Abstract:
A bariatric toilet seat support apparatus for a conventional toilet is disclosed herein. The bariatric toilet seat support apparatus is designed to be placed under a toilet seat such that when an individual uses the toilet seat the weight of the individual is transferred from the toilet seat to the support apparatus of the current invention, avoiding distribution of weight to the toilet itself. The bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention may be used with floor mounted or wall mounted toilets. It is designed to prevent wall mounted toilets from breaking off the wall under the weight of an individual and also to prevent floor mounted toilets from collapsing under the weight of an individual.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The current invention relates to toilet supports, more particularly to toilet seat supports for floor or wall mounted toilets, and most particularly to toilet seat supports for bariatric individuals using floor mounted or wall mounted toilets. 
   Toilets manufactured in the United States are currently rated to support approximately 300 lbs. However, the population of this country is getting larger and larger with each passing year. 
   The vitreous china or porcelain that both wall mounted and floor mounted toilets are constructed of is incapable of supporting bariatric (i.e. overweight) individuals. Conventional toilets have a seat designed to receive the weight of an individual using the toilet. The weight of an individual is distributed onto the toilet when in use. When a bariatric individual using a toilet exceeds the toilet support capacity, significant problems may occur. 
   Many hospitals and other institutions have had problems with wall mounted toilets breaking off the wall due to the weight of bariatric individuals. Further, floor mounted toilets have been known to collapse under the weight of bariatric individuals. Such individuals may receive serious injuries when a toilet collapses beneath them, including, lacerations to the buttocks, thighs, and back. Further, the discomfort and embarrassment of toilet collapse victims should not be underestimated. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a support apparatus that will support the toilet seat of a toilet and relieve the toilet from the weight of an individual. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The current invention provides a bariatric toilet seat support apparatus for use with a floor mounted or wall mounted toilet. Conventional toilets have a seat for receiving the body of a user. The seat transfers the user&#39;s weight to the toilet. The bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention comprises a weight distributing frame positionable on a floor surface and a pair of toilet seat support members attached to the frame. The toilet seat support members  are suitable to be positioned under the toilet seat to receive the weight of the user so that the weight of the user is distributed onto the weight distributing frame. Thus, the weight of the individual is relieved from the toilet. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention has base members removably attached to the frame for engaging the floor surface. Preferably, the base members have a means for adjusting the height of the support apparatus, a means for leveling the support apparatus, and a non-slip bottom surface. The means for adjusting the height of the support apparatus is adjustable to position the seat support members at a proper height to receive the weight of a user. 
   In another embodiment, the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus includes a pair of adjustable wall locator members engageable with a wall proximate to the toilet. The wall locator members are adjustable to position the seat support members at a proper location between the toilet seat and the toilet to receive the weight of the user. 
   In another embodiment, the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention includes both the aforementioned adjustable base members and the aforementioned adjustable wall locator members. In this embodiment, both the adjustable base members and the adjustable wall locator members adjust to position the seat support members at the proper location related to the toilet to receive the weight of a user when the bariatric seat support apparatus of the current invention is in use. 
   The seat support members of the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention have a thickness such that the support members may be placed between a toilet seat and a toilet bowl such that the toilet seat rests substantially along the support members. The weight distributing frame is fixedly attached along the outside edges of the bottom surface of the respective toilet seat support members. Thus, the toilet seat support members of the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention may be placed between the toilet seat and a toilet bowl such that the toilet seat rests in a substantially parallel manner on  the top surfaces of the respective support members. Further, with the embodiments including the adjustable base members and the adjustable wall locator members, the position of the seat support members will be advantageously positioned under the toilet seat to receive the weight of the user so that the weight is distributed onto the frame and relieved from the toilet. 
   Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the new bariatric toilet support apparatus according to the current invention shown in use with a floor mounted toilet. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the new bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention shown in use with a wall mounted toilet. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention taken along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a support member of the present invention taken along line  6  of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  in use with a floor mounted toilet  2 . Similarly,  FIG. 2  shows the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  in use with a wall mounted toilet  2 . Referring now to both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention is designed for use with any conventional toilet  2 . The toilet  2  may be either floor mounted, as demonstrated in  FIG. 1 , or wall  mounted, as demonstrated in  FIG. 2 . The toilet  2  has a seat  4 . The seat  4  receives a portion of the body of a user, thus the seat receives the weight of the user. 
   The bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  is comprised of a weight distributing frame  8  positionable on a floor surface  10 , and a pair of toilet seat support members  12  attached to the frame  8 . The toilet seat support members  12  are attached to the frame  8  preferably by welding, but may be attached using any other conventional means. 
   Preferably, the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  is constructed of stainless steel. However, one of skill in the art will recognize that other material may be used to construct the apparatus. For example, and without limitation, the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus may be constructed of aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium or similar weight-bearing materials, or a combination thereof. 
   The toilet seat support members  12  are of a thickness such that the support members  12  may be placed between the toilet seat  4  and a toilet bowl  14  of a toilet  2 .  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , in addition to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , demonstrate this arrangement. Although  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  demonstrate the support apparatus  6  in conjunction with a wall mounted toilet, it is understood that the apparatus may be used in the same manner with a floor mounted toilet. The bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  is designed such that the toilet seat  4  rests on top surfaces  16  of the support members  12 . Often toilet seats  4  have support knobs (not shown) for engaging the toilet bowl  14 . If such support knobs exist on the toilet seats, the current invention is designed such that the knobs rest on the top surfaces  16  of the support members  12 . Thus, the support members  12  are suitable to be positioned under the toilet seat  4  to receive the weight of the user so that the weight is distributed onto the frame  8  and relieved from the toilet bowl  14 . 
