Abstract:
A toilet bowl is adjustable in a plurality of planes so it can be tilted with respect to a floor whereby a physically impaired person can have easy access to the toilet bowl. A plurality of independently operable toilet bowl lifting mechanisms each engage the toilet bowl and a fluid control circuit controls operation of the lifting mechanisms. A remote control unit controls operation of the fluid control circuit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of baths, closets and sinks, and to the particular field of flush closets. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Difficulties associated with using a toilet is often not even considered by many people. However, there is a substantial segment of the population for which using a toilet is a difficult and daunting task. This segment of the population includes the physically challenged as well as those recuperating from various types of surgical operations and procedures. 
     Because of this, the art contains many examples of toilets designed for use by the physically challenged. Some of these toilets have railings which are grasped, some have platforms which elevate the user, and some have the ability to move up or down. 
     However, toilets that simply include support rails do not fulfill the needs of those that are unable to lift themselves or are unsteady if they do stand up. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable toilet that is able to meet the needs of all physically challenged people. 
     Still further, many known adjustable toilets are bulky, difficult to use and require a great deal of equipment. Such toilets are not generally amenable for use in an individual&#39;s home and may not be amenable for use in many institutions that may have limited space. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable toilet that is easy to use and is amenable for use in a variety of situations. 
     Still further, some of the known adjustable toilets cannot be readily retrofit into an existing system. That is, an existing toilet system may have to be completely-removed and totally replaced by the adjustable toilet system. This can be difficult, expensive and time consuming. It may not be possible in an individual&#39;s home. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable toilet that can be retrofit into an existing toilet system. 
     Still further, some adjustable toilets are not stable and may raise the possibility that a user may fall off of the toilet during use. This is especially true if the user is infirm and has impaired balance. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable toilet that is stable and can be easily and securely used, even by an infirm person. 
     Furthermore, many impaired persons can only reach a portion of a toilet seat. That is, most, if not all, existing toilet systems include a toilet seat that is oriented in a plane that is essentially parallel to the plane of the floor. With a toilet seat in such an orientation, a user must physically lift himself or herself over the plane of the toilet seat and then sit down on the seat. Many users are physically impaired in a manner that makes this difficult if not impossible. Such users are left to wriggle up onto the seat, which is inconvenient and may not be possible without assistance. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable toilet that can be tilted as necessary to permit use by a physically impaired individual. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide an adjustable toilet that is easy to use and is amenable for use in a variety of situations. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable toilet that can be retrofit into an existing toilet system. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable toilet that is stable and can be easily and securely used, even by an infirm person. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable toilet that can be tilted as necessary to permit use by a physically impaired individual. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by an adjustable toilet which comprises a fresh water tank fixed to a support; a waste water conduit fixed to a floor, a toilet bowl having a fresh water inlet and a waste water outlet, a flexible fresh water conduit fluidically connecting the fresh water tank to the fresh water inlet of the toilet bowl, a flexible waste water conduit fluidically connecting the waste water outlet of the toilet bowl to the waste water conduit, a toilet bowl support system including a plurality of individually adjustable toilet bowl supports each of which has one end attached to the floor and another end attached to the toilet bowl, and a control circuit, associated with each of the individually adjustable toilet bowl supports to move each toilet bowl support independently of other toilet bowl supports to move the toilet bowl in a plurality of planes and to tilt the toilet bowl with respect to the floor into an oblique angle with respect to the floor. 
     The adjustable toilet of the present invention can thus be easily retrofit into an existing system and yet can adopt an orientation and position that is most effective for an individual user. The adjustable toilet of the present invention can be adjusted in a multiplicity of planes, including a plane that is tilted at an oblique angle with respect to the floor, whereby the toilet system can be customized for each individual and each use. 
