Portable toilet

Abstract

To provide a portable toilet that can extend an adjustable range of an armrest height.SOLUTION: A portable toilet 100 includes: a body 10 to which a toilet seat 22 is provided; an armrest 40; and an armrest receiver 50 supported by the body 10 while supporting the armrest 40 so that the vertical position thereof is adjustable. The portable toilet 100 is configured so that a vertical position of the armrest receiver 50 can be changed relative to the body 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable toilet.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a portable toilet having an armrest on which a user places their elbows. The portable toilet described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the height of the armrest can be adjusted. The portable toilet described in Patent Document 1 includes a vertical hole provided in a base portion into which a support rod of the armrest is inserted, and an engagement protrusion provided on the support rod. In the portable toilet described in Patent Document 1, the height of the armrest is adjusted by sliding the armrest up and down along the hole. The armrest is fixed to the base portion by the engagement protrusion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Recently, the number of users of large-sized portable toilets has been increasing, and it has been desired to expand the adjustment range of the height of the armrest. However, there is a limit to the adjustment range of the height of the armrest. For example, when trying to widen the adjustment range of the height of the armrest in the portable toilet described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to lengthen the hole into which the support rod of the armrest is inserted, and problems such as the minimum height of the armrest becoming too high occur. When the minimum height of the armrest becomes high, the usability decreases for users who are not large in build.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to provide a portable toilet capable of widening the adjustment range of the height of the armrest.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The portable toilet disclosed herein comprises a main body on which a toilet seat is provided, an armrest, and an armrest support that supports the armrest so as to be vertically adjustable and is supported by the main body. The portable toilet is configured such that the vertical position of the armrest support relative to the main body can be changed.

[0007] According to the portable toilet described above, the range of height adjustment for the armrests can be widened by changing the vertical position of the armrest support relative to the main body.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the portable toilet of the present invention, the portable toilet further comprises spacers configured to be interposed between the main body and the armrest support and attached to the armrest support at multiple vertical positions.

[0009] According to the portable toilet described above, the vertical position of the armrest support relative to the main body can be changed by changing the position where the spacer is attached.

[0010] According to one preferred embodiment of the portable toilet described above, the armrest support includes a plurality of positioning parts, each configured to determine the position in which the spacer is attached, and having different vertical positions.

[0011] According to the portable toilet described above, the vertical position of the spacer can be easily changed by using multiple positioning parts.

[0012] According to one preferred embodiment of the portable toilet described above, the spacer has a protrusion or recess that fits into each of the positioning parts of the plurality of positioning parts. Each of the plurality of positioning parts has a recess or protrusion into which the protrusion or recess of the spacer is fitted.

[0013] According to the portable toilet described above, the convex or concave portion of the spacer and the concave or convex portion of the positioning part are fitted together, so the armrest support and the spacer are less likely to shift even when force is applied.

[0014] According to one preferred embodiment of the portable toilet of the present invention, the spacer includes a first spacer attached to a first side which is one side of the armrest support, and a second spacer attached to a second side which is the back surface of the first side. The first spacer and the second spacer are attached to the armrest support so as to sandwich the armrest support.

[0015] According to the portable toilet described above, the fixing point between the armrest support and the spacer is distributed between the first and second sides, and diagonal forces are less likely to be applied to the fixing point. Therefore, the fixing point between the armrest support and the spacer is more likely to last longer.

[0016] According to one preferred embodiment of the portable toilet described above, the portable toilet further comprises fixing pins for securing the first spacer and the second spacer.

[0017] According to the portable toilet described above, the fixing pins allow the first and second spacers to remain attached to the armrest support. Therefore, it is easier to attach the armrest support to the main unit.

[0018] According to one preferred embodiment of the portable toilet of the present invention, the main body is provided with an insertion hole into which the armrest support is inserted. When the armrest support with the spacer attached is inserted into the insertion hole, at least a portion of the spacer is submerged inside the insertion hole.

[0019] According to the portable toilet described above, the armrest support can be stably supported by at least a portion of the spacer sinking into the insertion hole.

[0020] According to one preferred embodiment of the portable toilet of the present invention, the portable toilet further comprises spacers configured to be interposed between the main body and the armrest support and attached to the main body at multiple vertical positions.

[0021] According to the above portable toilet, the same operational effects as those of the embodiment provided with spacers attached to the armrest holders at a plurality of vertical positions can be achieved.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the portable toilet of the present invention, the portable toilet further includes a spacer configured to be interposed between the main body and the armrest holder and detachable from the main body and the armrest holder. The armrest holder is configured to be attachable to the main body with the spacer attached and with the spacer removed.

