U.S. patent application number 14/675078 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-01 for foldable toilet accessory.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bud Lavassani. Invention is credited to Bud Lavassani.
Application Number | 20150272410 14/675078 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54188658 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150272410 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lavassani; Bud |
October 1, 2015 |
FOLDABLE TOILET ACCESSORY
Abstract
A foldable stool for improving bowel posture of a user includes
a footrest platform, a first leg, and a second leg. The foldable
stool is configurable into a plurality of positions including an
opened position and a closed position. In the opened position, the
first and second legs are arranged substantially perpendicular to
the footrest platform, and the first platform member and the second
platform members are arranged to form a footrest surface having a
cutout profile to facility placement of the foldable stool adjacent
to a toilet basin. In the closed position, the footrest platform is
folded to form a cavity that houses the first and second legs.
Inventors: |
Lavassani; Bud; (Burbank,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lavassani; Bud |
Burbank |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54188658 |
Appl. No.: |
14/675078 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61972476 |
Mar 31, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/254 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 17/028
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 17/02 20060101
A47K017/02 |
Claims
1. A foldable stool for improving defecation posture of a user, the
foldable stool comprising: a footrest platform including a first
platform member and a second platform member; a first support leg
coupled to the first platform member; and a second support leg
coupled to the second platform member, wherein the foldable stool
is configurable into a plurality of positions including: an opened
position in which the first and second support legs are arranged
substantially perpendicular to the footrest platform, and the first
platform member and the second platform member are arranged to form
a footrest surface having a cutout profile to facilitate placement
of the foldable stool adjacent to a toilet; a semi-closed position
in which the first and second legs are folded against the footrest
platform and arranged substantially parallel to the footrest
platform; and a closed position in which the first platform member
and the second platform member are folded towards each other to
form a cavity that houses the first and second support legs between
the first platform member and a second platform member.
2. The foldable stool of claim 1, further comprising a platform
hinge mechanism disposed in a midsection of the footrest
platform.
3. The foldable stool of claim 2, wherein the platform hinge
mechanism is disposed on an inner surface of the footrest
platform.
4. The foldable stool of claim 2, wherein the footrest platform has
a lowered surface portion in the midsection of the footrest
platform.
5. The foldable stool of claim 1, wherein the footrest platform has
a width greater than a sum of a height of the first support leg, a
width of the first support leg, a height of the second support leg,
and a width of the second support leg.
6. The foldable stool of claim 1, wherein each of the first and
second support legs is height adjustable.
7. The foldable stool of claim 6, wherein each of the first and
second support legs includes a spring-loaded retention mechanism to
set the corresponding support leg at one of a plurality of
adjustable heights.
8. The foldable stool of claim 1, wherein each of the first and
second support legs includes a releasable locking mechanism to
secure the corresponding support leg in the opened position.
9. The foldable stool of claim 8, wherein the releasable locking
mechanism includes a latching mechanism to latch the corresponding
support leg onto the footrest platform.
10. The foldable stool of claim 1, wherein each of the first and
second support legs has a frontal height that is different than a
rear height to provide a tilt to the footrest platform.
11. A foldable stool for improving defecation posture of a user,
the foldable stool comprising: a footrest platform including: a
footrest surface extending between a first leg end and a second leg
end of the footrest platform, and having a cutout profile to
accommodate a portion of a toilet between the first leg end and the
second leg end when the foldable stool is in an opened position; a
first leg hinge mechanism at the first leg end; a second leg hinge
mechanism at the second leg end; and a platform hinge mechanism
disposed in a midsection of the footrest platform between the first
leg end and the second leg end to allow the first leg end to be
folded towards the second leg end when the foldable stool is in a
closed position; a first support leg coupled to the first leg hinge
mechanism; and a second support leg coupled to the second leg hinge
mechanism.
12. The foldable stool of claim 11, wherein an inner surface of the
footrest platform opposing the footrest surface has a lowered
surface portion in the midsection of the footrest platform between
the first leg end and the second leg end.
13. The foldable stool of claim 12, wherein the lowered surface
portion is lowered to an depth that is greater than a width of the
first or second support leg.
14. The foldable stool of claim 12, wherein the platform hinge
mechanism is disposed at the lowered surface portion.
15. The foldable stool of claim 11, wherein a width of the footrest
surface extending between the first leg end and the second leg end
is greater a sum of a height of the first support leg, a width of
the first support leg, a height of the second support leg; and, a
width of the second support leg.
16. The foldable stool of claim 11, wherein the first leg hinge
mechanism and the second leg hinge mechanism allow the first
support leg and the second support leg, respectively, to be folded
towards the footrest platform.