     More specifically, the adjustable toilet bowl of the present invention includes a flexible fresh water conduit fluidically connecting the fresh water tank to the fresh water inlet of the toilet bowl and a flexible waste water conduit fluidically connecting the waste water outlet of the toilet bowl to the waste water conduit. Each of the toilet bowl lifting mechanisms more specifically includes a hydraulic cylinder having a hollow housing having an inside surface and a chamber defined by the inside surface, a first hydraulic fluid connection on the hollow housing, and a second hydraulic fluid connection on the hollow housing. Each lifting mechanism further includes a piston head movably located in the hollow housing and slidably engaging the inside surface of the hollow housing and dividing the chamber of the hollow housing into two chamber sections and a piston rod having one end connected to the piston head and extending out of the hollow housing and having a second end located outside the hollow housing. A floor pivot mount is fixedly mounted on the floor adjacent to the toilet bowl, and a floor pivot connection pivotably connects the second end of the piston rod to the floor pivot mount. A toilet bowl pivot connection pivotably connects the hollow housing to the toilet bowl, and the hydraulic cylinders are controlled by a hydraulic fluid circuit which includes a reservoir of hydraulic fluid, a pump fluidically connected to the reservoir, a first hydraulic fluid conduit system fluidically connecting the pump to the first hydraulic fluid connection of the hollow housing of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism, a first hydraulic fluid flow control valve in each first hydraulic fluid conduit and located fluidically between the pump and the hollow housing, a second hydraulic fluid conduit system fluidically connecting the.second hydraulic fluid connection of the hollow housing of each, toilet bowl lifting mechanism to the pump, and a second hydraulic fluid flow control valve in each second hydraulic fluid conduit and located fluidically between the hollow housing and the pump. A control circuit electrically associates the pump with each hydraulic fluid control valve and which includes a remote control unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable toilet embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the adjustable toilet of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of a hydraulic cylinder mechanism used in the toilet bowl support system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic of a fluid circuit used to control the toilet bowl support system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a remote control unit used in the adjustable toilet of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     The adjustable toilet of the present invention can be adjusted in a multiplicity of planes and angles so it can be adjusted to fit the particular needs of the individual using the toilet. Specifically, the toilet can be tilted as needed to permit use. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the present invention is embodied in an adjustable toilet  10  which comprises a fresh water supply unit  12  which includes a tank  14  fixed to a support W, such as a wall or the like, a fresh water inlet connection  16  on the tank  14  fluidically connecting the tank  14  to a source of fresh water FW, and a fluid outlet connection  18  on tank  14  for purposes that will be understood from the teaching of the following disclosure. The fresh water supply unit  12  further includes a flexible fresh water fluid conduit  20  having an inlet end  22  fluidically connected to the fluid outlet connection  18  on tank  14  and an outlet end  24 . The function of flexible conduit  20  will be understood from the teaching of the following disclosure. A flush control system  26  on the tank includes a handle  28  and operates and functions in a manner known to those skilled in the art and thus will not be further discussed. 
     Adjustable toilet  10  further includes a waste water control system  30  which includes a drain conduit  32  fixed to a floor F and having an outlet end  34  fluidically connected to a waste water receiving system WW and an inlet end  36 . A flexible waste water fluid conduit  38  has an outlet end  40  fluidically connected to inlet end  36  of drain conduit  32  of waste water control system  30 , and an inlet end  42 . The flexible conduits  20  and  38  permit adjustable toilet  10  to be retrofit to an existing toilet system. 
     Adjustable toilet  10  further includes a toilet bowl unit  50  which includes a water-storing bowl  52  having a fresh water inlet  54  on water-storing bowl  52 . Fresh water inlet  54  is fluidically connected to outlet end  24  of flexible fresh water fluid conduit  20  of fresh water supply unit  12 . A waste water outlet  56  is on the water-storing bowl  52  and is fluidically connected to inlet end  42  of flexible waste water fluid conduit  38  of waste water control system  30 . Water-storing bowl  52  has an outside surface  58 . The toilet bowl unit further includes a toilet bowl seat  60  movably attached to water-storing bowl  52  and a toilet bowl cover  62  is also movably attached to the water-storing bowl  52 . 
     Adjustable toilet  10  further includes a toilet bowl support system  70  which includes a plurality of spaced apart individually adjustable toilet bowl lifting mechanisms, such as toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72 . The toilet bowl lifting mechanisms  72  are independent of each other and can be operated independently of each other so water-storing bowl  52  can be tilted to an oblique angle with respect to floor F, such as with front portion  74  of bowl  52  closer to floor F than rear portion  76  of bowl  52 . Side portions of the bowl can also be tilted with respect to the floor as well as will be understood by one skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure. Such tilting permits a physically challenged person to more easily sit on seat  60  than if such a person had to lift himself or herself completely above seat  60  as may be the case if seat  60  remains in a plane that is parallel to the plane of floor F. The bowl can also be lowered as necessary or raised as necessary by means of the lifting mechanism  70 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, all toilet bowl lifting mechanisms  72  are identical. Accordingly, only one toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  will be described, it being understood that the description applies to each of the toilet bowl lifting mechanisms  72  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is also noted that while three lifting mechanisms  72  are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, more or fewer lifting mechanisms  72  could be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  includes a foot mount  80  fixedly mounted on floor F adjacent to water-storing bowl  52  of toilet bowl unit  50 , a head mount  82  fixedly mounted on outside surface  58  of water-storing bowl  52  of toilet bowl unit  50 , a hollow cylindrical housing  84  located between foot mount  80  and head mount  82  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  and having an inside surface  86 , a chamber  90  defined by inside surface  86  of hollow cylindrical housing  84 . Housing  84  includes a fore end  92  located adjacent to head mount  82 , an aft end  94  located adjacent to foot mount  80  in the set-up configuration shown in the Figures. A first fluid connection  96  is located on hollow cylindrical housing  84  adjacent to fore end  92  and is fluidically connected to chamber  90  defined in hollow cylindrical housing  84 , and a second fluid connection  97  is located on hollow cylindrical housing  84  adjacent to aft end  94  and is fluidically connected to chamber  90 . Housing  84  has a longitudinal axis  98  extending between fore end  92  and aft end  94 . 
