This invention relates to a commode unit and more particularly, to a portable commode.

Known portable commodes in their simplest form usually comprise a wheeled chassis having a toilet seat mounted thereon and a receptacle for receiving and storing excrement. Such known commodes are usually used by an infirm person who is incapable of cleaning their own anal and genital areas and who also find it difficult to extract the receptacle for emptying after use of the commode. The known commodes suffer from the disadvantages that these functions are difficult for an infirm person to carry out themselves and therefore the assistance of another person is required. This not only reduces the independence and therefore the quality of life for an infirm person but also due to the personal nature of such functions causes embarrassment to the infirm person and also to said other person who has to provide assistance in carrying them out.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved commode in which one or more of the above disadvantages are alleviated.

According to one aspect of this invention, a commode for use by a person comprises a chassis or frame having a ground engaging lower portion, a toilet seat mounted on said chassis or frame, a receptacle for receiving and storing excrement therein when the commode is used, part or all of the receptacle being adapted to be removable from the chassis or frame for emptying the excrement therefrom after use and cleaning means for cleaning the person's anal and/or genital area after use of the commode, wherein the cleaning means includes a supply means of cleaning liquid for supplying the cleaning liquid under pressure in the form of a jet or spray onto the area of the person to be cleaned.

Preferably, the supply means comprises conduit means releasably connected to an external supply of cleaning liquid.

Preferably, also, the supply means includes a reservoir for the cleaning liquid having an inlet which is releasably connected to the conduit means. The conduit means is, preferably, a flexible pipe.

Preferably, the flexible pipe is adapted to be releasably connected at one end to an inlet of the reservoir.

Preferably, also, the flexible pipe connection at one end to the reservoir is a quick release coupling.

The other end of the flexible pipe is, preferably, adapted to be releasably connected to an external liquid supply such as a cistern of a toilet in a bathroom or a water tap.

Preferably, the cleaning means comprises a jet or spray head disposed in the area beneath the toilet seat to spray the cleaning liquid onto and clean the person's anal and/or genital area.

Preferably, also, the spray head is mounted on the end of an extendible pipe member which progressively extends through the area beneath the toilet seat when cleaning is being carried out and which retracts on the completion of cleaning.

The direction of the jet or spray of the cleaning liquid is, preferably, adapted to be changed from an upward to a generally downward direction onto the receptacle to effect cleaning thereof and/or to spray liquid into the receptacle prior to use of the commode so that the excrement is immersed in the cleaning liquid to reduce the smell thereof. Preferably, the receptacle for excrement is provided with a flexible plastic liner which can be closed and lifted out of the receptacle for disposal.

Preferably, also, the receptacle itself or a removeable part thereof is slideably mounted in the chassis or the frame so that it can be slideably moved from a closed position beneath the toilet seat area to an open position outside the plan outline of the commode to allow lifting in a vertical direction.

A power supply means is, preferably, mounted in the chassis or frame to power the cleaning means.

Preferably, the power supply means is a power supply lead connectible to a conventional domestic electrical outlet socket and/or is a re-chargeable battery and inverter together with a battery charging means to charge the re-chargeable battery.

Preferably, also, a hand wash basin is mounted in the chassis or frame for a user to cleanse their hands after use of the commode.

The hand basin is, preferably, provided with a tap which supplies the cleaning liquid into the basin.

Preferably, the tap is connected to an extendible hose so that a supply of the cleaning liquid is obtainable for use outside the confines of the commode for other cleaning purposes.

Preferably, also, the hand basin is provided with an outlet which is connected to the receptacle to enable it to be emptied after use or alternatively the hand basin is removable to be manually emptied after use.

A cassette type of excrement storage container is, preferably, mounted in the chassis or frame which has an upper inlet connected via a macerating unit to an outlet in the bottom of the receptacle for storing the macerated excrement. Preferably, the cassette storage container has an outlet through which the excrement can be discharged.

Preferably, also, the cleaning means is provided with thermostatically controlled heating means for heating and controlling the temperature of the cleaning liquid.

The chassis or frame is, preferably, provided with power-operated lifting and lowering means for adjusting the height of the toilet seat to facilitate use of the commode by an infirm person who has difficulty in sitting down and standing up from the toilet seat.

Preferably, the chassis or frame has privacy screens or curtains mounted thereon to enclose the person using the commode therein when required.

Preferably, the chassis or frame is provided with a de-mountable top having downwardly extending curtains or screens on each side to hide the commode from view and provide a flat storage or working surface.

Preferably, also, the chassis or frame is provided with an air heating means connected to an outlet below the toilet seat to facilitate drying of the person's anal and/or genital areas after cleaning.

The rear surface of the receptacle is, preferably, inclined at a steeper angle than the front surface so that excrement falls directly into water in the receptacle and slides down the rear surface into the water.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of using the commode according to said one aspect of this invention comprises withdrawal of the receptacle or at least the lower portion thereof, emptying the receptacle or the lower portion, filling the lower portion of the receptacle with liquid either prior to or after replacing of the lower portion thereof in the commode.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective front view from one side and above of a commode;

Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the commode;

Figure 3 is a side view of the commode;

Figure 4 is a perspective view from above, one side and the rear of a modified commode;

Figure 5 is a perspective view from the front and one side of a further modified commode; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side view of a receptacle for receiving excrement of the commode.

