Abstract:
This invention entitled “Portable Bedside Toilet Commode” is a health care article of manufacture with a uniquely designed form. This unique invention affords greater convenience, comfort, ease-of-use for persons with limited mobility (whether temporary or permanent; and whether due to injury, disease, birth defect, or aging) and greater ease for their health care providers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Provisional Application No. 60/143,623 filing date: Jul. 12, 1999. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is in the field of health care devices and is designed to improve the quality of life for mobility impaired persons and their health care providers. This new and unique utility invention for an article of manufacture is a tremendous improvement over prior art. 
     This invention is uniquely different from prior art. 
     For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,962 to Steljes (1991) reveals an invalid aid with commode station for use of invalid patients who cannot use a walking device and who need to access the device from the bed. However, it provides no aid to an invalid patient who is able to use a wheelchair or a walker. Therefore it has limited use. 
     Another U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,330 to Marshall (1982) describes a device for use when a patient is partially immobilized and bedridden. The invalid patient with casts on arms and/or legs who cannot stand, even with assistance. However, it provides limited aid to an invalid patient who is able to use a wheelchair or a walker. Further, its limited use design, while helpful to a patient in leg casts, is awkward for a partially mobile patient. 
     Further U.S. Pat. No. 3,047,884 to Grondona (1962) discloses a body assist for use with a plumbed toilet. The sides of this device, if extended to double their length, would lack structural integrity and would probably buckle under the normal downward pressure while using it for support while maneuvering. As designed, this device is an aid to a patient having difficulty rising and sitting on a plumbed toilet. It is not portable and is not a complete commode design. It would not be of much use to a patient who uses a wheelchair and/or walker nor can it be used from a bed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention was developed to answer an urgent need by persons of a reduced mobility condition to use a portable bedside toilet commode with greater ease and independence than provided by other available inventions. This unique invention allows a person with reduced mobility to transition from a wheelchair, bed, or walker and enter the initial standing area of this portable bedside toilet commode. Grasping the hand rails, the person can maneuver himself/herself around comfortably. When he/she has turned 180 degrees around, the person can back up slightly and lower himself/herself to the toilet seat (facilitated by the continuous and slanted rails that connect the upper (standing position) hand rails to the lower (sitting position) chair arms. Because of the slant rails rising above the chair arms, the limited mobility person is more able to support himself/herself during personal hygiene. A person with limited mobility is again helped by this unique invention in rising and standing from a sitting position by use of the slant rails and hand rails. He/she is able to use this unique structure to assist in rising from a sitting position and balancing himself/herself while adjusting clothing. Depending on the degree of limited mobility, the person of reduced or limited mobility may need some assistance. In that case, the assistant will find this unique invention aids in the ease and comfort afforded both the limited mobility person and the assistant. 
     The portable bedside toilet commode invention described herein is a unique and needed solution necessary to ease the life of many persons of limited mobility. It would be of special interest to hospitals, patient recovery and rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health care, etc. This invention can be scaled down or up to accommodate children or larger adults. 
     Use of heavier structural members (especially for large or heavy weight persons) may be necessary, but does not alter the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention. Alterations in design of arm rests, hand grips, toilet seat, waste recovery bucket, back-rest cushion, and/or adjustable legs does not alter the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention. The use of round tubular steel was used for this invention, but the use of square tubing of steel, aluminum, or other materials does not alter the basic concept and unique provisions of this portable bedside toilet commode invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEW OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG.  1 : 
     Portable Bedside Toilet Commode (without optional attachments). Shown in isometric view. 
     FIG.  2 : 
     Arched Support Assembly, the major part of the Portable Bedside Toilet Commode. Shown in elevation view. Only one side is shown. 
     FIG.  3 : 
     Back Support for the Portable Bedside Toilet Commode. Detail shown in isometric view. 
     FIG.  4 : 
     Tip-inhibiting Leg attachment and Anti-tip Strap attachment for the Portable Bedside Toilet Commode. Shown in isometric view. Only one of each is shown. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, we describe the portable bedside toilet commode of FIG. 1 of which includes the uniquely designed and developed arched support assembly of FIG. 2, the back support of FIG. 3, the tip-inhibiting leg and anti-tip strap of FIG.  4 . 
