Patent Application
20240245270
This disclosure relates to toilet assistance devices. In particular, without limitation, the disclosure relates to a portable foldable toilet assistance device.
Toilet assistance devices are known in the art.
However, the systems known in the art are unwieldy and complicated for portable use in different toilet facilities. Therefore, a need exists for a portable, collapsible toilet assistance device.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
In an aspect of the disclosure, a portable toilet assistance device used in a pair of portable toilet assistance devices is disclosed, and includes a first leg, a second leg, a pivotable hinge connected to the first leg and to the second leg, a first panel, a second panel where the first panel and the second panel form a third leg when in an un-collapsed state, a hinge connected to the first leg and to first panel, a hinge connected to the second leg and to second panel, and an inlet positioned on a surface of the first leg, of each of the two collapsible stools per foot, and the second leg, the inlet configured to house a fastening device or fastening device mate. Each portable toilet assistance device is unfolded from a collapsed state, placed on the floor and allows the user to sit comfortably on a toilet facility with the user's feet mounted respectively on each individual portable toilet assistance device for each foot.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
A collapsible toilet stool is disclosed, which may take the form of a portable toilet assistance device according to the disclosure. The portable toilet assistance device may assist with a more healthy posture during use of a toilet. The portable toilet assistance device may be portable and readily available for use in restrooms at home or away from home. The portable toilet device may consist of two collapsible triangle-shaped elements, which may be collapsed and held together with a magnet. The resulting shape when collapsed may be rectangular. This shape may allow easy fitting in a person's pocket. The portable toilet assistance device may have rubber footings or rubber linings which may prevent slippage when the portable toilet assistance device is used. When the portable toilet assistance device is un-collapsed, the device may form two triangles for each foot to rest upon, which may aid in relaxed and healthy defecation.
The portable toilet assistance device 100 may also include a first panel 104 and a second panel 105. The first panel 104 and the second panel 105 may be folded such that they are aligned together to form the third leg 105a. The first panel 104 and the second panel 105 make up the third leg 105a, forming the triangle rests standing up so a foot can rest on top of the legs 101, 102, and 105a. The first panel 104 may pivot around the first hinge 107 within a range of angles, such that the first panel 104 may be positioned directly on a side of the first leg 101 or may be pivoted to form an angle to align with the second panel 105 to form the third leg 105a. The second panel 105 is pivotably attached to the second leg 102 with the second hinge 108. The second panel 105 may pivot around the second hinge 108 within a range of angles, such that the second panel 105 may be positioned directly on a side of the second leg 102 or may be pivoted to form an angle to align with the first panel 10.
In an aspect of the disclosure, an inlet 109 may be positioned on the first leg 101 and the second leg 102. The inlet 109 may include a magnet to fasten to the metal inlet 108 at the same spot for the second identical and collapsible portable toilet assistance device 100 for the second foot. A magnet or fastening material or other securing mechanism in the inlet 109 may facilitate keeping the first leg 101 on the first of two portable toilet assistance devices 100 to the same respective leg/inlet 109 on the second portable toilet assistance device 100, so that it is securely retained for convenient storage and transport. The portable toilet assistance device 100 may also be configured such that a user may place a foot upon the top of the first leg 101, the second leg 102 and the third leg 105a where rubber strips may be affixed to a top surface 110 and a bottom surface 111 (not visible) of the first leg 101, the second leg 102 and the third leg 105a to prevent the feet or device from slipping.
The portable toilet assistance device 200 may also include a first panel 204 and a second panel 205. The first panel 204 and the second panel 205 may be folded such that they are aligned together to form the third leg 205a. The first panel 204 and the second panel 205 make up the third leg 205a, forming the triangle that rests standing up so a foot can rest on top of the legs 201, 202, and 205a. The first panel 204 may pivot around the first hinge 207 within a range of angles, such that the first panel 204 may be positioned directly on a side of the first leg 201 or may be pivoted to form an angle to align with the second panel 205 to form the third leg 205a, via a third hinge 206. The second panel 205 is pivotably attached to the second leg 202 with the second hinge 208. The second panel 205 may pivot around the second hinge 208 within a range of angles, such that the second panel 205 may be positioned directly on a side of the second leg 202 or may be pivoted to form an angle to align with the first panel 201, via the third hinge 206.