Referring now to the drawings, a portable commode indicated generally at 10 comprises a frame 12 having a toilet seat 14 with an opening 16 mounted thereon. The toilet seat 14 is provided with a lid (not shown) which can be pivotally moved to an upright position forming a back rest for a person using the commode. The frame 12 has lower ground engaging portions in the form of castor wheels 18 which allow the commode 10 to be wheeled to a desired location, for example a person's bedside. The castor wheels 18 have brakes to lock the commode 10 in a fixed position on the ground to prevent the commode 10 from moving when it is in use. A receptacle 20 for receiving and storing excrement is mounted in the frame 12 on slidably extending supports 22 at each side to enable the receptacle 20 to be slidably moved to a position outside the plan outline of the commode 10 so that it can be lifted out in a purely vertical direction facilitating removal for emptying. The receptacle 20 has a front panel 24 mounted thereon which is provided with a handle 26 to facilitate withdrawal of the receptacle 20 to said position for emptying. The shape of the receptacle 20 is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings and is adapted to have water placed in the lower portion in the manner of a conventional toilet so that the solid excrement when the commode 10 is used falls into the water to reduce the emission of odours from the excrement. The water in the receptacle 20 is replaced after emptying and prior to replacing the receptacle 20 in the frame 12 for re-use of the commode 10 or after replacing the receptacle 20 in the frame 12. The rear surface of the receptacle 20 is inclined at a steeper angle than the front surface so that solid excrement either falls directly into the water or at least does not remain on the rear surface but slides down the rear surface to enter into the water. The receptacle 20 can be provided with a flexible plastic open topped liner (not shown) such as a bag which can be simply withdrawn after closing the open top thereof and then either emptied or disposed of in entirety. Such a plastic liner is of light weight making it easy for an infirm person to deal with themselves. The lower end of the receptacle 20 is provided with an openable and closeable outlet (not shown) which can be connected to a separate collapsible container formed of a flexible material which has a closeable inlet and an openable outlet at its lower end and having a non-return valve. In use, the air is evacuated from the container to reduce the emission of odours from the excrement which passes into the container. When the container is removed for emptying, the inlet is closed and when the container is emptied through the outlet, the container collapses due to passage of the excrement therefrom under the action of gravity and air is evacuated from the container which can then be re-connected for re-use on the receptacle 20. Alternatively, the outlet of the receptacle 20 is connected via a macerating unit (not shown) mounted in the frame to an inlet of a cassette type of storage unit (not shown) also releasably mounted in the frame 12 for storing the excrement in a compacted form. The cassette type of storage unit has an outlet through which the unit can be emptied and then replaced for reuse in the frame 12.

The commode 10 is provided with an electrical power supply which in its simplest form consists of a power supply lead which is releasably connectible between the commode 10 and a conventional domestic electric socket supplying 240 volts AC. Alternatively, an integral electrical power supply unit (not shown) is mounted in the frame 12 and consists of a re-chargeable DC battery and battery charger unit which is connectible by the power supply lead (not shown) to the external mains supply socket for re-charging the DC battery. The integral electrical power supply unit also includes an inverter to produce an AC output of the required voltage to operate the hereinafter described features of the commode 10. Power for the macerating unit described above can be supplied from the electrical power supply unit. A reservoir (not shown) is mounted in the frame 12 for storing a supply of water and has a first inlet for filling the reservoir. The first inlet of the reservoir is adapted to be connected by a quick release coupling to one end of a flexible pipe (not shown) and the other end of the flexible pipe is connected to an external water supply such as a cistern of a toilet in a bathroom or to a water tap of a conventional water supply. The reservoir has a second inlet through which additives to the water are inserted, such as an antibacterial liquid, a medicinal treatment liquid or the like to form a cleaning liquid. The reservoir is provided with a thermostatically controlled electric immersion heater powered from the integral power supply unit in the commode 10 for heating the cleaning liquid to a suitable temperature according to the type of cleaning operation which is to be carried out as hereinafter described. An outlet in the base of the reservoir is connected to are electrical pump which supplies the cleaning liquid under pressure to one end of an extendible pipe member (not shown) which is mounted in the frame 12 in the area beneath the toilet seat 14. The other end of the pipe member is provided with a jet or spray head which is progressively moved under power across the area beneath the toilet seat from an out of use position at the rear of the toilet seat 14 to a fully extended position adjacent to the front of the toilet seat 14. The direction of the spray or jet of cleaning liquid can be controlled by progressive powered rotation of the jet or spray head from an upward to a downward direction as well as a sideways direction to effect cleaning of the anal and genital areas of a person who has used the commode as well as cleaning of the under surface of the toilet seat 14 and the receptacle 20. The use of this supply of liquid through the extendible pipe member can be used to provide liquid in the receptacle 20 so that the excrement is immersed in the liquid to reduce the smell thereof. The chassis or frame 12 of the commode 10 has air heating means including a fan mounted thereon which supplies heated air to an outlet below the toilet seat to facilitate drying of inter-alia the person's anal area after the cleaning operation or operations have been carried out. The commode 10 enables these cleaning operations to be carried out by a person using the commode 10 without the assistance of another person which improves the quality of life of an infirm person.