     The frame design of the portable beside toilet commode of FIG. 1 was uniquely developed. Round tubular steel was used for the prototype. The uniquely designed and developed arched support assembly  9  of FIG.  1  and of FIG. 2 for the identical right and left side units are each formed of five pieces: A long tube that rises at a slight outward incline angle from the floor to the chair arm height (forming the rear leg  1  of the portable bedside toilet commode); then turning horizontal forming the chair arm  2 , then slanted member  3  continues at a comfortable angle upward and toward the front until it bends again horizontal to form the standing position hand rail  4 , then the member turns again downward at a slight outward incline to form the front leg  5  of the portable bedside toilet commode. The front leg  5  and rear leg  1  are connected further by an arched member  6  that extends from the rear leg  1  up to the front most horizontal point on the lower side of the chair arm  2 , attaches there via continuous weld  7  and then proceeds slightly higher to reach an apex  8  halfway between the front leg  5  and rear leg  1 . The arched member  6  then proceeds downward until it meets the front leg  5 , at a point opposite the rear leg  1 . There is a horizontal bar  12  welded  7  at both ends to the arched member  6  and to front leg  5  and rear leg  1 . Additional support is given by a set of structural members attaching at the center of the horizontal member  12  of the arched support assembly  9  and extending in a V-pattern  10  up to the intersection of the arched member  6  symmetrical with the vertical centerline, with the rear member of the V-pattern  10  being directly underneath the chair arm  2  at the arched member  6  and chair arm  2  intersection. All members of this unique and structurally strong arched side support assembly  9  (consisting of the multiple-bent and multiple-level front leg  5  and rear leg  1 , the arched member  6 , the two members of the V-pattern  10 , and the side horizontal member  12 ) are solidly attached to one another by continuous welds  7 . 
     The arched support assembly  9  of the portable bedside toilet commode of FIG.  1  and of FIG. 2 is further enhanced by an arm rest  13  attached to the chair arm  2 , a hand grip  14  attached to the standing position hand rail  4 , adjustable leg assemblies  15  with position pins (other methods of securing incremental height adjustments may be used without altering the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention) and end covers  16 . Further, the arched support assembly  9  of this portable bedside toilet commode of FIG. 1 has holes for receiving bolts  19  during the assembly of the remaining unit pieces of this invention. 
     The portion of this invention which is referred to as the “chair” has a front chair seat support member  17  running between the right and left arched support assemblies  9 . This front chair seat member  17  has, at each end, a compressed area to conform to the shape of the mating members of construction  11 . The compressed area mates with the horizontal members  12  of the arched support assemblies  9  and extends toward the rear in sufficient length to allow two bolts/nuts  19  (per side) sufficiently apart to secure the pieces together and inhibit torque. The rear chair seat support member  18  has at each end a compressed area made to conform to the mating members of construction  11 . The compressed areas  11  mate with the vertical members of the rear legs  1  of the arched support assemblies  9  and extend downward in sufficient length to allow two bolts/nuts  19  (per side) sufficiently apart to secure the pieces together and inhibit torque. The front  17  and rear  18  horizontal chair seat support sections would have additional cavities cut into the members so as to receive two waste receptacle support brackets  35  for holding the waste receptacle  26 . (Other methods of attaching the waste receptacle support brackets  35  and other designs of waste receptacle support brackets  35  do not alter the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention.) 
     The back support  32  of the portable bedside toilet commode of FIG.  1  and of FIG. 3 is comprised of four structural parts and three attachments. The back support  32  has a horizontal member  20  with ends turned down and at an acute angle to the vertical plane  21 ; then the extended ends turn downward in a vertical manner and with a compressed area  11  made to conform to the rear leg  1  member. The compressed areas  11  mate with the back side of the rear legs  1  of the arched support assemblies  9  and extend downward, vertically, in sufficient length as to allow two bolts/nuts  19  (per side) sufficiently apart to secure the pieces together and inhibit torque. This back support  32  serves as a structural member, separating the arched side support assemblies  9  at a distance slightly less than that of the chair seat support members  17 + 18 , allowing for a slight outward canter of the sides, further increasing stability. This back support  32  would also have a back-rest  24  consisting of an inverted U-shaped member  22  set in the vertical plane and attached by weld  7  to the back horizontal member  20  of this back support  32 . From the inside edges of the two vertical members of the inverted U-shaped member  22  are attached by weld  7  two rectangular flat plates  23  (both extending toward the center). Holes (one each) are drilled in these flat plates  23 . A back-rest  24  is bolted onto these flat plates  23 . This back rest  24  (a maisonette type material was used for the prototype but other structurally similar materials would serve as well) has two bolts secured to it and extending toward the rear; it is padded and covered with vinyl canvass (thickness of padding and type of material cover may vary without affecting this invention); the back-rest  24  is attached and secured to the back support  32  with bolt/wing nut  29 . This back support  32  serves as a structural member tying the unit together and gives additional structural integrity. It also, with the back-rest  24 , gives the person a soft backrest area as well as a soft back-impact area when seated on the portable bedside toilet commode of FIG.  1 . The back-rest  24  can vary without changing or altering the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention. 
     The waste receptacle  26  is supported by two support brackets  35  attached to the front  17  and rear  18  chair seat support members. These waste receptacle support brackets  35  can be straight, curved, or angled as long as they lay in a flat plane, attach to the chair seat support members  17 + 18 , and allow the waste receptacle  26  to hang freely below the toilet seat  25 . 
     The toilet seat  25  is attached to the back chair seat support member  18 . Depending on which manufactured seat is used, the attachment may vary. The support for the weight of the person using this portable bedside toilet commode is exerted on the toilet seat  25  and is translated to the two horizontal chair seat support members (front  17  &amp; rear  18 ) and then ultimately to the arched support assemblies  9 . The toilet seat  25  used may vary without changing or altering the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention. 
