Patent Publication Number: US-2018049603-A1

Title: Waste Management Chair System and Method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/378,208 filed Aug. 22, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of chairs and more specifically relates to a waste disposal chair. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many patients and nursing-home residents must be moved in order for them to use the restroom. Not only can this be uncomfortable for patients and hard on caregivers, but it can also be difficult for patients to hold their bladder until moved. Some caregivers may use bedpans, but they can be bulky and uncomfortable. The process of using bed pans may be lengthy and embarrassing for the patient; the process involving summoning the caregiver to bring the bed pan, and position and remove it from beneath the patient. Moreover, the use of the bed pan while the patient is sitting requires that the individual to assume a position that can be uncomfortable and even cause further injury. Therefore, a suitable solution is desired. 
     U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0000040 to Edward Conley, et al. relates to a reclining mobility chair and method of use. The described reclining mobility chair and method of use includes a reclining mobility chair comprising a bed including a front end and a back end, a seat cushion resting above a central portion of the bed. The reclining mobility chair includes a back support attached to move from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Further elements include a set of lifts affixed beneath the bed, to raise and lower the bed, a housing attached beneath the set of lifts, where the housing controls the reclining mobility chair to move into a plurality of positions, and a set of wheels attached to said housing. Finally, the reclining mobility chair includes a commode opening positioned within a central portion of the bed, beneath the seat cushion, and a commode attached beneath the commode opening wherein the commode enables the user to pass bodily fluids while seated upon the reclining mobility chair. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known waste disposal chair art, the present disclosure provides a novel waste management chair system and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a combined lift and reclining chair with a toilet that is easily disposed of after use. 
     A waste management chair system is disclosed herein. The waste management chair system includes a chair that may have a back-rest, a pair of arm-rests, and a seat-rest. The seat-rest may include a top opposite a bottom, a left-side opposite a right-side, and a back opposite a front. 
     An inner-cavity may be contained within the seat-rest. The inner-cavity may include a removable seat-cover integrated in the top of the seat-rest and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity. The inner-cavity may include a toilet receptacle and a toilet-receptacle slat. The toilet-receptacle slat may include a mouth able to receive the toilet receptacle, and a pair of roll-out tracks configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat between a first-state being inside of the inner-cavity and a second-state being outside the inner-cavity. A side-opening may be integrated in at least one of the left-side and the right-side of the seat-rest. The side-opening may be configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat that may be moveable between the first-state and the second-state. 
     Furthermore, a powered lift-mechanism may be coupled to the bottom of the seat-rest. The powered lift-mechanism may be configured to pitch the front and the back of the seat-rest to an upright position thus allowing a user to easily sit or stand from the chair without injury. 
     A method of using a waste management chair system is also disclosed herein. The method of using the waste management chair system may comprise the steps of: removing a removable seat-cover, sitting down on a seat-rest, reclining a back-rest via at least one user setting of a user interface, utilizing a toilet receptacle, and lifting a powered lift-mechanism via the at least one user setting of the user interface to an upright position. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a waste management chair system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the waste management chair system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cutaway view of the waste management chair system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the waste management chair system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the waste management chair system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the waste management chair system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a waste disposal chair and more particularly to a waste management chair system and method as used to improve the waste disposal chair. 
     Generally, the present invention provides a comfortable and convenient way for patients and the elderly to utilize the bathroom while remaining seated in a chair. This eliminates the need to move or shift patients to use the toilet in a separate room. Additionally, the present disclosure avoids the use of bedpans that can be hard to clean and utilize. This may save caregivers a considerable amount of time and possible frustration. The waste management chair system and method offers a comfortable chair when not in use. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of a waste management chair system  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a waste management chair system  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  150 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As Illustrated, the waste management chair system  100  may include a chair  110  having a back-rest  111 , a pair of arm-rests  112 , and a seat-rest  113 . The seat-rest  113  may include a top  114  opposite a bottom  115 , a left-side  116  opposite a right-side  117 , and a back  118  opposite a front  119 . 
     An inner-cavity  120  may be contained within the seat-rest  113 . The inner-cavity  120  may include a removable seat-cover  122  integrated in the top  114  of the seat-rest  113  and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity  120 . The inner cavity  120  may include a toilet receptacle  124 , and a toilet-receptacle slat  126  that may have a mouth  130  to receive the toilet receptacle  124 . Further included may be a pair of roll-out tracks  132  configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat  126  between a first-state  134  being inside of the inner-cavity  120  and a second-state  136  being outside the inner-cavity  120 . A side-opening  138  may be integrated in at least one of the left-side  116  and the right-side  117  of the seat-rest  113  and configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat  126  that may be moveable between the first-state  134  and the second-state  136 . 
     Furthermore, a powered lift-mechanism  140  may be coupled to the bottom  115  of the seat-rest  113 . The powered lift-mechanism  140  may be configured to pitch at least one of the front  119  and the back  118  of the seat-rest  113  to an upright position thus allowing a user  40  to easily sit or stand from the chair  110  without injury. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cutaway view of the waste management chair system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the waste management chair system  100  may include the chair  110  having the back-rest  111 , the pair of arm-rests  112 , and the seat-rest  113 . The seat-rest  113  may include the top  114  opposite the bottom  115 , the left-side  116  opposite the right-side  117 , and the back  118  opposite the front  119 . Furthermore, it may be advantageous for the chair  110  to be composed of pleather-material (PLEATHER). Pleather-material may be convenient to clean and maintain. However, other materials such as microfiber, leather, cotton, etc. may be utilized during manufacturing. 