   With reference now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  6 , the weight distributing frame  8  is preferably constructed with a pair of support member braces  18 . The support member braces  18  are attached in a parallel fashion along the outside edges of the bottom surfaces of the respective toilet seat support members  12 . The weight distributing frame  8  further comprises a back plate brace  20  attached to and  extending between the support member braces  18  and located perpendicular to the back edges of the support members  12 . The weight distributing frame further comprises at least four post members  22  attached to the support member braces  18  and adapted to engage the floor surface  10 . Preferably, the weight distributing frame  8  includes angled braces  46  attached to post members  22 . A first pair of angle braces  46  is attached to the front post members  22  and to the lower surfaces of the support members  12 . The second pair of angle braces  46  is attached to the back post members  22  and the lower surface of the back plate brace  20 . In this manner, the angle braces  46  provide additional support to the support members  12  and to add overall strength to the support apparatus  6 . The frame is constructed preferably by welding, however, the frame may be assembled using other conventional means which will accomplish the weight distributing function of the frame  8 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , in the preferred embodiment of the current invention, the support member braces  18  have a bore  24  therethrough. The bore is adapted to receive adjustable wall locator members  26 . The adjustable wall locator members  26  are displaced in the bore  24  of the support member braces  18 . The adjustable wall locator members  26  are adjusted to engage a wall  28  proximate to the toilet. The wall locator members  26  are further adjustable to position the seat support members  12  at a proper location so that the seat support members  12  are properly positioned to engage the toilet seat  4  and receive the weight of the user. As demonstrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the adjustable wall locator members  26  are preferably constructed of a threaded rod  30  having a rubber stopper  32  attached to the end of the rod adapted to engage a wall  28 . The bore  24  most preferably contains a stainless steel nut  48  adapted to engage the threaded rod  30 . Alternatively, the threaded rod  30  may directly engage the bore  24 . The adjustable wall locator members preferably further include a locking nut  34  to maintain the proper position of the support apparatus  6  when in use. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that other embodiments of adjustable wall locator members  exist, including slidably adjustable wall locator members, locking lever adjustable wall locator members, and the like. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  of the current invention may further comprise adjustable base members  36  adapted to engage the floor surface  10 . The base members  36  may be removably attached to the frame  8 . Preferably, the base members  36  are integral removably threaded to the post members  22  of the weight distributing frame  8 . The adjustable base members  36  comprise a means for adjusting the height of the support frame. In the preferred embodiment, the means for adjusting the height of the support frame  8  comprises a threaded rod  38  adapted to engage a bore  40  in the respective post members  22 . The bore  40  most preferably contains a stainless steel nut (not shown) for engaging the threaded rod  38 . Alternatively, the threaded rod  38  may directly engage the bore  40 . 
   The adjustable base members  36  further comprise a floor member  42  adapted to engage the floor surface  10 . The floor member has a non-slip bottom surface, preferably of neoprene. The adjustable base members further comprise a means for leveling coupled to the floor member  42  and engaging the adjusting means. The leveling means is adapted to adjust for uneven floors. Preferably, the leveling means comprises the threaded rod  38  coupled to the floor member  42  by a swivel bolt  43 . In the most preferred embodiment, the adjustable base members are nylon-based swivel leveling mounts available from McMaster-Carr, Part No. 61045K47. The most preferred embodiment further comprises plastic recessed clamping knobs  44  to lock the adjustable base members  36  in place. The plastic recessed clamping knobs  44  are available from McMaster-Carr, Part No. 61905K33. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , it is recognized by those with skill in the art that conventional toilets vary their dimensions depending upon the manufacturer of the toilet. The bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  of the current invention is adapted for use on any conventional toilet. Preferably, the widest dimension of the toilet with which the bariatric toilet seat apparatus  6  is to  be used in conjunction with is determined. The distance  50  between support member braces  18  corresponds to this widest dimension of a toilet. Correspondingly, as distance  50  narrows, distance  52 , which corresponds to the width of the seat support member  12 , will narrow as well. It will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the dimensions of the frame  8  will vary with the particular toilet that the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  is to be used in conjunction with. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the overall dimensions, i.e., height and width of the apparatus  6 , may be varied according to the particular toilet that the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  of the current invention is to be used in conjunction with. Further, the overall dimensions may be varied to accord with applicable regulatory requirements. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–6 , it will be recognized by one of skill in the art that the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus  6  of the current invention is capable of supporting a toilet seat  4  such that when the toilet seat receives the weight of a user, the weight is distributed onto the frame  8  of the support apparatus  6  and the weight is relieved from the toilet bowl  14  of the toilet  2 . It will be further appreciated by one of skill in the art that the addition of adjustable base members and adjustable wall locator members aid in positioning the seat support members  12  between the toilet seat  4  and the toilet bowl  14  such that the toilet seat rests in a substantially parallel manner on the top surfaces of the respective support members  12 . 
   It should be further apparent to those skilled in the art that the bariatric toilet seat support apparatus of the current invention, as described herein, contains several features, and that variations to the preferred embodiment disclosed herein may be made which embody only some of the features disclosed herein. For example, it may be desirable to construct the apparatus having a frame of a different configuration but which ultimately achieves the object of relieving the weight from the toilet  2 . It may be further desirable to construct a bariatric toilet seat support apparatus in accordance with the current invention without adjustable base members  36 , or with base members  36  fixedly attached to the frame  8 . Even  further, it may be desirable to construct a bariatric toilet seat support apparatus without adjustable wall locator members  26 . 
   Various other combinations, and modifications or alternatives, may also be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such various alternatives and other embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter regarded as the invention.