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Title:
APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING INFANTS TO USE A DOMESTIC ADULT TOILET
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2004/095397
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
There is disclosed a toilet training apparatus suitable for assisting infants to use a toilet having dimensions suitable for adults. The toilet training apparatus comprises a support structure and a seat fixedly supported by the support structure. The seat has an aperture therethrough. The toilet training apparatus has at least one step, the at least one step being supported by the support structure, for allowing an infant to ascend the toilet training apparatus and sit on the seat. The toilet training apparatus is dimensioned so that, when in use, the seat of toilet training apparatus is situated above the bowl of a plumbed-in toilet for adults, with the aperture in the seat being aligned with the bowl of the plumbed-in toilet. The support structure supports the seat so that the seat does not have to engage the bowl of the plumbed-in toilet for support.

Inventors:
EL TAWIL JACQUELINE LOIS (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2004/001662
Publication Date:
November 04, 2004
Filing Date:
April 16, 2004
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
EL TAWIL JACQUELINE LOIS (GB)
International Classes:
A47K11/04; A47K13/06; G09B19/00; (IPC1-7): G09B19/00
Foreign References:
US2607926A1952-08-26
US3512187A1970-05-19
DE1051467B1959-02-26
US4205404A1980-06-03
US1297177A1919-03-11
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Pluckrose, Anthony William (Verulam Gardens 70 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8BT, GB)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS
1. Toilet training apparatus comprising: a support structure; a seat fixedly supported in an elevated position by the support structure, the seat having an aperture therethrough; at least one step supported by the support structure and located in front of the seat; wherein: the apparatus is adapted to be used with a plumbedin toilet, so that when the seat of the apparatus is situated above a bowl of the plumbedin toilet, with the aperture in the seat aligned with the bowl of the plumbedin toilet, then the support structure supports the seat above the bowl without the seat engaging the plumbedin toilet bowl for support.
2. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of steps are supported by the support structure and the uppermost step is larger in surface area than the other step or steps.
3. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the support structure comprises a pair of spaced apart side walls between which extend the seat and the step (s), wherein the side walls and the seat define a void accessible by an opening to the rear of the apparatus, the void being large enough to accommodate a plumbedin toilet bowl.
4. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a backrest projecting upwardly from the seat at the rear of the seat.
5. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pair of spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from the seat at the sides of the seat.
6. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pair of spaced apart handrails located on either side of the step (s).
7. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is formed of moulded plastic with the seat, the support structure and the step (s) all integral parts of a single moulding.
8. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising wheels mounted on the support structure to enable the apparatus to be wheeled around by a user.
9. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a bowl and support means for supporting the bowl under the seat in alignment with the aperture in the seat, wherein the bowl is moveable and may be manually moved to and from a position under the seat aligned with the aperture supported by the support means.
10. Toilet training apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the support means comprises a pair of spaced apart runners and the bowl has a rim engageable by the runners whereby the bowl can be slid into and out of alignment with the aperture in the seat.
11. A method of use of toilet training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising the steps of: moving the apparatus from a storage location spaced away from a toilet bowl to an operational location in which the seat of the apparatus is located above the toilet bowl with the aperture in the seat of the apparatus aligned with the toilet bowl; an infant climbing the step (s) of the apparatus, sitting on the seat of the apparatus, using the toilet and then descending the step (s); and moving the apparatus away from the operational location above the toilet bowl to a storage location.
12. Toilet training apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Description:
APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING INFANTS TO USE A DOMESTIC ADULT TOILET The present invention relates to toilet training apparatus suitable for assisting infants in using an adult toilet.

Apparatus for assisting infants to use a domestic adult toilet rather than a potty is well known in the art. It typically comprises a single moveable step or block which can be positioned in front of the toilet, to allow the infant to climb onto the toilet seat.

