portable folding toilet chair  100 . Although the fabric shown in  FIG. 1  is shown as a largely contiguous surface, fabric  125  may instead be replaced by a number of straps that extend across the width of chair frame  104 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , left frame member  108  of support structure  106  includes a u-shaped stabilizing platform rod  116 . Stabilizing platform rod  116  includes toilet seat supports  138   a  and  138   b  and is connected to left frame member  108  via hinge members  140   a  and  140   b  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Each of hinge members  140   a  and  140   b  have oval openings  142   a  and  142   b  respectively. Left frame member  108  is threadedly attached normal to stabilizing platform rod  116  through oval openings  142   a  and  142   b  so that the stabilizing platform rod  116  may rotate freely and translate laterally about the left frame member  108  via hinge members  140   a  and  140   b.    
         [0025]    In an embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 3 , arm rest sleeves  115  of left arm rest  112  and right arm rest  114  provide comfort to the user as well as increased gripping capacity. 
         [0026]    As leg portions of left frame member  108  and right frame member  110  of support structure  106  are pivotally connected to arm rest leg portions, portable folding toilet chair  100  can be folded so that arm rests  112  and  114  come together for portability, or may be pulled away from one another, to provide a stable support for stabilizing platform rod  116  and supporting toilet seat assembly  118  when assembled. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , stabilizing platform rod  116  includes a grab handle  140  centered outward of the u-shaped portion of stabilizing platform rod  116 . Stabilizing platform rod  116  further includes two generally C-shaped clamps  143   a  and  143   b  perpendicular to grab handle  140  and formed on the bottom of stabilizing platform rod  116  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). Clamps  143   a  and  143   b  are configured to removably couple to right frame member  110 . 
         [0028]    To assemble the portable folding toilet chair  100  from the folded configuration shown in  FIG. 2 , each of arm rests  112  and  114  are pulled away from one another as shown in  FIG. 3 . Next, stabilizing platform rod  116  may be lifted by grab handle  140 , rotating stabilizing platform rod  116  upward about left frame member  108  so that the u-shaped portion of stabilizing platform rod  116  clears right frame member  110 . Once cleared, C-shaped clamps  143   a  and  143   b  on the bottom of stabilizing platform rod  116  (see  FIG. 4 ) can be clamp locked to the u-shaped portion of right frame member  110  to form a fixed platform for toilet seat assembly  118  that is strong, durable, and tip resistant. A disposable waste bag can be attached to the underside of toilet seat  148 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and now discussed in more detail, hinge members  140   a  and  140   b  include oval openings  142   a  and  142   b.  Oval openings  142   a  and  142   b  are of sufficient size to allow for rotational movement of the stabilizing platform rod  116  about the rounded portions of openings  142   a  and  142   b  as well as lateral translational movement along the lateral length of the oval openings  142   a  and  142   b  with respect to the left frame member  108 . 
         [0030]    This combination of rotational and lateral movement of hinge members  140   a  and  140   b  allows stabilizing platform rod  116  to be tucked under right frame member  110  when the portable folding toilet chair  100  is in the collapsed and folded configuration. During assembly of the portable folding toilet chair  100  into a deployed configuration, the rotational movement of hinge members  140   a  and  140   b  allows the stabilizing platform rod  116  to rotate upward toward right frame member  110 . The lateral movement of the hinge members  140   a  and  140   b  subsequently provides for lateral extension of the stabilizing platform rod  116  upward clearing right frame member  110 . The lateral movement of the hinge members  140   a  and  140   b  further provides for lateral extension of the stabilizing platform rod  116  on top of and across the right frame member  110  allowing clamps  143   a  and  143   b  on the bottom surface of stabilizing platform rod  116  to be placed on top of and normal to right frame member  11   o  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Thus, secure horizontal positioning of the stabilizing platform rod  116  is achieved by positioning clamps  143   a  and  143   b  normal to right frame member  110  allowing for the removable locking mechanism of clamps  143   a  and  143   b  to be secured onto right frame member  110  of support structure  106 . Such positioning of the stabilizing platform rod  116  secured horizontally on top of the right frame member  110  will provide for a sturdy and tilt resistant deployed configuration of the portable folding toilet chair  100 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , toilet seat supports  138   a  and  138   b  of support structure  106  are illustrated connected to stabilizing platform rod  116  at curved distal ends  144 . Toilet seat supports  138   a  and  138   b  also include cushion sleeves  146  intermediate their lengths for receiving a toilet seat  148  of toilet seat assembly  118 . 
         [0032]    Toilet seat assembly  118  includes toilet seat  148  and a toilet seat lid  150  for covering and closing the toilet seat assembly  118 . Toilet seat assembly  118  is shown in  FIG. 5  as attached with sleeve-rings  152   a  and  152   b  to stabilizing platform rod  116  so that the toilet seat lid  150  may freely rotate about the stabilizing platform rod  116  to provide an open or closed configuration for toilet seat assembly  118  during use of the portable folding toilet chair  100 . Also shown in  FIG. 5  is stabilizing platform rod  116  which includes a cushion sleeve  154  for secure attachment of the front opening lip  156  of toilet seat  148  to the stabilizing platform rod  116 . 
