Abstract:
A restroom aid is disclosed for providing comfortable support for disabled, handicapped, elderly, or ill persons who require assistance using the restroom facilities. The restroom aid creates a sturdy frame around the toilet with aids for sitting, standing, and supporting the user&#39;s arms and head. The restroom aid can assemble and disassemble quickly using a quick-release mechanism. Furthermore, the restroom aid is easily adjustable to fit users and restroom facilities of different sizes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/470,387, filed on Mar. 31, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to a restroom aid, and more particularly, to an apparatus to aid in sitting, standing, and resting while using the facilities of a restroom. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0004]    A restroom is generally a private area where individuals can relieve themselves and attend to their own personal hygiene. A typical restroom comprises at least a faucet, sink and toilet, and oftentimes includes a mirror and table surface as well. Private restrooms, or residential restrooms, typically comprise a completely private room where all of the facilities are intended to be used by one individual at a time. Public restrooms are separated by sex and are intended to be used by more than one individual. Public restrooms generally comprise a private area, or stall, where the toilet is located, and a shared area where the faucet and sink are located. 
         [0005]    When using restroom facilities, common activities include sitting, standing, and resting on the facilities. Due to the private nature of a restroom or stall, these activities are intended to be performed alone. However, many individuals have difficulty performing these simple tasks. To compensate for these individuals, public restrooms offer handicap accessible stalls which help when sitting and standing. Private restrooms can also be fitted with various aids as well. 
         [0006]    While restrooms can be fitted with aids that provide assistance to the facilities, the aids are not robust enough to satisfy those with more serious conditions, especially when head and neck support are necessary. Therefore, a need exists for a restroom aid that is robust enough to accommodate individuals who have serious difficulty sitting, standing, or resting on conventional restroom facilities. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present device will provide strong, comfortable support for disabled, handicapped, elderly, or ill persons who might otherwise require assistance getting to and from the toilet. Furthermore, the present invention will provide a means of resting and supporting the user&#39;s arms and head while on the toilet. This is accomplished by creating a sturdy frame around the toilet with several aids for sitting, standing, and resting. 
         [0008]    The frame comprises a base, two vertical posts, a support brace, a toilet brace, a crossbar and two auxiliary braces. The base is used to create a stable structure on the floor. The toilet and auxiliary braces add support by anchoring the invention to the toilet. The support brace and crossbar attach to the vertical posts, and further aid in the rigidity of the invention. As a result, a rigid structure is provided that can accommodate any individual of any size. All of these features are fully adjustable for toilets, bathrooms and individuals of varying size. 
         [0009]    Two armrests are positioned on each vertical post. The armrests double as a comfortable support when using the toilet and as an aid to raise and lower the individual onto the toilet. A headrest is positioned at the center of the crossbar, allowing the user to rest their head and neck when using the toilet. The armrest and headrest are also fully adjustable. Furthermore, the entire assembly is quickly and easily assembled and disassembled using a quick-release mechanism. 
         [0010]    These and other objectives of the present invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a rear isometric view of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the support brace according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the support brace according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the support brace according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the support brace according to an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
         [0021]    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. 
         [0022]    The restroom aid  10  comprises a lightweight, yet sturdy, fully adjustable tubular frame that, when positioned around a toilet  12 , will provide its user a fully adjustable padded rest and support for his or her arms, neck, and head. The frame comprises a lightweight, sturdy, ½-1 inch rounded or squared tubing. Powder-coated aluminum is the preferred material, although rigid plastic, steel, or other suitable material can be used. The invention will rest on the bathroom floor, enclosing the toilet  12  and using the floor and the toilet  12  as leverage to provide support. 
         [0023]    The base  20  of the restroom aid  10  comprises four tubular horizontal sections that are connected in a rectangular shape. The four tubular horizontal sections are labeled the front section  31 , a rear section  32 , a left section  33 , and a right section  34 . The base  20  will be placed around the toilet  12 , and the user will step into the base  20  to use the restroom aid  10 . The base  20  will range in size from  24  to  36  inches in width and  24  to  36  inches in depth. While the preferred embodiment comprises a rectangular shape, any shape can be used that will provide support for the entire assembly. 
         [0024]    Several boots  35  are attached to the base  20 , preventing unwanted movement and while the restroom aid  10  rests on the floor. The boots  35  can be made from any suitable rubber or plastic with a sufficient coefficient of friction to restrict movement. The preferred embodiment comprises four boots  35 , one near each edge of the base  20 , but any number of boots  35  can be used to provide sufficient strength and rigidity. 
         [0025]    Two parallel vertical posts  21  are rotatably attached perpendicular to the base  20 , positioning themselves in front of the toilet  12  at the ends of the front section  31 . The vertical posts  21  will attach to the base  20  with brackets  36  to allow for the rotation. The vertical posts  21  range from 24 to 60 inches in height. While the preferred embodiment comprises two vertical posts  21 , any number can be used. 