Known apparatus has several disadvantages. The step must be short enough to allow the infant to step onto it, and so typically leaves a further large vertical distance for the infant to surmount his or herself. The seat is designed for adults and so is usually too large to be comfortably used by a small child. It is known in the art to fit a seat with a smaller aperture to a conventional toilet, however this must be fitted separately then removed separately after use in addition to the removal of any separate step.

US 4, 205, 404 discloses a portable stairway with a toilet seat pivotally mounted thereto. In use the toilet seat is supported directly by the plumbed-in toilet bowl.

This solves some of the above problems, but necessitates a complex mechanism to adjust the height of the portable toilet seat to that of the fixed toilet. This device also has the problem that the seat will pivot downwards when the device is removed from the fixed toilet. The seat could drop suddenly, and so has the potential to injure the infant.

The present invention provides toilet training apparatus comprising: a support structure; a seat fixedly supported in an elevated position by the support structure, the seat having an aperture therethrough; at least one step supported by the support structure and located in front of the seat; wherein: the apparatus is adapted to be used with a plumbed-in toilet, so that when the seat of the apparatus is situated above a bowl of the plumbed-in toilet, with the aperture in the seat aligned with the bowl of the plumbed-in toilet, then the support structure supports the seat above the bowl without the seat engaging the plumbed-in toilet for support.

This has the advantage that the infant can step easily up the step or steps to be on a comfortable level to use the seat.

He or she can then sit on the seat of the apparatus which has an aperture of a size suitable for infants, rather than the actual adult seat. If an adult wishes to use the toilet, the toilet training device can easily be moved away as one unit. The seat is secure, fixed and stable and does not have to engage a plumbed-in toilet bowl for support.

A preferred embodiment of toilet training apparatus according to the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of toilet training apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of toilet training apparatus according to the present invention; and Figures 2A and 2B show details of variants to the apparatus of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a toilet training apparatus 1, the front portion of which has an upper surface forming two steps 2,3 leading upwards. The second step 3 has a horizontal planar surface substantially larger than the horizontal surface of step 2, so that the tread of the second step 3 forms a platform.

The rear portion of the apparatus has an upper surface forming a seat 4 supported fixedly in an elevated position.

The seat 4 is formed integrally with the step 3. The seat 4 has a horizontal upper surface, in which is provided an aperture 5. The aperture 5 is substantially elliptical in shape. The aperture 5 is large enough to be used by the infant but small enough to allow the infant to sit comfortably on the seat 4.

At the rearmost edge of the toilet training device, the upper surface extends above the level of the seat 4, to form a substantially vertical planar back rest 6. This back rest 6 acts as a back restraint for the seat 4. The back rest 6 can provide back support and prevents the infant from toppling off the seat 4 in a backwards direction. Side walls 7 extend substantially vertically along the majority of the length of the toilet training device 1. The side walls 7 extend substantially vertically above the level of the steps 2,3 and seat 4. The side walls 7 prevent a seated infant toppling off the seat 4 sideways.

The side walls 7 of the toilet training device 1 are provided with two rails 8. The two rails 8 extend vertically above the side walls 7 of the toilet training device 1, and each has a forward end joined at a front corner of the

toilet training device 1 to a side wall 7 adjacent to the step 2. Each rail 8 has a rearward end joined at a rearward corner of the toilet training device 1 to a side wall 7 and the back wall 6. The rails serve to assist an infant in ascending the steps.

The rear portion of the toilet training device 1 encloses a void under the seat 4 or back wall 6. The underneath surface of the seat 4 and the inner surfaces of the side walls 7 define a partially enclosed void of sufficient size to accommodate a conventional domestic toilet bowl. There is an aperture (not shown) in the back of the toilet training apparatus 1 which extends to the ground and to the side walls 7. This aperture allows the toilet training apparatus 1 to be pushed or lifted into position over a plumbed-in toilet bowl.