     A piston unit  100  is mounted in housing  84  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  and includes a piston head  102  in chamber  90  of the housing  84  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  and slidably engages inside surface  86  of the hollow housing  84 , such as by O-rings such as O-ring  104 . Chamber  90  is divided by piston head  102  into a first chamber portion  106  located between piston head  102  and fore end  92  of housing  84  and a second chamber portion  108  located between piston head  102  and aft end  94  of housing  84 . Piston head  102  is movable in chamber  90  along longitudinal axis  98  of housing  84  between a first position adjacent to fore end  92  of hollow housing  84  as shown in FIG. 3 and a second position adjacent to aft end  94  of hollow housing  84  in directions  110  as indicated by the double-headed arrow shown in FIG.  3 . Each piston unit further includes a piston rod  112  having a first end  114  connected to piston head  102  for movement therewith and a second end  116  located outside of the hollow housing chamber  90 . Piston rod  112  slidably extends through aft end  94  of the hollow housing  84  so chamber  90  remains fluid tight. 
     Each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  further includes a first pivot pin  120  pivotably connecting head end  92  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  to one of the head mounts  82  fixedly mounted on outside surface  58  of water-storing bowl  52  of toilet bowl unit  50 , and a second pivot pin  124  pivotally connects second end  114  of piston rod  112  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  to one of the foot mounts  80  fixedly mounted on floor F adjacent to water-storing bowl  52  of toilet bowl unit  50 . 
     The toilet bowl lifting system  70  further includes a hydraulic fluid control circuit  130  shown in FIG.  4 . Circuit  130  can be located beneath floor F or in any other convenient location. Circuit  130  is fluidically connected to each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  and includes a source of hydraulic fluid, such as a reservoir  132 , a pump  134  fluidically connected to a source of hydraulic fluid  132 , a first hydraulic fluid conduit  136  fluidically connecting pump  134  to first fluid connection  96  on the hollow housing  84  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72 . A first hydraulic fluid flow control valve  138  is in each first hydraulic fluid conduit  136  and is located fluidically between pump  134  and first fluid connection  96  on hollow housing  84  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72 . First hydraulic fluid flow control valve  138  is movable between a closed fluid blocking configuration and an open fluid permitting configuration to control the flow of fluid in conduit  136  to and from housing  84  as will be understood from the teaching of the present disclosure. Hydraulic fluid flow control circuit  130  further includes a second hydraulic fluid conduit  140  fluidically connecting second fluid connection  97  on hollow housing  84  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  to pump  134 . Due to the parallel circuit arrangement as shown in FIG. 4, conduit  136  is identified for each mechanism  72 . A second hydraulic fluid flow control valve  142  is in each second hydraulic fluid conduit  140  and is located fluidically between second fluid connection  97  on hollow housing  84  of each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  and pump  134 . The second hydraulic fluid flow control valve  142  is movable between a closed fluid blocking configuration and an open fluid permitting configuration thereby controlling flow in conduit  140 . 
     Hydraulic fluid control circuit  130  further includes a control circuit  150  which includes a pump control circuit  152  electrically associated with pump  134  either via a land line  154  or via over-the-air communication as indicated by a circuit  156 , a hydraulic valve control circuit  158  electrically associated with the first and second hydraulic valve  138  and  142  in each toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  of the plurality of toilet bowl lifting mechanisms  72  either via a land line  160  or via over-the-air communication as indicated by a circuit  162 . Control circuit  150  further includes a signal receiver circuit  170  which can be either via land line or via over-the-air and a signal transmitter circuit  172  which can be via land line or via over-the-air. A remote control unit  180  is associated with control circuit  150  of the hydraulic fluid control circuit and is located near the water-storing bowl  52  of the toilet bowl unit  50 . Remote control unit  180  can be associated with the control circuit either via land line or via over-the-air communications as indicated by antenna  181 . The remote control unit is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and includes a plurality of control buttons, such as button  182 ,  184  and  186 , each control button being associated with one toilet bowl lifting mechanism  72  of the plurality of toilet bowl lifting mechanisms  72 , and an on/off switch  188  connecting the hydraulic valve control circuit to a source of power when in an ON configuration. Other buttons can also be included as desired for other operations, or one button can be an ON signal light. It is noted that both land line and over-the-air communication are indicated in FIG. 4 for each element of control circuit  130  for the sake of convenience. It is not necessary to use both forms of communication. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.