         [0026]    The vertical posts  21  feature two padded  37 , rotatable armrests  26 , one on either side, and a pivoting crossbar  24  above the armrests  26 . The crossbar  24  attaches to the vertical posts  21  using a bracket  36  on one side and a locking means  52  on the other. The locking means  52  can be a pin-lock. A padded headrest  27  is positioned between the pivoting crossbar  24 , offering support for the individual&#39;s head and neck while they are seated on the toilet  12 . While the preferred embodiment illustrates an oval headrest  27 , any shape can be used to sufficiently provide support for the head and neck. 
         [0027]    Two diagonal support braces  22  are attached longitudinally to the base  20  and vertical posts  21  to provide additional support. The support braces  22  can also move upward and downward on the vertical post  21  with a sliding attachment  38  and knob  39  to secure the sliding attachment  38  at a desired location. The support braces  22 , having a variable length, provides for a change of angle of the vertical posts  21  when the sliding attachment  38  is adjusted. The angle of the vertical posts  21  to the base  20  can vary from 30° to 135°, and the angles are defined by the stoppers  48  preventing movement past a certain point. 
         [0028]    At the midpoint of the support braces  22 , two auxiliary braces  25  project inward. The auxiliary braces  25  are threaded  40 , providing for adjustable end-caps  41  to move along them. As such, the two auxiliary braces  25  and end-caps  41 , one on either side, will press into the sides of the toilet  12  pedestal. The auxiliary braces  25  provide support for side-to-side movement. 
         [0029]    A Y-shaped toilet brace  23  rises vertically from the rear section  32  of the base  20 . The toilet brace  23  comprises two threaded portions  42 , providing for adjustable end-caps  43  to move along them. The toilet brace  23  abuts the rear of the toilet  12 , and secures itself with adjustable end-caps  43 . The toilet brace  23  and end-caps  43  not only anchor the restroom aid  10  in position, but, along with the base  20  and auxiliary braces  25 , provide the resistance and leverage to hold the vertical posts  21  when the user raises or lowers his or her body to the toilet  12 . 
         [0030]    In an alternative embodiment, if the toilet  12  provides a reservoir that is very low to the ground, a fully adjustable toilet brace ( FIG. 6 ) can be used, allowing for an increased range for the end-caps  43  to secure themselves to the reservoir of the toilet  12 . In a further alternative embodiment, if the toilet  12  does not provide a reservoir, threaded eyelets  44  and a securing means  45  can be used to tie the toilet brace  23  to the toilet  12  ( FIG. 7 ). In an even further alternative embodiment, the toilet brace  23  comprises two risers  46  arising from the rear section  32  of the base  20 , each riser  46  providing a horizontal threaded section  42  and end-cap  43  to clamp onto the toilet  12  ( FIG. 8 ) similar to the auxiliary braces  25 , the horizontal threaded section  42  and end-cap  43  being replaceable by threaded eyelets  44  and a securing means  45 . In still an even further embodiment, there may be a second toilet brace  23 , in any of the above varieties, positioned in the center of the front section  31  of the base  20  and securing the toilet  12  from the front as well ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0031]    The restroom aid  10  and fittings, including the base  20 , vertical posts  21 , support braces  22 , toilet brace  23 , crossbar  24 , and auxiliary braces  25 , feature telescoping, tube-within-tube, hole-and-pin mechanisms  47  for easy adjustability and assembly/disassembly. As such, the height, width, and depth of the device may be easily adjusted to accommodate bathrooms and toilets  12  of different sizes, as well as larger and smaller individuals. Furthermore, disassembly of the restroom aid  10  would be a simple matter of removing a few holding pins  47  and separating the tubular components of the frame, without the need of additional tools. 
         [0032]    The height of the armrests  26  and crossbar  24  are also fully adjustable by means of sliding-tube attachments  38  and tightening knobs  39 . The headrest  27  can be rotated to any angle at which the user finds most comfortable for supporting the head. A combination of adjusting the angle of the vertical posts  21  and height of the crossbar  24  provide for a better height, position, and angle of the headrest  27 . 
         [0033]    The crossbar  24  can also be rotated to an open position  51  from the closed position  50 , allowing the user to enter and exit the restroom aid  10  without obstruction. Furthermore, the two armrests  26  are designed to rotate  360  degrees  55  along the vertical axis created by the vertical posts  21 , thus presenting the user with a wide variety of positions for supporting his or her arms, forearms, and hands. A knob  39  is used to retain the desired rotational position of the armrests  26  as well as the sliding means  38  to retain the vertical position of the armrests  26 . The armrests  26  and headrest  27  will be covered in a firm yet supportive and comfortable foam. 
         [0034]    While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the restroom aid  10  may be adapted to fit other types of restrooms and toilets  12  that have not been mentioned. Furthermore, a method of adjusting the restroom aid  10  may be implemented using a different means, so long as the spirit of the invention has not been lost. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims. 
         [0035]    Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention. 
         [0036]    The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
         [0037]    All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
         [0038]    Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “Detailed Description.” While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. 
         [0039]    While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.