Part of the area of the toilet training apparatus 1 in contact with the ground may be provided with one or more rubber feet in order to prevent the toilet training device 1 from moving or slipping in use.

The toilet training apparatus 1 is preferably formed from injection moulded plastic. All of the features of the apparatus are formed as integral parts of a single injection moulded product. This has the advantage that the apparatus is light, cheap to manufacture and can be cleaned easily.

The toilet training apparatus 1 in Figures 1 and 2 has been shaped to resemble a car.

In a second embodiment shown in Figure 2, the toilet training apparatus 1 may be provided with a moveable bowl 10. The bowl 10 can be positioned directly below the aperture 5, but can be moved away from the aperture 5 to allow a plumbed-in toilet bowl to be positioned under the aperture 5. The bowl 10 is moveable by means of supports 11 and wheels 14 engaging with a rim 12 on the bowl 10. The bowl 10 is able to move substantially horizontally from under the aperture 5 to extending from the back of the apparatus 1. The bowl 10 may be rectangular in plan and cross-section. The rim 12 on the bowl 10 engages with the supports 11, allowing the bowl 10 to slide. The supports 11 may be able to slide outwardly to extend beyond the back wall 6. In Figure 2A is shown an alternative embodiment of the bowl 10 having an open side being substantially elliptical, and having concave sides. Figure 2B shows another embodiment of the means of attaching the bowl 10 to the toilet training apparatus 1, comprising grooves 13 in the runners 15. Alternatively, the supports 11 or runners 15 may engage with a part of the bowl 10 other than the rim 12, such as the sides or base of the bowl 10.

In use, the toilet training apparatus 1 is positioned so that the seat 4 and aperture 5 are directly vertically above the fixed toilet. The infant is able to easily climb the steps 2,3. The rails 8 at the side of the steps 2,3 provide an aid to climbing the steps 2,3. When standing on the tread of the step 3 the child can easily turn around (the step 3 being larger and acting as a platform). The aperture 5 is positioned directly above the bowl of the fixed toilet so that it acts as an effective toilet seat for the child. The back support 6, and side walls 7 prevent the child from falling from the seat 4.

The infant on finishing can stand up on the large tread of the step 3, which acts as a platform, and turn around and proceed to descend the steps 2,3 with the aid of the rails 8. After use by the infant the toilet training device 1 can be moved away from the fixed toilet to allow an adult to use the toilet.

In an alternative embodiment, the toilet training apparatus 1 could be provided with one or more wheels to allow it to be moved easily into and out of position around the fixed toilet. The toilet training apparatus 1 could be provided with rubber feet as well as wheels which are sprung mounted i. e. it could be that there are rubber feet which only engage an underlying surface when the weight of an infant acts to compress the springs acting on the wheels, the wheels moving upwards relative to the rest of the apparatus to allow the rubber feet to engage the underlying surface. This would allow the toilet training device 1 to be wheeled around, whilst giving stability when used.

The toilet training apparatus 1 could alternatively be formed from wood, vacuum moulded plastic or blow moulded plastic, or other suitable material. It can be produced in one piece or produced in more than piece and the pieces fixed together.

In another embodiment, the toilet training apparatus 1 could be formed with one step or three steps leading up to the seat 4. The toilet training apparatus 1 could be shaped so as to resemble any shape appealing to children, such as a train or truck.

The toilet training apparatus may be decorated with stickers to increase its visual appeal to children. These stickers may take the form of character stickers.

In another embodiment, the toilet training apparatus is provided with a canopy attachment to increase privacy for the infant using the apparatus. The toilet training apparatus may be provided with means for producing light, music or sound. These means could be activated by manually pressing a switch or triggered when an infant sits on the apparatus. The light, music or sound may also be triggered on detection of another event or events.

The toilet training apparatus may be decorated in any colour or combination of colours, and may have a book associated with it. The toilet training apparatus may have a box attached to it (or shaped to be easily attachable) capable of containing wet wipes or other accessories.