Abstract:
A lift for facilitating the raising and lowering of a user of a toilet, the lift includes a motor connected to a frame. The motor drives a screw or worm drive which raises and lowers support members connected to a seat. Handles can also be connected to the support members and seat for a user&#39;s convenience and safety. Typically the lift is positioned about and over a typical toilet, however a removable bowl could be attached under the seat to facilitate a portable lift to be used away from a toilet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to devices for assisting physically disabled persons, more specifically but not by way of limitation to a lift system for assisting physically disabled persons to sit upon and be removed from a toilet.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Individuals hampered by a physical handicap or disability often suffer from the inconvenience of needing help to do what many take for granted, including the most natural acts. For example the simple act of going to the bathroom for these individuals can be a very difficult and frustrating process. Although some may be able to get to the toilet without hindrance, many have great difficulty in sitting upon and getting up from the toilet. In many sitting upon and getting up the toilet is not possible without assistance.  
         [0003]     Therefore there is a need for an assist device that facilitates easy access to a toilet, and in particular facilitates the sitting upon and getting up from the toilet.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0004]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates a from perspective view of a toilet seat lift with a protective/decorative cover in accordance with principles of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front elevational view of a toilet seat lift in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  illustrates a left side elevational view of a toilet seat lift in a first or down position in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  illustrates a left side elevational view of a toilet seat lift in a second or up position in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  illustrates a left side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  illustrates a left side elevational view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exploded perspective view of parts of the present inventions; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the cover in accordance with the principles of the present inventions.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Referring now to the drawings wherein the various elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in particular  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of a toilet seat lift  100 . In this embodiment, toilet seat lift  100  is designed to be placed over a standard type toilet  110 . Toilet seat lift  100  includes a base  115 , a toilet seat  120 , handles  125  and a cover  130 . Cover  130  could be made of various materials including plastics or metals.  
         [0014]     In operation, toilet seat lift  100  is placed over the opening of toilet  110  such that toilet seat  120  is in alignment there with. Cover  130  provides not only esthetic functionality but helps protect the user of toilet seat lift  100  from the inner workings (see for example  FIGS. 2-4  described in more detail herein below). Toilet seat lift  100  is illustrated in the up position. A user, utilizing handles  125  would stand in front of toilet seat lift  100  and partially sit on seat  120 . When activated, toilet seat lift  100  would slowly lower toilet seat lift  100  to the down position such that toilet seat  120  is generally planar with the opening of toilet  110 . This lowering would facilitate the user to be able to easily go from a standing position to a sitting position on toilet seat  120 .  
         [0015]     Conversely, when activated, toilet seat lift  100  would then be slowly lifted back to the up position. This raising of toilet seat lift  100  facilitates the user to be able to easily remove themselves from the toilet seat  120 .  
         [0016]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 , there is illustrated toilet seat lift  200 , similar to the embodiment of toilet seat lift  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the cover  130  removed. As illustrated toilet seat lift  200  includes a base  215 , a toilet seat  220 , handles  225 , a motor  230  mounted to base  215 , seat supports  235  and  240 , a worm or drive screw  247  connected to motor  230  and seat support  235 . Supports  245  and  250  are connected to base  215 . Upper raising arms  255  and  260  (see  FIGS. 3 and 7 ) are connected at one end to horizontal support  275  and are also pivotally connected at a second end to seat supports  235  and  240 , respectively. Lower raising arms  265  and  270  are pivotally connected at one end to supports  245  and  250 , respectively, and are also pivotally connected at a second end to seat supports  234  and  240  respectively. A cover  232  is shown in dashed lines.  
         [0017]     Shaft  277  of horizontal support  275  is pivotally interconnected between supports  245  and  250 . Bracket  280  is interconnected between seat support  235  and handles  225  and bracket  285  is interconnected between seat support  240  and handles  225 . Brackets  280  and  285  include multiple holes, such as hole  290 , which allow for brackets  280  and  285  to be adjustable such that the height of handles  225  can be varied to a user preference. Handles  225  could also include pads  300  for a users comfort in gripping handles  255  during the user of toilet seat lift  200 . A user adjustable limit switch  310  would interface with toilet seat lift  200  so that a user can preconfigure how high toilet seat lift  200  will move.  
         [0018]     Although toilet seat lift  200  is illustrated with a single motor  230  and drive screw  247 , it is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention that an additional motor and drive screw assembly could be similarly utilized on the right side of toilet seat lift  200 . This would facilitate increasing the lifting power of toilet seat lift  200 . Motor  230  could be virtually any standard type of motor, including but not limited to and 110V AC motor with a ground fault breaker, or a 12V DC motor.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , the operation of toilet seat lift  200  will now be described. Toilet seat lift  200  is placed over an existing toilet such that toilet seat  230  is in alignment with the opening of the toilet. Brackets  280  and  285  are adjusted to select a preferred height of toilet seat  230  for a user. As illustrated, toilet seat lift  200  is movable between a down position as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and an up position as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Limit switch  310  can be adjusted such that the users preferred height of toilet seat lift  200  can be achieved. Limit switch  310  can also be adjusted to shut off motor  230  when the lower limit of toilet seat lift  200  has been achieved.  
         [0020]     To raise toilet seat lift  200 , motor  230  is activated and drives screw  247  in a first direction driving upper raising arms  255  and  260  and lower raising arms  265  and  270  to lift seat supports  235  and  240 . Similarly, to lower toilet seat lift  200 , motor is activated and drives screw  247  in a second direction driving upper raising arms  255  and  260  and lower raising arms  265  and  270  to lower seat supports  235  and  240 . One advantage of using screw  247 , among other things, is to facilitate a smooth and quite operation. Additionally the speed at which screw  247  can be driven, and therefore ultimately the speed which toilet seat lift  200  can be raised and lowered, can be easily adjusted to a users preference.  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of toilet seat lift  200  as similarly shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . In addition to the elements and features illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , this embodiment of toilet seat lift  200  includes a removable slide bowl  320  that is placeable under seat  220 , such that toilet seat lift  200  would not have to be placed over a standard toilet. Additionally toilet seat lift  200  includes wheels  325  and  330 , which are retractable into recesses  335  and  340  of base  215 . This preferred embodiment enables toilet seat lift  200  to operate as a portable lift. As can be appreciated additional wheels and recesses would be positioned on the corresponding opposite side of frame  215 .  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated another embodiment of toilet seat lift  200  as similarly shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . In addition to the elements and features illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , this embodiment of toilet seat lift  200  includes a removable large funnel  350  that is placeable under seat  220  and over the opening of the toilet. This would facilitate the direction of matter to be discharged into the toilet.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated in more detail an exploded view of shaft  277 , horizontal support  275  and raising arms  255  and  260  as described herein above. Raising arms  255  and  260  are each connected at one end to the ends of horizontal support  275 . Shaft  277  extends through horizontal support  275  for connection to supports  245  and  250 . Bearings  279  are located at each end of horizontal support  275  to facilitate the raising and lowering of upper raising arms  255  and  260 .  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment  500  to cover  530 . As illustrated multiple notches  540  and  545  are for receiving ends of one piece handle  525  to facilitate the adjustment of the position of handle  525  with respect to toiled seat  520 , as well as the removal of handle  525  from cover  530 . Only one handle  525  is illustrated for clarity purposes, however a second handle of similar construction to handle  525  can be inserted into notches  542  and  547 . For each of the embodiments herein, it is contemplated that the covers can be made out of recycled plastic in one piece, two pieces, or multiple pieces.  
         [0025]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.