         [0033]    In an embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 6 , the portable folding toilet chair  100  may include a toilet lid strap  158  and fastener  160  to enable the user to close and lock the toilet seat lid  150  closed. 
         [0034]    In an embodiment, support structure  106  can be constructed from a tubular material such as steel or aluminum. Although back support  105  of support structure  106  is illustrated using a solid fabric, back support  105  can be constructed of webbing, slats, or solids of fabric, cloth, or plastic.  FIGS. 1-7  show the tubular structural components of portable folding toilet chair  100 . 
         [0035]    In an embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 7 , the portable folding toilet chair  100  may include a side table  162  including table support beams  164   a  and  164   b,  folding angle irons  166   a  and  166   b,  and cup holder  168 . Table support beams  164   a  and  164   b  are statically connected to side table  162  and pivotally connected to arm rest  112  so that side table  162  and table support beam  164  rotate from pivot pins  170 . Folding angle irons  166   a  (shown in  FIGS. 7 ) and  166   b  (not shown) are pivotally attached to leg portions  130   a  and  130   b,  respectively, intermediate to the leg portions length to support side table  162 . Folding angel irons  166   a  and  166   b  each comprise two pivotally attached sections,  165   a  and  167   a  (and  165   b  and  167   b,  not shown) joined at locking pivot pins  166   c  and  166   d  (not shown), respectively. Although the accompanying sections  165   b  and  167   b,  and pin  166   d  of folding angle iron  166   b  are not specifically shown in  FIG. 7 , folding angle iron  166   b  is symmetrically configured to provide locking support to support beam  164   b  in an identical manner as is provided by folding angle iron  166   a  to support beam  164   a.  Thus, locking pivot pins  166   c  and  166   d  are configured to lock sections  165   a  and  167   a,  and  165   b  and  167   b,  respectively, in a longitudinal manner to provide horizontal support for side table  162  and support beams  164   a  and  164   b.    
         [0036]    Once portable folding toilet chair  100  has been fully assembled, side table  162  is configured to remain in a folded configuration or may be elevated to provide the horizontal table shown in  FIG. 7  in an assembled configuration. 
         [0037]    To assemble side table  162 , table support beams  164   a  and  164   b  are lifted to elevate side table  162  into a horizontal position. Once side table  162  has been placed in a horizontal position, angle irons  166   a  and  166   b  are locked at pivot pins  166   c  and  166   d  to provide the sturdy horizontal surface of side table  162  shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0038]    Side table  162  can be collapsed to return to a folded configuration. To collapse the side table  162 , locking pivot pins  166   c  and  166   d  are released and table support beams  164   a  and  164   b  are lowered to a vertical position by rotation about pivot pins  170 . 
         [0039]    Cup holder  168  includes a body  172  sized to receive a beverage container. Body  172  includes floor  174  configured to support the beverage container when a container is positioned within body  172  of cup holder  168 . 
         [0040]    In one implementation of the portable folded toilet chair  100 , the geometry of the components of portable folding toilet chair  100  are as follows. The width of the frame of portable folding toilet chair  100  is approximately 610 millimeters (mm). The length of toilet seat assembly  118  is approximately 503 mm. The length of back  108  from the top of back  108  to connection  128  is approximately 996 mm. The length of the u-portion of the arm rests  112  and  114  are approximately 559 mm. The dimensions provided above are only one example of an implementation of portable folding toilet chair  100 . Other portable folding toilet chairs having other dimensions may be constructed. In some cases, the geometry of the chair can be adjusted to meet particular design needs. For example, in one implementation the height of toilet seat  148  may be raised to assist the handicapped or the elderly. 
         [0041]    Portable folding toilet chair  100  can also be disassembled into a collapsed folded configuration.  FIG. 2 , for example, shows portable folding toilet chair  100  in a collapsed folded configuration that allows for easier transportation and storage. 
         [0042]    To collapse portable folding toilet chair  100 , the waste bag is removed and toilet seat lid  150  is closed using toilet lid securing strap  158  and fastener  160  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Next, by using grab handle  140  of the u-shaped portion of stabilizing platform rod  116 , clamps  143   a  and  143   b  can be unlocked and removed from the u-shaped portion of right frame member  110  releasing the stabilizing platform  116  from the right frame member  110 . Once the stabilizing platform rod  116  is released, it can freely move laterally leftward from right frame member  110  and rotate downward from the u-shaped portion of left frame member  108  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to tuck below right frame member  110 . Next, as arm rests  112  and  114  are moved together, both left frame member  108  and right frame member  110  pivotally fold upwards to a vertical position as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0043]    Although the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiment(s), any person skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail, and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.