WO2020245125A1

WO2020245125A1 - Commode pan to support coupling system

Info

Publication number: WO2020245125A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/065233
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Andre Chaizy
Original assignee: Inelxia Limited
Priority date: 2019-06-03
Filing date: 2020-06-02
Publication date: 2020-12-10
Also published as: GB201907826D0

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a commode pan and a chair or frame for supporting the commode pan, the commode pan being releasably attachable to the chair or frame by one or more latching mechanisms the or each of which comprises a bolt movably attached to one of the commode pan and the chair or frame and a strike attached to the other of the commode pan and the frame or chair. The bolt and strike of the or each latching mechanism comprise features that cooperate upon substantial alignment of the bolt and the strike to move the bolt into interlocking engagement with the strike such that cooperating mechanical features of the bolt and the strike prevent a downward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame and prevent movement of the commode pan in a substantially horizontal plane whilst allowing an upward movement of the commode pan. The latching mechanism is configured to end the interlocking engagement of the bolt with the strike upon an upward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame thereby allowing removal of the commode pan.

Description

COMMODE PAN TO SUPPORT COUPLING SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the attachment of a commode pan to its support via latches that may be magnetically activated.

Background

Various magnetic fixing arrangements are described in the following documents: US8368494, WO/2012/160195, WO/2013/190070.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus comprising a commode pan and a chair or frame for supporting the commode pan, the commode pan being releasably attachable to the chair or frame by one or more latching mechanisms the or each of which comprises a bolt movably attached to one of the commode pan and the chair or frame and a strike attached to the other of the commode pan and the frame or chair, the bolt and strike of the or each latching mechanism comprising features that cooperate upon substantial alignment of the bolt and the strike to move the bolt into interlocking engagement with the strike such that cooperating mechanical features of the bolt and the strike prevent a downward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame and prevent movement of the commode pan in a substantially horizontal plane whilst allowing an upward movement of the commode pan, the latching mechanism being configured to end, i.e. release, the interlocking engagement of the bolt with the strike upon an upward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame thereby allowing removal of the commode pan.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus comprising a commode pan and its support, the commode pan being attachable to the support at at least two fixing locations, the apparatus comprising a latching mechanism in order to provide a fixing at at least one of said locations, the latching mechanism comprising a bolt and a strike that interlock with each other and that are located on the support and on the commode pan, the bolt and the strike being configured so that the bolt moves relative to the strike in a first direction (Y) and so that, once attached to its support, the commode pan is prevented to move freely in a second direction (X) substantially perpendicular to the first direction and is free to move along a third direction (Z), substantially perpendicular to the other two said directions, but only in one of the two possible orientations of the motion (+Z), such a motion enabling the misalignment of the bolt and the strike thus resulting in the commode pan being releasable from its support.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair (2) and of the Cartesian axis used in the description of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view that shows the relative positions of commode pan (1) and of its support (2) during the coupling process for a deployed type latch.

Figure 3 is a perspective view that shows the relative positions of commode pan (1) and of its support (2) during the uncoupling process for a deployed type latch.

Figure 4 is a close-up of bolt (3) outside and inside its lodgement (5) for a deployed type latch. Figure 5 is a close-up of strike (4) for a deployed type latch.

Figure 6 is a perspective view that shows the relative positions of commode pan (1) and of its support (2) during the coupling process, including some enlargements of the latches, as well as once coupled, for a retracted type latch.

Figure 7 illustrates how bolt (3) moves out of its lodgement and inside strike (4) during the coupling process, for a retracted type latch.

Figure 8 shows bolt (3) out of its lodgement (5), for a retracted type latch.

Figure 9 illustrates a strike (4) with a bevelled surface (10) for a mechanically induced retraction of bolt (3) inside its lodgement (5) (such a bevelled surface (10) can be implemented both for deployed and retracted type latches).

Figure 10 is a cross section of bolt (3), of its lodgement (5) and of the third magnetic component (9) that generates the internal force, for a retracted type latch.

Figure 1 1 illustrates a strike (4) with a flat surface containing two magnetic components, one of them (1 1) being used for a magnetically induced retraction of bolt (3) inside its lodgement (5) (such a magnetic component (11) can be used both for deployed and retracted type latches; in both types of latches bolt (3) is magnetised).

