U.S. patent application number 10/786381 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for pail/splash guard for commode.
Invention is credited to Battiston, Joseph.
Application Number | 20040163167 10/786381 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23715627 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040163167 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Battiston, Joseph |
August 26, 2004 |
Pail/splash guard for commode
Abstract
A commode is disclosed having a specially configured pan that
can be used as a splash guard when the commode is used in
conjunction with a household toilet and the same configuration or
shape can be used as a pail for a stand alone commode. In either
case, the pan pan in intended for use with a commode seat having an
elongated opening and thus has an upper opening that is generally
rectangular in configuration. The pan also has a sloping front
surface that directs the waste products rearwardly and downwardly
to a circular bottom. The centerline of the circular bottom is
displaced rearwardly with respect to the midpoint of the front to
back length of the pan so that the pan can be used over a household
toilet and the waste products are directed to the center of the
receiving portion of that toilet.
Inventors: |
Battiston, Joseph; (Chester,
VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLAUBER & JACKSON
411 HACKENSACK AVENUE
HACKENSACK
NJ
07601
|
Family ID: |
23715627 |
Appl. No.: |
10/786381 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10786381 |
Feb 25, 2004 |
|
|
|
09432313 |
Nov 2, 1999 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/483 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 11/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/483 |
International
Class: |
A47K 011/02; A47K
011/04 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A pan for use with a commode, said pan having an upper generally
rectangular rim having a front and a rear and having an opening
therethrough, said rim having predetermined length and width
dimensions, said length dimension being larger than said width
dimension and extending from said front to said rear, said pan
further having sides extending downwardly from said rim to form a
bottom portion, said bottom portion being displaced rearwardly with
respect to the midpoint of said length dimension.
2. A pan for use with a commode as defined in claim 1 wherein said
bottom portion is generally circular.
3. A pan for use with a commode as defined in claim 1 wherein said
bottom portion has an opening therein.
4. A pan for use with a commode as defined in claim 1 wherein said
upper rim has an outwardly extending peripheral flange.
5. A commode for use with a person, said commode having a base
frame and a commode seat affixed atop said base, said commode seat
having a front, a rear and lateral sides and having an opening
therethrough, and a pan affixed to said frame and located beneath
said commode seat, said pan having an upper rim generally
contiguous to said opening in said commode seat, said upper rim
being generally rectangular with a predetermined length dimension
and having an generally rectangular opening, said pan further
having downwardly directed sides to form a bottom, said bottom
being displaced rearwardly with respect to the midpoint of said
predetermined length dimension.
6. A commode for use with a person as defined in claim 5 wherein
said opening in said commode seat is longer in the front to rear
direction than said lateral side direction creating an elongated
opening in the front to rear direction.
7. A commode for use with a person as defined in claim 5 wherein
said bottom has a generally circular configuration.
8. A commode for use with a person as defined in claim 5 wherein
said bottom has an opening.
9. A commode for use with a person as defined in claim 5 wherein
said rim has an outwardly extending flange.
10. A commode for use with a person as defined in claim 9 wherein
said pan is affixed to said frame by means of said peripheral
flange resting upon said frame.
11. A commode for use with a person as defined in claim 9 wherein
said from includes a downwardly projecting L-shaped flange and said
pan is affixed to said frame by being slidingly interfitted atop
said flange.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a commode and,
more particularly, to the configuration of a combined pail and
splash guard that is usable with a commode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Typically, commodes are regularly used by elderly or
infirmed persons to aid in the convenience of use by such persons
that cannot use or for some reason find it difficult to use the
normal porcelain toilet commonly used in households today. By
definition, the use of the word commode and toilet are sometimes
used interchangeably for both of the devices and thus, in order to
provide clarity, the use of the words hereinafter in the present
description will be to use the term commode to describe the present
device that is portable and movable to aid the person and the term
toilet will be used to describe the typical porcelain device that
is of the standard household variety.
[0003] With the use of commodes, therefore, there are at least two
somewhat independent uses. One is where the commode is serving as
an independent device and is interfitted with a pail having a solid
bottom to catch and retain the waste products at any convenient
location to the user, such as bedsides. An alternate use, however,
of the commode is to move or otherwise position the device to be
located physically over the standard toilet so that, in effect, the
user has the convenience and comfort of the commode configuration
but uses the standard toilet for the disposal of the waste
products. In the latter use, obviously, the pail has no bottom and
operates more in the form of a splash guard to direct the waste
products into that standard toilet. In order to define the two
differing, but structurally similar configurations, the generic
word "pan" will sometimes be used to describe the device, it being
understood that the word "pan" is used to describe the device when
the bottom is open and the device is therefore used as a splash
guard and to also describe the device when used as a pail when the
bottom is closed.
