SELF ASSISTANCE COMMODE SUPPORT APPARATUS AND METHODS

Abstract

A support structure is provided that includes a pair of spaced slanted side hand-arm rails, a commode between the slanted side hand-arm rails each of which are securely fastened to a common, portable, non-slip platform. The Self-Assist Rehab Commode Support is designed so the patient could utilize more of their core strength, to help lift, lower and balance their body weight, for the purpose of assisting the caregiver, during transfers, and when using a commode.

Claims

1. A commode support apparatus, comprising a base adapted to have a commode placed in a center region of the base, a first support disposed on the base to one side of the center region, and a second support disposed on the base to the opposite side of the center region, the first and second supports being separated a predetermined distance away from each other whereby the commode is adapted to be centered between the first and second supports, each support including a back leg having a predetermined height, a front leg having a predetermined height less than that of the back leg, and an inclined bar joining the back leg to the front leg.

2. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base has a predetermined area and a predetermined thickness.

3. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance between the side supports is between 20 and 40 inches.

4. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the angle of incline of the inclined bar is between 25 and 45 degrees from the horizontal.

5. The commode support apparatus of claim 4, wherein the angle of incline of the inclined bar is 37 degrees, from the horizontal.

6. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inclined bars have a predetermined diameter.

7. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inclined bars have a predetermined length.

8. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inclined bars are laterally adjustable.

9. The commode support apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustment mechanisms are located at connecting points between the inclined bars and the front and back legs.

10. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inclined bar is surrounded by a soft, cushioning material.

11. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front and back legs of the side support are configured for telescoping vertical adjustment.

12. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising flanges that connect the first and the second support to the base.

13. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a at least one horizontal bar connected between the first and second supports.

14. The commode support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one horizontal bar is disposed at the back legs of the supports.

15. The commode support apparatus of claim 14, wherein the horizontal bar is disposed at a height even with the seat of the commode chair.

16. The commode support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the commode chair is connected to the horizontal bar for stability.

17. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising wheel assemblies connected to one side of the base, which are configured to bear the weight of the device when the device is tipped to the side with the wheel assemblies.

18. The commode support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is used to assist a person in sitting and standing.

19. A commode support apparatus, comprising a base adapted to have a commode placed in a center region of the base, a first support disposed on the base to one side of the center region, and a second support disposed on the base to the opposite side of the center region, the first and second supports being separated a predetermined distance away from each other whereby the commode is adapted to be centered between the first and second supports, each support including a back leg having a predetermined height, a front leg having a predetermined height less than that of the back leg, and an inclined bar joining the back leg to the front leg, and wherein the base has a predetermined area and a predetermined thickness, and wherein the inclined bars are configured for lateral adjustment.

20. A commode support apparatus, comprising a base adapted to have a commode placed in a center region of the base, a first support disposed on the base to one side of the center region, and a second support disposed on the base to the opposite side of the center region, the first and second supports being separated a predetermined distance away from each other whereby the commode is adapted to be centered between the first and second supports, each support including a back leg having a predetermined height, a front leg having a predetermined height less than that of the back leg, and an inclined bar joining the back leg to the front leg, and wherein the base has a predetermined area and a predetermined thickness, and wherein the inclined bars are configured for lateral adjustment, and wherein the inclined bar is surrounded by a soft, cushioning material, and wherein the front and back legs of the side support are configured for telescoping vertical adjustment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0036] The present invention, and the manner and process of making and using it, will be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a device of the invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate version of the first embodiment of the device.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of the device.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the device.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the device.

[0045] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a sixth embodiment of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Referring to FIG. 1, a basic or first embodiment of a self assist commode support device 10 includes a base 12, and a pair of side supports 14 joined by a rear horizontal support bar 16. The side supports 12 each include a front leg 18, a rear leg 20 and an inclined bar 22 joining the front leg 18 and the rear leg 20. The rear leg 20 is longer than the front leg 18, such that the inclined bar 20 slopes downwardly from the rear leg 20 to the front leg 18. A commode 30 is positioned between the side supports and can optionally be engaged with the horizontal bar 16 to secure the chair 30 relative to the support structure 10.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the side supports 14 are connected to the base 12 by flanges 40. The platform 24 can also include wheel assemblies 42 on one end in order to facilitate the movement of the platform 24 and the support structure 10 positioned thereon.

[0048] In use, to lower oneself onto chair 30, the user must first grasp the angled support bars 22 on each side and then walk their body between the bars 22. Referring to the pivot routine in FIGS. 12A-D, the user will pivot their body by shuffling their feet around, stop to reposition their hands on the bars 22, then continue pivoting until their backside locates the relative center of the support structure 10 and the chair 30.

