U.S. patent application number 12/577264 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for walking aid combined with a toilet seat.
Invention is credited to Li-Hua LIN.
Application Number | 20100243011 12/577264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42664192 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100243011 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIN; Li-Hua |
September 30, 2010 |
WALKING AID COMBINED WITH A TOILET SEAT
Abstract
A walking aid includes a support, a toilet seat, and a fixing
member. The support has left and right frames, and a front frame
interconnecting the left and right frames. The toilet seat is
mounted pivotally on the support and has a seat plate defining a
seat hole. The toilet seat is changeable between a stored position
in which the seat plate is entirely supported by the front frame,
and a use position in which the seat plate is supported by the
left, right and front frames. The fixing member fixes the toilet
seat to the support.
Inventors: |
LIN; Li-Hua; (Tainan City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY LLP
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
42664192 |
Appl. No.: |
12/577264 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/66 ; 248/95;
4/237; 4/483 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 3/00 20130101; A47K
11/04 20130101; A61H 2201/0161 20130101; A61H 2201/1633
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/66 ; 248/95;
4/237; 4/483 |
International
Class: |
A45B 5/00 20060101
A45B005/00; B65B 67/12 20060101 B65B067/12; A47K 13/00 20060101
A47K013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 27, 2009 |
TW |
098110195 |
Claims
1. A walking aid, comprising: a support having left and right
frames, and a front frame interconnecting said left and right
frames; a toilet seat mounted pivotally on said support and having
a seat plate defining a seat hole, said toilet seat being
changeable between a stored position in which said seat plate is
entirely supported by said front frame, and a use position in which
said seat plate is supported by said left, right and front frames;
and a fixing member for fixing said toilet seat to said
support.
2. The walking aid of claim 1, wherein said toilet seat further
includes a bag holding ring that is adapted to hold a bag and that
is attached detachably to a bottom side of said seat plate around
said seat hole.
3. The walking aid of claim 2, wherein said toilet seat further
includes a ring retainer having a retaining groove, said bag
holding ring being fitted detachably in said retaining groove.
4. The walking aid of claim 1, wherein said seat plate has first
and second connection portions disposed on two opposite sides of
said seat hole, said first connection portion having a pivot
connection element pivotally connected to said support, said fixing
member having a main rod section lying below said seat plate and
fixed to a bottom side of said seat plate, and two fixing rods that
project oppositely from two opposite sides of said second
connection portion, that are connected respectively to two ends of
said main rod section, and that are connectable to said front
frame, or said left and right frames.
5. The walking aid of claim 4, wherein each of said left and right
frames has front and rear upstanding rods, and a transverse rod
interconnecting said front and rear upstanding rods, said fixing
rods being connected respectively to said transverse rods of said
left and right frames when said toilet seat is at said use
position.
6. The walking aid of claim 4, wherein said front frame includes
upper and lower rods each having two ends connected respectively to
said left and right frames, said fixing rods being connected to
said upper rod when said toilet seat is at said stored
position.
7. The walking aid of claim 6, wherein said pivot connection
element is a C-shaped clamp disposed on said bottom side of said
seat plate and clamping rotatably said lower rod.
8. The walking aid of claim 4, wherein said fixing rods are
connected telescopically to said main rod section.
9. The walking aid of claim 1, wherein each of said left and right
frames has front and rear upstanding rods, a handle rod, and a
transverse rod, said handle rod and said transverse rods
interconnecting said front and rear upstanding rods, said front
frame having upper and lower rods each having two ends connected
respectively to said front upstanding rods, said toilet seat being
mounted on said front frame when said toilet seat is at said stored
position.
10. The walking aid of claim 9, wherein said left and right frames
are foldable over said front frame.
11. A toilet seat mountable on a walking aid, comprising: a seat
plate defining a seat hole, and having first and second connection
portions disposed on two opposite sides of said seat hole, said
first connection portion having a pivot connection element adapted
for pivot connection with the walking aid; and two fixing rods
projecting oppositely from two opposite sides of said second
connection portion and each having a fixing element adapted to be
fixed detachably to the walking aid.
12. The toilet seat of claim 11, further comprising a main rod
section lying below said seat plate and fixed to a bottom side of
said seat plate, said fixing rods being connected respectively to
two ends of said main rod section.
13. The toilet seat of claim 11, further comprising a bag holding
ring that is adapted to hold a bag and that is attached detachably
to a bottom side of said seat plate around said seat hole.
14. The toilet seat of claim 13, further comprising a ring retainer
having a retaining groove, said bag holding ring being fitted
detachably in said retaining groove.
