Toilet wheelchair

Abstract

A toilet wheelchair comprises (a) a wheelchair frame; (b) at least three wheels rotatably connected to the wheelchair frame; and (c) a seat carried by the wheelchair frame; the seat comprises a main seat portion configured carrying a user and an auxiliary seat portion releasably mountable in an area configured for defecating the user. The wheelchair comprises a bag frame and a disposable bag carried by the frame; the toilet wheelchair comprises a lifting mechanism configured for displacing the seat from a transport position to an elevated position allowing the bag frame to be mountable within the area configured for toileting the user such that the bag is ready for receiving excrements of the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toilet assistive devices and, more specifically, to a toilet wheelchair provided with a disposable bag for receiving excrements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The degree of disability of people who use wheelchairs varies considerably. For some of those who use wheelchairs being able to leave the wheelchair to deal with body functions is a relatively simple matter. For others, it is impossible. This invention provides a solution to the need for people who are wheelchair bound to be able to perform certain body functions with a relative degree of simplicity.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,412 discloses a wheelchair comprising a frame supported on wheels, a removable seat supported by the frame, a receptacle supported by the frame under the removable seat, a lifting tower supported by the frame and a sling carried by the lifting tower; and the sling being operable by the lifting tower through a lifting range to move between positions in which a person carried in the sling is raised above the removable seat so that the removable seat may be removed and a person carried in the sling is lowered to be supported over the receptacle.

Lifting the disabled person and mounting the removable seat is uncomfortable and traumatizing procedure. Hence, there is a long-felt and unmet need to provide a toilet wheelchair which allows toileting without displacement of the user from the wheelchair seat somewhere else.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is hence one object of the invention to disclose a toilet wheelchair comprising: (a) a wheelchair frame; (b) at least three wheels rotatably connected to the wheelchair frame; (c) a seat carried by the wheelchair frame; the seat comprises a main seat portion configured carrying a user and an auxiliary seat portion releasably mountable in an area configured for toileting the user.

It is a core purpose of the invention to provide the toilet wheelchair comprising a bag frame and a disposable bag carried by the frame; the toilet wheelchair comprises a lifting mechanism configured for displacing the seat from a transport position to an elevated position allowing the bag frame to be mountable within the area configured for toileting the user such that the bag is ready for receiving excrements of the user.

Another object of the invention is to disclose the lifting mechanism comprising a hydraulic system having a main cylinder actuated by an electric motor and at least two slave cylinders hydraulically connected to each other; the at least two slave cylinders manipulate the seat.

A further object of the invention is to disclose the electric motor which is energized by a rechargeable electric battery.

A further object of the invention is to disclose at least two slave cylinders which are vertically oriented.

A further object of the invention is to disclose the bag frame slidably insertable into the area configured for defecating the user.

A further object of the invention is to disclose a method of assisting defecation of a user. The aforesaid method comprises steps of: (a) providing a toilet wheelchair further comprising: a wheelchair frame; (i) at least three wheels rotatably connected to the wheelchair frame; (ii) a seat carried by the wheelchair frame; the seat comprises a main seat portion configured carrying a user and an auxiliary seat portion releasably mountable in an area configured for toileting the user; the toilet wheelchair comprises a bag frame and a disposable bag carried by the frame; the toilet wheelchair comprises a lifting mechanism configured for displacing the main seat portion from a transport position to an elevated position allowing the bag frame to be mountable within the area configured for defecating the user such that the bag is ready for receiving excrements of the user; (b) placing the user onto the seat; (c) dismounting the auxiliary seat portion from the main seat portion; (d) displacing the main seat portion from a transport position to an elevated position; (e) mounting the bag frame and the disposable bag carried by the frame within the area configured for defecating the user; (f) dismounting the bag frame and the disposable bag after receiving the excrements thereinto; and (g) detaching the disposable bag from the bag frame.