[0049] The angled bars 22 slant towards the user, thus providing a ready point of contact for the user's entire arm as they lower their body onto the support structure 10. As the user allows their elbows to bend, lowering their body to sit rearwardly towards the chair 30, their forearms and then elbows come into contact with the angled bar 22. At this point the user will control the descent by allowing their elbows, forearms and upper arms to slide outwardly along the soft cushioned bars 22. They control the speed of their sliding descent by squeezing the inside of their forearms, upper arms and hands, towards their torso, against the bars 22 to slowly sit down. This sliding movement along the angled bars 22 places the heaviest part of the user's body weight onto the user's stronger upper arms, controlled by their larger back muscles and torso to allow the user to safely control their descent onto the chair 30.

[0050] This new self-assist safety slant support bar frame attached to a toilet, elevated seat riser, commode, chair, couch, wheel chair, scooter or bed will give the user an optimized opportunity to recover and to use the bathroom on their own, or to at least enable them to use stronger muscles in their body to help their care giver more effectively to prevent injury. To elevate from the chair 30, the individual can place their upper arms and/or shoulders against the slanted bars 22 and can press downwardly with the shoulders and torso, as opposed to having to pull only with the hands and arms. This process of engagement of the shoulders and torso of the individual provides significantly more force and control by the individual in raising and lowering their body relative to the chair 30.

[0051] Referring to the standing routine in FIGS. 11A-D, for an user to lift their body off of chair 30, they must first place their body in a position to make the lift easier. The user must first lean slightly forward and raise their arms forward slightly above their shoulder height. With elbows slightly bent, they will place the underside of their upper arms, 3 inches above their elbows, onto the slant support bars 22, lateral to their thighs. Their hands and forearms are placed on to the slant support bars 22 so that their hands are positioned lateral to the user's knees. From this seated position the user will pull their upper arms back and down using their back muscles. The slant support bar 22 has a preferred 37 degree slope to help the user to rock and lift their body weight up and forward as they pull their upper arms back and down. As the user raises their body up and forward their elbows will slide in towards their body, along the preferably soft cushioned slant support bars 22, until their elbows and forearms fully rest on to the slant support bars 22. Their upper arms, between their shoulders and elbows, are now perpendicular to the slant support bars 22 and are propping up their body weight. At this point their hands and forearms are used to stabilize this position giving the user time. (for their arthritic knees, hips, or legs, which might have numbed after sitting too long), time to adjust or acclimate before they prepare to stand the rest of the way up.

[0052] Now the user is three quarters of the way through the standing routine. The user effectively transferred their body weight from their upper arms to their legs, upper arm bones (which are propping up their body weight), forearms and hands. The user's shoulders and body weight are now over their feet. Their leg and arm joints are in a slightly bent position, a more powerful upper and lower limb position to pull and push down to stand. To finish the stand the user simply lifts one elbow off the slant support bar 22A and then the other elbow off the other slant support bar 22B to easily pull and press down with their hands, while their legs push down to stand the rest of the way up. After standing, the vertical support 18 and slant support bar 22 extend past the seat which makes it safer for the user to pivot, without bending over, to transfer to another apparatus or rest area.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative version of the first embodiment is depicted in which both the front leg 18 and the rear leg 20 are adjustable in height by selectively engaging flanges 40 with the legs 18, 20 at the desired heights using a push-button adjustment apparatus 50. Further, the slanted bar 20 can be joined to the front leg 18 and the rear leg 20 using a suitable mechanism 52 that enables the connection between the slanted bar 20 and the front leg 16 and/or rear leg 18 to be adjusted in width and/or in length. The flanges 40 and/or the legs 18, 20 may be secured directly to the base 12 that provides a stable surface on which the side supports 14 can be positioned to prevent any components from sliding while in use.

Some of the advantages of the slant support bar 22 include:

[0054] A new higher and more forward slant support frame position, as it relates to the seated position, creates a new lifting technique to allow the user to lift their body up farther and more forward over their legs more effectively and easier than on other standing frames.

[0055] A new more powerful seated body position with forwardly raised arms to access more powerful back muscles, specifically, (the Latissimus Dorsi, Teres and Rhomboid muscles) to pull the upper arms, backwards and down to create more momentum.

[0056] A new fulcrum point, placing the user's upper arms on to the slant support bars, brings the user's body weight closer to the core of the body which makes them stronger and allows the user to lift their body weight up farther and more forward than before with greater ease.

[0057] This new fulcrum point on the upper arm bypasses the energy lost with prior art horizontal and slant support bars which require the user to push down with their hands to lift their body weight through the user's entire arm and weaker elbow and wrist joints.

[0058] Hands and forearms are in front of the body to stabilize and maintain balance during our entire standing routine.

[0059] Our greater sloped slant support bars creates a useful leverage point during the heaviest part of the lift to rock the user more up and more forward as the user pulls back and down with their upper arms to create better momentum.

[0060] The user utilizes their stronger muscle groups and better leverage to pull their upper arms back and down to lift their body weight, not pushing down with the hands, a completely different lifting technique.

[0061] A better standing routine with a slanted bar position which extends past seat offering continuous arm support to assist the legs for better balance and stability to pivot, without bending over, while holding on to the slanted bars so the user can transfer to another apparatus or resting area more safely making our slant support bar frame safer to use.

