Patent Publication Number: US-11020300-B2

Title: Toilet safety arm accessory device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to a toilet safety device, and more particularly, to a toilet safety arm accessory device for allowing a user to use a pulling force to lower himself or herself onto and/or rise from a seated position on a toilet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Persons who have either suffered some trauma or whose musculoskeletal structures are frail or weakening, such as the handicapped and the elderly (hereinafter referred to as physically-limited persons), may require special assistance in using restroom facilities. Typically, it is difficult for these persons to use pre-existing, unmodified restroom facilities (i.e., fixtures installed for use by healthy, able-bodied individuals, such as those lacking extra support devices) without help from others. However, many such persons are uncomfortable with having someone assist them in using restroom facilities, or they may simply refuse such help in view of retaining independence and dignity. In the event that any such person attempts to use a pre-existing, unmodified restroom facility, such as a toilet or bath tub, he or she faces a serious risk of injuring himself or herself, for example, by falling or applying too much force onto portions of his or her body. 
     Certain devices have long been utilized in order to mitigate this risk of injury by persons in need. The most common implement is a grab bar or handle that may be installed onto a nearby wall, a portion of the floor surrounding the subject restroom fixture, or a portion of such fixture itself. These grab bars generally require the use of tools and hardware, such as drills, plates, and screws, to become installed and thus necessitate damaging or causing physical modification to the particular object to which it is installed. Nevertheless, it is apparent that, due to the physical limitations of certain persons, such grab bars are insufficient to provide the support that is needed to properly use restroom facilities on their own. Furthermore, grab bars and other, similar support devices generally known in the art require the user to apply a pushing force onto the bar or device in order to use it, which pushing force serves to impose a greater strain on the user&#39;s body. 
     Accordingly, solutions to this issue have been addressed in various manners. A first such solution is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,440, which shows an improved grab bar assembly comprising a pivot shaft and coil spring mounted within a housing and coupled with an elongated grab bar. The pivot shaft and coil spring provide for a rotational and pivotal movement of the grab bar relative to the housing, which permits the user to manipulate the physical disposition of the grab bar. In this way, the user can move the grab bar as desired to comfortably position himself or herself for using a subject restroom fixture. However, this solution still requires use of tools and hardware to install, thereby damaging the object upon which it is installed. Further, this solution fails to adequately mitigate the risk of injury to a user when used in connection with certain restroom fixtures, such as toilets, wherein the user needs to use both of his or her hands in order to stabilize himself or herself when using such fixtures, and wherein the user may generally still need to apply a pushing force in order to use this assembly. 
     A second solution for providing support to a physically-limited person for using a restroom fixture is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,274, which teaches a restroom aid for use with a toilet. This restroom aid comprises a plurality of elongated members and joint pieces capable of being assembled into a frame to be situated about a toilet. Handle-like projections are provided on either side of the frame for the user to grip in seating himself or herself onto the toilet and subsequently rising therefrom, and braces abutting the underside of the toilet&#39;s water tank and the sides of the toilet itself help to keep the restroom aid in place during use. Despite the foregoing, though, the structure and placement of the handle-like projections make using any pulling force by the user awkward, and, to the extent that such pulling force can be applied, the fact that the restroom aid lacks any braces on a forward portion of the toilet creates a risk of the structure moving upon such application, which could result in injury to the user. 
     Thus, while existing solutions show some features for helping a physically-limited person to use a bathroom fixture, such as a toilet, without necessitating further human assistance, various drawbacks, including those mentioned above, remain. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for a toilet safety arm accessory device that can become installed to an existing toilet without the need for tools or hardware and without damaging the toilet (or to existing toilet safety devices), which permits the user to seat himself or herself onto and subsequently rise from a subject toilet through the application of a pulling force rather than a pushing force, and which includes braces and similar elements for securing its position on a subject toilet upon the application of such pulling force. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art, a toilet safety arm accessory device configured to include all the advantages of the prior art and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein is provided. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide toilet safety arm accessory device that may be installed onto a subject toilet without the need for tools or hardware and without damaging the toilet and/or surrounding walls, for example. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a toilet safety arm accessory device that allows a user to apply a pulling force onto a portion thereof in order to lower himself or herself to a seated position on the subject toilet and/or to raise himself or herself to a standing position therefrom. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a toilet safety arm accessory device that includes braces and similar elements for securing its position on the subject toilet upon the application of such pulling force by the user. It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide for a toilet safety arm accessory device that may be attached to existing toilet safety devices to improve the performance of such safety devices and allow a user to apply a pulling force and otherwise improve leverage needed to lower him or herself from a toilet and/or raise him or herself from a toilet. 
