TOILET AID FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUAL AND PERCEPTION CHALLENGES

Abstract

An insert for use as a visuoperceptual aid while using the toilet. The insert has an upper surface. The upper surface is sized and shaped to fit onto the rim or seat of a standard toilet basin. The insert further includes inner and outer surfaces for slidingly engagement with the inner and outer surfaces of a toilet basin respectively. The insert is yellow-green in color.

Claims

1. A visuoperceptual implement for a toilet bowl comprising a sleeve sized to fit over at least a portion of the rim of a toilet bowl wherein the sleeve is yellow-green in color,

2. The implement of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is u-shaped in cross-section.

3. The implement of claim I wherein the sleeve is made of a medical grade polymer.

4. The implement of claim 1 wherein the yellow-green color is identified by one or more of the following Pantone colors: 802-C, 2287-C, 2421-C and 2271-C.

5. The implement of claim 1 wherein implement is removable.

6. A sleeve used as a visuoperceptual aid while using a toilet, having a toilet bowl, the toilet bowl having a rim, the sleeve comprising: an elongated body having a length and first and second ends, the elongated body being yellow-green in color a cross section having a pair of spaced apart extending o a middle section, whereby the spaced apart walls slidingly fit over the rim of a toilet bowl providing an outline of the toilet bowl thus enabling the user to use the toilet with greater accuracy.

7. The sleeve of claim 6 wherein the sleeve is a medial grade polymer.

8. The sleeve of claim 6 wherein the sleeve is a coated stainless steel.

9. The sleeve of claim 6 wherein the yellow-green color is identified by one or more of the following Pantone colors: 802-C, 2287-C, 2421-C and 2271-C.

10. The sleeve of claim 6 further comprising at least one tab extending from the length to aid in the removal of the sleeve from the toilet bowl.

11. An insert for use as a visuoperceptual aid while using the toilet, the insert comprising: an upper surface sized and shaped to fit onto the rim of a toilet basin; an inner surface for sliding y engagement with the inner surface of a toilet basin; an outer surface for sliding engagement with the outer surface of a toilet basin, whereby the insert is yellow-green in color.

12. The insert of claim 11 wherein the yellow-green color is identified by one or more of the following Pantone colors: 802-C, 2287-C, 2421-C and 2271-C

13. The insert of claim 11 wherein the insert is made of a medical grade polymer.

14. The insert of claim 11 wherein the insert is a coated stainless steel.

15. The insert of claim 11 further comprising a tab extending outwardly from the outer surface wherein the tab is used to remove the insert after use.

16. The insert of claim 11 wherein a portion of the upper surface further comprises a flat section.

17. The insert of claim 11 wherein during use the flat section is adjacent to the toilet seat and lid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment described herein;

[0006] FIG. 2 is a top view of the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3;

[0008] FIG. 4 is a top view of a second embodiment described herein;

[0009] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 4; and

[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The embodiments described herein are directed to a removable sleeve designed to fit over the rim of the toilet porcelain base. The first embodiment 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The first embodiment 10 includes a u-shaped channel 12, The channel has ends 14 and a length 16. The channel 12 has a cross-section shown in FIG. 3. The cross-section of the channel 12 has sides 18 and a top surface 20. The dimensions of the cross-section are sized to fit over the porcelain rim 22 of a standard toilet 24. The toilet has a standard seat 26 and lid 28 hingedly attached to the rim 22. The toilet rim 22 is adjacent to the opening 30 in the toilet 24. The toilet rim 22 is the top of the toilet basin 32 having inner 34 and outer 36 basin walls.

[0012] The first embodiment 10 is preferably made of a medical grade polymer for easy cleaning and minimal capacity to retain bacteria and the like. Moreover a medical grade polymer will retain its shape and not easily degrade when exposed to the rigors of sanitization and urine. The first embodiment 10 is preferably yellow-green in color, This can be accomplished with colored polymer or coating the embodiment with a dye or paint of that color. The yellow-green color targets the middle wavelengths of the spectrum, thus maximizing and enhancing the visual perception of the Alzheimer's or visually impaired patient. Preferably the yellow-green color is identified by one or more of the following Pantone colors: 802-C, 2287-C, 2421-C and 2271-C.