Figure 12 illustrates the repelling of bolt (3) with a strike (4) such as the one described in Figure 1 1. Figure 13 shows, for a retracted type latch, bolt (3) from two different angles and the inside of its lodgement (5). It also shows the anti-rotation feature (8) of bolt (3) inside its lodgement (5) (such a feature (8) is relevant both for retracted and deployed type latches).

Figure 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the latch when guide (5) is inside bolt (3). This is relevant both for deployed and retracted type of latches.

Detailed Description

To aid the following discussion, reference is made to the chair of Figure 1 and to the indicated Cartesian coordinate frame (X, Y, Z). Chair (2) is assumed to be orientated relatively to the ground as if it was in use, Z will be the vertical axis (with +Z upward) and X the horizontal axis that is parallel to a chair back-to-front line (with +X from back to front). The Y direction is complementary to the Z and X axis.

Currently, commode pans are coupled to their support, e.g. the chair, via rails; at least for systems that do not require the users of the chair to stand up to move the pan. Consequently, to attach or remove a pan to/from chair, the user or assistant must slide the pan horizontally in the direction of the rails, from the front or the back of the chair. Such a system has various issues, such as the following ones. First, once attached, the pan is either free to slide along the rail or is maintained in position under the seat opening via, typically, friction forces that can be overcome, for instance, if the chair is tilted or if the pan is accidentally knocked horizontally. Thus, in practice, pans fall on the floor with all its undesired consequences. Second, during the coupling process, the pan can move in only the X direction; this can be perceived as a limitation. Third, the user must position manually quite accurately the pan relatively to the rails before sliding it; this can be perceived as an annoyance.

Consequently, the system proposed here overcomes these issues and, subsequently, offers some significant advantages. Reference is made to the embodiments of Figures 2 to Figure 14. These involve coupling a pan (1) to its support (2) with at least two latches of which parts are located on the support (2) and on pan (1). The latch parts consist of a bolt (3), a strike (4) and a bolt guide (5). Moreover, it is proposed that magnets may optionally be used for two additional functionalities. These two functionalities can but do not have to be implemented simultaneously. When they are implemented simultaneously the same set of magnets can be used for both functionalities. Alternatively, a different set of magnets can be used for each functionality. The first functionality is to guide commode pan (1) towards its support (2); typically to help the user to position pan (1) accurately enough for the latches to work during the coupling process. The second one is to activate the motion of bolt (3) toward strike (4) at least during the coupling process; as illustrated in Figure 6 to Figure 14.

By definition, a paramagnetic material is only attracted when in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field, a diamagnetic material is repelled by magnetic fields, an antimagnetic material is impervious to the effect of a magnetic field, and a ferromagnetic material is used to make magnet or is attracted to magnets. Thus, hereafter, a magnetic part may be a dipole magnet or a multipole magnet. Another magnetic part may be any of the above types of materials.

Hereafter, the term“deployed type latch” designates a latch with a bolt (3) that, when uncoupled, is in the same position, relatively to its guide (5), hereafter called “lodgement” (5), as when interlocked with strike (4); typically, bolt (3) is outside of its lodgement (5). This means that a force will act on bolt (3) to keep it constantly outside of its lodgement. This force can have a mechanical (e.g. spring) and/or a magnetic origin. Oppositely, the term“retracted type latch” designates a latch with a bolt (3) that, when uncoupled, is inside its lodgement (5). Thus, in that latter case, during the coupling process, bolt (3) needs to be deployed, by some trigger mechanisms and forces (e.g. mechanical (including spring) or magnetic forces), to interlock with strike (4) when pan (1) is in the right position relatively to the chair (2). Equally, during the uncoupling process, bolt (3) must return inside its lodgement (5), unlike for deployed type latches, by some means that are typically mechanical (e.g. involving spring) and/or magnetic.

An embodiment based on deployed type latches, oppositely located around pan (1), along the Y axis, is illustrated in Figure 2 to Figure 5. In those Figures bolt (3) and strike (4) are located, respectively, on chair (2) and on pan (1). It may of course be the other way around.