17. The foldable stool of claim 11, wherein each of the first and
second support legs is a height adjustable leg.
18. The foldable stool of claim 17, wherein the height adjustable
leg includes a retention mechanism to set the corresponding support
leg at one of a plurality of adjustable heights.
19. The foldable stool of claim 11, wherein each of the first and
second leg hinge mechanisms includes a releasable locking mechanism
to secure the corresponding support leg in a substantially vertical
position when the foldable stool is in the opened position.
20. The foldable stool of claim 11, wherein each of the first and
second support legs has a frontal height that is different than a
rear height to provide a tilt to the footrest platform.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from and is a
non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/972,476, entitled "TOILET ACCESSORY," filed Mar. 31, 2014, the
entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Humans evolved to defecate more naturally from a squat
position than from a sitting position. In a squat position, the
anal canal is vertically aligned with the rectum so that passage
resistance is minimized to ease the act of defecation. This allows
evacuation to be more complete, efficient, and timely so that stool
transit time can be reduced. The squatting defecation posture can
also reduce the amount of time that stool toxins are in contact
with the bowel wall.
[0003] However, with advent of modern toilets, sitting on a toilet
seat has become the typical defecation posture in most developed
countries. In the sitting position, pelvic musculature may cause
the anal canal of a user to bend against the rectum. This bend can
obstruct the passage of bowel contents. The sitting position,
therefore, is not ideal for defecation, and may cause strain in the
user while sitting on a toilet seat to defecate. Bowel movements
may be incomplete, and successive movements can be difficult,
irregular, and painful as stool hardens. Some common problems
caused by the sitting defecation posture may include constipation,
bloating, and discomfort. The increase in stool transit time also
increases the risks associated with stool being in contact with the
bowel wall for longer periods.
[0004] Several devices are available to adjust the defecation
posture and position of a user utilizing a toilet. However, many of
the devices available are bulky and difficult to store. Further,
due to the size and bulkiness of these devices, they are not
readily transportable with the user. Additionally, existing devices
do not account for the differences in the size of users, or the
differences in the dimensions of toilet facilities.
[0005] Embodiments of the invention address these and other
problems, individually and collectively.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] According to some embodiments, a foldable stool for
improving defecation posture of a user may include a footrest
platform having a first platform member and a second platform
member, a first support leg coupled to the first platform member;
and a second support leg coupled to the second platform member. The
foldable stool may be configurable into a plurality of positions
including an opened position, a semi-closed position, and a closed
position. In the opened position, the first and second support legs
are arranged substantially perpendicular to the footrest platform,
and the first platform member and the second platform member are
arranged to form a footrest surface with a cutout profile to
facilitate placement of the foldable stool adjacent to a toilet. In
the semi-closed position, the first and second legs are folded
against the footrest platform and arranged substantially parallel
to the footrest platform. In the closed position, the first
platform member and the second platform member are folded towards
each other to form a cavity that houses the first and second
support legs between the first platform member and a second
platform member.
[0007] According to some embodiments, a foldable stool for
improving defecation posture of a user may include a footrest
platform, a first support leg, and a second support leg. The
footrest platform may have a footrest surface extending between a
first leg end and a second leg end, and a cutout profile to
accommodate a portion of a toilet between the first leg end and the
second leg end when the foldable stool is in an opened position.
The footrest platform may also have a first leg hinge mechanism at
the first leg end, a second leg hinge mechanism at the second leg
end, and a platform hinge mechanism disposed in the midsection of
the footrest platform between the first leg end and the second leg
end to allow the first leg end to be folded towards the second leg
end when the foldable stool is in a closed position. The first
support leg is coupled to the first leg hinge mechanism, and the
second support leg coupled to the second leg hinge mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a foldable stool in the opened position
placed adjacent to a toilet, according to some embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a foldable stool in the opened position
without a toilet, according to some embodiments.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a foldable stool in
the semi-closed position, according to some embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a foldable stool in the
semi-closed position, according to some embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a foldable stool in
the closed position, according to some embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a frontal view of a foldable stool in the
closed position, according to some embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a height adjustable foldable stool in the
opened position placed adjacent to a toilet, according to some
embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates a height adjustable foldable stool in the
opened position without a toilet, according to some
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a toilet
accessory in the form of a foldable stool (may also be referred to
as a footrest) for improving the defecation posture of a user while
sitting on a toilet. The foldable stool can put a user sitting on a
toilet in the proper squatting posture to allow for a more complete
and healthier elimination and reduce straining during bowel
movements. While in use, the foldable stool is designed to be
placed adjacent to a toilet, and serves as a footrest to elevate a
user's feet during bowel movements. By elevating the user's feet
while sitting on the toilet, the user is effectively put into a
squatting position for a better defecation posture and improved
bowel alignment.
[0017] Although some toilet stools exist today, current designs do
not allow the toilet stool to be easily folded up and stored away.
Most existing toilet stools are designed to be permanently tucked
next to the toilet base even when the toilet stool is not being
used. Such designs are unsightly and can take up extra space. A
user may not feel comfortable leaving the toilet stool out in plain
sight. For example, if the toilet facility is being shared with
other people such as other family members, friends, roommates, or
coworkers in a company, the user may want to be able to easily
store away the toilet stool after each use. Furthermore, in some
instances, a user may want to transport the toilet stool, such as
when the user is travelling or on vacation. Existing toilet stools
can be difficult to transport due to the bulkiness and structure of
their designs.
[0018] In contrast, the foldable stool according to various
embodiments can be folded away for easy storage and/or transport.
The foldable stool's ability to be easily folded onto itself
provides a user with the option to convenient put the foldable
stool away for storage after every use (e.g., to be placed on the
side of the toilet or beneath a bathroom vanity), or to easily
transport the foldable stool with the user while on the go. The
foldable stool is designed such that it can be put away discreetly
by collapsing and folding the components together, while still
providing sufficient support and stability when in use. In some
embodiments, the foldable stool may also have adjustable components
to take into account differences in the sizes of users and/or
toilet facilities. For example, in some embodiments, the foldable
stool may have height adjustable legs to accommodate users with
different leg lengths and/or toilets with different seat
heights.
[0019] The foldable stool can be configured or folded into
different positions to facilitate storage or transport of the
foldable stool. In some embodiments, the foldable stool can be
configurable into an opened position when the foldable stool is in
use, and into a closed position when the foldable stool is to be
stored or transported. In some embodiments, the foldable stool can
also be configurable into a semi-closed position to achieve a lower
profile (e.g., flatter) than the closed position, for example, to
store the foldable stool in a narrow space such as under a
vanity.
[0020] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a foldable stool in various views,
according to some embodiments. FIG. 1 illustrates a foldable stool
in the opened position placed adjacent to a toilet. FIG. 2
illustrates a foldable stool in the opened position without a
toilet. FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view from the bottom of a
foldable stool in the semi-closed position. FIG. 4 illustrates a
top view of a foldable stool in the semi-closed position. FIG. 5
illustrates a perspective view of a foldable stool in the closed
position. FIG. 6 illustrates a frontal view of a foldable stool in
the closed position.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a foldable stool 10 according to
some embodiments may include a footrest platform 20, a first
support leg 50, and a second support leg 70. Footrest platform 20
provides a footrest surface 21 extending from one leg end 22 to
another leg end 23 when the foldable stool 10 is in the opened
position. Referring to FIG. 3, which illustrates a top view of the
foldable stool in the opened position, the footrest surface 21 may
have a cutout profile to facilitate placement of foldable stool 10
adjacent to the base of a toilet 90. The cutout portion 29 can be
large enough to accommodate a portion of the base of a toilet
between the first leg end 22 and the second leg end 23 when the
foldable stool is set in the opened position. In other words, the
cutout profile is designed to fit around a portion of the base of
toilet 90. The cutout portion 29 can be in the form of a circular
segment resulting in a curved or circular edge as shown. In some
embodiments, the cutout portion 29 can take on other shapes such as
square, rectangular, or other polygon shapes.
[0022] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first support leg 50 is
coupled to leg end 22, and the second support leg 70 is coupled to
leg end 23. In the opened position, the two support legs 50 and 70
can be arranged to be substantially vertical or perpendicular to
footrest platform 20 (e.g., within AO degrees, within .+-.20
degrees, or within .+-.30 degrees of being perpendicular to
footrest platform 20). The two support legs 50 and 70 provide
support and stability for a user sitting on toilet 90. In some
embodiments, support legs 50 and 70 may have a uniform height along
their respective leg ends 22 and 23. In some embodiments, the
frontal height 52 of support leg 50 can be different than the rear
height 54 of support leg 50 (and similarly for support leg 70) to
provide a tilt to footrest surface 21. For example, the frontal
height 52 can be shorter than the rear height 54 to provide a
forward tilt, or the frontal height 52 can be taller than the rear
height 54 to provide a backward tilt. In some embodiments, the tile
angle can be, for example, less than .+-.10 degrees, less than
.+-.20 degrees, or less than .+-.30 degrees. Support legs 50 and 70
can have a base in the form of a single column that extends along
the edge of their respective leg ends 22 and 23 as shown. In some
embodiments, each support leg may have a base with multiple
columns. For example, the base of each support leg can be separated
into two columns such that there are four separate legs in contact
with the floor.
[0023] Support legs 50 and 70 may include respective releasable
locking mechanism 53 and 73 to secure the corresponding support leg
in the opened position. The releasable locking mechanism 53 may be
a latching mechanism to latch the corresponding support leg onto
the footrest platform 20. For example, the latching mechanism can
include a tab 55 that can extend through an opening 56 in the
footrest platform 20 to lock the support leg into place when the
foldable stool 10 is set in the opened position. The latching
mechanism can be released by pushing down on tab 55 to unlatch the
support leg from the footrest platform 20.
[0024] In some embodiments, the inner surface 24 of the footrest
platform 20, which is the surface opposing the footrest surface 21,
may have a lowered surface portion 31 in the midsection 30 of
footrest platform 20 between leg ends 22 and 23. In other words,
the inner surface 24 may have a drop in elevation in the midsection
of footrest platform. The lowered surface portion 31 may have a
sloped profile as shown, or may have a curved or L-shaped profile.
The lowered surface portion 31 of inner surface 24 is designed to
be lowered by a depth 35 sufficient to accommodate the width 57 of
support leg 50 (and similarly for support leg 70) when the support
leg is folded against the footrest platform 20. The footrest
surface 21 may also have a corresponding lowered surface portion 32
to form a recessed region in the midsection of footrest platform 20
as shown, although some embodiments may lack such a lowered surface
portion 32 on the footrest surface 21.
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates the foldable stool 10 in a semi-closed
position, according to some embodiments. In FIG. 4, the foldable
stool 10 is viewed from the bottom to illustrate the back side of
the foldable stool 10. The footrest platform 20 may include a leg
hinge mechanism 27 disposed at the first leg end 22, and a leg
hinge mechanism 28 disposed at the second leg end 23. Support leg
50 is coupled to leg hinge mechanism 27, and support leg 70 is
coupled to leg hinge mechanism 28. Each leg hinge mechanism may
include one or more hinges arranged on the inner surface 24 of the
footrest platform 20 to allow each leg to be folded inwards against
the inner surface 24 of footrest platform 20. In the semi-closed
position, support legs 50 and 70 are folded against the footrest
platform 20 to be substantially parallel to the footrest platform
20 as shown (e.g., within .+-.10 degrees, within .+-.20 degrees, or
within .+-.30 degrees of being parallel to footrest platform 20).
To set the foldable stool 10 in this semi-closed position, tab 75
which serves as the latching mechanism to secure support leg 70
onto the footrest platform 20 is released from the opening 76 of
the footrest platform 20. Tab 55 for support leg 50 is similarly
released from opening 56. In some embodiments, the foldable stool
10 may have the lowest height profile when configured in the
semi-closed position, and thus the semi-closed position may be
suitable for storing the foldable stool 10 in a narrow space such
as a space under a cantilevered cabinet.
[0026] As mentioned above, the lowered surface portion 31 of the
inner surface 24 is designed to be lowered by a depth 35 sufficient
to accommodate the widths of support legs 50 and 70 when they are
folded against the footrest platform 20. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4,
in some embodiments, depth 35 of the lowered surface portion 31 is
designed to accommodate the width 57 of support leg 50 and the
width 77 of support leg 70, and can be approximately equal to or
greater than the width of the support leg (e.g., within +5%, +10%,
or +15% of the width of the support leg). According to some
embodiments, the width 37 of the footrest platform 20 can be
greater than a sum of the height 52 of support leg 50, the width 57
of support leg 50, the height 72 of support leg 70, and the width
77 of support leg 70. These dimensional relationships allow the
footrest platform 20 to be further folded at the midsection to
configure the foldable stool 10 into the closed position. In the
closed position, the folded footrest platform may form a cavity or
housing that houses portions of support legs 50 and 70. To
facilitate this folding of the footrest platform 20, a platform
hinge mechanism 41 can be disposed in the midsection of the
footrest platform 20. In some embodiments, the platform hinge
mechanism 41 can be disposed on the inner surface 24 of the
footrest platform 20 (e.g., at the lowered surface portion 31) such
that the inner surface 24 of the footrest platform 20 can be folded
towards itself.
[0027] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the foldable stool 10 in a closed
position, according to some embodiments. To set the foldable stool
10 into the closed position, the platform hinge mechanism 41 is
engaged to bifurcate the footrest platform 20 into two platform
members 38 and 39. In the closed position, the first platform
member 38 and the second platform member 39 are folded towards each
other to form a cavity 40 that houses the first and second support
legs 50 and 70 between the first platform member 38 and the second
platform member 39. Referring to FIG. 6, the depth 35 of the
lowered surface portion 31 on each side is designed to be
approximately equal to or slightly greater than the respective
widths 57 and 77 of support legs 50 and 70 (e.g., within +5%, +10%,
or +15% of the width). In some embodiments, setting the depth 35 of
the lowered surface portion 31 to be approximately equal to the
width of the corresponding support leg may provide the most compact
configuration of the foldable stool 10 when the foldable stool 10
is folded into the closed position for storage or travelling.
[0028] In some embodiments, the foldable stool can be equipped with
height adjustable support legs to accommodate users of different
sizes or toilets with different seat heights. FIG. 7 illustrates a
foldable stool 10 with height adjustable support legs set in an
extended position and placed adjacent to a toilet 90, according to
some embodiments. FIG. 8 illustrates a foldable stool 10 with
height adjustable support legs set in an extended position without
a toilet, according to some embodiments.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the first and second
support legs 50 and 70 may include a spring-loaded retention
mechanism to allow the corresponding support leg to be set at one
of a plurality of adjustable heights. The spring-loaded mechanism
may include a slot and tab construction. For example, support leg
50 may include an upper support member 61 and a lower base member
62, and similarly, support leg 70 may include an upper support
member 81 and a lower base member 82. Referring to support leg 70,
upper support member 81 is hinged to leg end 23 of the footrest
platform 20. The upper support member 81 may provide a guide-wall
83 with slots 84 (may also be referred to as openings) arranged at
different heights. Each available height may have a set of one or
more slots 84 associated with the particular height. In the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, guide-wall 83 is configured with
two available heights, and each height is associated with a set of
two slots. It should be understood that foldable stool 10 can be
configured with additional number of available heights, and each
height may be associated with a set of one or more slots or
openings.
[0030] The lower base member 82 is equipped with a set of one or
more spring-loaded tabs 85 arranged in a corresponding manner to
engage with a set of one or more slots 84 associated with a
particular height provided on the guide-wall 83 of upper support
member 81. In the compressed state, each spring-loaded tab 85 can
retract behind the guide-wall 83 of upper support member 81 to
allow the lower base member 82 to slide up and down against the
guide-wall 83. When the lower base member 82 is adjusted to one of
the available heights, the set of one or more spring-loaded tabs 85
engages with the set of one or more slots 84 associated with the
particular height on the guide-wall 83. Each slot 84 associated
with the particular height allows the corresponding spring-loaded
tab 85 to decompress into a relaxed state and protrude through slot
84 on the guide-wall 83. As a result, the lower base member 82 is
held in place by retaining the spring-loaded tab 85 in the slot 84
on the guide-wall 83. To adjust the foldable stool to a different
height, a user can push against and compress the spring-loaded tab
85 to allow the spring-loaded tab 85 to retract behind the
guide-wall 83. This disengages the spring-loaded tab 85 from the
slot 84 on the guide-wall 83 to allow the lower support member 82
to be slid up or down until the set of one or more spring-loaded
tabs 85 engages with a set of one or more slots 84 associated with
another height.
[0031] The foldable stool may be constructed from any of several
plastics, or a similar lightweight rigid material. Various support
ribs, bars, or similar structures may be present in both the
footrest platform and the support legs to provide extra support and
stability for the foldable stool while in use.
[0032] The above description is illustrative and is not
restrictive. Many variations of the invention will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure. For
example, although the support legs have been described as being
able to be folded against the inner surface of the footrest
platform, in some embodiments, the support legs can be folded in
the other direction and be folded against the footrest surface. As
another example, although the footrest platform has been described
as having an inner surface that can be folded towards itself, in
some embodiments, the footrest platform can be folded in the other
direction such that it is the footrest surface that can be folded
towards itself. Furthermore, although the components The scope of
the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference
to the above description, but instead should be determined with
reference to the pending claims along with their full scope or
equivalents.
[0033] One or more features from any embodiment may be combined
with one or more features of any other embodiment without departing
from the scope of the invention.
[0034] A recitation of "a," "an" or "the" is intended to mean "one
or more" unless specifically indicated to the contrary.
[0035] All patents, patent applications, publications, and
descriptions mentioned above are herein incorporated by reference
in their entirety for all purposes. None is admitted to be prior
art.
* * * * *