Toilet Chairs

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to toilet chairs, particularly but not exclusively mobile toilet chairs, and particularly to base support frames thereof. It is especially concerned with toilet chairs the base support frames of which are open at the rear below an apertured seat so as to fit over and around a WC pan.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Such toilet chairs are commonly provided with a footrest which is pivotally mounted so that it can be moved inboard of the frame so that it is out of the way when not required. Firm mounting of the footrest is required and thus the provision of pivot mounting and stop means which define the operative position of the footrest adds considerably to the cost of the chair.

It is an object of the invention to provide a base support frame of a toilet chair with a footrest in a relatively simple and cost-effective manner.

According to the invention a toilet chair support frame which is open at the rear to fit over and around a WC pan has a front cross member at a lower level adjacent the front of the frame, which cross member performs the functions of a structural frame member, a pivot bar for a footrest pivotable between an operative forwardly projecting position and a retracted position within the frame, and stop means to define at least the operative position of the footrest.

Preferably the cross member is of circular cross-section to provide the pivot bar bearing surface and of generally U-shape, with the bottom limb of the U-shape providing the pivot bar and the side limbs thereof providing stops respectively engaged by laterally projecting stop members on the footrest to define the operative position of the latter.

The footrest may be formed from plate material with a main substantially flat portion providing a footrest surface and folded along its rear edge to a rectangular channel section which fits over and closely embraces the cross member. Mounting of the footrest on the cross member is then readily achieved by fixing one or more members to the bottom of the footrest which are so positioned as to retain the channel section of the latter on the cross member. The frame is conveniently of tubular steel construction with the ends of the cross member respectively welded to side members of the frame rearwardly of upstanding front members thereof which support the seat.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating ways in which the principles of the invention can be applied. Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet chair having a support frame in accordance with the invention, and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are detailed perspective views to a larger scale showing a footrest of the chair in an operative position and an inoperative position respectively.

The toilet chair illustrated comprises a seat portion 1 supported on a base frame portion 2. The seat portion 1 has its own frame 3 to which are attached an apertured seat 4 and a backrest 5. The tubular steel frame 3 has laterally projecting handgrips 6 which enable the chair to be propelled and maneuvered on rear wheels 8 and front braked castors 8a supporting the tubular steel frame 2. The frame 3 also has side support arms 7 either one of which can be pivoted rearwardly to provide access for side transfer of a user between the seat 4 and a wheelchair.

In this particular embodiment the seat portion 1 is detachable from the base support frame 2 to allow use of the portion 1 attached to an invalid hoist, for example for bathing purposes. The method of attachment to the support frame 2 is not described herein as it is not germane to the present invention and it will be appreciated that the seat portion 1 could be permanently attached to the frame 2 should this be desired. Furthermore the backrest 5 and support arms 7 could be omitted to provide a simple form of chair comprising the apertured seat 4 directly supported by and attached to the base frame 2.

The frame 2 comprises side members 9 fixed between respective upstanding front and rear members 10 and 11, between which the frame 2 is open at the rear to fit over and around a WC pan. A generally U-shaped cross member 12 is welded between the side members 9 rearwardly of the front members 10 so as to provide a structural member of the frame 2. The bottom limb 12a of the cross member 12 provides a pivot shaft on which a footrest 13 is pivotally mounted. The footrest 13 is formed from metal plate and in the operative position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is disposed generally horizontally and forwardly projecting between the front members 10 which, above the side members 9, are rearwardly inclined towards the seat 4. A foot-support pad 14 is secured to the upper surface of the footrest 13. The footrest 13 has upwardly and outwardly inclined side portions 15 which present laterally projecting ears 16 providing stop members which, as shown in FIG. 2, respectively engage behind the side limbs 12b of the cross member 12 to define the lowered inoperative position of the footrest 13. Thus the cross member 12 in addition to being a structural member of the frame 2 provides stop means defining the operative footrest position as well as forming the pivot shaft for the footrest 13.

Along its rear edge the footrest 13, over the length of the straight portion of the limb 12a, is folded to provide a rectangular channel section 17 which fits on and closely embraces the cross member 12 on which the footrest 13 is retained by means of two spaced blocks 18. The blocks 18 are fixed to the bottom of the footrest 13.

The rear channel section 17 of the footrest 13 has a centrally disposed cut-out slot 19 engaged by a downwardly projecting peg 20 fixed to the cross member 12. The engagement of the peg 20 in the slot 19 provides lateral location of the footrest 13 throughout the range of pivotal movement thereof and, in the inboard stowed position of the footrest 13 shown in FIG. 3, the peg 20 abuts the inner end 21 of the slot 19 to provide stop means defining that position of the footrest 13.