     The inner-cavity  120  may be contained within the seat-rest  113 . The inner cavity  120  may be at least 8 inches in depth. The inner-cavity  120  may include the removable seat-cover  122  integrated in the top  114  of the seat-rest  113  and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity  120 . The inner cavity  120  may further include the toilet receptacle  124  and the toilet-receptacle slat  126  that may have the mouth  130  to receive the toilet receptacle  124 . The inner-cavity  120  may include an opening  148  under the removable seat-cover  122  that corresponds to the toilet receptacle  124  allowing waste from a back-side  10  of the user  40  to directly contact the toilet receptacle  124 . The opening  148  may be preferably circular and configured to accommodate the back-side  10  of the user  40  like a conventional toilet seat. 
     Further included in the inner-cavity  120  may be the pair of roll-out tracks  132  configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat  126  between the first-state  134  being inside of the inner-cavity  120  and the second-state  136  being outside the inner-cavity  120 . The side-opening  138  may be integrated in at least one of the left-side  116  and the right-side  117  of the seat-rest  113  and configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat  126  that may be moveable between the first-state  134  and the second-state  136 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of the waste management chair system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the waste management chair system  100  may include the chair  110  having the back-rest  111 , the pair of arm-rests  112 , and the seat-rest  113 . The seat-rest  113  may include the top  114  opposite the bottom  115 , the left-side  116  opposite the right-side  117 , and the back  118  opposite the front  119 . 
     The inner-cavity  120  may be contained within the seat-rest  113 . The inner-cavity  120  may include the removable seat-cover  122  integrated in the top  114  of the seat-rest  113  and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity  120 . The inner cavity  120  may include the toilet receptacle  124  and the toilet-receptacle slat  126  that may have the mouth  130  to receive the toilet receptacle  124 . The toilet receptacle  124  may be removeable from the mouth  130  of the toilet-receptacle slat  126 . A disposable lining  144  may be placed within the toilet receptacle  124 . Once the waste management chair system  100  is utilized, the disposable lining  144  may be removed and disposed of for a more convenient clean-up of the toilet receptacle  124 . The disposable lining  144  may be bio-degradable plastic. 
     Further included may be the pair of roll-out tracks  132  configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat  126  between the first-state  134  being inside of the inner-cavity  120  and the second-state  136  being outside the inner-cavity  120 . The side-opening  138  may be integrated in at least one of the left-side  116  and the right-side  117  of the seat-rest  113  and configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat  126  that may be moveable between the first-state  134  and the second-state  136 . The side-opening  138  may include a flap  146  that may be closed and opened via a zipping fastener. The flap  146  may be of the same material as the chair  110 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a side perspective view of the waste management chair system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the waste management chair system  100  may include the chair  110  having the back-rest  111 , the pair of arm-rests  112 , and the seat-rest  113 . The seat-rest  113  may include the top  114  opposite the bottom  115 , the left-side  116  opposite the right-side  117 , and the back  118  opposite the front  119 . The bottom  115  may include at least four legs  150  to elevate the chair  110  above a ground surface  20 . 
     The powered lift-mechanism  140  may be coupled to the bottom  115  of the seat-rest  113 . The powered lift-mechanism  140  may be configured to pitch one of the front  119  and the back  118  of the seat-rest  113  to an upright position thus allowing the user  40  to easily sit or stand from the chair  110  without injury. The pitch of the powered lift-mechanism may be at least 45 degrees. The chair may include a user-interface (not shown) to set at least one user setting to operate the powered lift-mechanism  140 . The user interface (not shown) may include a control panel, remote control, etc. integrated or separated from the chair  110 . 
     The back-rest  111  may be fully reclineable relative to the seat-rest  113  allowing the user  40  to move into a horizontal position. The back-seat  111  may be power-operated via the at least one user setting of the user interface (not shown). The chair  110  further includes a power source  142  contained therein for powering the back-rest  111  being reclineable and the powered lift-mechanism  140 . The power source  142  may be supplied by a power chord connected to an AC power outlet. Optionally, the power source  142  may be an independent rechargeable battery allowing the chair  110  to be operated without being connected to the AC power outlet. 
     According to one embodiment, the waste management chair system  100  may be arranged as a kit. The kit may include a set of instructions  107 . The instructions  107  may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the waste management chair system  100  (such that the waste management chair system  100  can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner). 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram  550  illustrating a method of using  500  a waste management chair system  100 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the method of using  500  the waste management chair system  100  may include the steps of: removing a removable seat-cover  501 , sitting down on a seat-rest  502 , reclining a back-rest via at least one user setting of a user interface  503 , utilizing a toilet receptacle  504 , lifting a powered lift-mechanism via the at least one user setting of the user interface to an upright position  505 , opening a flap connected to a side-opening to access an inner-cavity  506 , moving a toilet-receptacle slat from a first-state to a second-state  507 , and cleaning waste from the toilet receptacle  508 . 
     It should be noted that steps  506 ,  507 , and  508  are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use  500 . It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for the waste management chair system  100  (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.