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(11) | EP 0 316 971 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Toilet seat with cushioned seating surface |
| (57) A toilet seat (2) is disclosed which has a hard, rigid body with a cushion (4) disposed
therein. The seat body has a cavity (6) in its contoured seating surface which follows
the seating surface (7) contour, and the cushion, in turn, follows the contour of
the cavity. The cushion may be adapted to remain in place in the cavity when disposed
therein, or may remain in place by virtue of its own weight. A seat of the type described
is useful for those who have need for a toilet seat which accomodates sensitive areas
or lesions or the like on the body area which is in contact with the seat. |
[0001] Toilet seats of the elevated type are indispensable aids for those who experience difficulty in sitting on and rising from conventional toilet seats. Generally, elevated toilet seats for the purposes described are molded of a hard, rigid plastic material such as polyethylene, and are placed directly on a usually porcelain conventional toilet bowl. These seats are designed for comfort and stability when used by the elderly or infirm and sufferers from either chronic or acute illnesses or diseases which prohibit the use of conventional toilet seats.
[0002] Elevated toilet seats of the type described are marketed by Maddak, Inc., Pequannock, New Jersey, under their registered trademark TALL-ETTE. Several models of the TALL-ETTE are available and useful for specific purposes. For example, TALL-ETTE I is a doughnut shaped elevated toilet seat which raises the seating level of a conventional toilet approximately four inches so as to be convenient for use by those who cannot position the body in an ideal and comfortable position on a con ventional toilet seat. TALL-ETTE II is designed to provide user hip comfort and security by providing a contoured high back seat and is covered by U.S. Patent D237,887.
[0003] While toilet seats of the type described serve the purpose for which they are intended, they have a disadvantage for users whose body area in contact with the seat is sensitive for one reason or another, has lesions thereon due to illness or disease, or has a tendency for lesions or the like to easily form. In this regard it will be appreciated that the described prior art toilet seats are rigid and hard as aforenoted, and thus aggravate the aforenoted conditions and add to the discomfort of users with the indicated problems. Similarly, conventional toilet seats may have a like disadvantage.
[0004] Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage and to provide a toilet seat having a cushioned seating surface which is in contact with the body when the seat is used.
[0005] This invention contemplates a toilet seat for use by those who are unable for one reason or another to use a conventional toilet seat. The seat is contoured and has a cavity in its seating surface which generally follows the contour of the seat. The cavity receives a cushion which generally follows the contour of the cavity. The body of a user is in contact with the cushion when the seat is used so as to minimize any discomfort to the user that might otherwise occur. The cushion may be a foam rubber member; an air or water filled member; or may be a member containing a suitable gel, as the case may be.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006]
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of toilet seat according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the toilet seat shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of another form of toilet seat according to the invention.
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 5.
Figure 8 is an exploded view of the toilet seat shown in Figure 5.
[0007] With reference first to Figure 1, an elevated toilet seat embodying the invention has a hard, rigid seat body designated by the numeral 2 which is disposed on a conventional toilet bowl (not shown) and a cushion designated generally by the numeral 4. As shown in Figures 1 - 4, seat body 2 has a cavity 6 formed in a contoured seating surface 7 thereof, and which cavity 6 generally follows the contour of seating surface 7. Cavity 6 receives cushion 4.
[0008] As best shown in Figure 4, cushion 4 generally follows the contour of cavity 6 so as to fit therein. Cavity 6 and cushion 4 may be sized whereby the cushion fits snugly into the cavity so as to remain in place. The cushion may remain in place by virtue of its own weight as will be hereinafter discussed. Alternatively, the underside of cushion 4 (not otherwise shown) may have a pressure sensitive adhesive surface so that when cushion 4 is placed in cavity 6 and pressed therein the cushion will adhere to the bottom of the cavity so as to remain in place.
[0009] Figure 5 shows another elevated toilet seat embodying the invention and having a hard, rigid seat body 8 and a cushion 10. As best shown in Figures 5 - 8, seat body 8 has a cavity 12 formed in a contoured seating surface 13 thereof, and which cavity generally follows the contour of seating surface 13. In this regard it will be noted that seating surface 13, as best shown in Figures 5 and 8 has a back 14 which is higher than the front 16 thereof so as to provide hip comfort and security to a user of the seat. As best shown in Figure 8, cushion 10 likewise has a back 17 which is higher than its front 18 and otherwise follows the contour of cavity 12 so as to fit therein.
[0010] Cushion 10 remains in place in cavity 12 by virtue of its size relative to the cavity size, by virtue of its weight or by virtue of a pressure sensitive adhesive surface on its underside (not otherwise shown) as heretofore referred to.
[0011] The arrangement is such that the depth of cavities 6 and 12 and the thickness of cushions 4 and 10, respectively, permits the inserts to extend above seating surfaces 6 and 13 of respective seat bodies 2 and 8, whereby the body of a user is in contact with the cushion when the seat is used.
[0012] Cushions 4 and 10 have outer casings or the like 5 and 11, respectively, of a suitable material such as vinyl or the like. Casings 5 and 11 encase soft inserts 20 and 22, respectively, which are shown as being of a foam rubber. It will be understood that the invention contemplates air inflatable or water fillable outer casings 5 and 11, inflated or filled through a suitable valve (not shown) and which would satisfy the purpose of the invention. Similarly, the casings may be filled with a suitable gelatinous material such as a polyacrylamid gel marketed by Southwest Technologies, Inc., Kansas City, Mo. In each of these cases an insert would be provided as contemplated by the invention.