[0013] In use, the user first lifts the seat 26 and lid 28 upwardly to fully expose the toilet rim 22 and basin 32. Then the user positions the first embodiment 10 over the opening 30 of the toilet 24. The ends 14 are positioned adjacent to the hinge for the seat 26 and lid 28. The length 16 of the u-shaped channel 12 is positioned above the rim 22. In addition, the first embodiment 10 is positioned so that the sides 18 are pointed downwardly towards the rim 22 of the toilet 24.

[0014] To attach the first embodiment 10 to the toilet 24, the user pushes the first embodiment 10 downwardly so that the sides 18 receive the toilet rim 22. The sides 18 slidingly engage the inner 34 and outer 36 walls of the toilet basin 32. As the user pushes the first embodiment 10 downwardly, the sides 18 receive the toilet rim 22 and travel stops when the top surface 20 rests against the rim 22. In this position, the sides 18 are in frictional engagement with the inner 34 and outer 36 walls of the basin 32. The first embodiment 10, when fully installed, appears as a horse-shoe shaped insert over the toilet rim 22.

[0015] Once the first embodiment 10 is installed, the patient can see the first embodiment 10 as it rests over the rim 22. This provides a visual aid to the patient and enables him to urinate into the toilet basin 32 with greater accuracy. After the patient has used the first embodiment 10 it may be removed for cleaning. The first embodiment 10 is removed by pulling upwardly on the length 16. This causes the sides 18 to move upwardly relative to the rim 22. As the sides 18 move upwardly they disengage from contact with the inner 34 and outer 36 basin walls.

[0016] Once the first embodiment 10 is completely removed from the toilet 24, it can be wiped or cleaned as needed. To reuse, the first embodiment is inserted onto the toilet rim 22 as described above.

[0017] A second embodiment 40 is disclosed in FIGS. 4-6, As shown in FIG. 5, the second embodiment 40 includes a top surface 42, inner side surface 44 and outer side surface 46. The second embodiment 40 is shaped to fit over a toilet bowl 50 having a rounded rim 52. Turning to FIG. 4, the top surface 42 is oval-shaped and sized to fit onto the opening of the toilet bowl 50. A flat section 48 is located along a portion of the top surface 42. The flat section 48 is designed to fit adjacent to the hinges for the toilet seat 26 and lid 28 when installed, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0018] To install the second embodiment 40, the toilet seat 26 and lid 28 are moved upwardly so that the toilet bowl opening 50 is accessible. The second embodiment 40 is placed over the toilet bowl opening 50. The shape of the second embodiment 40 is aligned with the shape of the toilet bowl opening 50. In particular, the flat section 48 is placed adjacent to the hinges for the toilet seat 26 and lid 28. Once the second embodiment 40 is aligned with the toilet bowl opening, the user pushed down on the top surface 42 causing the inner 44 and outer 46 walls to slide along the inner and outer rims of the toilet bowl respectively. This is done until the top surface 42 is in contact with the rounded rim 52. Once installed, the patient uses the second embodiment 40 in the same manner as the first embodiment 10.

[0019] It should be appreciated that some toilets may have variations in the shape of the bowl and rim. In such cases, the shape of the body of the embodiment will be shaped to accommodate the shape of the toilet bowl and the cross-section of the embodiment will be shaped to accommodate the shape of the rim. This should include but not be limited to oval, squared, rectangular and the like. Moreover, while the embodiments have referred to porcelain toilet bowls, it is appreciated that the embodiments herein described may equally be used on stainless steel, plastic or other toilet bowls. In addition, it should be appreciated that the embodiments described herein would apply equally to toilets or commodes in campers, on boats, portable and bedside toilets and the like.

[0020] While the embodiments described herein are preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the embodiments as disclosed. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included in the spirit and scope as described herein and defined by the appended claims. Terms such as inner and outer are for reference purposes only and are not intended to be limiting in any way.