[0004] In either case, the more conventional configuration of the
opening in the commode seat is a generally circular shape and thus,
the pail or splash guard configuration is also circular to interfit
underneath and coincide with the opening in the commode seat.
[0005] There are presently developed and thus are available
commercially, commodes having elongated openings in the commode
seat that have a minor axis with a width about the same dimension
as the prior circular openings but have an elongated length
dimension that is considerable longer in length, thus the
configuration is an elongate circle or oval shape. For convenience,
the longer axis and dimension will be referred to as the length and
the minor axis dimension referred to as the width. The length may
thus exceed the width by 4-5 inches. Since, as indicated, the width
is about the same dimension as the prior commode seat openings, it
can be seen that the overall length of the commodes are
extended.
[0006] The elongated opening commodes are used in the case of
patients with special needs requiring that configuration for the
additional space in front of the patient. With the use of such
elongated openings, however, a problem arises with respect to the
pail or splash guard that can be used with the longer dimensioned
opening. The normal diameter of pail or splash guard is certainly
inadequate and, if used, would leave an opening along the
peripheral edge at the extended ends of the opening and waste
products could thus miss the pail altogether or avoid the splash
guard. On the other hand, the circular pail or splash guard cannot
simply be enlarged to the dimension of the elongated length as such
would also therefore require extending the sides of the commode
outwardly to account for the increased diameter and make the
commode more inconvenient to use in narrow spaces as is typical of
many domestic bathrooms.
[0007] Therefore, it would be desirous to have a new configuration
of pail or splash guard that can be used with the elongated opening
without requiring the width of the commode to be extended and to
allow the commode to be used as a splash guard in conjunction with
a household toilet to discharge the waste products safely into that
toilet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, a pail
or splash guard is provided that has a unique configuration having
an upper generally rectangular opening and a lower, bottom that is
preferably circular. As a pail, the bottom is, of course, enclosed
to contain the waste products whereas in the splash guard
configuration, the bottom is open so that the commode can be used
over a household toilet. As used through out the description, the
bottom will be referred to as circular in accordance with the
preferred embodiment, it being understood that the bottom may be of
a wide variety of differing configurations and be within the intent
of the present invention. To serve both purposes with the same
overall configuration, the circular bottom is displaced with
respect to the midpoint of the longitudinal or length dimension.
Thus, when the device is used as a splash guard, there is an
extended curved front downwardly extending surface forward of the
circular bottom to channel the waste product toward the circular
opening that is thus is rearwardly disposed with respect to the mid
point of the length dimension. In either instance, the upper
rectangular configuration is positioned generally contiguous to and
closely beneath the elongated opening in the commode seat to assure
that all of the waste is collected by the splash guard or pail.
[0009] In the preferred embodiment, there is also a peripheral
flange extending outwardly from the upper generally rectangular
surface of the pail to facilitate the positioning of the pail in
the commode.
[0010] As such, therefore, the same configuration can be used with
the elongated opening type of commode and can easily be
manufactured with a bottom for use as a pail or with an opening in
the bottom to be used as a splash guard.
[0011] Other features and advantage will become apparent to those
skilled in the art from a review of the ensuing description while
proceeds with reference to the following illustrative drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a commode having
an elongated commode seat opening and having a pail constructed in
accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a commode having an
elongated opening and adapted for use with the present pail or
splash guard configuration;
[0014] FIG. 3A is a side view, partially in cross section, showing
a pail having the configuration of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 3B is a side view, partially in cross section, showing
a splash guard having the configuration of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view
of a commode 10 constructed in accordance with the present
invention. As can be seen, commode 10 comprises a pair of inverted
U-shaped side frame members 12 that are spaced apart to provide a
seating space for the user therebetween in utilizing the commode
10. As used herein, by convention, the front of the commode 10 will
be referred to as the direction the user is facing when seated in
the commode 10 and thus, in FIG. 1, the frame members 12 are shaped
so as to include front legs 14 and rear legs 16, each of which may
have flexible cups 18 attached to the bottom of such legs to
prevent the commode 10 from slipping on the floor or to form deep
indentations in a carpet.
[0017] As also can be seen, there is a front frame member 20 and a
rear frame member 22, in accordance with the defined convention,
and which may also be inverted U-shaped members that are affixed to
the side frame members 12 and 14 to create a solid frame to support
the user. A back support 24 shaped in the same configuration as the
other members is used to provide support for the back of the user,
if needed. In addition, there may be arm supports 26 that can be
collapsible or movable as desired and, in the position as shown,
provide support for the arms of the user when using the commode
10.