[0062] A superiorly positioned slant support bar frame requires a new body position and a new standing method/routine. Users cannot use such a seated body position and new standing routine on prior art horizontal or slant support bars because prior art standing frames are positioned too low to support forwardly raised arms. Users cannot use a seated dip position to push down on our new slant support bars because our slant support bars are positioned too high and too far forward to reach from a seated dip position. This clearly shows the contrast when the lifting routine of the present invention can't be used on prior support bars frame and vise versa. The self assist safety slant support bar frame of the invention attached to a toilet, seat riser, commode, chair, couch, wheel chair, scooter or bed will give the user the best chance to get back their independence and dignity or at least give the user access to use their stronger muscle groups to help the caregiver so they don't get injured.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 5, in a second embodiment, a support structure 110 consists of a base 112, a commode chair 130 having side supports 114 directly connected to the chair 130. The side supports 114 are connected by a horizontal bar 116. Each side support features a front leg 118 that also serves as a front leg of the chair 130, a rear leg 120 which is connected to the horizontal bar 116, and an angled bar 122 connecting the front and rear legs 118,120 such that the angled bar 122 slopes downward from the connection at the rear leg to the connection at the front leg. The chair 130 also features flanges 140 connected between the chair 130 and the base 112.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 6, in a third embodiment, a support structure 210 uses a flush toilet as a base 212. Side supports 214 are connected to the upper surface of the bowl of the toilet 212, and to each other by at least one horizontal bar 216 running between the base of front legs 218 and/or between the base of rear legs 220. Angled bars 222 connect each rear leg 220 to each front leg 218 on respective sides of the toilet 212.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 7, in a fourth embodiment, a support structure 310 uses a flush toilet as a base 312. Side supports 314 rest on the base 312, and the side supports are joined by a horizontal bar 316 running across the rear of the base 312. This embodiment does not employ rear legs, but rather has side bars 318 connected to ends of the horizontal bar 316. The side bars 318 extend horizontally to the front of the toilet 312, where front legs 320 are connected and extend upwards. Angled bars 322 are connected to the upper ends of the front legs 320, and extend rearward at an angle approximately 45 degrees from vertical.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 8, in a fifth embodiment, a support structure 410 is analogous to structure 310, with the main difference of being independently supported, rather than using a toilet as a base. Structure 410 consists of side supports 414, a horizontal bar 416 across the rear, side bars 418 connected to ends of the horizontal bar 416, and front legs 420. The front stands extend vertically from the ground, preferably include non-slip feet 422 at the bottom for stability, and attach to the side supports 414 near the base of front arms 424. Front arms 424 are attached at their bottom end to the front ends of side bars 418. Front arms 424 extend upwards and are joined at the upper end to angled bars 426. Angled bars 426 extend rearward at an angle approximately 45 degrees from vertical.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 9, in a sixth embodiment, a support structure 510 is analogous to structure 210, with the main difference of being independently supported, as in structure 410, rather than using a toilet as a base. Side supports 514 are connected at the rear by a horizontal bar 516. The side supports 514 consist of front arms 518, rear arms 520, and angled bars 522 which connect the top of the relatively lower front arms 518 to the top of the relatively higher rear arms 520. The structure 500 may be constructed with additional front legs 524 pivotally connected below the front arms 518 so that the forward angle can be adjusted to accommodate the particular individual.

[0068] In some embodiments of the invention, the angle or the degree of the slope in the slanted support bars 22 is from a 25 degree slope to 45 degree slope. In some embodiments, the length of the slanted support bars 22 is from 12 inches-40 inches in length. In some embodiments, the width between the slanted support bars 22 is from 20-40 inches between the sides of the structure 10. Further, in other embodiments of the invention, the support arms or bars can angle inwardly or outwardly from the front legs to the rear legs. In some embodiments, the height of the lowermost point of the support bar is from 30 inches-55 inches from the support surface to the slant support bar, which corresponds to the height of the user's shoulder above the user's thigh, which is positioned on the seat, in order to accommodate the placement of the user's forwardly raised arms on the support bars. In some embodiments, the attachment of the front legs and/or rear legs to the slant support bars can be anywhere within 16 inches in back of or in front of the seat or attached to the seated frame itself. The front of the slope must extend to the knee of the user so they have room for their hands and feet to pivot after they stand.

[0069] The embodiments above are chosen, described and illustrated so that persons skilled in the art will be able to understand the invention and the manner and process of making and using it. The descriptions and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the exhaustive or limited sense. The invention is not intended to be limited to the exact forms disclosed. While the application attempts to disclose all of the embodiments of the invention that are reasonably foreseeable, there may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications that remain as equivalents. It should be understood by persons skilled in the art that there may be other embodiments than those disclosed which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Where a claim, if any, is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures, material-based equivalents and equivalent materials, and act-based equivalents and equivalent acts.