GB2585356A

GB2585356A - Frame

Info

Publication number: GB2585356A
Application number: GB1906605.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rice Lee
Original assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Current assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Priority date: 2019-05-10
Filing date: 2019-05-10
Publication date: 2021-01-13
Also published as: GB201906605D0; GB2585356A8

Abstract

A frame 10 for supporting a person over a toilet. The frame 10 comprises a pair of members 12. The support arrangement 14 comprises a first bar 16, a second bar 18 and a third bar 20. The first bar 16 extends between the side members 12 and connects to a first position 22 on each respective side member 12. The second bar 18 extends between the first bar 16 and a one of the side members 12 and connects to a second position 24 on the side member 12. The third bar 20 extends between the first bar 16 and the other of the side members 12 and connects to a second position 24 on the other of the side members 12. The support arrangement 14 defines an area 26 of space between the first, second and third bars 16, 18, 20. An opening 28 into the area 26 is provided between the second and third bars 18, 20.

Description

TITLE Frame

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Examples of the disclosure relate to a frame, and in particular to a frame for supporting a person over a toilet.

BACKGROUND

Frames for supporting a person over a toilet are known. In some instances, such frames comprise a toilet seat on which a person may sit above the underlying toilet.

It is sometimes desirable to provide a pan underlying the seat so that the frame may be used as a toilet commode. Known frames comprise a pair of side members connected by a support arrangement, the support arrangement also providing mounting points for the toilet seat and pan if present. However, known support arrangements provide limited access to the toilet seat, and to the pan if present.

The is a requirement to provide frames which comprise support arrangements which permit improved access to the toilet seat, and pan if present.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a frame for supporting a person over a toilet, the frame comprising: a pair of side members; a support arrangement connecting the pair of side members; the support arrangement comprising: a first bar extending between the side members and connecting to a first position on each respective side member; a second bar extending between the first bar and a one of the side members and connecting to a second position on the side member; and a third bar extending between the first bar and the other of the side members and connecting to a second position on the other of the side members; wherein the support arrangement defines an area of space between the first, second and third bars, wherein an opening into the area is provided between the second and third bars.

Possibly, each respective side member comprises a pair of spaced apart legs connected by a handle portion, wherein the first position on each side member to which the first bar connects is on a one of the legs, and the second position on each side member to which the respective second and third bars connect is on the other of the legs.

Possibly, the first bar is straight, and the second and third bars comprise a curved bar portion.

With respect to each of the second and third bars, possibly a first bar portion extends substantially perpendicular to the first bar, and a second bar portion extends substantially parallel to the first bar, wherein the curved bar portion extends between the first and second bar portions. The first and second bar portions may be substantially straight.

The opening into the area may be provided between the respective curved bar portions of the second and third bars. The area may be substantially bell shaped.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method of providing a frame for supporting a person over a toilet, the frame according to any of the preceding paragraphs.

The method may comprise any of the features described in any of the preceding statements or following description.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there may be provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of various examples that are useful for understanding the detailed description, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective views of a frame; and Fig. 2 illustrates a plan view of the frame of Fig. 1 from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures illustrate a frame 10 for supporting a person over a toilet. The frame 10 comprises a pair of side members 12, and a support arrangement 14 connecting the pair of side members 12.

The support arrangement 14 comprises a first bar 16, a second bar 18, and a third bar 20.

In some example, the first bar 16 is straight, and the second and third bars 18, 20 each comprise a curved bar portion 30. The first, second and third bars 16, 18, 20 may extend in the same plane. Accordingly, in such example the support arrangement 14 extends in a plane. Each side member 12 extends in a plane. The plane of the support arrangement 14 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of each respective side member 12. The first bar 16 may be referred to as a cross bar.

The first bar 16 extends between the side members 12 and connects to a first position 22 on each respective side member 12. The second bar 18 extends between the first bar 16 and a one of the side members 12 and connects to a second position 24 on the side member 12. The third bar 20 extends between the first bar 16 and the other of the side members 12 and connects to a second position 24 on the other of the side member 12.