[0023] According to the above portable toilet, the vertical position of the armrest holder can be changed depending on whether the spacer is used or not. Therefore, also with the above portable toilet, the adjustment range of the height of the armrest can be widened.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the portable toilet of the present invention, the armrest holder can be attached to the main body in a first orientation and a second orientation that is vertically opposite to the first orientation, and the armrest can be supported in the first orientation and the second orientation. The vertical position with respect to the main body is configured to be different between the state of being attached to the main body in the first orientation and the state of being attached to the main body in the second orientation.

[0025] According to the above portable toilet, the vertical position of the armrest holder with respect to the main body can be changed by changing the attachment orientation of the armrest holder with respect to the main body, and the armrest can be attached to the armrest holder regardless of whether the armrest holder is attached to the main body in the first orientation or the second orientation. Therefore, also with the above portable toilet, the adjustment range of the height of the armrest can be widened.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the portable toilet, the armrest holder includes a cylindrical portion into which the armrest is inserted and fixed so as to extend in the vertical direction and be adjustable in the vertical position, and an abutting portion that abuts against the main body when mounted on the main body. The distance between the abutting portion and one end of the cylindrical portion is different from the distance between the abutting portion and the other end in the vertical direction.

[0027] According to the portable toilet, the distance between the abutting portion and one end of the cylindrical portion is different from the distance between the abutting portion and the other end of the cylindrical portion. Therefore, by changing the vertical direction of the armrest holder, the vertical position of the armrest holder with respect to the main body can be changed.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the portable toilet of the present invention, the main body includes a cylindrical insertion portion into which the armrest holder is inserted, and a through hole that penetrates between the inside and the outside of the insertion portion. The armrest holder has a plurality of recesses provided on the side surface and having different vertical positions. The portable toilet further includes a pin member that is inserted into any one of the plurality of recesses through the through hole.

[0029] According to the portable toilet, by passing the pin member through the through hole of the main body and the recess of the armrest holder, the armrest holder and the main body are fixed. Also, since the vertical positions of the plurality of recesses are different, the vertical position of the armrest holder with respect to the main body can be changed by selecting the recess. Therefore, the adjustment range of the height of the armrest can also be widened by the portable toilet.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the portable toilet of the present invention, the main body includes a cylindrical insertion portion into which the armrest holder is inserted, and a plurality of through holes that penetrate between the inside and the outside of the insertion portion and have different vertical positions. The armrest holder has a recess provided on the side surface. The portable toilet further includes a pin member that is inserted into the recess through any one of the plurality of through holes.

[0031] According to the above portable toilet, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the embodiment in which the side of the armrest support has multiple recesses. [Effects of the Invention]

[0032] The portable toilet disclosed herein allows for a wider range of adjustment for the height of the armrests. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a portable toilet according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing a portable toilet with the lid removed. [Figure 3] This is a disassembled perspective view of the armrest lifting mechanism. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the armrest support with the spacer attached to the upper positioning section. [Figure 5] This is a side view of the armrest support with the spacer attached to the lower positioning section. [Figure 6] This is a partially cutaway side view of a portable toilet showing the armrest support, with a spacer attached to the upper positioning part, mounted on the seat. [Figure 7] This is a partially cutaway side view of a portable toilet showing the armrest support, with a spacer attached to the lower positioning section, mounted on the seat. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of an armrest lifting mechanism according to another embodiment, showing the armrest support attached to the seat in a first orientation. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of the armrest lifting mechanism with the armrest support attached to the seat in the second orientation. [Figure 10] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the armrest lifting mechanism according to another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is merely one embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for members and parts that perform the same function, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0035] [Portable toilet configuration] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the portable toilet 100 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the portable toilet 100 with the lid 25 removed. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, front, back, left, right, up, and down of the portable toilet 100 refer to the directions front, back, left, right, up, and down as seen from the perspective of a user using the portable toilet 100 and sitting on the toilet seat 22 described later. Also, in the drawings, the symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D indicate the front, back, left, right, up, and down of the portable toilet 100, respectively. However, these directions are merely defined for the convenience of explanation and do not limit the installation configuration of the portable toilet 100 in any way, nor do they limit the present invention in any way.

[0036] The portable toilet 100 is a toilet primarily used by elderly and disabled individuals, and is suitable for use in caregiving. Furthermore, the portable toilet 100 is not a toilet fixed to the floor, but a movable toilet. As shown in Figure 1, the portable toilet 100 comprises a main body seat 10, a bucket 20 (see Figure 2), legs 21, a toilet seat 22 (see Figure 2), a lid 25, a backrest 30, and a pair of armrests 40. Suitable main materials for the portable toilet 100 include, for example, ABS resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin, and polyvinyl chloride resin. Each component is integrally molded, for example, by injection molding. However, the materials and manufacturing methods of the portable toilet 100 are not limited to those described above.

