This invention relates to the field of commodes, and in particular to pans used in conjunction with commodes.

A commode is a well known device typically used by patients or elderly persons who are unable to use a conventional toilet. Typically, a commode consists of a chair-like structure having an aperture formed in the seat of the chair. A pan is positioned under the aperture to catch bodily wastes. Typically, the pan can be removed from the commode so as to facilitate disposal of the waste materials and to enable cleaning of the pan.

A prior art moulded plastics commode is shown in figure 3. The pan has a contoured to receptacle portion 2 receive a complementary contour formed pulp liner for catching and receiving waste materials. The prior art pan of figure 3 has a relatively wide flange 4 which extends substantially at right angles to the upper edge of the pan. Thus, the receptacle is set within a wide flange which extends around the bowl. A pulp liner, configured to fit comfortably within the bowl, is often inserted into this type of pan so that the pulp liner can be removed and disposed of without the pan having to be removed from the commode. The liner is positioned within the pan by resting the rim of the liner on the rim of the pan, thus suspending the liner within the bowl of the pan.

In use, the pan is mounted below the commode aperture by means of a frame or cage. The pan (and liner) is typically pushed into the frame or cage. The frame or cage has side runners which are slidingly received in a pair of longitudinal brackets, grooves or ledges which are mounted on the underside of the commode seat (as shown in figure 4). The cage has frame elements which slides into or onto the brackets so as to suspend the pan beneath the aperture. A disadvantage of this system is that the cage is unwieldy to use and expensive to manufacture. In addition, the pan and liner usually fit snugly into the cage, and do not slide easily into or out of position. This makes insertion and removal difficult (especially when the pan contains waste matter). The present invention thus seeks to provide a commode pan which can be mounted easily and simply to the underside of a commode seat whilst facilitating the use of pulp liners.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an integrally moulded commode pan comprising: a recessed contoured receptacle zone for receiving a contoured liner; a marginal perimeter flange extending about the recessed contoured receptacle zone; first and second slider mount formations provided at opposed sides of the pan and outwardly of the perimeter flange, enabling the pan to be slidably mounted to the underside of a commode seat with the perimeter flange held adjacent the underside of the commode seat.

It is preferred that the commode pan comprises a handle formation. Beneficially the handle formation is provided at a rearward end of the commode pan. The commode pan preferably includes a positional stop arrangement to aid positioning of the commode pan with respect to the commode seat. Beneficially, the positional stop is provided at the rearward end of the commode pan. The positional stop may extend upwardly above the level of the perimeter flange, preferably so as to engage with the edge of the commode seat in a stop position. The positional stop formation prevents the pan from being inserted too far into the commode, and ensures correct positioning of the pan during use.

In a preferred embodiment, the slider mount formations provided at opposed sides of the pan comprise respective elongate runners.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides a commode arrangement comprising a commode pan according as defined above in combination with a commode seat having retainer formations at opposed portions of the underside of the commode seat for cooperating in sliding engagement with the first and second slider mount formations provided at opposed sides of the pan. The recessed contoured receptacle zone may be substantially keyhole shaped.

In a preferred embodiment, the recessed contoured receptacle zone may be provided with an extended, bulbous or enlarged portion to accommodate male genitalia more easily during use.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment described herein.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure IA shows a commode pan in accordance with the present invention.

Figure IB shows in detail the side runner of the pan of figure 1

Figure 2 shows a side view of the commode pan of Figure 1.

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show alternative views of a conventional commode pan suitable for use with a pulp liner.

Figure 4 shows the underside of a known commode seat having elongate mounting brackets.

Figures 3 a, 3b and 3 c show a known commode pan, suitable for use with a pulp liner. The pan has a substantially keyhole shaped bowl for receiving waste matter and an enlarged rim. Figure 4 shows a typical mounting arrangement commonly used with prior art commode pans in combination with a mounting cage or frame (not shown). A pair of elongate brackets (9) is provided on the underside of a commode seat (10). Each bracket is angled so as to form a groove (11). In use, elongate side frame elements of the cage are inserted directly into the grooves (11) formed in the brackets (9) until the pan is positioned below the aperture (12) formed in the commode seat (10).

Thus the cage or support frame (not shown) is mounted to the underside of the commode seat (10), and the pan (with or without liner) inserted into the frame, either before or after positioning the frame or cage. The pan then rests within the frame or cage during use. The frame may be mounted to the underside of the seat (10) by means of the elongate brackets (9) as shown in Figure 4. The edges of the frame are pushed into the grooves (11) formed in the brackets until the bowl is positioned beneath the aperture (12) in the commode seat (10). This mounting arrangement (frame plus brackets) is more complex than the brackets- only arrangement, and makes insertion and removal of the pan more difficult.

Figure 1 shows a commode pan (1) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The pan has a recessed receptacle portion (2) for receiving waste matter during use. A perimeter flange portion (4) extends from the upper edge (3) of the receptacle portion (2) and provides an upper plateau of the pan. The perimeter flange portion (4) is substantially horizontal and flat.

The perimeter flange portion (4) terminates in a runner formation (5) (shown in section in figure IB) extending transversely to the perimeter flange portion (4) such that in use the runner (5) may be inserted into a groove (11) of a mounting bracket fitted to the underside of the commode seat (10). The skilled addressee will understand, however, that the runner (5) may take a different configuration depending on the configuration of the mounting brackets (9) into which the pan (1) is to be inserted.

The pan (1) has a handle (6) at its rearward side in order to facilitate use and transportation of the pan (1). The rearward end of the pan is also provided, at the position of the handle (6) , with an upwardly extending stop formation (8) which stands proud of the perimeter flange portion (4). When inserted fully into position the stop formation (8) will abut against the edge of the commode seat (10) and prevent over insertion. Thus, the stop (8) ensures that the pan (10) is positioned correctly under the aperture (12) during use.

The receptacle portion (2) has an enlarged or appendage portion (7) to physically accommodate male users more easily. The appendage portion (7) has an inclined wall so as to direct fluid and waste material towards the main portion of the receptacle portion (2). The pan is generally integrally moulded of plastics material and provides a contoured pan for use with a liner that can conveniently and easily be slidably mounted to the underside of a commode seat. This provides significant use advantages over prior art arrangements that do not have this specific combination of features. It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" and "comprises", and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. In the present specification, "comprises" means "includes or consists of and "comprising" means "including or consisting of. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice-versa. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.