PATENT ABSTRACT
A commode chair is provided that includes a seat having a central hole and a frame on which the seat is mountable. The frame includes at least three leg connectors. The commode chair also includes at least three legs in which each of the legs is configured to be removably connected to a respective one of the leg connectors. The commode chair further includes at least three leg extenders in which each of the leg extenders is configured to be slideably connected to a respective one of the legs. In an embodiment, the frame and leg assemblies can be simply and easily assembled and disassembled. The components can be stacked with, and/or attached to, each other to reduce the space occupied by the disassembled commode chair, thereby lowering storage and transportation costs.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application relates to commode chairs, and in particular relates to an easily assembled commode chair having removable legs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Commode chairs provide a system for going to the bathroom that may be arranged anywhere the user requires. In particular, commode chairs may be arranged near a bedside to assist anyone who requires easy access to a bathroom, whether by reason of a disability or lack of bladder or bowel control. Commode chairs provide a seat and a pail, thereby enabling a person to sit and go to the bathroom. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A commode chair is provided that includes a seat having a central hole and a frame on which the seat is mountable. The frame includes at least three leg connectors. The commode chair also includes at least three legs in which each of the legs is configured to be removably connected to a respective one of the leg connectors. The commode chair further includes at least three leg extenders in which each of the leg extenders is configured to be slideably connected to a respective one of the legs. 
         [0004]    In an embodiment, the frame and leg assemblies can be simply and easily assembled and disassembled. The components can be stacked with, and/or attached to, each other to reduce the space occupied by the disassembled commode chair, thereby lowering storage and transportation costs. 
         [0005]    A commode chair is provided that includes a frame selectively arrangeable between an operative orientation and a stored orientation. The frame includes two armrest components and a cross bar component, and the two armrest components substantially define a longitudinal dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. The cross bar component substantially defines a transverse dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. The commode chair also includes four leg assemblies arrangeable relative to the frame between the operative and stored orientations. Each leg assembly is removably connectable to a lower portion of one of the armrest components of the frame and includes a leg extender. Each of the armrest components and one or more corresponding leg assemblies substantially define a vertical or height dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. A maximum dimension of the commode chair in the stored orientation substantially corresponds to the transverse dimension defined by the cross bar component. 
         [0006]    These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled commode chair according to an embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a close-up view of a portion of a leg and a leg connector according to an embodiment in a detached state; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a close-up view of the portion of the leg and the leg connector shown in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment in a partially attached state; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an armrest component, part of a leg assembly, and part of a cross-frame component according to an embodiment in a detached state; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a close-up view of a T connector of an armrest component and a partial view of a back cross bar in an attached state; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a partially assembled commode chair according to an embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a partially assembled commode chair according to an embodiment; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a close-up view of a leg assembly illustrating a leg extender, an anti-slip arrangement, and a threaded collar. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The commode chair according to an exemplary embodiment may have four leg connectors and four leg assemblies, and the frame may be substantially rectangular. Each leg connector may be arranged in a corner region of the substantially rectangular frame. Each of the leg connectors may include a threaded member, and a top of each leg assembly may include a threaded collar configured to engage the respective threaded member. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of commode chair  100 . Commode chair  100  includes seat arrangement  110 . Seat arrangement  110  includes pail  112 , seat  114  having a central hole, and cover  116 . Commode chair  100  also includes two armrest components  120 ,  130  and four leg assemblies  140 ,  150 ,  160 , and  170 . Each armrest component is attached to two leg assemblies. In particular, armrest component  120  is attached to leg assemblies  140  and  170 , and armrest component  130  is attached to leg assemblies  150  and  160 . Front cross bar  190  attaches to a front end of each of armrest components  120  and  130 , and back cross bar  195  attaches to a back end of each of armrest components  120  and  130 . Back rest  180  attaches to a back end of armrest components  120  and  130 . Armrest components  120  and  130 , front cross bar  190  and back cross bar  195  provide a frame for commode chair  100 . 
         [0017]    Seat  114  may include a seat cushion arranged around the central hole. The seat may be adapted to snap on to a back edge of the frame and to pivot around the back edge. Cover  116  may be adapted to snap on to a back edge of the frame and to pivot around the back edge. Backrest  180  may be alternatively configured to attach to back cross bar  195 . The backrest may extend upward from the frame when attached. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  further illustrates the orientation of assembled commode chair  100 .  FIG. 1  illustrates three-dimensional axis  102  including transverse axis  104 , longitudinal axis  108 , and vertical axis  106 . Assembled commode chair  100  has a transverse distance defined substantially by front cross bar  190 , and a longitudinal distance defined substantially by armrest components  120  and/or  130 . Assembled commode chair  100  has a vertical distance defined substantially by any one or more of armrest component  120  and leg assembly  140  and/or leg assembly  170 , and armrest component  130  and leg assembly  150  and/or leg assembly  160 , excluding backrest  180  and with seat cover  116  lowered. Due to the detachability of armrest component  120  and leg assembly  140 , and all of the other leg assemblies, a disassembled commode chair  100  has a maximum dimension defined by front cross bar  190 . 