[0037] As shown in Figure 2, the seat portion 10 is formed in a box shape and opens upwards. The bucket 20 is a container from which waste products such as urine and feces from the user of the portable toilet 100 are discharged. The bucket 20 is attached to the inside of the seat portion 10 through the opening of the seat portion 10 and opens upwards. The bucket 20 is configured to be detachable from the seat portion 10 in an upward and downward direction.

[0038] The legs 21 support the seat 10. The legs 21 indirectly support the bucket 20 via the seat 10. The legs 21 extend downward from the underside of the seat 10. In this embodiment, there are four legs 21. The legs 21 are located on the left front, left rear, right front, and right rear of the seat 10. Note that the right rear leg 21 is not shown in Figures 1 and 2. Although a detailed explanation is omitted, the legs 21 are configured to allow adjustment of the length extending downward from the seat 10. By adjusting the length of the legs 21 extending downward from the seat 10, the height of the seat 10 (in other words, the toilet seat 22) can be adjusted to suit the user's physique.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, the seat 10 is provided with a toilet seat 22. The toilet seat 22 is the part on which the user sits. The toilet seat 22 is positioned on the upper surface of the seat 10. Here, the toilet seat 22 is attached to the seat 10 so as to be rotatable around the rear of the seat 10. The toilet seat 22 is configured to be rotatable forward and backward. When the toilet seat 22 is rotated forward, it can be positioned on the upper surface of the seat 10 and horizontally. At this time, the toilet seat 22 is positioned above the bucket 20, so the user can sit on the toilet seat 22 and discharge waste into the bucket 20. On the other hand, when the toilet seat 22 is rotated backward, it can be raised at the rear of the seat 10. At this time, the inside of the seat 10 can be opened upward. Therefore, by raising the toilet seat 22, the bucket 20 can be removed upward from the seat 10. Furthermore, by raising the toilet seat 22, the bucket 20 can be attached to the seat 10 from above.

[0040] The lid 25 shown in Figure 1 covers the bucket 20 from above. The lid 25 is detachably attached to the seat 10 so as to be rotatable around the rear of the seat 10. In this embodiment, the lid 25 is configured to be foldable, but it does not have to be foldable. In Figure 2, the lid 25 is removed, but it may be placed below the backrest 30 in a folded state. By rotating the lid 25 forward and unfolding it, the toilet seat 22 and bucket 20 can be covered by the lid 25, as shown in Figure 1. By rotating the lid 25 backward and folding it, the toilet seat 22 and bucket 20 are opened. This allows the user to sit on the toilet seat 22.

[0041] The backrest 30 is for the user to lean against when sitting on the toilet seat 22. As shown in Figure 2, the backrest 30 comprises a pair of left and right backrest supports 31 and a backrest section 32. The backrest supports 31 extend upward from the seat 10. More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the left backrest support 31 extends upward from the upper surface of the left rear of the seat 10. The right backrest support 31 extends upward from the upper surface of the right rear of the seat 10. The backrest section 32 is spanned between the pair of left and right backrest supports 31. For example, a cushioning foamed soft resin may be used on the surface of the backrest section 32 and the toilet seat 22.

[0042] The armrests 40 are for the user to rest their elbows on while sitting on the toilet seat 22. The armrests 40 also serve as a support for the user to place their hands on and lean their weight on when standing up from the toilet seat 22. As shown in Figure 2, the left and right armrests 40 are positioned on the left and right sides of the toilet seat 22, respectively. The armrests 40 are configured to be height-adjustable relative to the seat 10. The armrests 40 are also configured to be fixed at the adjusted height so that they do not lower, for example, when the user places their hands on them. In this embodiment, the left and right armrests 40 are configured similarly, except that they are staggered. Therefore, the left armrest 40 will be described below, and the description of the right armrest 40 will be omitted.

[0043] As shown in Figure 1, the armrest 40 comprises an armrest portion 41 on which the user rests their elbows, and a pair of front and rear armrest supports 42 that support the armrest portion 41. The armrest portion 41 extends in the front-to-back direction. The armrest portion 41 is formed in a flat shape and has a certain width in the left-to-right direction. The armrest supports 42 are connected to the lower surface of the armrest portion 41 and extend downward. The armrest supports 42 are configured in a roughly cylindrical shape that extends in the vertical direction. The rear armrest support 42 is connected near the rear end of the armrest portion 41. The front armrest support 42 is connected slightly forward of the center of the armrest portion 41. The armrest portion 41 protrudes forward more than the front armrest support 42. A gap is formed between the rear end of the armrest portion 41 and the front end of the backrest support 31 to prevent the user from pinching their fingers. This gap is formed regardless of where the armrest 40 is moved within the height adjustment range of the armrest 40.