     In an embodiment, a toilet safety arm accessory device comprises a frame having a lower element and an upper element extending upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle from the lower element with respect to a rear portion of the frame, an adjustable pair of arms coupled to the frame and extending upwardly and outwardly from the lower element towards a forward portion of the frame, and at least one brace piece (also referred to herein as a “rear support leg”) coupled to the rear portion of the frame and in communication with a portion of a toilet, wherein a user may apply a pulling force onto at least one arm of the pair of arms in order to lower himself or herself to a seated position on a seat of the toilet, and/or wherein the user may apply a further pulling force onto each such arm in order to raise himself or herself to a standing position. In an alternative embodiment, the coupling of the pair of arms and the frame comprises a toothed gear and a biasing mechanism, wherein the user may apply a pushing force onto each arm of the pair of arms in order to rotatably adjust the angle of the pair of arms relative to the frame. In yet another embodiment, the coupling of the pair of arms and the frame comprises a pivotable coupling and a snap or friction fit that allows the arms to be adjustably but fixedly positioned with respect to the frame and/or a toilet. 
     In a further embodiment, the upper element and lower element are both parabolic or “U” shaped. In another embodiment, the upper element and lower element each further comprise a padded element. In a further embodiment, the upper element and lower element may adjustably positioned with respect to one another, e.g., the angle between the upper and lower element may be adjusted as may be dictated by size of the particular toilet to which the device is to be installed, or to allow the secure placement of the rear support legs to the toilet. In another further embodiment, each arm of the pair of arms includes a gripping member disposed at a forward portion thereof, which is capable of being gripped by the user. In yet another embodiment, the device may be installed onto the subject toilet without the use of tools and without damaging, destroying, or otherwise modifying any portion of the toilet. In another embodiment, the at least one adjustable rear support leg couples the upper element of the frame to a portion of the toilet. In a further embodiment, a securing strap or linkage (hereinafter referred to as “securing strap”) is disclosed as coupling a portion of the at least one rear support leg and an arm of the pair of arms. In another embodiment, the adjustability of the pair of arms and adjustable rear support legs is by way of a telescoping feature or a spring-loaded peg feature. In yet another embodiment, the frame comprises at least one support element coupled to each of the upper element and the lower element. 
     In yet another embodiment, a toilet safety arm accessory device comprises elements of the device that may be added to existing toilet safety devices for improving those existing devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the elements include arms that may be attached to existing safety device to assist a user by allowing the user to apply a pulling force and otherwise improve leverage needed to lower him or herself from a toilet and/or raise him or herself from a toilet. In another exemplary embodiment, the elements include support elements that may operatively couple the device disclosed herein to existing safety devices such that the stability and security of the attachment of the existing device to the toilet may be improved. 
     These together with other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description in which there are illustrated and described exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exemplary depiction of the disclosed toilet safety arm accessory device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exemplary depiction of the disclosed toilet safety arm accessory device positioned against a toilet, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The best mode for carrying out the present disclosure is presented in terms of its preferred embodiments, herein depicted in the accompanying figures. The preferred embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present disclosure comprises a toilet safety arm accessory device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a toilet safety arm accessory device is shown at  100  in an embodiment. The device  100  includes a frame  10  that is designed to be in communication with a portion of an existing toilet  12 , which toilet  12  would preferably not have any other assist devices (e.g., grab bars or safety handles) installed thereon. The frame  10  is comprised of sturdy materials, such as metal rods, durable plastics (or any other suitable lightweight and resilient material), which will retain rigidity while installed on the subject toilet  12 . 
     The frame  10  is comprised of an upper element  14  and a lower element  16 , which are directly coupled to one another at a rear portion of the frame  10 . In an embodiment, the coupling of the upper element  14  and lower element  16  is by way of welding. In an alternative embodiment, such coupling is by way of a screw and nut configuration. Regardless of the particular form of coupling, the lower element  16  rests upon the floor, for example, and serves as the support foundation for the device  100 , and the upper element  14  extends upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle from the lower element  16  relative to the rear portion of the frame  10  wherein the upper element  14  is coupled to the lower element  16 . 