         [0019]    Commode chair  100  is selectively arrangeable between an operative orientation and a stored orientation. The frame includes two armrest components and a cross bar component, and the two armrest components substantially define a longitudinal dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. The cross bar component substantially defines a transverse dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. The commode chair also includes four leg assemblies arrangeable relative to the frame between the operative and stored orientations. Each leg assembly is removably connectable to a lower portion of one of the armrest components of the frame and includes a leg extender. Each of the armrest components and one or more corresponding leg assemblies substantially define a vertical or height dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. A maximum dimension of the commode chair in the stored orientation substantially corresponds to the transverse dimension defined by the cross bar component. 
         [0020]    Commode chair  100  may be disassembled, with the leg assemblies detached from the arm rest components, the front and rear cross bar components detached from the arm rest components, a pail support arrangement collapsed, and a seat arrangement detached from the pail support arrangement. In the disassembled or stored orientation, the parts of commode chair may be packaged in a compact manner. The longest dimension of the all of the parts of the commode chair in the stored orientation is defined by the length of the front and rear cross bars. The stored orientation of the commode chair may have a compact configuration of substantially reduced vertical and longitudinal dimensions, causing the transverse dimension defined by the cross bars to be the maximum dimension of the commode chair in the stored orientation. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary attachment system  200  for attaching leg assembly  140  to armrest component  120 . Leg assembly  140  includes a leg and a leg extender. The leg of leg assembly  140  includes exterior shaft  230  and threaded collar  210 . In particular, attachment system  200  includes threaded collar  210  arranged on a leg of leg assembly  140 . Threaded collar  210  is adapted to cooperatively interact with threaded member  220  arranged on armrest component  120 . Alternatively, the threaded member and the threaded collar may be arranged on the opposite elements in order to create an alternative attachment system. Attachment system  200  also includes interior shaft  240  arranged on armrest component  120 , which is adapted to be inserted into exterior shaft  230  of a leg portion of leg assembly  140 . Interior shaft  240  includes indentation  242  on an external side. Exterior shaft  230  includes flange  232  which creates a protrusion towards the center of exterior shaft  230 . Flange  232  is adapted to cooperate with indentation  242  when leg assembly  140  is connected to armrest component  120  in order to properly orient leg assembly  140  with respect to armrest component  120 . Leg assembly  140  may be connected to armrest component  120  by elastic cord  250 , which may connect to an interior portion of armrest component  120  and another interior portion of leg assembly  140 . Alternatively, elastic cord  250  may be a cable or another tensioning arrangement, or alternatively may be eliminated from attachment system  200 . 
         [0022]    A tensioning arrangement, such as an elastic cord or spring, and/or a flexible connector, such as a cable or cord, may be provided for each of the leg assemblies, in addition to or instead of elastic cord  250 . A first end of each of the elastic cords attached to a respective leg assembly may extend out of a hollow end of the top of the respective leg assembly, and a second end of each of the elastic cords attached to a respective one of the leg connectors may extend out of a hollow end of the respective leg connector. An additional tensioning arrangement may be arranged in at least one of the hollow end of the top of the respective leg assembly and the hollow end of the respective leg connector. The tensioning arrangement may be another elastic member, a spring member, a coil, or any other appropriate arrangement for introducing tension into the elastic system. The tensioning arrangements may ensure that the leg assemblies of the commode chair are not separated from the other components during storage. Additionally, the tensioning arrangements may assist a user in assembling the commode chair. 
         [0023]    Each of the leg connectors may include an interior shaft, and each of the legs may include an exterior shaft. The exterior shaft of each of the leg assemblies may be adapted to receive the interior shaft of a respective leg connector in a friction fit, and each of the exterior shafts may include a flange extending to an interior side. Each of the interior shafts may include an indentation on an exterior side, and each of the flanges may be adapted to slideably cooperate with a corresponding indentation when the exterior shaft of each of the legs receives the interior shaft of a respective leg connector. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates attachment system  200  in a partially attached state. Leg assembly  140  is pressed towards armrest component  120  and threaded collar  210  is fitted to threaded member  220  by turning threaded collar  210  in direction  300 . In this manner, threads on an interior of threaded collar  210  cooperatively interact with threaded member  220  to connect leg assembly  140  to armrest component  120 . 