[0044] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the armrest lifting mechanism 40A. The armrest lifting mechanism 40A includes the armrest 40 and is a mechanism for changing the height of the armrest 40 relative to the seat 10. As shown in Figure 3, the armrest lifting mechanism 40A includes an armrest support 50 that supports the armrest 40 so as to be able to adjust its vertical position, and a spacer 60 that is attached to the armrest support 50. The spacer 60 includes an outer spacer 60A that is attached to the outer side surface 50A of the armrest support 50 (the left side in the case of the left armrest lifting mechanism 40A), and an inner spacer 60B that is attached to the inner side surface 50B of the armrest support 50 (the back surface of the outer side surface 50A). The outer spacer 60A and the inner spacer 60B are attached to the armrest support 50 so as to sandwich the armrest support 50. As shown in Figure 3, the armrest lifting mechanism 40A includes a pair of front and rear fixing pins 70 that fix the outer spacer 60A and the inner spacer 60B. The armrest support 50, spacer 60, and fixing pin 70 are formed by integral molding of resins such as ABS resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin, and polyvinyl chloride resin, respectively. However, the materials and manufacturing methods of the armrest support 50, spacer 60, and fixing pin 70 are not limited to those described above.

[0045] The armrest support 50 comprises a pair of cylindrical sections 51 into which a pair of armrest support columns 42 are inserted, and a connecting section 52 that connects the pair of cylindrical sections 51. Each of the pair of cylindrical sections 51 is hollow and extends in the vertical direction. The armrest 40 moves vertically as the armrest support columns 42 slide vertically along the inner surfaces of the cylindrical sections 51. Multiple height adjustment holes 53 are provided on the inner surfaces of the cylindrical sections 51 into which the lock pins 43 of the armrest 40 are inserted. The multiple height adjustment holes 53 are arranged vertically. The lock pins 43 can be stored inside the armrest support columns 42 by pressing a button 44 provided on the upper surface of the armrest 40. By storing the lock pins 43 and adjusting the vertical position of the armrest 40, and then inserting the lock pins 43 into the selected height adjustment hole 53, the vertical position of the armrest 40 relative to the armrest support 50 is determined. The armrest 40 is then fixed to the armrest support 50.

[0046] The connecting portion 52 is configured as a flat plate extending in the front-rear and up-down directions. The upper end of the connecting portion 52 is roughly aligned with the upper end of the cylindrical portion 51 in the up-down direction. The upper end of the connecting portion 52 is formed in a downwardly concave arc so that the user's fingers are not pinched even when the armrest 40 is adjusted to its lowest height (0 mm relative to the seat portion 10). The lower end of the connecting portion 52 is connected to an intermediate position between the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical portion 51. As shown in Figure 3, the connecting portion 52 is equipped with a plurality of positioning portions 54U and 54D configured to determine the position where the spacer 60 is attached. The multiple positioning portions 54U and 54D are at different vertical positions from each other. The number of positioning portions is not limited, but here there are two positioning portions. Hereinafter, the positioning portion 54U located on the upper side will also be called the upper positioning portion 54U, and the positioning portion 54D located on the lower side will also be called the lower positioning portion 54D. The spacer 60 is attached to the armrest support 50 at multiple vertical positions by multiple positioning parts 54U and 54D. Figure 4 is a side view of the armrest support 50 with the spacer 60 attached to the upper positioning part 54U. Figure 5 is a side view of the armrest support 50 with the spacer 60 attached to the lower positioning part 54D.

[0047] As shown in Figure 3, the upper positioning section 54U and the lower positioning section 54D are each provided with protrusions 55U and 55D into which the spacer 60 is fitted. Hereinafter, the protrusion 55U of the upper positioning section 54U will also be referred to as the upper protrusion 55U, and the protrusion 55D of the lower positioning section 54D will also be referred to as the lower protrusion 55D. In Figure 3, only the upper protrusion 55U and the lower protrusion 55D into which the outer spacer 60A is fitted are shown, but upper recesses and lower recesses into which the inner spacer 60B is fitted are also provided. The spacer 60 is provided with recesses 61 that fit into each positioning section 54U and 54D. In Figure 3, only the recess 61 of the inner spacer 60B is shown, but the outer spacer 60A is also provided with a recess. By fitting the recess 61 of the spacer 60 into the protrusion 55U or 55D of the positioning section 54U or 54D, the vertical position of the spacer 60 relative to the armrest support 50 is selectively determined. The spacer 60 may also have protrusions that fit into the positioning portions 54U and 54D. In this case, the upper positioning portion 54U and the lower positioning portion 54D may each have recesses into which the protrusions of the spacer 60 are fitted. In this embodiment, the upper protrusion 55U and the lower protrusion 55D are formed in a straight line, and the recess 61 of the spacer 60 is also formed in a straight line to correspond to them. However, the shapes of the upper protrusion 55U, the lower protrusion 55D, and the recess 61 are not particularly limited. The upper protrusion 55U, the lower protrusion 55D, and the recess 61 may be formed in other shapes, such as curves like arcs or waves, or columnar shapes (one or more).