A further object of the invention is to disclose the step of displacing main seat portion from a transport position to an elevated position performed by a lifting mechanism comprising a hydraulic system having a main cylinder actuated by an electric motor and at least two slave cylinders hydraulically connected to each other; the at least two slave cylinders manipulate the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be implemented in practice, a plurality of embodiments is adapted to now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIGS. 1a and 1b are general perspective views of a toilet wheel chair in transport and elevated positions, respectively;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seat arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a seat arrangement;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are front views of a seat arrangement in transport and elevated positions;

FIGS. 5a to 5d illustrate dismounting an auxiliary portion from a main seat; and

FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective views of a bag carried by a frame in dismounted and mounted positions, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is provided, so as to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of said invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention. Various modifications, however, are adapted to remain apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined specifically to provide a toilet wheelchair and a method of assisting user's toileting.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1a and 1b presenting general perspective views of a toilet wheel chair in transport and elevated positions, respectively. FIG. 1a shows the toilet wheelchair 200a in a transport position. Main seat 10 and auxiliary portion 15 are supported by base member 16. In FIG. 1b, main seat 10 is lifted into an elevated position by hydraulic cylinders 40. Auxiliary portion 15 is disengaged from main seat 10.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 presenting seat arrangement in detail. Base member 16 is mechanically connected to a frame of the toilet wheelchair (not shown). Hydraulic cylinders 40 are configured for lifting main seat arrangement including bearing member 12 and main seat 10 per se. Auxiliary seat portion arrangement includes bearing member 19, interlayer 17 and auxiliary seat portion 15 per se. Auxiliary seat portion arrangement 15-17-19 is mountable into recess 11 in order to create an integral comfortable surface of a seat.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 presenting a top view of seat arrangement 100. Specifically, main seat 10 and auxiliary seat portion 15 create an integral seat. Main seat 10 is liftable by a hydraulic system including main cylinder 20 driven by an electric motor (not shown) and slave cylinders 40 interconnected by pipes conducting working body (not shown). Electric rechargeable battery 30 energizes the electric motor. Numerals 50 and 60 refers to an indicator lamp and an electric connector for recharging battery 30.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4a and 4b presenting the seat arrangement in transport position 100a and elevated position 100b, respectively. Elevating main seat 10 is performed by slave cylinders 40 fed by the working body delivered by main cylinder 20.

Reference is now FIGS. 5a to 5d illustrating a procedure of dismounting auxiliary portion 15 from a main seat and mounting bag frame 70. Specifically, recess 11 has channel 18 configured for securing auxiliary portion 15 and bag frame 70. Before toileting, auxiliary portion 15 is replaced with bag frame 70 carrying a disposable bag (not shown).

Reference is now FIGS. 6a and 6b presenting perspective views of bag 75 carried by bag frame 70 in dismounted and mounted positions, respectively. Bag frame 70 is provided with projection 73 configured to be received by channel 18 (not shown) such that bag frame 70 is secured within recess 11.

According to the present invention, a toilet wheelchair comprising: (a) a wheelchair frame; (b) at least three wheels rotatably connected to the wheelchair frame; (c) a seat carried by the wheelchair frame; the seat comprises a main seat portion configured carrying a user and an auxiliary seat portion releasably mountable in an area configured for toileting the user.