[0013] In the case where a suitable gelatinous material or water insert is used, the insert is of sufficient weight so that cushions 4 and 10 remain in place in cavities 6 and 12 without any further retaining means being required as heretofore referred to.
[0014] There has thus been described an elevated toilet seat having a hard, rigid body and a cushion disposed within and extending above the seat body so as to render the seat useful for those who have need for an elevated toilet seat, but have sensitive areas or lesions or the like on the body area coming into contact with the seat. Accordingly, the elevated toilet seat of the invention is useful for a particular group of users who cannot use a conventional toilet seat, and who, additionally, cannot use a prior art elevated toilet seat without experiencing discomfort.
[0015] Although the invention has been described, for purposes of illustration, with reference to only two forms of elevated toilet seats, it will be understood that the invention can be used with any form thereof. It will also be understood that the invention can be used as well with a conventional toilet seat as an aid to those who do not need an elevated toilet seat but need the cushioning affect heretofore described.
1. An elevated toilet seat, comprising:
a rigid, hard seat body, said seat body having a contoured seating surface;
a cavity in the seating surface, said cavity generally following the contour of the seating surface;
a cushion generally following the contour of the cavity; and the cushion disposed in the cavity and extending above the seating surface, whereby the body of a user is in contact with the cushion when the seat is used.
a rigid, hard seat body, said seat body having a contoured seating surface;
a cavity in the seating surface, said cavity generally following the contour of the seating surface;
a cushion generally following the contour of the cavity; and the cushion disposed in the cavity and extending above the seating surface, whereby the body of a user is in contact with the cushion when the seat is used.
2. An elevated toilet seat as described by claim 1, wherein;
the cushion has a pressure sensitive adhesive surface on its underside so that said cushion disposed in the cavity adheres to the bottom thereof when pressed therein so as to remain in place.
the cushion has a pressure sensitive adhesive surface on its underside so that said cushion disposed in the cavity adheres to the bottom thereof when pressed therein so as to remain in place.
3. An elevated toilet seat as described by claim 1 or 2, wherein: the cushion has
an outer casing and the outer casing encases a soft insert.
4. An elevated toilet seat as described by claim 3, wherein:
the outer casing is inflated with air and the air provides the soft insert.
the outer casing is inflated with air and the air provides the soft insert.
5. An elevated toilet seat as described by claim 3 or 4, wherein:
the outer casing is filled with water and the water provides the soft insert.
the outer casing is filled with water and the water provides the soft insert.
6. An elevated toilet seat as described by any one of claims 3-5, wherein:
the outer casing contains a gelatinous material and the gelatinous material provides the soft insert.
the outer casing contains a gelatinous material and the gelatinous material provides the soft insert.
7. A toilet seat of the type having a rigid, hard seat body and having a contoured
seating surface, comprising:
a cavity in the contoured seating surface which generally follows the contour of said surface;
a cushion generally following the contour of the cavity; and
the cushion disposed in the cavity and extending above the seating surface, whereby the body of a user is in contact with the cushion when the seat is used.
a cavity in the contoured seating surface which generally follows the contour of said surface;
a cushion generally following the contour of the cavity; and
the cushion disposed in the cavity and extending above the seating surface, whereby the body of a user is in contact with the cushion when the seat is used.
8. A toilet seat as described by claim 7, wherein:
the cushion has a pressure sensitive adhesive surface on its underside so that said cushion disposed in the cavity adheres to the bottom thereof when pressed therein so as to remain in place.
the cushion has a pressure sensitive adhesive surface on its underside so that said cushion disposed in the cavity adheres to the bottom thereof when pressed therein so as to remain in place.
9. A toilet seat as described by claim 7 or 8, wherein:
the cushion has an outer casing and the outer casing encases a soft insert.
the cushion has an outer casing and the outer casing encases a soft insert.
10. A toilet seat as described by claim 9, wherein:
the outer casing is inflated with air and the air provides the soft insert.
the outer casing is inflated with air and the air provides the soft insert.
11. A toilet seat as described by claim 9 or 10, wherein:
the outer casing is filled with water and the water provides the soft insert.
the outer casing is filled with water and the water provides the soft insert.
12. A toilet seat as described by any one of claims 9-11, wherein:
the outer casing contains a gelatinous material and the gelatinous material provides the soft insert.
the outer casing contains a gelatinous material and the gelatinous material provides the soft insert.
13. An elevated toilet seat as described by any of the preceeding claims, wherein:
the cushion and the cavity are sized so that when the cushion is disposed in the cavity the cushion remains in place therein.
the cushion and the cavity are sized so that when the cushion is disposed in the cavity the cushion remains in place therein.
14. An elevated toilet seat as described by any preceding claim 5, wherein:
the cushion disposed in the cavity remains in place therein by virtue of the weight of the gelatinous material.
the cushion disposed in the cavity remains in place therein by virtue of the weight of the gelatinous material.
15. An elevated toilet seat as described by any one of claims 1-13, wherein:
the cushion disposed in the cavity remains in place therein by virtue of the weight of the water.
the cushion disposed in the cavity remains in place therein by virtue of the weight of the water.
16. An elevated toilet seat as described by any of the preceding claims, wherein:
the soft insert is foam rubber.
the soft insert is foam rubber.