[0048] Both the outer spacer 60A and the inner spacer 60B are configured as flat plates extending in the front-rear and up-down directions. As shown in Figure 3, the inner spacer 60B includes the aforementioned recess 61, a pair of semi-cylindrical portions 62 configured to grip approximately half of the pair of cylindrical portions 51 of the armrest support 50, and a pair of front and rear through holes 63 through which the fixing pin 70 passes. The outer spacer 60A has a similar configuration to the inner spacer 60B, although the shape of the details differs.

[0049] The armrest support 50 is supported by the seat 10 and is detachable from the seat 10. In this embodiment, the portable toilet 100 is configured so that the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 can be changed. Specifically, the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 is changed by whether the spacer 60 is attached to the upper positioning part 54U or the lower positioning part 54D. The spacer 60 is configured to be interposed between the seat 10 and the armrest support 50. Furthermore, the spacer 60 is configured to be attached to the armrest support 50 at multiple vertical positions. Therefore, by changing the vertical position of the spacer 60 on the armrest support 50, the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 can be changed.

[0050] Figure 6 is a partially cutaway side view of the portable toilet 100 showing the state in which the armrest support 50, with the spacer 60 attached to the upper positioning part 54U, is attached to the seat 10. Figure 7 is a partially cutaway side view of the portable toilet 100 showing the state in which the armrest support 50, with the spacer 60 attached to the lower positioning part 54D, is attached to the seat 10. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the seat 10 is provided with an insertion hole 11 into which the armrest support 50 is inserted. The insertion hole 11 is open at the top. The insertion hole 11 has a bottom 11a against which the spacer 60 abuts. The pair of cylindrical parts 51 and connecting part 52 of the armrest support 50 can be inserted below the bottom 11a of the insertion hole 11. Therefore, by changing the vertical position of the spacer 60 relative to the armrest support 50, the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 can be changed. More specifically, when the spacer 60 is attached to the lower positioning part 54D as shown in Figure 7, the height adjustment range of the armrest 40 moves upward more than when the spacer 60 is attached to the upper positioning part 54U as shown in Figure 6.

[0051] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, when the armrest support 50 with the spacer 60 attached is inserted into the insertion hole 11 of the seat 10, at least a portion of the spacer 60 sinks into the insertion hole 11. Here, when the armrest support 50 with the spacer 60 attached is inserted into the insertion hole 11, the entire spacer 60 sinks into the insertion hole 11. However, it is also possible that only a portion of the spacer 60 sinks into the insertion hole 11. By at least a portion of the spacer 60 sinking into the insertion hole 11, the armrest support 50 is stably supported by the seat 10. Furthermore, this allows the armrest support 50 to be sandwiched between the pair of spacers 60A and 60B without relying on the fixing pin 70.

[0052] By making the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 adjustable, the height adjustment range of the armrest 40 can be widened without widening the adjustment range of the armrest support 50. This makes it possible to adjust the height of the armrest 40 to accommodate larger users, which have been increasing in recent years. The height adjustment range of the armrest 40 is preferably 100 mm or more. More preferably, the lower limit of the height of the armrest 40 from the top surface of the seat 10 is 0 mm and the upper limit is 100 mm or more. The height from the bottom surface of the legs 21 (the installation surface of the portable toilet 100) to the top surface of the armrest 40 is preferably 420 mm or more. It is even more preferable that the height from the bottom surface of the legs 21 to the top surface of the armrest 40 be 450 mm or more.

[0053] [Effects of the Embodiment] The following describes the effects and benefits that the portable toilet 100 according to this embodiment can provide.

[0054] The portable toilet 100 according to this embodiment includes a seat 10 on which a toilet seat 22 is provided, an armrest 40, and an armrest support 50 that supports the armrest 40 so as to be able to adjust its vertical position and is also supported by the seat 10, and the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 can be changed. With this portable toilet 100, the height adjustment range of the armrest 40 can be widened without widening the adjustment range of the armrest support 50.