During the coupling process, illustrated in Figure 2, pan (1) is manually moved closer to its coupling location in a +Z and/or X direction(s) (upper left figure). When the top/sides of strike (4) meets the bottom/sides of bolt (3), bolt (3) is pushed inside its lodgement (5) against the outwardly biasing force (upper right figure) thus allowing pan (1) to carry on its movement until strike (4) and bolt (3) are aligned. When strike (4) and bolt (3) are aligned, bolt (3) is no longer pushed inside its lodgement (5) by strike (4) and, subsequently, deploys inside strike (4). Once done, pan (1) can rests on bolt (3) when unattended, i.e. it cannot move in any directions but the +Z one (lower figure). Strike (4) and bolt (3) external surfaces have been given the shape of a quarter hemisphere to facilitate the mechanical push of bolt (3) whatever the direction of arrival of strike (4), i.e. +Z and/or X direction. To facilitate the alignment of strike (4) relatively to bolt (3), magnetic components can be added on pan (1) and chair (2) so that strike (4) and bolt (3) are both magnetically attracted to each other and positioned correctly. The exact location of the magnetic components on pan (1) and chair (2) may be a design choice of the designer/manufacturers. As an example, one magnetic component could be inserted in bolt (3) and another one in strike (4) as described in Figure 6 (even if Figure 6 is for a retracted type latch). Note that, in that example, the attracting magnetic force is parallel to the axis of motion of bolt (3); it could however be perpendicular.

During the uncoupling process, illustrated in Figure 3, pan (1) is moved in the only possible direction allowed, i.e. the +Z direction. There is a gap between the top of pan (1) and chair (2) to allow such a movement. Once pan (1) has moved up sufficiently in the +Z direction, i.e. when bolt (3) is no longer inside strike (4), pan (1) is free to move along the X direction and away from chair (2). An alternative could consider a strike with bevelled surfaces (such as bevelled surface (10) in Figure 9) or with magnets (such as additional magnet (11) in Figure 11) to push and maintain bolt (3) inside its lodgement during the uncoupling process. Once bolt (3) is fully outside strike (4) but still pushed inside its lodgement (5) by strike (4), pan (1) can move not only along the X direction but also along the -Z direction if the pan as rotated enough about the Y axis thus preventing bolt (3) from re-entering strike (4); this requires that the shape of bolt (3) and of strike (4) are designed such that interlocking of bolt (3) with strike (4) can occur only for a small range of rotational angle, about the Y axis, of bolt (3) relatively to strike (4).

An embodiment, based on two magnetically activated retracted type latches, oppositely located around pan (1), along the Y axis, is illustrated in Figure 6 to Figure 14. In those Figures bolt (3) and strike (4) are located, respectively, on chair (2) and on pan (1). It can of course be the other way around.

During the coupling process, bolt (3) is pulled out of the latter and inside strike (4) by a magnetic force. Two magnetic components, (6) and (7), at least one of them being a magnet, generates this magnetic force. One is part of bolt (3) and the other one of strike (4).

Figure 6 illustrates this coupling process. Pan (1) is manually moved closer to its coupling location in a +Z and/or X direction (top left). As it gets closer (bottom right), the magnetic field generated by the magnetic components (6) and (7) guides the final motion of pan (1) relatively to chair (2) and pull bolt (3) out of its lodgement (5). Figure 7 illustrates how bolt (3) is pulled out of its lodgement (5) by the magnetic force at the end of the coupling process. Figure 8 shows bolt (3) out of its lodgement (5). Once coupled, the motion of pan (1) relatively to chair (2) is restricted in all but the +Z direction, i.e. upwards.

The uncoupling is executed by moving pan (1) relatively to chair (2) in a +Z direction. There is a gap between the top of pan (1) and chair (2) to allow such a movement. Once done, pan (1) is decoupled from its support (2) since it can move at least along the X direction (i.e. backwards and forwards). In this embodiment, such lifting of the pan (1) relative to the chair (2) causes bolt (3) to retract inside its lodgement (5). As illustrated in Figure 9, this retraction is at least initiated (see discussion on the internal force below) by the bevelled surface (10) below the magnetic component (7) of strike (4), which mechanically pushes bolt (3) back inside its lodgement (5) as the pan is lifted and the bolt slides over the bevelled surface.

This retraction has several advantages. Firstly, when it is required to reattach the pan after a previous removal, retraction of the bolt (3) prevents it from blocking the pan (1) during the coupling process. In addition, during removal of the pan, it allows to move pan (1) away from chair (2) by moving pan (1) in the -Z direction after preceding lifting in the +Z direction. Such a motion will not result in the recoupling of pan (1) to chair (2) if bolt (3) and strike (4) are sufficiently misaligned; e.g. if pan (1) has moved enough along the X direction and/or has been rotated enough with an axis of rotation parallel to the Y axis. From design, manufacturing and practical use points of views, such an integrated system is more convenient than non-retractable bolts (3).