It is a core feature of the invention to provide the toilet wheelchair comprising a bag frame and a disposable bag carried by the frame; the toilet wheelchair comprises a lifting mechanism configured for displacing the seat from a transport position to an elevated position allowing the bag frame to be mountable within the area configured for toileting the user such that the bag is ready for receiving excrements of the user.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lifting mechanism comprises a hydraulic system having a main cylinder actuated by an electric motor and at least two slave cylinders hydraulically connected to each other; the at least two slave cylinders manipulate the seat.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electric motor which is energized by a rechargeable electric battery.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, at least two slave cylinders are vertically oriented.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the bag frame slidably is insertable into the area configured for defecating the user.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of assisting defecation of a user is disclosed. The aforesaid method comprises steps of: (a) providing a toilet wheelchair further comprising: a wheelchair frame; (i) at least three wheels rotatably connected to the wheelchair frame; (ii) a seat carried by the wheelchair frame; the seat comprises a main seat portion configured carrying a user and an auxiliary seat portion releasably mountable in an area configured for toileting the user; the toilet wheelchair comprises a bag frame and a disposable bag carried by the frame; the toilet wheelchair comprises a lifting mechanism configured for displacing the main seat portion from a transport position to an elevated position allowing the bag frame to be mountable within the area configured for defecating the user such that the bag is ready for receiving excrements of the user; (b) placing the user onto the seat; (c) dismounting the auxiliary seat portion from the main seat portion; (d) displacing the main seat portion from a transport position to an elevated position; (e) mounting the bag frame and the disposable bag carried by the frame within the area configured for defecating the user; (f) dismounting the bag frame and the disposable bag after receiving the excrements thereinto; and (g) detaching the disposable bag from the bag frame.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the step of displacing main seat portion from a transport position to an elevated position performed by a lifting mechanism comprises a hydraulic system having a main cylinder actuated by an electric motor and at least two slave cylinders hydraulically connected to each other; the at least two slave cylinders manipulate the seat.

Claims

1. A toilet wheelchair comprising: a wheelchair frame;at least three wheels rotatably connected to said wheelchair frame;a seat carried by said wheelchair frame; said seat comprises a unitary main seat portion configured for carrying a user and an auxiliary seat portion releasably mountable in an area configured for defecating said user;wherein said toilet wheelchair comprises a bag frame and a disposable bag carried by said frame; said toilet wheelchair comprises a lifting mechanism configured for displacing said main seat portion from a transport position to an elevated position allowing said bag frame to be mountable within said area configured for toileting said user such that said bag is ready for receiving excrements of said userwherein, said toilet wheelchair being in said transport position, said seat forms an integral comfortable seating surfacefurther wherein said bag frame is releasably mountable in said area configured for defecating said user, said bag frame configured to replace said auxiliary seat portion during toileting.

2. The toilet wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein said lifting mechanism comprises a hydraulic system having a main cylinder actuated by an electric motor and at least two slave cylinders hydraulically connected to each other; said at least two slave cylinders manipulate said seat.

3. The toilet wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein said electric motor is energized by a rechargeable electric battery.

4. The toilet wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein said at least two slave cylinders are vertically oriented.

5. The toilet wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein bag frame is slidably insertable into said area configured for defecating said user.

6. A method of assisting user's toileting; said method comprising steps of: providing a toilet wheelchair further comprising: a wheelchair frame;at least three wheels rotatably connected to said wheelchair frame;a seat carried by said wheelchair frame; said seat comprises a unitary main seat portion configured for carrying a user and an auxiliary seat portion releasably mountable in an area configured for toileting said user; said toilet wheelchair comprises a bag frame and a disposable bag carried by said frame; said toilet wheelchair comprises a lifting mechanism configured for displacing said main seat portion from a transport position to an elevated position allowing said bag frame to be mountable within said area configured for toileting said user such that said bag is ready for receiving excrements of said user;placing said user onto said seat;dismounting said auxiliary seat portion from said main seat portion;displacing said main seat portion from said transport position to said elevated position;mounting said bag frame and said disposable bag carried by said frame within said area configured for defecating said user;dismounting said bag frame and said disposable bag after receiving said excrements thereinto; anddetaching said disposable bag from said bag framewherein, said toilet wheelchair being in said transport position, said seat forms an integral comfortable seating surfacefurther wherein said bag frame is releasably mountable in said area configured for defecating said user, said bag frame configured to replace said auxiliary seat portion during toileting.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said step of displacing said main seat portion from said transport position to said elevated position is performed by a lifting mechanism comprising a hydraulic system having a main cylinder actuated by an electric motor and at least two slave cylinders hydraulically connected to each other; said at least two slave cylinders manipulate said seat.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said electric motor is energized by a rechargeable electric battery.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said at least two slave cylinders are vertically oriented.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein said bag frame is slidably insertable into said area configured for defecating said user.