[0055] There is a limit to the range of height adjustment of the armrest 40 using the armrest support 50. For example, if the adjustment range of the armrest support 50 is widened, the cylindrical portion 51 becomes longer, and the minimum height of the armrest 40 becomes too high. When the minimum height of the armrest 40 becomes too high, usability decreases for users with smaller physiques. However, with the portable toilet 100 according to this embodiment, the position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 can also be changed, so the height of the armrest 40 can be adjusted beyond the adjustment range of the armrest support 50.

[0056] In this embodiment, the portable toilet 100 includes a spacer 60 interposed between the seat 10 and the armrest support 50, which is attached to the armrest support 50 at multiple vertical positions. With this configuration, the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 can be changed by changing the position where the spacer 60 is attached. As will be explained in other embodiments described later, the configuration for changing the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 is not limited to a configuration including a spacer 60.

[0057] In this embodiment, the armrest support 50 is equipped with a plurality of positioning parts 54U and 54D, each configured to determine the position in which the spacer 60 is mounted, and having different vertical positions. With this configuration, the vertical position of the spacer 60 can be easily changed by the plurality of positioning parts 54U and 54D.

[0058] In this embodiment, the spacer 60 has recesses 61 that fit into each of the positioning parts 54U and 54D of the plurality of positioning parts, and each of the plurality of positioning parts 54U and 54D has protrusions 55U and 55D into which the recesses 61 of the spacer 60 fit. With this configuration, since the recesses 61 and the protrusions 55U or 55D fit together, the armrest support 50 and the spacer 60 are less likely to shift even when force is applied. As mentioned above, the spacer 60 may also have protrusions that fit into each of the positioning parts 54U and 54D of the plurality of positioning parts, and each of the plurality of positioning parts 54U and 54D may also have recesses into which the protrusions of the spacer 60 fit.

[0059] In this embodiment, the spacer 60 includes a first spacer (here, an outer spacer 60A) that is attached to a first side surface (here, the outer side surface 50A in the left-right direction), which is one side surface of the armrest support 50, and a second spacer (here, an inner spacer 60B) that is attached to a second side surface (here, the inner side surface 50B in the left-right direction), which is the back surface of the first side surface. The first spacer (here, an outer spacer 60A) and the second spacer (here, an inner spacer 60B) are attached to the armrest support 50 so as to sandwich the armrest support 50. With this configuration, the fitting portion between the armrest support 50 and the spacer 60 is distributed to the outside and inside, and diagonal forces are less likely to be applied to the fitting portion. As a result, the fitting portion between the armrest support 50 and the spacer 60 lasts longer. Note that the surface of the armrest support 50 to which the pair of spacers 60 are attached is not limited to the left-right side surface. The surface of the armrest support 50 to which the pair of spacers 60 are attached may be, for example, the side surface in the front-to-back direction.

[0060] In this embodiment, the portable toilet 100 is equipped with fixing pins 70 for fixing the outer spacer 60A and the inner spacer 60B. With this configuration, the outer spacer 60A and the inner spacer 60B can be securely fixed. In addition, the fixing pins 70 can maintain the state in which the outer spacer 60A and the inner spacer 60B are attached to the armrest support 50. Therefore, it is easy to attach the armrest support 50 to the seat 10. The fixing pins 70 may also be configured to fix the outer spacer 60A to the armrest support 50, and the inner spacer 60B to the armrest support 50. In that case, the fixing pins 70 indirectly fix the outer spacer 60A and the inner spacer 60B via the armrest support 50.

[0061] In this embodiment, the seat portion 10 is provided with an insertion hole 11 into which the armrest support 50 is inserted. When the armrest support 50 with the spacer 60 attached is inserted into the insertion hole 11, at least a portion of the spacer 60 sinks into the interior of the insertion hole 11. With this configuration, the armrest support 50 can be stably supported by at least a portion of the spacer 60 sinking into the interior of the insertion hole 11.

[0062] [Other embodiments] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the embodiments described above are merely illustrative, and the present invention can be implemented in various other forms. For example, in the embodiments described above, the spacer 60 was configured to be attached to the armrest support 50 at multiple vertical positions. However, the spacer 60 may be interposed between the seat 10 and the armrest support 50 and configured to be attached to the seat 10 at multiple vertical positions. In this case, if the spacer 60 is attached to a high position on the seat 10, the vertical position of the armrest support 50 will move upward. Conversely, if the spacer 60 is attached to a low position on the seat 10, the vertical position of the armrest support 50 will move downward.