     In an embodiment wherein the coupling of the upper element  14  and lower element  16  is by way of a screw and nut (or other configuration wherein such elements are not permanently conjoined at static positions), the coupling thereof may allow the user to modify the degree of the angle formed by the upper element  14  with respect to the lower element  16 . Such modification would benefit the user wherein the subject toilet  12  is taller or shorter than immediately contemplated by the device  100  (i.e., so that the user may easily and customizably fit the device  100  onto toilets of various sizes). The modification further provides an ability to adjust the upper and lower elements to securely position the at least one rear support leg against a subject toilet in an embodiment where the at least one rear support leg is not adjustable in length. 
     The frame  10  may further comprise one or more support elements  18  disposed at or near a forward portion thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the frame  10  comprises two support elements  18  wherein one such support element  18  is disposed on either side of the subject toilet  12 . The support elements  18  are coupled on a first end to the upper element  14  of the frame  10  and on a second end to the lower element  16  thereof. Coupling of a support element  18  may be accomplished by a screw clamp or other mechanism that permits the upper element  14  or lower element  16  to move freely with respect to the support element  18  (for example, to allow the user to adjust the angle between the upper element  14  and lower element  16  without decoupling the support element  18  from the upper element  14  and/or lower element  16 ). It will be apparent that the support elements  18  provide additional structural support for retaining the shape and integrity of the device  100 , but that the other portions of the device  100  generally provide a sufficient amount of support on their own. 
     Preferably, each of the upper element  14  and lower element  16  will include a padded element  20  disposed at a portion thereof such that, when the device  100  is installed onto a toilet  12 , the padded elements  20  are in communication with a portion of the toilet  12  (generally, a portion of the base or the bowl of the toilet  12 ). It will be apparent that the padded elements  20  not only prevent the device  100  from scratching or damaging the portions of the toilet  12  to which it makes contact, but also provide additional support (in combination with the frame  10  elements, themselves) for retaining the device  100  in place during use, as will be discussed in greater detail below. The frame  10  preferably comprises a generally parabolic or “U” shape, wherein the forward portion of the frame  10  (i.e., in an embodiment, the portion at which the padded elements  20  are disposed) is the curved portion and the rear portion thereof (i.e., in an embodiment, where the couplings of the upper element  14  and lower element  16  are) features an endpoint. 
     The device  100  further comprises a pair of arms  22  extending upwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame  10  and, generally, beyond the forward portion of the frame  10 . Each of the arms  22  is elongated and capable of being gripped by a user at one or more portions thereof. In an embodiment, each arm of the pair of arms  22  comprises a gripping member  24 . In a further embodiment, the gripping members  24  may feature a coating or material attached thereto that better enables or facilitates gripping by a user. 
     In an embodiment, each arm of the pair of arms  22  is coupled to the frame  10  using the same or a similar form of coupling as used between the upper element  14  and lower element  16  of the frame  10  (such as welding, screw and nut, etc.) Other than the instance of welding, it will be apparent that the coupling may allow adjustable positioning of each arm of the pair of arms  22  with respect to the frame, for example by loosening the screw and nut to allow the arm to be pivoted forward or backward with respect to the frame  10  and thereafter by tightening the screw and nut to allow for secure attachment of the arm to the frame prior to use of the device. In another embodiment, the pair of arms  22  are coupled to the frame  10  such that the positioning of the pair of arms  22  is substantially continuously adjustable with respect to the frame  10 . In an embodiment, such adjustable positioning comprises a ball joint disposed on the lower element in which an arm of the pair of arms  22  is received, and which ball joint allows the arm to pivot in at least a forward and backward direction with respect to the frame as well as toward and away from the frame  10 . A locking mechanism such as a clip or clips on the upper element  14  may be provided to receive a portion of an arm and retain the arm in a position once the arm has been maneuvered in to a preferred location (of selectable locations) by the user. This embodiment permits the user to rotatably alter the coupling between each arm of the pair of arms  22  and the frame  10 , also without requiring the user to first uncouple those elements or even remove the device  100  from a use position. That is, for example, while seated, a user may apply a pushing force to the pair of arms  22  in order to rotate the gear  24 , which changes the angle between the pair of arms  22  and the lower element  16 . In these various ways, the user may easily and customizably alter the height of the pair of arms  22  (with respect to the lower element  16 ) as well as the degree of the fixed position of the arms  22  as it relates to the proximity of the toilet, for example, to meet the user&#39;s particular arm span and/or comfort in using the device. 