In an aspect of the disclosure, an inlet 209 may be positioned on the first leg 201 and the second leg 202. The inlet 209 may include a magnet to fasten to the metal inlet 208 at the same spot for the second identical and collapsible portable toilet assistance device 200 for the second foot. A magnet or other securing mechanism in the inlet 209 may facilitate keeping the first leg 201 on the first of two portable toilet assistance devices 200 to the same respective leg/inlet 209 on the second portable toilet assistance device 200, so that it is securely retained for convenient storage and transport. The portable toilet assistance device 200 may also be configured such that a user may place a foot upon the top of the first leg 201, the second leg 202 and the third leg 205a where rubber strips may be affixed to a top surface 210 and a bottom surface 211 (not visible) of the first leg 201, the second leg 202 and the third leg 205a to prevent the feet or device from slipping.
The portable toilet assistance device 300 may also include a first panel 304 and a second panel 305. The first panel 304 and the second panel 305 may be folded such that they are aligned together to form a base structure upon which the portable toilet assistance device 300 may rest. The first panel 304 and the second panel 305 may be folded such that they are aligned together to form the third leg 305a. The first panel 304 and the second panel 305 make up the third leg 305a, forming the triangle that rests standing up so a foot can rest on top of the legs 301, 302, and 305a. The first panel 304 may pivot around the first hinge 306 within a range of angles, such that the first panel 304 may be positioned directly on a side of the first leg 301 or may be pivoted to form an angle to align with the second panel 305 to form the third leg 305a, via a third hinge 308. The second panel 305 is pivotably attached to the second leg 302 with the second hinge 307. The second panel 305 may pivot around the second hinge 308 within a range of angles, such that the second panel 305 may be positioned directly on a side of the second leg 302 or may be pivoted to form an angle to align with the first panel 301, via the third hinge 308. The first panel 304 is pivotably attached to the first leg 301 with a first hinge 306. The first panel 304 may pivot around the first hinge 306 within a range of angles, such that the first leg 304 may be positioned directly on a side of the first leg 301 or may be pivoted to form an angle to match up with the second panel 304. The second leg 305 is pivotably attached to the second leg 302 with a second hinge 307. The second panel 305 may pivot around the first hinge 307 within a range of angles, such that the first panel 304 may be positioned directly on a side of the first leg 301 or may be pivoted via the third hinge 308 to form an angle to match up with the second panel 304. An outer surface of the first leg 301a, an outer surface of the second leg 302a, an outer surface of the first leg base 304b and an outer surface of the second panel 305a, and the opposing sides of the portable toilet assistance device 300 (not shown in this perspective) may be coated with a non-slip material. The non-slip material may be a rubber material, a non-slip grip tape or other non-slip and non-skid materials known in the art. The non-slip material may serve to anchor the portable toilet assistance device 300 and may prevent it from moving when placed down
The portable toilet assistance device 300 may form a triangle that is positioned lengthwise so that the formed triangle is placed on the ground and the feet go on the opposite end of the triangle. Two portable toilet assistance devices 300 may be employed to form two upright triangles that will be placed under each foot and has a specific foot mount for each foot. The portable toilet assistance device 300 may be folded inward via the third hinge 308 to make an individual portable toilet assistance device 300 fold into a smaller rectangular shape, which may then connect to the second portable toilet assistance device 300 of the pair, via a magnetically attracted fastener positioned within inlets disposed on both of the portable toilet assistance devices 300 (inlets not shown here).
The portable toilet assistance device 400 may also include a first panel 404 and a second panel 405. In an aspect, the first panel 404 and the second panel 405 may be folded inward as shown in
The first leg 401 and the second leg 402 may pivot about the bi-folding hinge 403 to allow first panel 404 and second panel 405 to collapse inwardly. The first panel 404 pivots via third hinge 408 along with the second panel 405 to form a third leg, as illustrated in
In act 501, the two portable toilet assistance devices are provided to the user in collapsed configurations (as illustrated in
In act 502 in an aspect of the method, the two portable toilet assistance devices are unfolded to form a triangle shape as illustrated in
In act 503, a user may mount his or her feet upon the portable toilet assistance devices during use of toilet facilities. The user may place his or her feet each un-collapsed portable toilet assistance device, resting the feet on the standing triangle shape formed by the un-collapsed portable toilet assistances, heel at base and toes towards the apex, for comfortable use of toilet facilities.
In act 504, once the visit to the toilet facilities is completed, the user may then collapse each portable toilet assistance device and collapse the base panels via the hinge between the base panels. The collapsed portable toilet assistance devices may then be attached to each other via a magnetically attracted faster or other fastening mechanism for easy storage and transport.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