It is worth noting that the more the bevelled surface (10) is inclined, the more it will be difficult to push bolt (3) back in its lodgement when pan (1) moves in the +Z direction. This can be used to control how difficult it is to decouple pan (1) from its support. The more difficult it is the more secure the coupling of pan (1) to its support is but also the more difficult it is for the user to manually decouple pan (1).

The force that retracts bolt (3) can be either internal or external. The force is said to be“internal” if it exists in the absence of strike (4) and“external” otherwise. The internal force not only moves bolt (3) back inside its lodgement (5) but also keeps it inside its lodgement (5) when pan (1) is decoupled from chair (2). Indeed, if the internal force does not exist and if bolt (3) accidentally deploys (e.g. through vibrations when chair (2) is moved around) then bolt (3) can be in the way of pan (1) during the coupling process. This means that, during the coupling process, to deploy bolt (3) out of its lodgement (5) the deploying magnetic force must be stronger than the internal force. Consequently, if, during the uncoupling, the magnitude of the strength of the deploying magnetic force is reduced enough so that it becomes lower than the internal force, then the internal force will naturally lead to a retraction of bolt (3). Such a reduction is effected by moving the two magnetic components (6) and (7) (at the origin of the deploying magnetic force) away from each other.

The internal force can either push or pull bolt (3) back inside its lodgement (5). However, in practice, it makes more sense for it to be a pulling force. It can be generated, typically, by a spring or by magnets.

It can be advantageous to use a magnetic pulling internal force. Indeed, if the magnetic component (6) in bolt (3) is a magnet, then the latter can be used to generate both the deploying magnetic force, in conjunction with a second magnetic component (7) located in strike (4), and the internal force, in conjunction with a third magnetic component (9) located behind bolt magnet (6) as illustrated in Figure 10 (which shows a cross section of the deployed bolt (3) and of its lodgement (5)); i.e. when coupled, bolt magnet (6) is located between the second (7) and third (9) magnetic components. The size and position of this third magnetic component (9) (relatively to bolt magnet (6)) can be adjusted so that the magnitude of the internal force is lower than the one of the coupling pulling force; thus enabling a deployment of bolt (3) and a coupling of pan (1) to chair (2).

However, if the internal force is magnetic, then the further bolt (3) is out of its lodgement (5), the lower the internal force will be. Thus, in that case, the initial internal force may not be strong enough to overwhelm the friction forces between bolt (3) and its lodgement (5) and, subsequently, to retract bolt (3) in its lodgement (5). Thus, it may be necessary to initiate the retraction of bolt (3) via external forces, i.e. by pushing it mechanically (e.g. see Figure 9) or magnetically (e.g. see Figure 12) until the magnetic internal force becomes strong enough to overwhelm the diminishing magnetic deploying magnetic force and, subsequently, to complete the retraction of bolt (3). Thus, a key point is that the internal force can be either complementary or a substitute to the external forces.

Figure 11 and Figure 12 illustrate an embodiment of strike (4) that illustrates the use of magnetic external forces to retract bolt (3) with a +Z uncoupling motion (while Figure 9 is an embodiment that illustrates the use of a mechanical external force). They show a flat surface below the magnetic component (7) of strike (4) in which an additional magnet (11) has been inserted. The dipoles of bolt magnet (6) and of this additional magnet (1 1) are parallel to the Y direction but have opposite orientations. This means that bolt magnet (6) will be attracted by the top magnetic component (7) (which can be a magnet) while the bottom additional magnet (1 1) will push it back inside its lodgement (5). Figure 12 is a sequence of actions, from left to right, that illustrates such a magnetic push back when pan (1) is moved upwards, in the +Z direction. In this embodiment, the interaction of bolt magnet (6) and bottom magnet (11) replace the function of the bevelled surface (10) of the first embodiment.

Figure 13 shows a modification to the bolt (front and rear views shown) and strike structure (front view) involving an additional elongated bar (8) attached, or part, of bolt (3). When the latch is mounted, bar (8) will be substantially parallel to the X axis. The purpose of this bar is to eliminate or to reduce the rotation of bolt (3) around an axis parallel to the Y direction and, subsequently, to reduce some wobbling of pan (1) when coupled to chair (2). It is worth noting that a bar elongated in the Z direction will achieve the same effect. Similarly, if required, a bar elongated in the Y axis could also be attached to bolt (3) to reduce the rotation of bolt (3) around an axis parallel to the X axis. This is true for both deployed and retracted type latches. In addition, Figure 13 shows the inside of lodgement (5) where bolt (3) slides for retracted type latches.