[0018] A further pair of cross bars 28 complete the structure of
the commode 10 and, as will be seen, also provide a support for the
pan 30. As indicated, the pan 30 has a multi-functional use, that
is, when used as a stand alone commode, the pan 30 has a solid
bottom to hold the waste products. When the commode 10 is
positioned over a household toilet, the pan 30 has an opening in
the bottom to allow all of the waste products to enter the toilet
and be disposed of by flushing that toilet.
[0019] As can be seen in the Figure, the configuration of the pan
30 is of importance in the present invention and that configuration
comprises an upper rim 32 that is formed in a generally rectangular
configuration creating an opening 34 in the upper part or top of
the pan 30. The pan 30 has a generally arcuate surface extending
downwardly from the upper rim 32 to eventually form a generally
circular bottom 36 in the preferred embodiment, although other
shapes of bottoms can be used. As will also be seen, the generally
rectangular configuration has its length disposed from front to
back as installed in the commode 10 and its width from side to
side. In general the length is 4-5 inches longer than the width and
thus, the generally rectangular opening has predetermined
dimensions of its width and length. For clarity, the length
dimension has been indicated on the Figure by an L and the width
dimension by a W.
[0020] The location of the circular bottom 36 is also critical to
the present invention as the location, indicated by the centerline
C of the generally circular bottom 36 is displaced with respect to
the midpoint of the length dimension of the generally rectangular
opening, that is, the center of the generally circular bottom 36 is
toward the rear of the pan 30 with respect to the midpoint of the
length dimension. Obviously as the circular bottom is the preferred
embodiment, in the event the shape of the bottom is another
configuration, it is import that such shape be displaced rearwardly
with respect to the midpoint of the length dimension of the
generally with respect to the generally rectangular upper rim of
the pan 30. The purpose of the displacement is to allow the pan 30,
when used in conjunction with a household toilet, to direct the
waste along the longer front arcuate surface 38 so that the commode
10 can be positioned over the toilet to allow the user sufficient
room in the front while still capturing and directing all of the
waste products rearwardly to be discharged in the center of the
toilet at the desired location. Thus the downward sloping arcuate
front surface 38 is a more gently sloped surface than the sharp
downward rear surface of the pan 30, both surfaces, however,
leading eventually to the circular bottom 36.
[0021] Thus, as also seen in the figure, the commode seat 40, when
installed on the frame, can have an elongated opening 42 for the
convenience of the user and yet the pan 30 can easily and fully
capture all of the waste products and direct those products to the
proper location in the center of the household toilet on which the
commode 10 is situated.
[0022] In this embodiment, the pan 30 can be readily installed and
removed from the commode 10 by means of the outwardly extending
peripheral flange 44 and which overlaps the front frame member 20,
the rear frame member 22 and the cross bars 28 to hold and support
the pan 30 firmly in position contiguous to the elongated opening
42.
[0023] Turning now to FIG. 2 there is shown a alternate commode 10
and since many of the components are similar or the same as in the
FIG. 1 embodiment, like numbers have been used for like components.
In this embodiment, however, the pan 30 is slid into an out of its
operative position beneath the commode seat 40 by a downward
L-shaped flange 44 beneath and extending along the lateral sides of
the elongated opening 42 in the commode seat 40. Thus, rather than
lifting the commode seat up to remove the pan 30, it is convenient
to install and remove the pan 30 by simply sliding it into and out
of its contiguous position beneath the elongated opening 42.
[0024] Turning now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, there are shown, side views,
partly in section, showing the pan 30 of the present invention. In
the FIG. 3A embodiment, it can be seen that the circular bottom 36
is a solid bottom and therefor the pan 30 is intended for use as a
stand alone commode with the pan used as a pail to collect and
retain the waste materials. In the FIG. 3B embodiment, there is an
opening at 44 in the circular bottom 36 and that embodiment is
intended for use where the commode is located over a household
toilet such that the waste material is discharged directly into
that toilet. As also seen in both FIGS. 2A and 2B, the front
surface 38 of the pan 32 curves downwardly and the circular bottom
36 is displaced rearwardly with respect to the midpoint of the
length dimension L so that the pan 30 can be used with an elongated
opening in the commode seat and the curved front surface 38 can
direct the waste products rearwardly to the center of the household
toilet for discharge into that system.
[0025] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the
illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be
merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the
invention, and which are suitable of modification of form, size,
arrangement of parts and details of operation. The intention rather
is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within
the spirit and scope and defined by the claims.
* * * * *