     Also, as optional attachments to the basic portable bedside toilet commode of FIG. 1, are two side tip-inhibiting legs  28  of FIG.  4 . Each tip-inhibiting leg  28  can be mounted outward from the arched support assembly  9  and attached to the mounting holes  36  of the horizontal member  12  of the arched support assembly  9  and are secured by two bolts/nuts  19 . Each side tip-inhibiting leg  28  has a slanted member  31  extending outward from the vertical with an adjustable leg length section  15  (same as on the four main legs) and the top horizontal member  29  of this device turns and runs horizontal toward the horizontal member  12  of the arched support assembly  9  and is welded  7  to a conforming-part-member  30  which mates with the horizontal structural member  12  of the arched support assembly  9 . The conforming-part-member  30  extends in both directions along the horizontal member  12  of the arched support assembly  9  in sufficient length as to allow one bolt/nut  19  at each end to secure the pieces together and inhibit torque. The length of these tip-inhibiting legs  28  would be slightly shorter than the four support legs  1  &amp;  5  so that these tip-inhibiting legs  28  (one on each side) would not compromise the square setting of the portable bedside toilet commode of FIG. 1 on various floor coverings. Use of the tip-inhibiting legs  28  or the elimination of them does not change or alter the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention. An anti-tip strap  33  of FIG. 4 for securing to the portable bedside toilet commode of FIG. 1 to a bed-frame can be used in lieu of the tip-inhibiting legs  28 . This anti-tip strap  33  manufactured of a strong and flexible material  37  (a woven nylon strap was used for this prototype) which can be laced around the bed-frame and the horizontal side member  12  of the arched support assembly  9  of the portable bedside toilet commode. When secured by a fastening device such as a buckle this anti-tip strap  33  would hold the portable bedside toilet commode of FIG. 1 in position and secured to the bed-frame. Use of the anti-tip strap  33  or the elimination of them does not change or alter the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention. 
     Also, for use and comfort, the addition of a shelf can be added to provide a convenient location to place items such as toilet paper, wipes, etc. Use of a shelf or the elimination of it does not change or alter the basic concept and unique provisions of this invention. 
     The portable bedside toilet commode of FIG. 1 can be dismantled for transportation and shipping purposes. This invention, fully assembled but without the tip-inhibiting legs  28  will go through a 2′-6″ residential interior doorway. If the portable bedside toilet commode of FIG. 1 is scaled larger, for larger people, it may need to be partially dismantled to pass through a 2′-6″ residential interior door. Institutions with larger doors should not have trouble moving the unit fully assembled from one room to another room. 
     The design of this portable bedside toilet commode of FIGS.  1 , 2 , 3  and tip-inhibiting leg of FIG. 4 were also designed to minimize manufacturing costs in that the arched support assembly  9 , tip-inhibiting leg  28 , arm rest  13 , and hand grip  14  can all be manufactured without regard to right or left hand design. The adjustable leg sections  15  with end covers  16  for use with the portable bedside toilet commode of FIGS.  1 , 2  and for use on the tip-inhibiting leg  28  of FIG. 4 are all alike. 
     DRAWINGS 
     FIG.  1 —Portable Bedside Toilet Commode Legend 
       1 . rear leg 
       2 . chair arm 
       3 . slanted member 
       4 . hand rail 
       5 . front leg 
       6 . arched member 
       7 . continuous weld attachment area between members 
       8 . apex of arch 
       9 . arched support assembly and leg intersection 
       10 . V-support 
       11 . turned down/compressed section mating with structural member 
       12 . horizontal member of the arched support assembly 
       13 . arm rest 
       14 . grip 
       15 . adjustable leg sections 
       16 . end covers 
       17 . front support member of chair section 
       18 . rear support member of chair section 
       19 . bolt/nut 
       20 . back assembly horizontal member 
       21 . acute angle turning of back assembly member 
       22 . inverted U-shaped member 
       23 . rectangular flat member 
       24 . covered, padded back board 
       25 . toilet seat 
       26 . waste receptacle 
     FIG.  2 —Tip-Inhibiting Leg Attachment Legend 
       1 . side tip-inhibiting leg 
       2 . adjustable leg section 
       3 . horizontal member 
       4 . continuous weld 
       5 . conforming-part-member 
       6 . bolt 
     FIG.  3 —Side Support Assembly Legend 
       1 . one piece multiple-bent, multiple-level front and rear leg member with chair, slant, and standing rails. 
       2 . arched member 
       3 . V-support member 
       4 . horizontal member 
       5 . continuous weld areas 
       6 . adjustable leg sections 
       7 . end covers 
       8 . chair arm 
       9 . hand rail 
       10 . slanted member 
       11 . arm rest 
       12 . grip 
     FIG.  4 —Back Support Legend 
       1 . back member 
       2 . U-shaped member 
       3 . cushion attachment areas 
       4 . cushion (back board with padding and cushion) 
       5 . two bolts/nuts 
       6 . turned down/compressed section mating with structural member 
       7 . acute angle turning of the back assembly member 
       8 . wing nuts 
       9 . continuous weld