Abstract:
A method and apparatus for lifting, transporting, or installing a commode is disclosed. The commode lifting and transporting device includes a base frame, with an upright support frame designed to straddle and lift a commode at or near the commode&#39;s center of gravity. The lifting member includes a screw jack, a lifting bar guided by the upright support frame, and three methods of attaching the commode to the commode lifting device: a self-clamping mechanism for lifting and transporting standard commodes; a set of support hooks and chain for lifting and transporting non-standard commodes, and lifting bar holes used in conjunction with the commode&#39;s seat holes, two bolts and two nuts as an alternate method for lifting and transporting non-standard commodes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to a device used for lifting commodes so as to prevent backache and injury and damage to the commode and surrounding surfaces such as carpeting.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is well known that commodes are heavy and awkward to lift. However, commodes still must be changed and plumbers, building maintenance personnel and tile personnel can damage their backs by lifting commodes, which can weigh as much as 100 lbs. Plus, a wet floor increases the chance of accidents. For at least the above reasons, it is clear that a means for allowing those with even minimal strength to lift and move a commode is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention has as its primary objective to provide a commode-lifting and transporting device whereby back strain from commode lifting can be eliminated.  
         [0004]     Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a safe and effective means of transporting a commode with much lower risk of damage to the commode than when the conventional method of lifting with arms and legs is used.  
         [0005]     This and other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is an unfolded and locked view of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a view of the present invention lifting a standard commode;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a view of the present invention lifting a one-piece commode;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a view of the present invention lifting a commode that has no water-tank; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a view of the present invention folded and ready for storage.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     The following description should be considered as an example only, and the present invention should not be considered as limited thereto. Modifications and updates may be made and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0012]     Most commodes require two people to remove, precisely install and fit the commode during removal and installation. This is because commodes are awkwardly designed and require centering over anchor bolts protruding from the floor over which the commode is to be installed. The proper procedure is to completely disassemble the commode whereby the water holding tank is completely removed, when possible, to divide the commode into two separate sections. This undertaking takes a large amount of time and effort. Quite often, a commode is removed and replaced by one person without disassembling into two sections increasing the likelihood of personal injury and commode breakage. Additionally, when a commode is removed for repair, excess water in the bowl results in extra weight and the possibility of injury and spillage, which can damage carpeting and other flooring surfaces.  
         [0013]     There have been dollies and hand trucks used to handle commodes, but they are not as convenient, easy to use, effective, or as potentially economical as the present invention, especially in close quarters, which is usually the case in homes, apartments, and in the hospitality industry. U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,593, Decky et al, 1994, Hand Cart For Lifting and Transporting Toilets shows a hand cart for lifting, transporting and installing toilets with ball engaging grapples and a rim clamp to hold a toilet on the cart during the lifting and transporting process. Decky et al grasps a toilet at one end, as opposed to lifting and suspending a commode closer to the center of gravity as does the present invention.  
         [0014]     The present invention is rolled into position and the unbolted commode is lifted in seconds by using the crank. The present invention lifts and suspends the commode close to the center of gravity, greatly simplifying the design and manufacturability of working parts and the manufacturing processes required to build. This makes the present invention potentially more affordable for the market of users desiring to purchase a commode lifting/handling device and also makes the present invention less likely to fail while in use due to fewer working parts.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,511, Chitwood, 1988, Toilet Lift Truck shows a commode lifting/handling device that uses lifting arms, bars, collars, and rods. Chitwood uses extended horizontal cradling arms attached to vertical supports located just beyond the front of the commode rim at the point that is furthest away from the commode&#39;s water-tank to support the commode, as opposed to lifting and suspending a commode closer to the commode&#39;s center of gravity as does the present invention. During lifting, the Chitwood design places the greatest strain from lifting a few inches beyond the front of the commode rim at the point that is furthest away from the commode&#39;s water-tank, which is a design concept that requires much more complexity than does the present invention. The present invention represents a new and improved design compared to Chitwood for the same reasons previously sited in the Decky et al comparison.  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,905, 1968, Toilet Bowl Handling And Transporting Apparatus uses a horizontal boom placed over the bowl of the commode extending from a point a few inches beyond the front of the commode rim at the point that is furthest away from the commode&#39;s water-tank. While U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,905 lifts the commode from above the bowl closer to the commode&#39;s center of gravity similar to the present invention, as in the other designs mentioned above, the greatest strain from lifting is placed far from the center of gravity, which is a few inches beyond the front of the commode rim at the point that is furthest away from the commode water-tank. This design concept requires much more complexity than does the present invention. The present invention does not require a lifting boom, nor does the present invention require cumbersome manual adjustment and positioning of clamping members inside the toilet bowl lid flange. The present invention does not require any sort of clamp positioning and adjustment due to differing bowl sizes, as does U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,905. The present invention represents a new and improved design compared to U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,905 for the same reasons previously sited in the Decky et al comparison.  