Finally, the following additional alternatives to the above embodiments can be implemented:

• In the above embodiment, bolt (3) and strike (4) have a non-circular (rectangular in that case) shape. This means that pan (1) cannot rotate freely relatively to chair (2) about the Y axis. However, should such a rotation be required, typically to keep pan (1) horizontal when chair (2) is tilted, bolt (3) and strike (4) can be made circular.

• In the above embodiments, bolt guide (5) surrounds bolt (3) and has been referred as “lodgement” (5). However, bolt guide (5) could also go through bolt (3), as illustrated in Figure 14. This is true for both deployed and retracted type latches.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a commode pan and a chair or frame for supporting the commode pan, the commode pan being releasably attachable to the chair or frame by one or more latching mechanisms the or each of which comprises a bolt movably attached to one of the commode pan and the chair or frame and a strike attached to the other of the commode pan and the frame or chair, the bolt and strike of the or each latching mechanism comprising features that cooperate upon substantial alignment of the bolt and the strike to move the bolt into interlocking engagement with the strike such that cooperating mechanical features of the bolt and the strike prevent a downward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame and prevent movement of the commode pan in a substantially horizontal plane whilst allowing an upward movement of the commode pan, the latching mechanism being configured to end the interlocking engagement of the bolt with the strike upon an upward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame thereby allowing removal of the commode pan.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cooperating features are respective magnetic components of the bolt and the strike, and said latching mechanism is configured to release the bolt from interlocking engagement with the strike by enabling retraction of the bolt upon said upward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the latching mechanism is configured to cause retraction of the bolt upon an upward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame by means of an inclined surface located, for example, beneath the magnetic component of the strike, whereby the bolt slides over and is pushed away from the strike upon upward movement of the commode pan.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the latching mechanism is configured to cause retraction of the bolt upon an upward movement of the commode pan within the chair or frame by means of a magnetic component, for example beneath said first mentioned magnetic component of the strike, which cooperates with a magnetic component of the bolt to repel the bolt.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said latching mechanism comprises a further magnetic component located behind the bolt to urge the bolt away from the strike.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the latching mechanism comprising a spring acting on said bolt to urge the bolt in a direction away from the strike.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bolt and said strike comprise cooperating anti-rotation features that substantially prevent rotation of the commode pan relative to the support, or to the frame or chair, when the bolt and the strike are interlocked.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceedings claims, wherein said latching mechanism is configured to allow rotation of the commode pan about an axis extending between two fixing points following interlocking engagement of the bolt and the strike.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and being configured to allow movement of the commode pan, relative to the frame or chair, in said horizontal plane following upward movement of the commode pan and retraction of the bolt, such that the commode pan can be lowered without re-engagement of the bolt and the strike.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the commode pan being attachable to the chair or frame at at least two fixing locations, one or more of the fixing locations being provide by a said latching mechanism.

1 1. Apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims, said commode pan and the chair or frame being configured such that said substantial alignment of the bolt and the strike is assisted by two magnetic components, one attached to the commode pan and the other one to the chair or frame.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising means for urging the bolt from a retracted position towards a deployed position, said strike being shaped to move the bolt against said urging thereby allowing the bolt to be moved to a location, relative to the strike, enabling said interlocking engagement.

13. Apparatus comprising a commode pan and its support, the commode pan being attachable to the support at at least two fixing locations, the apparatus comprising a latching mechanism in order to provide a fixing at at least one of said locations, the latching mechanism comprising a bolt and a strike that interlock with each other and that are located on the support and on the commode pan, the bolt and the strike being configured so that the bolt moves relative to the strike in a first direction (Y) and so that, once attached to its support, the commode pan is prevented to move freely in a second direction (X) substantially perpendicular to the first direction and is free to move along a third direction (Z), substantially perpendicular to the other two said directions, but only in one of the two possible orientations of the motion (+Z), such a motion enabling the misalignment of the bolt and the strike thus resulting in the commode pan being releasable from its support.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the bolt and the strike have magnetic parts, interaction of which results in the bolt moving towards the strike, in the first direction, and in the commode pan being attached to its support.

15. An apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14 wherein the commode pan and the support have magnetic parts of which interaction, during the coupling process, results in the guiding of the motion of the commode pan towards its appropriate coupling position on the support.