In the illustrated examples, each respective side member 12 comprises a pair of spaced apart legs 36 connected by a handle portion 38. In the illustrated example, the first position 22 on each side member 12 to which the first bar 16 connects is on a one of the legs 36, and the second position 24 on each side member 12 to which the respective second and third bars 18, 20 connect is on the other of the legs 36.

In examples of the disclosure, the support arrangement defines an area 26 of space between the first, second and third bars 16, 18, 20. An opening 28 into the area 26 is provided between the second and third bars 18, 20.

In some examples, with respect to each of the second and third bars 18, 20, a first bar portion 32 extends substantially perpendicular to the first bar 16, and a second bar portion 34 extends substantially parallel to the first bar 16. In such examples, the curved bar portion 30 extends between the first and second bar portions 32, 34. The first and second bar portions 32, 34 may be substantially straight.

In some examples, the opening 28 into the area 26 is provided between the respective curved bar portions 30 of the second and third bars 18, 20. The area 26 may be substantially bell shaped. Accordingly, the respective curved portions 30 of each of the second and third bars 18, 20 define a narrowest point of the bell.

The figures also illustrate a method of providing a frame 10 for supporting a person over a toilet as described above, that is, a method of manufacturing the frame 10.

There is thus described a frame 10 and a method with a number of advantages. For example, the arrangement of the respective first, second and third bars 16, 18, 20 provides appropriate mounting points for a toilet seat (not illustrated) and if present a pan (not illustrated) between the two side members 12 of the frame 10. For example, the toilet seat may comprise clips on an underside thereof which align with the bars 16, 18, 20. One or more clip may be provided to align with each of the three bars 16, 18, 20, thereby providing a secure mounting since the bars are appropriately spaced apart. Similarly, the bars 16, 18, 20 provide optimum mounting points for a bracket for locating a pan under the toilet seat. Furthermore, the support arrangement 14 defines an area 26 of space between the first, second and third bars 16, 18, 20, and an opening 28 into the area 26. Accordingly, a user may easily access the toilet seat or pan through the opening 28. Examples of the disclosure do not therefore comprise a second cross bar between the side members 12, parallel to the first bar 16 which would otherwise hinder access to the toilet seat or pan if present.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the frame 10 could comprise any suitable material, for instance, metal or rigid plastics.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

The term "comprise" is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use "comprise" with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to "comprising only one..." or by using "consisting".

In this brief description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term "example" or "for example" or "may" in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus "example", "for example" or "may" refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that comprise some but not all of the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that features described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A frame for supporting a person over a toilet, the frame comprising: a pair of side members; a support arrangement connecting the pair of side members; the support arrangement comprising: a first bar extending between the side members and connecting to a first position on each respective side member; a second bar extending between the first bar and a one of the side members and connecting to a second position on the side member; and a third bar extending between the first bar and the other of the side members and connecting to a second position on the other of the side members; O 15 wherein the support arrangement defines an area of space between C\I the first, second and third bars, wherein an opening into the area is provided between the second and third bars.O
2. A frame according to claim 1, wherein each respective side member comprises a each side member to which the first bar connects is on a one of the legs, and the second position on each side member to which the respective second and third bars connect is on the other of the legs.
3. A frame according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the first bar is straight, and the second and third bars comprise a curved bar portion.
4. A frame according to claim 3, wherein with respect to each of the second and third bars, a first bar portion extends substantially perpendicular to the first bar, and a second bar portion extends substantially parallel to the first bar, wherein the curved bar portion extends between the first and second bar portions.
5. A frame according to claim 4, wherein the first and second bar portions are substantially straight.
CO 20 pair of spaced apart legs connected by a handle portion, wherein the first position on 6. A frame according to claim 3 or any claim dependent on claim 3, wherein the opening into the area is provided between the respective curved bar portions of the second and third bars.
7. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the area is substantially bell shaped. 0 C\ICD