[0063] The portable toilet 100 may be configured to allow the vertical position of the armrest support 50 to be changed by using or not using the spacer 60. That is, the spacer 60 may be configured to be interposed between the seat 10 and the armrest support 50 and may be detachable from the seat 10 and the armrest support 50. The armrest support 50 may be configured to be attachable to the seat 10 in either the state with the spacer 60 attached or with the spacer 60 detached. For example, the spacer 60 may be detachable from the bottom 11a of the insertion hole 11 of the seat 10. In that case, the armrest support 50 may be configured to be attachable to the seat 10 in either the state with the spacer 60 attached to the insertion hole 11 or without it.

[0064] The portable toilet 100 may be configured to change the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 by changing the orientation in which the armrest support 50 is attached to the seat 10. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest lifting unit 40A according to another embodiment, showing the state in which the armrest support 50 is attached to the seat 10 in a first orientation. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest lifting unit 40A in which the armrest support 50 is attached to the seat 10 in a second orientation. In this embodiment, the armrest support 50 can be attached to the seat 10 in a first orientation and in a second orientation which is upside down from the first orientation, and is configured to support the armrest 40 in the first orientation and the second orientation. The vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 is different when it is attached to the seat 10 in the first orientation and when it is attached to the seat 10 in the second orientation.

[0065] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the armrest support 50 includes a cylindrical portion 51 that extends vertically and into which the armrest 40 is inserted and fixed so as to be adjustable vertically, and a stopper portion 56 that abuts against the seat 10 when attached to the seat 10. The cylindrical portion 51 is configured so that the armrest support 42 of the armrest 40 can be inserted from both ends 51a and 51b. The configuration of the cylindrical portion 51 may be the same as in the first embodiment. The stopper portion 56 has a distance between it and one end 51a of the cylindrical portion 51 and a distance between it and the other end 51b that is different in the vertical direction. The stopper portion 56 is provided off-center to one end of the cylindrical portion 51 in the vertical direction.

[0066] The seat portion 10 has a bottom portion 12 against which the abutment portion 56 abuts. The armrest support 50 is inserted into the seat portion 10 until the abutment portion 56 abuts against the bottom portion 12 of the seat portion 10. Because the abutment portion 56 is provided off-center to one end of the cylindrical portion 51, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat portion 10 differs depending on whether it is mounted on the seat portion 10 in a first orientation or a second orientation. Therefore, the height adjustment range of the armrest 40 differs depending on whether the armrest support 50 is mounted on the seat portion 10 in a first orientation or a second orientation. This allows for a wider height adjustment range of the armrest 40 without widening the adjustment range of the armrest support 50. Note that the shapes of the abutment portion 56 and bottom portion 12 shown in Figures 8 and 9 are merely examples and are not limited thereto.

[0067] Furthermore, the portable toilet 100 may be configured to change the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 by means other than the spacer 60. Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an armrest lifting mechanism 40A according to yet another embodiment. As shown in Figure 10, in this embodiment, the seat 10 includes a cylindrical insertion part 15 into which the armrest support 50 is inserted, and a through hole 16 that penetrates between the inside and outside of the insertion part 15. The armrest support 50 has a plurality of recesses 57 on its side that are at different vertical positions. The recesses 57 may be through holes that penetrate the armrest support 50, as shown in Figure 10, or they may be recesses that do not penetrate. The portable toilet 100 further includes a pin member 75 that is inserted into one of the plurality of recesses 57 of the armrest support 50 through the through hole 16 of the seat 10. The armrest support 50 and the seat 10 are fixed together by inserting the pin member 75 into both the through hole 16 of the seat 10 and the recesses 57 of the armrest support 50. Furthermore, since the vertical positions of the multiple recesses 57 are different, the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 can be changed by selecting the recess 57. The pin member 75 may be configured to protrude or retract inside the insertion portion 15, for example, like a lock pin 43, and may be configured for the user to insert into or remove from the through hole 16.

[0068] The armrest lifting mechanism 40A may have multiple through holes on the side of the seat 10. That is, the seat 10 may have a cylindrical insertion part 15 into which the armrest support 50 is inserted, and multiple through holes 16 that pass through the inside and outside of the insertion part 15, respectively, and are at different vertical positions. The armrest support 50 may have a recess 57 provided on its side. The pin member 75 may be inserted into the recess 57 of the armrest support 50 through one of the multiple through holes 16 of the seat 10. This configuration also allows the vertical position of the armrest support 50 relative to the seat 10 to be changed. The through holes 16 of the seat 10 and the recess 57 of the armrest support 50 may both be provided in multiples.

