Patent Publication Number: US-2012030868-A1

Title: Toilet bed cage support apparatus

Description:
PRIORITY AND CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application and claims the benefit and priority of Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/973,454, filed Oct. 9, 2007, entitled “Toilet Bed Cage Support Apparatus,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a toilet or potty bed cage support apparatus for use by people with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device. Specifically, the present invention relates to a toilet or potty bed cage support apparatus that can be attached to a wall, bed or both and will receive a person from the mobile device for using a toilet and returning to the mobile device, or alternately, can be used-by a person in bed that can get to the toilet and return to bed via the potty bed cage support apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People restricted to bed, disabled or required to be in wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device are confronted with getting to a toilet or potty. Access for the bed ridden or disabled is difficult, if not impossible. A person in bed must get out of bed and walk to the bathroom, which may not be possible. A person in a mobile device must get the mobile device to the toilet, secure herself with respect to the toilet, then lift herself from the mobile device to the toilet, which is very difficult. 
     Of primary concern in the present invention is to provide mobility and easy access to a toilet by a disabled person from either a bed or a mobile device. 
     It is, therefore, a feature of the present invention to provide a cage support apparatus that in normal use provides an apparatus to assist a person from a bed to a toilet and then from the toilet back to the bed. 
     A feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can be affixed to a bed for easy access from the bed and easy access back to the bed. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can be affixed to a wall for easy access from a bed and easy access back to the bed. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can be affixed to a bed for easy access from a mobile device and easy access back to the mobile device. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can be affixed to a wall for easy access from a mobile device and easy access back to the mobile device. 
     Yet another feature of the invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can fit through doors. 
     Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can irremovably affixed to a bed without any modification to the bed. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can be used with any toilet or potty seat. 
     Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can be made of wood, aluminum, stainless steel or any other appropriate material. 
     Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can be covered with rubber, vinyl or any appropriate non-slip material. 
     Yet still another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus that can be mounted to internal wall studs through the wallboard. 
     Yet further, an additional feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus with legs that can fold and snap into recesses using spring slugs. 
     Yet further, another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage support apparatus with a base plate that can be made of various a sundry materials such as for example wood, plastic or metal. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized by means of the combinations and steps particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To achieve the foregoing objects, features, and advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a cage support apparatus is provided. 
     The cage support apparatus is provided for use by people bedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device comprising an upper support, a base support and a plurality of vertical supports. The upper support comprises a lengthened side support, a rear support, and a side support. The base support comprises a lengthened side support, a rear support, and a side support, and a plurality of vertical supports. The plurality of vertical supports comprises a first end vertical support, a second end vertical support, a first corner support, a second corner support, and an intermediate vertical support. The upper support and the base support are fixedly connected by the plurality of vertical supports, and particularly, the lengthened side support is held by the first end support, the first corner support and an intermediate vertical support, the rear support is held by the first corner support, the second corner support and the intermediate vertical support. The side support is held by the second corner support and the second end vertical support. The first end support, the first corner support and an intermediate vertical support are buttressed by the lengthened side base member, the first corner support, the second corner support and the intermediate vertical support are buttressed by the rear base member, and the second corner support and the second end vertical support are buttressed by the side base member. 
     The cage support apparatus may further comprise a toilet placed so as to be bounded by the upper support and base support. The cage support apparatus may further comprise a first cross brace secured between the vertical supports and parallel to the lengthened side support and the side support. The cage support apparatus also comprises a second cross brace secured between the vertical supports and parallel to the rear support. 