         [0017]     The present invention allows one person to quickly, safely and securely lift, hold, move, and accurately reset a commode without damage to either the wax ring commonly found on the sewer drain or any part or parts of the commode assembly or surrounding structure such as a floor, walls, wallpaper, paint, or molding. The present invention includes self-clamping lifting arms connected to a lifting bar contained in a balanced wheeled structure for easy lifting, moving and accurately resetting a commode such as could be required during construction, remodeling, repair or replacement activities. One piece commodes and other commode styles where the bowl section does not have a flat underside surface between the bowl section and the water-tank section also can be lifted easily by simply wrapping a plastic-coated chain or rope around the bottom underside of the water-tank and securing each end to the lifting bar. The flat underside surface between the water-tank and the seat is required for the self-clamping lifting arms mechanism to function properly.  
         [0018]     The center of gravity on all commodes that have a water-tank is a few inches beyond the front center of the water-tank directed toward the commode&#39;s bowl section. Marking the center of gravity of a normal upright resting side view commode using a vertical line, the vertical line would dissect the commode&#39;s bowl section 4 to 6 inches beyond the front of the water-tank. This is because the bowl section of the commode is always heavier than the water-tank section of the commode. The present invention lifts and suspends a commode just in front of the water-tank, very close to the center of gravity allowing the heavier bowl section to tip downward causing the water-tank to tilt forward and rest against the upright frame.  
         [0019]     The present invention is collapsible for shipping and storage.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 , and  4 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a present invention  1  includes an upright frame  10 , a base frame  20 , a lifting bar  30 , and pivotal lifting hooks  40 . The upright frame  10  includes lifting nuts  11 . The base frame  20  includes caster wheels  21 , caster nuts  22 , slotted brackets  23 , self-locking brackets  24 , pivot bolts  25 , and lock/unlock bolts  26 . The lifting bar  30  includes a lifting bolt  31 , a handle  32 , sleeves  33 , a nut welded to the lifting bolt for reinforcement  34 , a nut welded to the lifting bolt for support  35 , support hooks  36 , and lifting bar holes  38 . The lifting bar holes  38  are not shown in  FIG. 4  due to a bolt inserted through each of the lifting bar holes  38 .  
         [0021]     The pivotal lifting hooks  40  include horizontal bars  42 . During construction of the present invention, the lifting bolt  31  is inserted through a hole in the lifting bar  30  that is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the lifting bolt  31 . Both the supporting nut  35  and the reinforcement nut  34  are welded to the lifting bolt  31 . The lifting bar  30  raises and lowers as the handle  32  is rotated and the lifting bar  30  remains seated between the upright frame  10 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows the present invention  1  with a commode  50  raised from the floor supported by the pivotal lifting hooks  40 . As the commode  50  is not a part of the present invention, it is shown in dotted lines. Gravity causes the raised commode  50  to exert downward force on the pivotal lifting hooks  40  and the pivotal lifting hooks  40  push inward creating a strong clamp on the commode  50 . The pivotal lifting hooks  40  clamp the commode  50  near the center of gravity. The shape of the pivotal lifting hooks  40  and proper positioning of the sleeves  33  combine to create the pivotal lifting hooks  40  clamping mechanism.  
         [0023]     In order to understand how the self-clamping mechanism works, one must first picture an imaginary vertical line that extends along the lifting bolt  31  and continues down to the ground level. When the present invention  1  and commode  50  are in a lifting or lifted position as shown in  FIG. 2 , the sleeves  33  are positioned closer to the imaginary vertical line than are the horizontal bars  42 . When gravity causes the commode  50  to exert downward pressure on the horizontal bars  42 , each horizontal bar  42  moves closer to the imaginary vertical line. This happens because each horizontal bar  42  cannot be pushed straight down by the gravitational force of the commode  50  due to the fixed positioning of the sleeves  33  and the strength of the pivotal lifting hooks  40 . Therefore, when downward pressure is exerted, each horizontal bar  42  moves closer the imaginary vertical line referenced above exerting horizontal clamping pressure on the commode  50 . This clamping pressure continues until each horizontal bar  42  reaches the point directly underneath its respective sleeve  33 . However, each horizontal bar  42  will not reach the point directly underneath its respective sleeve  33  due to the design of the self-clamping mechanism and the width of clamped section of the commode  50 , so the self-clamping mechanism continues to form a powerful clamp on the commode  50 .  
