Patent Application
20110219529
The present application relates to commode chairs, and in particular relates to an easily assembled commode chair having removable legs.
Commode chairs provide a system for going to the bathroom that may be arranged anywhere the user requires. In particular, commode chairs may be arranged near a bedside to assist anyone who requires easy access to a bathroom, whether by reason of a disability or lack of bladder or bowel control. Commode chairs provide a seat and a pail, thereby enabling a person to sit and go to the bathroom.
A commode chair is provided that includes a seat having a central hole and a frame on which the seat is mountable. The frame includes at least three leg connectors. The commode chair also includes at least three legs in which each of the legs is configured to be removably connected to a respective one of the leg connectors. The commode chair further includes at least three leg extenders in which each of the leg extenders is configured to be slideably connected to a respective one of the legs.
In an embodiment, the frame and leg assemblies can be simply and easily assembled and disassembled. The components can be stacked with, and/or attached to, each other to reduce the space occupied by the disassembled commode chair, thereby lowering storage and transportation costs.
A commode chair is provided that includes a frame selectively arrangeable between an operative orientation and a stored orientation. The frame includes two armrest components and a cross bar component, and the two armrest components substantially define a longitudinal dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. The cross bar component substantially defines a transverse dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. The commode chair also includes four leg assemblies arrangeable relative to the frame between the operative and stored orientations. Each leg assembly is removably connectable to a lower portion of one of the armrest components of the frame and includes a leg extender. Each of the armrest components and one or more corresponding leg assemblies substantially define a vertical or height dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. A maximum dimension of the commode chair in the stored orientation substantially corresponds to the transverse dimension defined by the cross bar component.
These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The commode chair according to an exemplary embodiment may have four leg connectors and four leg assemblies, and the frame may be substantially rectangular. Each leg connector may be arranged in a corner region of the substantially rectangular frame. Each of the leg connectors may include a threaded member, and a top of each leg assembly may include a threaded collar configured to engage the respective threaded member.
Seat 114 may include a seat cushion arranged around the central hole. The seat may be adapted to snap on to a back edge of the frame and to pivot around the back edge. Cover 116 may be adapted to snap on to a back edge of the frame and to pivot around the back edge. Backrest 180 may be alternatively configured to attach to back cross bar 195. The backrest may extend upward from the frame when attached.
Commode chair 100 is selectively arrangeable between an operative orientation and a stored orientation. The frame includes two armrest components and a cross bar component, and the two armrest components substantially define a longitudinal dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. The cross bar component substantially defines a transverse dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. The commode chair also includes four leg assemblies arrangeable relative to the frame between the operative and stored orientations. Each leg assembly is removably connectable to a lower portion of one of the armrest components of the frame and includes a leg extender. Each of the armrest components and one or more corresponding leg assemblies substantially define a vertical or height dimension of the commode chair in the operative orientation. A maximum dimension of the commode chair in the stored orientation substantially corresponds to the transverse dimension defined by the cross bar component.
Commode chair 100 may be disassembled, with the leg assemblies detached from the arm rest components, the front and rear cross bar components detached from the arm rest components, a pail support arrangement collapsed, and a seat arrangement detached from the pail support arrangement. In the disassembled or stored orientation, the parts of commode chair may be packaged in a compact manner. The longest dimension of the all of the parts of the commode chair in the stored orientation is defined by the length of the front and rear cross bars. The stored orientation of the commode chair may have a compact configuration of substantially reduced vertical and longitudinal dimensions, causing the transverse dimension defined by the cross bars to be the maximum dimension of the commode chair in the stored orientation.
A tensioning arrangement, such as an elastic cord or spring, and/or a flexible connector, such as a cable or cord, may be provided for each of the leg assemblies, in addition to or instead of elastic cord 250. A first end of each of the elastic cords attached to a respective leg assembly may extend out of a hollow end of the top of the respective leg assembly, and a second end of each of the elastic cords attached to a respective one of the leg connectors may extend out of a hollow end of the respective leg connector. An additional tensioning arrangement may be arranged in at least one of the hollow end of the top of the respective leg assembly and the hollow end of the respective leg connector. The tensioning arrangement may be another elastic member, a spring member, a coil, or any other appropriate arrangement for introducing tension into the elastic system. The tensioning arrangements may ensure that the leg assemblies of the commode chair are not separated from the other components during storage. Additionally, the tensioning arrangements may assist a user in assembling the commode chair.
Each of the leg connectors may include an interior shaft, and each of the legs may include an exterior shaft. The exterior shaft of each of the leg assemblies may be adapted to receive the interior shaft of a respective leg connector in a friction fit, and each of the exterior shafts may include a flange extending to an interior side. Each of the interior shafts may include an indentation on an exterior side, and each of the flanges may be adapted to slideably cooperate with a corresponding indentation when the exterior shaft of each of the legs receives the interior shaft of a respective leg connector.
Alternatively, each of the leg connectors may include a threaded collar, and a top of each of the legs may include a threaded member configured to be engaged by the respective threaded collar.
The frame may include a cross-bar component including a front cross bar, a back cross bar, and a pail holding arrangement between the front cross bar and the back cross bar. The front cross bar and the back cross bar may include push pins at each end. The frame may include two armrest components, with each armrest component including two leg connectors, at least one backrest receiver, a front cross bar receiver and a back cross bar receiver. Each front cross bar receiver may be adapted to receive an end of the front cross bar into an interior portion and to receive the respective push pin into a hole to lock the front cross bar to the respective armrest component. Each back cross bar receiver may be adapted to receive an end of the back cross bar into an interior portion and to receive the respective push pin into a hole to lock the back cross bar to the respective armrest component. At least one of the front cross bar receivers and the back cross bar receivers of each cross bar component may include a lock knob adapted to secure the one of the front cross bar and the back cross bar to the corresponding armrest component.
The easily assembled commode chair may include a backrest configured to attach to the seat on at least one edge of the seat. The backrest may extend upward from a top surface of the seat when attached.
Each of the leg assemblies may include a height adjustment mechanism, a leg and a leg extender. The leg and leg extender may include at least two leg parts telescopically engaging each other. The height adjustment mechanism may enable the at least two leg parts to extend, retract and lock in position. Parts of the height adjustment mechanism may be arranged on both the leg and leg extender, and in particular, holes may be arranged on the leg extender and a push pin may be arranged on the leg. The push pin may be adapted to cooperatively interact with the holes to adjust the height. Each of the leg extenders may include an anti-slip arrangement on a bottom of the leg extender. Each of the leg extenders may be capped by a rubber or plastic cap. Each of the leg extenders may include a wheel on a bottom of the leg extender, enabling commode chair 100 to be wheeled around.
The easily assembled commode chair may include a holder attached to one or more components of the frame or seat configured to hold each of the legs when the legs are not connected to the respective leg connectors. The holders may be plastic clips, magnets, or any other appropriate arrangement for introducing holding a leg. In such a situation, if the legs are equipped with elastic cords or other retaining arrangements, each of the elastic cords has a length sufficient to allow the legs to be held in the holder. The components of the commode chair may include steel, aluminum or plastic.
The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and that various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
