DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ABOVE A TOILET POT, AND A TOILET ASSEMBLY

Abstract: The invention relates to device (1) for mounting above a toilet pot, comprising two or more toilet seats (2, 4) wherein one toilet seat (2) is mounted above the other (4) and wherein the upper toilet seat is displaceable between a folded down sitting position and a folded away position, wherein, in the folded down sitting position a user can sit on the upper toilet seat and wherein the folded away position, the user can sit on the lower seat.

Description: DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ABOVE A TOILET POT, AND A TOILET ASSEMBLY Different embodiments of toilets are known, for example to serve the needs of handicapped people. Such toilets can have a raised or lowered toilet pot and/or a raised or lowered toilet seat. A problem with such toilets is that the sitting height is not adjustable, which causes inconvenience by users with differing needs, such as by the above mentioned handicapped people, and members of the same family with greatly differing heights who all make use of the same toilet An object of the present invention is to solve this problem. According to the present invention there is provided a device for mounting above a toilet pot, comprising two or more toilet seats, wherein one toilet seat is mounted above the other and wherein the upper toilet seat is displaceable between a folded down sitting position and a folded away position, wherein, in the folded down sitting position a user can sit on the upper toilet seat and wherein in the folded away position, the user can sit on the lower seat . Since the device according to the present invention provides at least two varying sitting heights, it is very easy for a user to effect the desired sitting height by either folding down the upper seat, whereby the user can sit thereon, or by folding away the upper seat, whereby the user can take his or her place on the lower seat, which has a lower sitting position than the upper seat . The toilet seats are preferably arranged on a bearing element, which can be secured to the toilet pot, in order to provide a stable and secure sitting position. The device preferably comprises support means for the upper seat, which project between the upper and lower seats when the upper seat occupies its folded down sitting position. In this way, extra support is provided for the upper seat when the user is sitting thereon. Folding away means are preferably connected with these, support means so that in the folded away position of the upper seat, the support means are also folded away, so that these do not interfere with the user. The bearing element extends, in side view, preferably from a broad base to a narrow top, whereby the lower seat is secured to the base hereof and whereby the upper seat is secured on the bearing element above the lower seat m order to provide optimal space for folding away of the seats and for the user when sitting on the 1ower seat . The seats are preferably secured to the bearing element, by means of hingeable arms, whereby an arm of the upper seat is longer than an arm of the lower seat, so that the toilet seats are positioned substantially directly one above the other, when the user takes his or her place on the upper seat A splash screen is preferably arranged on the upper seat arranged to fold down, on lowering the upper seat into its sitting position, to fall into the gap between the upper and lower seats and over the edge of the lower seat opening. This m order to prevent urine from splashing out onto the lower seat and beyond. The present invention also relates to a toilet assembly comprising the above mentioned device and a toilet pot. The invention will now be described with reference to the figures, wherein: - figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device according to the present invention, wherein the upper seat occupies its folded away position, and - figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device from figure 1, wherein the upper seat occupies its folded down sitting position. - figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the upper seat is provided with a urine splash screen, and wherein the upper seat occupies its folded down sitting position; and - figure 4 shows a perspective view of the embodiment from figure 3, wherein the upper seat occupies its folded away position. The device 1 has an upper toilet seat 2, a lower toilet seat 4 which are both mounted on a bearing 6. This bearing 6 is mounted on a toilet pot 18. Hinge rods 8,9 of the two seats extend between two upstanding, triangular side pieces 10 of the bearing 6, which, in side view, extend from a broad base to a narrow top. The upper seat 2 is joined with the upper hingeable rod 9 by means of hinging arms 12 which are longer than hinging arms 14 of the lower seat 4. Two foldable supports 16 are arranged under the upper seat 2, in order to provide extra support to the upper seat 2, when this is folded down as is shown in figure 2. Two folding arms 20 are joined on one side with the side pieces 10 of the bearing 6 and on the other side to the supports 16 in order to displace the latter between the support position (figure 2) and the folded away position (figure 1) . In use, a user can accordingly choose between two sitting heights, namely a first sitting position wherein the user sits on the upper seat 2 (figure 2) and a second lower sitting position wherein the user sits on the lower seat 4 (figure 1) . Furthermore, a splash screen 22 (figure 3, 4) , preferably being made of a plastic sheet, is joined to the supports 16 and fixed to the inner rim of the upper seat 2 (figure 4) , so that on folding down of the upper seat 2 into its sitting position, this screen 22 folds out to hang between the seats 2, 4 to prevent urine from splashing out over the lower seat 4 (see figure 3) . This sheet 16 is also folded away by the supports 16 when the upper seat 2 is displaced into its folded away position (see figure 4) . It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the above described embodiments but is rather determined by the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for mounting above a toilet pot, comprising two or more toilet seats, wherein one toilet seat is mounted above the other and wherein the upper toilet seat is displaceable between a folded down sitting position and a folded away position, wherein, in the folded down sitting position a user can sit on the upper toilet seat and wherein in the folded away position, the user can sit on the lower seat . 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seats are mounted on a bearing element. 3. Device according to claims 1 or 2, further comprising support means which extend between the seats when the upper seat occupies its folded down sitting position. 4. Device according to claim 3, further comprising folding-away means for folding away of the support means, when the upper seat occupies its folded away position. 5. Device according to any of the claims 2-4, wherein the bearing element extends from a broad base to a narrow top, wherein the lower seat is secured to the base thereof and wherein the upper seat is secured to the bearing element above the lower seat . 6. Device according to any of the claims 2-5 wherein the seats are joined to the bearing element by means of at least one arm. 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the arm of the upper seat is longer than the arm of the lower seat . 8. Device according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a screen for preventing urine splash, said screen preferably associated with, and being foldable, with the upper seat. 9. Toilet assembly comprising a toilet pot and a device according to any of the previous claims .

Inventors: KOEMAN EDITH, VAN DER WIJST ADRIANUS JOHANNE, VEDRAL CASPAR, KOEMAN, EDITH, VAN DER WIJST, ADRIANUS, JOHANNES, ALOYSIUS, VEDRAL, CASPAR
Applicants: ADVIES EN REALISATIEBURO OP MA, KOEMAN EDITH, VEDRAL CASPAR, WIJST ADRIANUS JOHANNES ALOYSI, ADVIES-EN REALISATIEBURO "OP MAAT", KOEMAN, EDITH, VAN DER WIJST, ADRIANUS, JOHANNES, ALOYSIUS, VEDRAL, CASPAR
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47K13
IPC codes: A47K13