         [0024]     The upright frame  10  also acts as a point of support for the lifted commode  50 . The upright frame  10  functions to restrain the water-tank on the commode  50  from tipping in the direction of the bowl section of the commode  50 . The commode  50  tips in the direction of the bowl section due to the fact that the bowl section of the commode  50  is heavier than the water-tank section of the commode  50 . When lifted, the commode  50  will pivot at the point where the horizontal bars  42  come into contact with the commode  50 , and since the bowl section of the commode  50  is heavier than the water-tank section of the commode  50 , the heavier bowl section causes the water-tank section to rest against the upright frame  10 . While the commode  50  is suspended in air, the water-tank section of the commode  50  rests against the upright frame  10  providing support for the lifted commode  50  that is in addition to the support provided by the pivotal lifting hooks  40 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows an alternate method of supporting a one-piece body style commode  51 . The self-clamping mechanism described above does not work on one-piece body style commodes or commodes that do not have a horizontally flat underside between the bowl section and the water-tank section. In  FIG. 3 , the one-piece body style commode  51  is supported with a plastic coated chain  60  connected to the support hooks  36 . The lifting mechanism works the same. However, instead of support from the pivotal lifting hooks  40  and horizontal bars  42 , support for the one-piece body style commode  51  shifts to the chain  60  and the support hooks  36 . The water-tank section of the one-piece body style commode  51 , just as in  FIG. 2 , rests against the upright frame  10  providing further support for the lifted one-piece body style commode  51 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows an additional alternate method of supporting yet another type of commode: a commode that does not have an attached water-tank. These water-tank-less commodes utilize a sloan valve or stern valve and therefore, do not have an attached water-tank. These water-tank-less commodes are primarily used for commercial applications.  FIG. 4  shows a water-tank-less commode  52  supported by the present invention utilizing support bolts  37  inserted through the lifting bar holes  38  and the commode&#39;s seat holes. The lifting bar holes  38  are shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 . The lifting bar holes  38  are not shown in  FIG. 4  due to the fact that the support bolts  37  are fully inserted into the lifting bar holes  38 , thus hiding the lifting bar holes  38  from view.  FIG. 4  shows a supporting nut  39  screwed onto the end of each of the two support bolts  37  creating a sturdy connection between the water-tank-less commode  52  and the lifting plate  30  allowing the water-tank-less commode to be lifted, suspended, and transported by the present invention.  
         [0027]     The maneuverability of the present invention  1 , combined with the ease of lifting the commode by means of the lifting bolt  31  and lifting handle  32  means that one man can easily lift a commode from its setting, remove it from the immediate area, then reinstall the commode. Lifting a commode using the present invention is as easy as rolling the present invention in place and turning the handle  32  to lift an unbolted commode and ready it for transport. If the unbolted commode is without a horizontally flat underside area between the bowl section and the water-tank section, using the alternate connection shown in  FIG. 3  is almost as easy. Simply wrap the chain underneath the water-tank, connect the chain to the support hooks  36  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and turn the handle  32  to lift an unbolted one-piece body style commode  51 . If the commode is without a water-tank, the water-tank-less commode  52  can be lifted simply by utilizing the support bolts  37  inserted through the lifting bar holes  38  and the commode&#39;s seat holes.  
         [0028]     The balanced design and maneuverability of the present invention  1  eliminates the need for two people to safely remove installed commodes as could be required in the case of, but not restricted to, remodeling, refurbishing, repair or replacement. As can be seen in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 , the present invention  1  fits roughly within the floor space occupied by the commode. The compact size of the present invention  1  combined with the caster wheels  21  which are swivel type caster wheels in the preferred embodiment of the present invention results in a very maneuverable means of getting commodes in and out of tight spaces.  
         [0029]     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shape of each end of the lifting bar  30  is concave so that the lifting bar  30  nests horizontally within the upright frame  10 . Therefore, the lifting bar  30  is guided by the upright frame  10  and is moved up and down by means of turning the handle  33 , which rotates the lifting bolt  32 . The lifting bolt  32  can be a standard commercially available threaded bolt or it can be fabricated from threaded rod. The lifting bolt  32 , as it is rotated, raises or lowers the lifting bar  30 , which in turn raises or lowers the commode as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 .  
         [0030]     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the preferred structural materials are steel, although, other metals, such as aluminum or heavy gauge plastic would suffice for the intended purpose.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows how the present invention  1  can be folded, which is convenient for storage or shipping. The present invention is unfolded and locked into lifting position by sliding the lock/unlock bolts  26  attached to the upright frame 10  through the upper slot in the self-locking bracket  24  until the lock/unlock bolt  26  comes to rest at the bottom of the upper slot in the self-locking bracket  24 . This will lock the upright frame  10  into an upright position and the present invention  1  will be ready for lifting.  
         [0032]     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.  
         [0033]     It is anticipated that various changes may be made in the arrangement and operation of the system of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.