15. The toilet seat of claim 11, wherein said seat plate is a
foldable seat plate that has at least two seat halves foldably
connected to each other.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese application
no. 098110195, filed on Mar. 27, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a walking aid, more particularly
to a walking aid combined with a toilet seat.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A walking aid is an instrument for assisting a disabled or
handicapped person to walk. A conventional walking aid usually
includes left and right frames and a front frame interconnecting
the left and right frame. In use, a user holds the left and right
frames with two hands and walks forward by moving forward the
walking aid. The walking aid supports a body weight of the user
while he or she walks forward.
[0006] In general, the movements of the disabled or handicapped
persons are relatively slow. Thus, when they want to relieve
themselves during their activity of walking outdoor, it is
difficult for them to walk around and find a toilet for use.
Moreover, even if they know where the toilet is situated, they will
be unable to get there in time. In order to solve the aforesaid
problem, a walking aid having the function of a toilet is desirable
for the disabled or handicapped persons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a walking aid including a toilet seat mountable on the walking aid.
Hence, the drawback associated with the conventional walking aid
can be overcome.
[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a walking aid comprising:
[0009] a support having left and right frames, and a front frame
interconnecting the left and right frames;
[0010] a toilet seat mounted pivotally on the support and having a
seat plate defining a seat hole, the toilet seat being changeable
between a stored position in which the seat plate is entirely
supported by the front frame, and a use position in which the seat
plate is supported by the left, right and front frames; and
[0011] a fixing member for fixing the toilet seat to the
support.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a toilet seat mountable on a walking aid and
comprising:
[0013] a seat plate defining a seat hole, and having first and
second connection portions disposed on two opposite sides of the
seat hole, the first connection portion having a pivot connection
element adapted for pivot connection with the walking aid; and
[0014] two fixing rods projecting oppositely from two opposite
sides of the second connection portion and each having a fixing
element adapted to be fixed detachably to the walking aid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a walking aid including a
toilet seat at a stored position according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the toilet seat and a bag
holding ring;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the walking aid of FIG. 1
illustrating that the toilet seat is at a use position;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the walking aid of FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 4 but illustrating that a
fixing member of the walking aid is retracted to have a length
shorter than a distance between front upstanding rods of the
walking aid;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the walking aid of FIG. 1
illustrating that a right frame of the walking aid is folded over a
front frame thereof; and
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a toilet seat according to
another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Before the present invention is described in greater detail
with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should
be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a walking aid according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to include a
support 1, a toilet seat 2, and a fixing member 3 for fixing the
toilet seat 2 to the support 1.
[0025] The support 1 has left and right frames 11, and a front
frame 12 interconnecting the left and right frames 11. Each of the
left and right side frames 11 has front and rear upstanding rods
111, 112, a handle rod 113, and a transverse rod 114. The handle
rod 113 and the transverse rod 114 are spaced apart from each other
and interconnect the front and rear upstanding rods 111, 112.
[0026] The front frame 12 includes upper and lower rods 121, 122.
The upper rod 121 has two bent end portions 124 connected
respectively to the left and right frames 11. Each bent end portion
124 has a sleeve 1241 for extension of a respective one of the
front upstanding rods 111 of the left and right frames 11. The
lower rod 122 also has two end portions 126 connected respectively
to the left and right frames 11. Each end portion 126 of the lower
rod 122 is formed as a sleeve for extension of the respective one
of the front upstanding rods 111 of the left and right frames
11.
[0027] The toilet seat 2 is changeable between a stored position
(see FIG. 1) and a use position (see FIG. 3). The toilet seat 2 is
mounted pivotally on the support 11, and includes a seat plate 21,
a ring retainer 23, and a bag holding ring 24.
[0028] The seat plate 21 defines a seat hole 210 and has first and
second connection portions 211, 212 disposed on two opposite sides
of the seat hole 210. The first connection portion 211 has two
pivot connection elements 22 spaced apart from each other and
pivotally connected to the lower rod 122 of the front frame 12. In
the preferred embodiment, each pivot connection element 22 is a
C-shaped clamp 220 disposed on a bottom side of the seat plate 21
and clamping rotatably the lower rod 122.
[0029] The ring retainer 23 has a plurality of retaining elements
231 disposed around the seat hole 210 and each having a retaining
groove 232 for insertion of the bag holding ring 24 (i.e., the bag
holding ring 24 is fitted detachably in the retaining grooves
232).
[0030] The bag holding ring 24 is adapted to hold a bag 10 (for
example, a plastic bag) and is attached detachably to the bottom
side of the seat plate 21 around the seat hole 210 by virtue of the
ring retainer 23.