         [0025]    Alternatively, each of the leg connectors may include a threaded collar, and a top of each of the legs may include a threaded member configured to be engaged by the respective threaded collar. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates armrest component  120  and back cross bar  195  in a partially exploded view. Armrest component  120  includes armrest  400  for an arm of a user of a commode  100 . Armrest component  120  also includes T connector  420  at a backside of armrest component  120 . Armrest component  120  also includes a front crossbar receiver  410  adapted to receive front cross bar  190 . T connector  420  connects on a bottom side to leg assembly  170  and includes a lateral receiving element adapted to receive back cross bar  195 . Back cross bar  195  includes a pail support arrangement  440  in a middle area. Pail support arrangement  440  is adapted to support pail  112 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates T connector  420 . T connector receives back cross bar  195  into an interior portion. Back cross bar  195  includes push pin  510  which locks back cross bar  195  to T connector  420  when pushpin  510  is arranged to cooperate with a hole in T connector  420 . Lock knob  500  is arranged on T connector  420  to secure back cross bar  195  to T connector  420 . Lock knob  500  is tightened to secure the connection, and is loosened in order to disassemble commode  100 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of a partially assembled commode chair  100  according to an embodiment including two armrest components  120 ,  130 , parts of three leg assemblies  140 ,  160  and  170 , and front cross bar  190 . Armrest component  120  and armrest component  130  are shown connected by back cross bar  195 . Leg assembly  140  is attached to a front end of armrest component  120  and leg assembly  170  is attached to a back end of armrest component  120 . Leg assembly  160  is attached to a back end of armrest component  120 . Leg assembly  160  is attached to a back end of armrest component  130 . Back cross bar  195  includes pail support arrangement  440  in a middle section of back cross bar  195 . Pail support arrangement  440  is also attached to front cross bar  190 . 
         [0029]    The frame may include a cross-bar component including a front cross bar, a back cross bar, and a pail holding arrangement between the front cross bar and the back cross bar. The front cross bar and the back cross bar may include push pins at each end. The frame may include two armrest components, with each armrest component including two leg connectors, at least one backrest receiver, a front cross bar receiver and a back cross bar receiver. Each front cross bar receiver may be adapted to receive an end of the front cross bar into an interior portion and to receive the respective push pin into a hole to lock the front cross bar to the respective armrest component. Each back cross bar receiver may be adapted to receive an end of the back cross bar into an interior portion and to receive the respective push pin into a hole to lock the back cross bar to the respective armrest component. At least one of the front cross bar receivers and the back cross bar receivers of each cross bar component may include a lock knob adapted to secure the one of the front cross bar and the back cross bar to the corresponding armrest component. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a partially assembled commode chair  100 . In  FIG. 7 , armrest component  120  is attached to leg assemblies  140  and  170  and armrest component  130  is attached to leg assemblies  150  and  160 . Back cross bar  195  is attached to a back end of armrest component  120  and a back end of armrest component  130 . Front cross bar  190  is attached to a front end of armrest component  120  and a front end of armrest component  130 . Pail support arrangement  440  extends from back cross bar  195  to front cross bar  190  in a central region of commode chair  100 . Back support  180  extends from a back end of armrest component  120  to a back end of armrest component  130 . 
         [0031]    The easily assembled commode chair may include a backrest configured to attach to the seat on at least one edge of the seat. The backrest may extend upward from a top surface of the seat when attached. 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates leg assembly  140  including leg extender  810  and exterior shaft  230  of the leg. Leg extender  810  is arranged on a bottom side of leg assembly  140  and includes rubber stopper arrangement  820  on a bottom end. Alternatively, rubber stopper arrangement  820  may be a wheel. Leg extender  810  includes holes  830 ,  831 ,  832 ,  833 ,  834 , and  835  adapted to cooperate with a push pin arrangement on an exterior of exterior shaft  320  of the leg. More or fewer holes are possible on leg extender  810 . Exterior shaft  230  extends into an interior portion of leg extender  810  forming a telescopic relationship enabling the height adjustment. By arranging a push pin of leg assembly  140  in different holes  830 ,  831 ,  832 ,  833 ,  834 , and  835  on leg extender  810 , different height arrangements for commode chair  100  may be provided. Leg assembly  140  includes threaded collar  210  and elastic cord  250  extending out of an interior of exterior shaft  230 . Leg assembly  140  attaches to an armrest by elastic cord  250 . 
         [0033]    Each of the leg assemblies may include a height adjustment mechanism, a leg and a leg extender. The leg and leg extender may include at least two leg parts telescopically engaging each other. The height adjustment mechanism may enable the at least two leg parts to extend, retract and lock in position. Parts of the height adjustment mechanism may be arranged on both the leg and leg extender, and in particular, holes may be arranged on the leg extender and a push pin may be arranged on the leg. The push pin may be adapted to cooperatively interact with the holes to adjust the height. Each of the leg extenders may include an anti-slip arrangement on a bottom of the leg extender. Each of the leg extenders may be capped by a rubber or plastic cap. Each of the leg extenders may include a wheel on a bottom of the leg extender, enabling commode chair  100  to be wheeled around. 
         [0034]    The easily assembled commode chair may include a holder attached to one or more components of the frame or seat configured to hold each of the legs when the legs are not connected to the respective leg connectors. The holders may be plastic clips, magnets, or any other appropriate arrangement for introducing holding a leg. In such a situation, if the legs are equipped with elastic cords or other retaining arrangements, each of the elastic cords has a length sufficient to allow the legs to be held in the holder. The components of the commode chair may include steel, aluminum or plastic. 
         [0035]    The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and that various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.