Eldridge P Douglass

US Patent:

61612294, Dec 19, 2000

Filed:

Nov 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/431528

Inventors:

Leon M. Ryan - Magnolia AR
Charles K. Dorland - The Woodlands TX
Eldridge P. Douglass - Little Rock AR

Assignee:

Assist Healthcare, LLC - Little Rock AR

International Classification:

A47K 1310

US Classification:

4667

Abstract:

An apparatus is disclosed having a frame, front and rear guides rigidly secured to the frame and having front and rear channels passing therethrough, angling rearwardly from top to bottom. A toilet seat is operably connected to the frame and is movable between a lowered position and a raised position. A driver is operably connected to the toilet seat to move the seat between the lowered and raised positions. An armrest is provided, the armrest having front and rear members slidably passing through the front and rear channels of the front and rear guides, respectively. The front and rear armrest members are operably connected to the driver for moving them through the front and rear channels as the armrest moves between a lowered position and a raised position. The armrest may be operably connected to the driver so that a top portion of the armrest remains in a substantially horizontal position as the armrest moves between the lowered position and the raised position. The armrest may also be operably connected to the driver by a linkage having a first member rigidly secured to lower portions of the front and rear armrest members, a second member pivotally secured to the first member and operably connected to the toilet seat for pivotal motion relative to the toilet seat, and a third member pivotally secured to the first member and operably connected to the driver for pivotal motion relative to the driver.