     In addition to be rotatably customizable to facilitate use by persons with differing arm spans, the pair of arms  22  is also adjustable in length. Each arm of the pair of arms  22  may be set to a user-defined length by way of such adjustment in order to further customize the positioning of the device  100  to a comfortable setting for the user. In an embodiment, such adjustment is by way of a telescoping feature. In an alternative embodiment, such adjustment is by way of a spring-loaded peg feature. 
     The device  100  further comprises at least one rear support leg  28  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). A first end of the at least one rear support leg  28  is coupled to the upper element  14  of the frame  10  and a second end thereof is in communication with a portion of the subject toilet  12  and retained in position by way of a friction fit therewith. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises two such rear support legs  28  wherein one is coupled to each side of the upper element  14 . Much like the pair of arms  22 , the at least one rear support leg  28  is adjustable in length, which adjustment may be by way of a telescoping feature or a spring-loaded peg feature. Based on any adjustments made to the other components of the device  100 , the user may need to adjust the length of the at least one rear support leg  28  in order to create the friction fit of the second end of the at least one rear support leg  28  with respect to the subject toilet  12 . In an embodiment, the first end of the at least one rear support leg  28  will be slidably coupled to the upper element  14  of the frame  10 , thereby allowing the user to set the position at which the at least one rear support leg  28  contacts the subject toilet  12  (for example, where a subject toilet  12  at which the device  100  will be installed has different dimensions than a previous such subject toilet  12  to which the device  100  has previously been installed). In that angle formed by the the upper element  14  and lower element  16  of the frame  10  may be adjustable, it will be apparent that a user may also manipulate that angle, depending on the configuration of a subject  12 , to position the at least one rear support leg  28  nearer to that toilet  12  as necessary. 
     A securing strap  30  may be included with each at least one rear support leg  28 , which securing strap  30  connects a portion of the corresponding rear support leg  28  to the arm of the pair of arms  22  coupled to that side of the frame  10 . The securing strap  30  lends additional structural integrity to the device  100  by effectively adding an additional coupling to the connected components. It will be apparent that the securing strap  30  will be sufficiently rigid or otherwise resilient to allow movement of an arm of the pair of arms  22  to translate to movement to a rear support leg  28 . 
     It will be apparent that, despite the various contact points on the subject toilet  12 , the device  100  may be installed at such toilet  12  without the use or need of any tools or hardware, such as drills, screws, plates, or the like. That is, and preferably, the contact of any component of the device  100  with any portion of the subject toilet  12  is by way of a friction fit or similar removable attachment; however, it is contemplated that any form of damage-free or destruction-free contact may be used so long as the necessary structural support is retained for the device  100 . 
     In another embodiment, a toilet safety arm accessory device comprises elements of the device that may be added to existing toilet safety devices for improving those existing devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the elements include at least one arm  22  that may be attached to an existing safety device to assist a user by allowing the user to apply a pulling force and otherwise improve leverage needed to lower him or herself from a toilet  12  and/or raise him or herself from a toilet  12 . In another exemplary embodiment, the elements include support elements  18  wherein at least one such support element  18  may be disposed on or against a subject toilet  12 , and which at least one support element  18  may operatively couple an existing toilet safety device to a subject toilet  12  such that the stability and security of the attachment of the existing device to the toilet may be improved. 
     In such an embodiment, at least one element of the elements of the toilet safety arm accessory device is attached to a portion of an existing toilet safety device to improve the user&#39;s ability to use the existing device, for instance, by being able to exert a pulling force on at least one arm  22  that has been attached to the existing device, or, by providing increased stability to the existing device due to at least one support element  18  that, so attached to an existing toilet safety device, operatively couples the existing safety device to a subject toilet  12  such that the support element  18  directly couples or increases the security of the attachment between the existing toilet safety device and the subject toilet  12 . 
     In use, and upon being installed at a subject toilet, the device disclosed herein (or elements disclosed herein attached to an existing toilet safety device) permits a user to lower himself or herself to a seated position on a seat of the toilet and/or subsequently rise to a standing position therefrom by applying a pulling force, rather than a pushing force, onto the pair of arms. Upon application of such pulling force, the various components of the device that contact the toilet, such as the forward portion of the frame, the brace pieces, and the rear support legs, all transfer a force to the toilet via a friction fit or similar connection in order to retain the device in its use position. By virtue of the device being installed at a toilet without the use of any tools or hardware, in the event that the user wishes to use the device with a different toilet, he or she need only disconnect any components of the device that are in contact with the toilet, which, again, results uninstallation does not result in any damage or destruction to the toilet. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.