[0031] The fixing member 3 has a main rod section 31, two fixing
rods 32, and two locking elements 33 for respectively fixing the
two fixing rods 32 to the main rod section 31. The main rod section
31 lies below the seat plate 21 and is fixed to the bottom side of
the seat plate 21. In the preferred embodiment, the main rod
section 31 is tubular. The fixing rods 32 are connected
telescopically and respectively to two ends of the main rod section
31, and project oppositely from two opposite sides of the second
connection portion 212 of the seat plate 21. The two fixing rods 32
can move in outward and inward directions to adjust an entire
length of the fixing member 3. Each of the fixing rods 32 has a
fixing element 321 that is connectable detachably to the front
frame 12, or the left and right frames 11. In this embodiment, the
fixing elements 321 are formed as C-shaped clamps 321, and the
locking elements 33 are wing screws.
[0032] As best shown in FIG. 1, when the toilet seat 2 is at the
stored position, the seat plate 21 is entirely supported by the
front frame 12. In this embodiment, the C-shaped clamps 321 of the
fixing rods 32 respectively clamp the two bent end portions 124 of
the upper rod 121. In addition, the main rod section 31 and the
fixing rods 32 are fixed together by the locking elements 33 such
that the entire length of the fixing member 3 is longer than a
distance between the front upstanding rods 111 of the left and
right frames 11 (see FIG. 4).
[0033] When the toilet seat 2 is changed from the stored position
to the use position, the locking elements 33 should be loosened
first. At this moment, the entire length of the fixing member 3 can
be adjusted to be smaller than the distance between the front
upstanding rods 111 of the left and right frames 11 (see FIG. 5).
Then, the seat plate 21 is rotated about the lower rod 122 and
between the left and right frames 11. Finally, the main rod section
31 and the fixing rods 32 are fixed again by the locking elements
33 such that the entire length of the fixing member 3 is longer
than a distance between the transverse rods 114 of the left and
right frames 11, and such that the C-shaped clamps 321 of the
fixing rods 32 respectively clamp the transverse rods 114 of the
left and right frames 11 (see FIG. 3). In other words, the seat
plate 21 at the use position is supported by the left, right, and
front frames 11, 12.
[0034] It should be noted that although the fixing member 3 in this
embodiment is fixed to the bottom side of the seat plate 21, it
should not be limited to this embodiment. As long as the fixing
member 3 can fix the toilet seat 2 at the stored position or the
use position, the fixing member 3 can also be fixed to the support
1.
[0035] In other embodiments, the fixing rods 32 can move inward or
outward to adjust the entire length of the fixing member 3 by an
automatic spring mechanism that can make the fixing rods 32 spring
out of the main rod section 31. The automatic spring mechanism can
be operated through a button disposed on an outer surface of the
main rod section 31.
[0036] Moreover, although, in the preferred embodiment, the ring
retainer 23 has the plurality of retaining elements 231, a single
retaining element 231 may be disposed on the bottom side of the
seat plate 21, as long as the retaining groove 232 of the retaining
element 231 is long enough to receive the bag holding ring 24 and
attach the same detachably to the bottom side of the seat plate 21
around the seat hole 210.
[0037] In order to reduce the weight of the walking aid, the toilet
seat 2 and the fixing member 3 can be together removed from the
support 1, and can be carried by a person in charge thereof.
[0038] Of course, the walking aid combined with the toilet seat 2
can be used in a toilet room by arranging the seat plate 21 mounted
on the support 1 in alignment with a squat pot or a toilet bowl in
the toilet room, thereby alleviating possible infection through the
use of a public toilet.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, because the two end portions 124, 126 of
the upper and lower rods 121, 122 are rotatably sleeved on the
respective front upstanding rods 111 of the left and right frames
11, the right frame 11 is foldable over the front frame 12, and the
left frame 11 is also foldable over the front frame 12.
[0040] FIG. 7 illustrates a toilet seat of a walking aid according
to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. This
embodiment differs from the previous embodiment only in that the
toilet seat has a foldable seat plate 21' that includes four seat
halves 215, 216 foldably connected to each other, and that the main
rod section 31' is divided into three rod parts 311, 312, 313.
[0041] The rod parts 311, 312 are respectively connected
telescopically to the fixing rods 32. The rod part 313 bridges the
seat halves 215 and has two end portions respectively inserted into
two sleeves 314, 315. The rod part 313 can be pulled out of the
sleeve 315 when the seat plate 21' is to be folded.
[0042] With the walking aid according to the present invention, a
disabled or handicapped person can answer the call of nature at any
suitable place.
[0043] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *