U.S. patent number 3,829,908 [Application Number 05/349,052] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-20 for knock-down commode device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Temco Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Morton I. Thomas.
United States Patent |
3,829,908 |
Thomas |
August 20, 1974 |
KNOCK-DOWN COMMODE DEVICE
Abstract
A knock-down commode device which may be packaged for shipment
in a fraction of the dimensions of a conventional commode device,
effectuating substantial savings in shipping costs and thus in the
cost of the commode to the ultimate user. The commode may be
shipped in knock-down form and may pursuant to the invention, be
readily and sturdily assembled, without use of any special tools or
skills. The commode device comprises a basic unit to receive the
commode chamber, which may be packaged therewith and extension
members to be connected to the commode unit to form therewith a
complete commode of longer leg length. The commode of the invention
is rugged and durable and is designed to be long lasting, safe,
reliable and trouble free in use.
Inventors: |
Thomas; Morton I. (Monroe,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Temco Products, Inc. (Passaic,
NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
23370714 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/349,052 |
Filed: |
April 9, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/483; 4/492;
4/507; 211/208; 4/506; 135/75; 297/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K
11/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47K
11/04 (20060101); A47K 11/00 (20060101); A47k
011/02 (); A47b 045/00 (); A47c 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/1,89,110,111,114,115,116,134,135,138,141,186,252R
;297/134,130,217,420,440,445 ;211/148 ;248/188.5,408 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mautz; George F.
Assistant Examiner: Henry; Jon W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hilbert; Philip G.
Claims
I claim:
1. A knock-down device for supporting a commode, said device
comprising a pair of inverted U shaped side frame portions, each
side frame portion comprising a pair of depending, short leg
receiving portions and a portion interconnecting said leg receiving
portions; and a back portion interconnecting said side frame
portions and maintaining said side frame portions in parallel
relation, an elongated member interconnecting the forwardly
disposed leg receiving portions opposite said back portion and a
second elongated member interconnecting the rearwardly disposed leg
receiving portions adjacent said back portion, means extending
between said elongated members for supporting said commode;
extension leg members and means for separably coupling said leg
members to said leg receiving portions; whereby said leg members
may be separated from said leg receiving portions to allow
packaging of said device in a carton having one minimal dimension
measured by the length of said short leg receiving portions.
2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the opposite end portions of said
elongated members are located adjacent the lower ends of said leg
receiving portions.
3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said back portion comprises a U
shaped member having parallel leg portions, and means connecting
said leg portions to the portions interconnecting the leg receiving
portions of said side frame portions.
4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said leg members and said leg
receiving portions includes means telescopically and adjustably
related to each other, and coating latch means on said leg members
and said leg receiving portions for retaining said leg members and
leg receiving portions in adjusted relation to each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to commode devices as used in
hospitals and homes; such devices are conventionally of substantial
dimensions adding, greatly to the cost of the commode to the user
due to the high cost of shipping such large objects. Providing a
commode of foldable form for shipment might seem the obvious answer
to the problem but foldable commodes would not provide the rigidity
and stability vital to the safe use of the commode. Commode users
are often physically disabled and rely upon the commode structure
to provide support for the user in approaching, using and leaving
the commode. The present invention overcomes the problem by
providing a novel structure of inherent rigidity which may be
shipped knocked-down in cartons of small dimensions at a fraction
of the cost of shipping conventional, fully dimensioned commodes;
novel means are further provided in the commode of this invention
for assembly thereof to adjust the length of the legs of the
commode to conform to the specific requirements of the user.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the Drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a commode structure of the
invention, shown in assembled form,
FIG. 2 is another front perspective view thereof,
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view thereof,
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the base unit of the commode
device of the invention shown in knocked down form for
shipment,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof, shown packaged in a carton
for shipment, and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partly fragmentary, elevational view, taken
at line 6--6 of FIG. 1.
In accordance with a preferred mode, the invention comprises a base
unit 11 having a forwardly opening frame 12 comprising side members
13, 14 and a rear member 15, means for supporting the commode
chamber 16 in the commode base unit, and means to enable connection
of leg extension members 17-20 to the base unit 11. The commode
base unit above described may be packaged, as shown in FIG. 4 and 5
in a carton 40 having dimensions substantially smaller (and thus
far less costly to ship) than is required for shipping the much
larger conventional commode devices. Assembly of the commode to
long length may be achieved, pursuant to the invention, without the
use of any special tools, by connection of extension leg members
17-20 to the short leg portions 21-24 of the base unit to form
therewith precisely the length desired by the user. Such means may
comprise provision of a plurality of apertured portions 25 in the
leg portions of the base unit 11, to be selectively engaged by
latch means such as (FIG. 6) pins 26 spring urged as at 27 on the
extension leg members, to selectively engage the desired particular
one of the series of apertures 25 on the commode base unit leg
members to provide the selected overall desired length for the leg
members of the commode (FIG. 1).
As shown in FIG. 6 the extension leg members 17-20 and the short
leg portions 21-24 of the base unit may be of complementary tubular
or other form at the free ends thereof for interconnected slidable
telescopic or other relative engagement, and latched together at
the selected position desired. The rear member 15 of the base unit
may (FIG. 1) be a U-shaped bar secured to and having leg members
45', 45' which may be connected to the frame side members 13, 14 by
any suitable means to hold the side members in parallel spaced
relation. Rods 28, 29 may be positioned intermediate members 13, 14
and connected thereto by any suitable means to further maintain
them in said desired spaced parallel relation and a wire frame grid
32 may be secured to said rods to form a support for the chamber
16.
The base unit 11 is (FIGS. 4 and 5) a fraction of the dimensions of
the commode (FIG. 1) assembled for use pursuant to the invention
and is thus readily knocked-down for shipment with the commode seat
33, which may be hingedly or otherwise connected to the bar 28
(FIG. 1) and the cover 36, closed and placed in a holder 37 (FIG.
4) forming, with the other base unit parts, a very compact,
small-dimensioned base unit package with which (FIG. 5) the
extension leg members 17-19 may be packaged in the small carton 40
for shipment.
While the present invention has been particularly described in
terms of specific embodiments thereof, it will be evident, in view
of the present disclosure, that numerous variations of the
invention may be made, within the inventive concept and disclosures
herein. Accordingly, the invention should be broadly construed
within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
* * * * *