[0069] Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments are not limiting to the present invention. For example, a portable toilet may further include a support member that supports an armrest and allows the vertical position of the armrest to be changed, and the support member may be further attached to the seat in a height-adjustable manner. Similarly, several more support members may be provided. In other words, a portable toilet may have three or more mechanisms for adjusting the height of the armrest. Multiple support members may be stacked, for example, in a nested manner. The configuration and number of members interposed between the seat and the armrest are not limited, as long as the vertical position of the armrest relative to the seat is configured to be adjustable. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10. Seat (main body) 11 Insertion hole 40 Armrest 50 Armrest support 54D Downward positioning section (positioning section) 54U Upper positioning section (positioning section) 55D Downward protrusion (protrusion) 55U Upward convex part (convex part) 60 Spacer 60A Outer spacer (1st spacer) 60B Inner Spacer (Second Spacer) 61 recess 70 Fixing pins 100 Portable Toilets

Claims

1. The main unit with the toilet seat installed, Armrest and, The system includes an armrest support that is supported by the main body and whose vertical position can be adjusted, The aforementioned armrest support extends in the vertical direction, and includes a cylindrical portion into which the armrest is inserted so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and into which the armrest can be fixed at multiple positions in the vertical direction. The vertical position of the armrest support relative to the main body is configured to be adjustable. Portable toilet.

2. The system further includes spacers that are interposed between the main body and the armrest support, and that are attached to the armrest support at multiple vertical positions. The portable toilet according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned armrest support is equipped with a plurality of positioning parts, each configured to determine the position in which the spacer is attached, and having different vertical positions. The portable toilet according to claim 2.

4. The spacer is provided with a protrusion or recess that fits into each of the positioning parts of the plurality of positioning parts, Each of the plurality of positioning parts is provided with a recess or protrusion into which the protrusion or recess of the spacer is fitted. The portable toilet according to claim 3.

5. The main body is provided with an insertion hole into which the armrest support is inserted, When the armrest support with the spacer attached is inserted into the insertion hole, at least a portion of the spacer is recessed into the inside of the insertion hole. A portable toilet according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. The system further includes spacers that are interposed between the main body and the armrest support, and are attached to the main body at multiple vertical positions. The portable toilet according to claim 1.

7. The system further comprises a spacer that is interposed between the main body and the armrest support, and is detachable from the main body and the armrest support. The aforementioned armrest support is configured to be attachable to the main body with the spacer attached and with the spacer removed. The portable toilet according to claim 1.

8. A main body having a toilet seat, Armrest and, The armrest is supported so as to be adjustable in vertical position, and the armrest support is supported by the main body, The system comprises a spacer configured to be interposed between the main body and the armrest support, and which is attached to the armrest support at multiple vertical positions, The vertical position of the armrest support relative to the main body is configured to be adjustable. The previous spacer is A first spacer is attached to the first side, which is one side of the aforementioned armrest support, The present invention includes a second spacer which is attached to the second side surface, which is the back surface of the first side surface, The first spacer and the second spacer are attached to the armrest support so as to sandwich the armrest support. Portable toilet.

9. The device further includes fixing pins for securing the first spacer and the second spacer. The portable toilet according to claim 8.

10. A main body having a toilet seat, Armrest and, The system includes an armrest support that is supported by the main body and whose vertical position can be adjusted, The vertical position of the armrest support relative to the main body is configured to be adjustable. The armrest support can be attached to the main body in a first orientation and a second orientation which is upside down from the first orientation, and can support the armrest in the first orientation and the second orientation, and is configured such that its vertical position relative to the main body is different when attached to the main body in the first orientation and when attached to the main body in the second orientation. Portable toilet.

11. The aforementioned armrest support is A cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction, into which the armrest is inserted and fixed so as to be adjustable in vertical position, It comprises a stopper portion that abuts against the main body when attached to the main body, The abutment portion has a distance in the vertical direction that is different between one end of the cylindrical portion and the other end of the abutment portion. The portable toilet according to claim 10.

12. A main body having a toilet seat, Armrest and, The system includes an armrest support that is supported by the main body and whose vertical position can be adjusted, The vertical position of the armrest support relative to the main body is configured to be adjustable. The aforementioned main body is The aforementioned armrest support is inserted into a cylindrical insertion part, The insertion portion comprises a through hole that penetrates between the inner and outer sides, The aforementioned armrest support is provided on the side and has a plurality of recesses at different vertical positions, The system further includes a pin member that is inserted into one of the plurality of recesses through the through hole. Portable toilet.

13. A main body having a toilet seat, Armrest and, The system includes an armrest support that is supported by the main body and whose vertical position can be adjusted, The vertical position of the armrest support relative to the main body is configured to be adjustable. The aforementioned main body is The aforementioned armrest support is inserted into a cylindrical insertion part, The insertion portion comprises a plurality of through holes that penetrate between the inner and outer sides, respectively, and which are located at different vertical positions. The aforementioned armrest support is provided with a recess on its side, The device further includes a pin member that is inserted into the recess through one of the multiple through holes, Portable toilet.

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