     A displaceable cage support apparatus is provided for use by people bedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device comprising an upper support, at least one vertical support and a securing member. The upper support comprises a rear portion, a first and second side portions, a first and second arcuate portions, and a first and second vertical receptor. The vertical support comprises an elongate member and a pivot mechanism. The upper support and the vertical support are pivotly connected by engaging the pivot member of the vertical support with the vertical receptor of the upper support, and the upper support is rotatably secured to a wall by the securing member such that when a toilet is bounded by the upper support the displaceable cage support apparatus can be lifted to rotate about the securing mechanism to lift out of the way of a person to provide complete access to the toilet, and when the person accesses the toilet, the displaceable cage support apparatus can be lowered about the person on the toilet so as to stabilize the person on the toilet and provide support therefore. The displaceable cage support apparatus further comprises a toilet placed in so as to be bounded by the upper support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus encompassed by the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation, front view the preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus encompassed by the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation, side view the preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus encompassed by the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus encompassed by the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the another preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus encompassed by the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 4  with the upper support member in a raised position. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cage support apparatus including a bed 
       The above general description and the following detailed description are merely illustrative of the generic invention, and additional modes, advantages, and particulars of this invention will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention as described in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus  100  encompassed by the present invention. The cage support apparatus  100  comprises an upper support  110 , a base support  120  and a plurality of vertical supports  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 . The upper support  110  comprises a lengthened side support  112 , a rear support  114  and a side support  116 . The base support  120  comprises a lengthened side support  122 , a rear support  124  and a side support  126 . The plurality of vertical supports comprise a first end vertical support  130 , a second end vertical support  132 , intermediate vertical supports  134 A,  134 B, first corner support  136  and second corner support  138 . Optionally, the cage support apparatus  100  comprises a first cross brace  140  and a second cross brace  150 . The first cross brace  140  is parallel to the side supports  112 ,  116  and the base supports  122 ,  126 . The second cross brace  150  is parallel to the rear support  114  and the rear base member  124 . A toilet  10  can be placed central to the cage support apparatus  100  for easy access by a person in a wheel chair, scooter, power chair or any similar mobile device, or alternately, by a person from a bed. Further, a base plate may be secured to the base support for supporting and stabilizing the wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device. Also, a base plate  160  is engaged with the base support  120  including the lengthened side support  122 , the rear support  124  and the side support  126 . The base plate  160  provides that the apparatus  100  is a unitary structure having rigidity, and also provides additional ease of use. The base plate  160  provides for level footing during the use of the cage support apparatus  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is an elevation, front view the preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus  100  encompassed by the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The cage support apparatus  100  has the lengthened side support  122 , the rear support  124  and the side support  126  along the upper portion. The first end vertical support  130 , the second end vertical support  132  and the intermediate vertical supports  134 B are shown supporting the lengthened side support  122 , the rear support  124  and the side support  126 . The rear base member  124  is illustrated below the first end vertical support  130 , the second end vertical support  132  and the intermediate vertical supports  134 B. 
       FIG. 3  is an elevation, side view the preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus  100  encompassed by the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The first end vertical support  130 , the second end vertical support  132  and the second corner support  134 B are shown supporting the side support  116  and the lengthened side support  112 . The first cross brace is perpendicular to the first end vertical support  130 . The base support  120  is carries the first end vertical support  130 , the second end vertical support  132  and the second corner support  134 B. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the displaceable cage support apparatus  200  encompassed by the present invention. The displaceable cage support apparatus  200  comprises an upper support  210 , a first vertical support  222  and a second vertical support  224 . The upper support  210  comprises a rear portion  212  with a first side portion  214 A and a second side portion  214 B at an angled relationship. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the angled relationship is 90°. 
     Further, the upper support  210  comprises a first arcuate portion  216 A and a second arcuate portion  216 B attached to the first side portion  214 A and the second side portion  214 B, respectively. The first arcuate portion  216 A and the second arcuate portion  216 B are attached to a first receptor  218 A and a second receptor  218 B, respectively. The receptors  218 A,  218 B are provided for accepting the first vertical support  222  and the second vertical support  224  in a pivoting relationship. The upper support  210  and the first and second vertical support  222 ,  224  are rotatably affixed to a wall  12 . The upper support  210  and the first and second vertical support  222 ,  224  are rotatably affixed to a wall  12  by a securing member  232  and a fastener  236 . Thus, when the rear portion  212  rotates about an axis along its central axis, the displaceable cage support apparatus  200  can be rotated upward toward the wall  12 . A toilet  10  can be placed central to the displaceable cage support apparatus  200  for easy access by a person in a wheel chair, scooter, power chair or any similar mobile device. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the another preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus  200  encompassed by the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 4  with the upper support member  210  in a raised position. The displaceable cage support apparatus  200  comprises the upper support  210 , the first vertical support  222  and the second vertical support  224 . The upper support  210  comprises the rear portion  212  with the first side portion  214 A and the second side portion  214 B at an angled relationship. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the angled relationship is 90°. Further, the upper support  210  comprises the first arcuate portion  216 A and the second arcuate portion  216 B attached to the first side portion  214 A and the second side portion  214 B, respectively. The first arcuate portion  216 A and the second arcuate portion  216 B are attached to the first receptor  218 A and the second receptor  218 B, respectively. The receptors  218 A,  218 B are provided for accepting the first vertical support  222  and the second vertical support  224  in a pivoting relationship. The upper support  210  and the first and second vertical support  222 ,  224  are rotatably affixed to a wall  12 . The upper support  210  and the first and second vertical support  222 ,  224  are rotatably affixed to a wall  12  by a securing member  232  and a fastener  236 . Thus, when the rear portion  212  rotates about an axis along its central axis, the displaceable cage support apparatus  200  is illustrated rotated upward to be adjacent to the wall  12 . A toilet  10  can be placed central to the displaceable cage support apparatus  200  for easy access by a person in a wheel chair, scooter, power chair or any similar mobile device. Also, shown are brackets  232 ,  234 , and alignment members  242 ,  244 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cage support apparatus  300  encompassed by the present invention. The cage support apparatus  300  comprises an upper support  310 , a base support  320  and a plurality of vertical supports  330 ,  332 ,  334 ,  336 ,  338 . The upper support  310  comprises a lengthened side support  312 , a rear support  114  and a side support  316 . The base support  320  comprises a lengthened side support  322 , a rear support  324  and a side support  326 . The plurality of vertical supports comprise a first end vertical support  330 , a second end vertical support  332 , intermediate vertical supports  334 A,  334 B, first corner support  336  and second corner support  338 . Optionally, the cage support apparatus  300  comprises a first cross brace  340  and a second cross brace  350 . The first cross brace  340  is parallel to the side supports  312 ,  316  and the base supports  322 ,  326 . The second cross brace  350  is parallel to the rear support  314  and the rear base member  324 . A toilet  10  can be placed central to the cage support apparatus  300  for easy access by a person in a wheel chair, scooter, power chair or any similar mobile device, or alternately, by a person from a bed. Further, a base plate may be secured to the base support for supporting and stabilizing the wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device. 
     Also, a base plate  360  is engaged with the base support  320  including the lengthened side support  322 , the rear support  324  and the side support  326 . The base plate  360  provides that the apparatus  300  is a unitary structure having rigidity, and also provides additional ease of use. The base plate  360  provides for level footing during the use of the cage support apparatus  300 . The unitary structure provided by the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  results in enhanced effectiveness that is not possible by other known devices. It is critical to have a secure structure to avoid fall and slips by a person using the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  of the present disclosure. 
     Further,  FIG. 6  illustrates the use the cage support apparatus  300  in association with a bed  20 . The cage support apparatus  300  and the bed  20  can be rigidly affixed on to the other using an L-bracket  376 . However, it can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cage support apparatus  300  and the bed  20  can be removably affixed one to the other using any disengagement-engagement device or method, such as by way of exemple, a latch, cam lock, crossbar, compression latch or the like. 
       FIG. 6  also illustrates the use of a privacy curtain  370 . The privacy curtain  370  may include a plurality of supports  372 A,  272 B,  372 C for extending a curtain  376  a full length, or may extend a curtain  378  at an intermediate length. The curtain  376 ,  378  can be hung from a securing member  374 . The plurality of supports  372 A,  272 B,  372 C for extending the curtain  376 ,  378  may also be telescoping to adapt to any length of curtain  376 ,  378  for any height of person using the cage support apparatus  300 . 
     Still further, the cage support apparatus  300  of the present disclosure may include a radio  392  attached to the support rail  310 . Also, a toilet paper holder  396  may be adapted for use with the cage support apparatus  300  of the present disclosure. 
     Yet still further, the cage support apparatus  300  may be equipped with a wireless intercom  394  or combination intercom-motion sensor  394 . Thus, when a person is using the cage support apparatus  300  s/he can be remotely monitored for enhanced safety and efficiency. 
     And still further, the cage support apparatus  300  of the present disclosure can be adapted with an intravenous (IV) stand  380  that can be secured to the cage support apparatus  300 , such as by way of example by clamp  384 . An IV bag or other equipment can be held by the holder  382 . 
     Further, the present disclosure provides for a method of using a cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  of the present disclosure. The method of using the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  of the present disclosure comprises the following steps. Affixing a cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  to a bed such that an entrance to the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  is orthogonal to a side of the bed. If the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  is along the end of the bed, then an elongated side of the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  is adjacent to the bed. If the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  is along the side of the bed, then a shortened side of the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  is adjacent to the bed. Thus, the person exiting from the side of the bed can directly enter the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  with an elongated side in front and the toilet to a side. Alternately, the method would include a person exiting the bed on a side, rotating around a corner of the bed and into the the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300 . 
     Still further, a method includes exiting the bed for a wheel chair, engaging the wheel chair to have an elongated handle of the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  overlapping an arm of the wheelchair for providing enhanced stability, and rotating from the wheel chair into the cage support apparatus  100 ,  300  with a short support providing for greater entrance space. 
     Additional advantages and modification will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and the illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, the departures may be made from the details without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed general inventive concept.