In a modification more than one reservoir can be provided each having an outlet which is selectively connected via electrically operated valves to said one end of the extendible pipe member. The reservoirs are filled with different liquids such as pure heated water, non-heated medicinal liquids and an anti-bacterial liquid or mixtures of all three.

In a further modification a single reservoir unit is provided which is divided into three or more separate compartments each having a separate controllable outlet.

In yet another modification, in a simplified unit the reservoir and pump are replaced by connecting the flexible pipe leading from a tap direct to said one end of the extendible pipe member.

A storage compartment 28 is provided in the side of the frame 12 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the frame 12 and is opened by moving the upper end outwardly from the frame 12. A hand wash basin 30 is mounted in the compartment 28 and a tap (not shown) is provided which is connected via the electrical pump to the reservoir to supply cleaning liquid to the basin 30 to enable a person using the commode 10 to clean their hands after use of the commode 10. The basin 30 is adapted to be removed from the compartment 28 to enable it to be manually emptied after use. Alternatively the basin 30 is provided with an outlet (not shown) which is connected to the receptacle 20 to drain the used cleaning liquid from the basin 30. Alternatively the tap (not shown) is connected by an extendible flexible pipe to the pump and reservoir to enable the tap to be withdrawn from the basin 30 so that a supply of cleaning liquid is provided for a person to clean other parts of their body or clean other parts of the commode such as the upper surface of the toilet seat 14 after use of the commode 10. The commode 10 is provided with a power-operated lifting mechanism (not shown) for raising or lowering the height of the toilet seat 14 above the ground to facilitate use by an infirm person who has difficulty in sitting down and standing up from the toilet seat 14. The lifting mechanism consists of a power operated lifting platform mounted below the base of the commode 10 for raising or lowering the entire frame 12 of the commode 10. Alternatively, the frame 12 is provided with a power operated mechanism for extending or retracting the lower ground engaging portion for raising or lowering the portion of the frame 12 having the toilet seat 14 thereon.

In a situation where the person using the commode 10 has difficulty in maintaining themself in an upright sitting position on the commode and there is a danger of the person toppling over or collapsing, a safety arm or strap is connected to the frame 12 of the commode so as to extend across the open front of the frame 12. The safety arm is in the form of a safety bar pivotally connected on one side of the frame 12 which is then swung across the open front parts of the frame 12 and releasably connected to the other side thereof. The safety bar is provided with anti-bacterial padding to form a comfortable resting place for the persons hands and arms as well as restraining them from toppling over or collapsing and falling out of the commode 10.

The commode 10 is provided with privacy screens (not shown) which are adapted to enclose and conceal the commode 10 and the person using the commode. Such privacy screens can be formed of curtains or panels which are drawn around or drawn back either manually or by a power-operated mechanism. In another form of such screens, it comprises of several sections connected together in a concertina fashion which can be opened out as required to enclose the commode 10 and the person using it from view. When the sections are closed, they form a high back to the commode extending upwardly approximately 150 cm from the base of the commode 10. Alternatively, a cantilevered-levered curtain rail (not shown) can be pivotally mounted on the top of the back of the commode 10 so as to be capable of being swung out therefrom towards the front of the commode 10. A curtain (not shown) is mounted on the rail which can be drawn to extend around the commode 10 and the person us i n g the commode a nd conceal them from view. Alternatively, the screens could be formed of roller blinds (not shown) mounted on the rail capable of being drawn down to afford privacy to the person using the commode 10.

The commode 10 is also provided with a de-mountable top (not shown) which rests on the frame 12 to provide a flat storage or working surface such as a table for eating meals or the like. The top is provided at its edges with downwardly extending curtains or screens to hide the commode from view when not in use.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, a modified version of the commode 10 is shown which is provided with external panels 32 to provide not only an improved visual appearance but also a smooth surface which facilitates cleaning and avoids a person using the commode 10 from accidentally damaging themself on the commode 10.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, the frame 12 of the commode 10 is replaced by a smooth moulded chassis 34 which also improves the visual appearance of and facilitates cleaning of the commode 10 in addition to avoiding the person using the commode from accidentally damaging themself.

The commode according to the invention allows an infirm person to use it themself without having to have immediate assistance from another person reducing the need for a constant attendant to assist them. It therefore improves the quality of life for such a person and also will allow them to live in their own home for a longer period than would otherwise be possible.

It will be appreciated that although the commode is particularly suitable for use in the home, it can be used in other locations such as hospitals, care homes or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.