Transfer platform assembly for a lavatory seat

Abstract

A transfer platform assembly for use as an aid for a handicapped person to move from the seat of a, preferably mobile and wheeled, seating device to a lavatory seat is pivotally secured or securable to toilet bowl of a lavatory and to a lavatory seat. The assembly has an elevator platform and a transfer platform pivotally connected to the elevator platform. The elevator platform may be extended into an elevated platform configuration and the transfer platform raised into an upright position to place the assembly in a functional configuration in which the transfer platform extends substantially horizontally from the lavatory seat to the seat of the seating device and is supported thereby to provide a supporting surface for the person to slide therebetween. A notch is formed in the transfer platform to receive, when the assembly is in the functional configuration, a wheel of the seating device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 055,695, filed on Feb. 11, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a transfer platform assembly for a lavatory seat to facilitate the transfer of a handicapped person to and from the lavatory seat, be it a lavatory seat on a fixed toilet or one on a commode. It is to be understood that the expression ‘handicapped person’ includes one who is permanently disabled or incapacitated, for example by injury or age, or one who is temporarily incapacitated for example by illness.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is well known in the art to use a board or plank to facilitate the transfer of a handicapped person to and from a lavatory seat. The existing art suffers from drawbacks terms of either suitability for use by an unaccompanied handicapped person in a wheel chair or disposition in a bathroom.[0004]U...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]An advantage of the present invention is that the transfer platform assembly for transfer onto a lavatory seat is provided with a notch to help access of a wheel of a wheel chair thereby enabling the wheel chair to be in close proximity to and positively and restrainably to register adjacent the lavatory seat.

[0009]A further advantage of the present invention is that the transfer platform assembly enables an unaccompanied person to move himself or herself from a wheel chair onto a lavatory seat.

[0010]Still another advantage of the present invention is that the transfer platform assembly provides a design that can easily slide in-between a person and the seat of a wheel chair.

[0011]Another advantage of the present invention is that the transfer platform assembly t is easy to manufacture in conjunction with a lavatory seat and is economically sound. The platform may be of any suitable material, for example a plastics material.

[0012]A still further advantage of the present invention is that the transfer platform assembly provides a transfer platform capable of variable positioning around the lavatory seat.

[0013]Another advantage of the present invention is that the transfer platform assembly provides a transfer platform that may be pivotally or foldably stowed adjacent the base of the toilet seat.

Problems solved by technology

The existing art suffers from drawbacks terms of either suitability for use by an unaccompanied handicapped person in a wheel chair or disposition in a bathroom.

Therefore, difficulties are presented for an unaccompanied person to achieve transfer.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,966 mentioned earlier can be transferable around the rim of a toilet seat but similarly does not offer a shape specifically designed to ease access and indeed somewhat blocks the placement of the wheel of a wheel chair in the most desirable location.

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