Support device for showering or toileting
The present invention relates to a support device for assisting a user in showering or toileting. The support device comprises a seat comprising a seating surface for supporting a weight of the user; a plurality of legs attached to the seat; a pair of handles configured to attach to substantially opposite side portions of the seat, each handle comprising a pair of end portions for attaching to the seat; and a securing element for securing each handle to the seat; wherein each of the substantially opposite side portions of the seat comprises a plurality of receptacles for snugly fitting the end portions of a respective handle, and wherein the support device is configured such that a portion of the user's weight on the handles of the support device applies a force that has a force component directed into each receptacle and parallel to a central axis of each receptacle.
1. A support device for assisting a user in showering or toileting, the support device comprising:
a seat comprising a seating surface for supporting a weight of the user, and comprising side portions defining substantially opposite side faces;
a plurality of legs configured to attach to the seat;
a pair of handles configured to attach to the substantially opposite side faces of the seat, each handle comprising a pair of end portions for attaching to the seat; and
a securing element for securing each handle to the seat;
wherein each side portion of the seat comprises a plurality of receptacles for snugly fitting the end portions of a respective handle, each receptacle extending into the seat so that respective end portions of the receptacles are flush with the substantially opposite side faces of the side portions of the seat,
wherein each receptacle defines a central axis, the central axis and a plane defined by the seating surface of the seat enclosing an angle ranging from approximately 3° to approximately 87°, and
wherein the support device is configured such that a portion of the user's weight on the handles of the support device applies a force that has a force component directed into each receptacle parallel to a central axis of each receptacle, and into the seat.
2. The support device of claim 1 , being configured such that a majority force component of the force applied by the portion of the user's weight has a direction into each of the receptacles and parallel to the central axis of each of the receptacles.
3. The support device of claim 1 , wherein each handle comprises a pair of tapering end portions for attaching to the seat.
4. The support device of claim 1 , wherein the seat, the plurality of legs, the handles and the securing element are configured such that a volume of the support device can be minimised for transporting the support device, and wherein a transport volume of the support device is determined by a size of the seat.
5. The support device of claim 1 , wherein the angle between the central axis of each receptacle and the plane defined by the seating surface ranges from approximately 5° to approximately 30°.
6. The support device of claim 1 , wherein the angle between the central axis of each receptacle and the plane defined by the seating surface ranges from approximately 30° to approximately 60°.
7. The support device of claim 1 , wherein the securing element is configured to restrain movement of each end portion of each handle away from the respective receptacle.
8. The support device of claim 1 , wherein the securing element comprises a fastener configured to fasten each end portion of each handle to the seat.
9. The support device of claim 8 , wherein the fastener is a hand-tighten fastener.
10. The support device of claim 9 , wherein the hand-tighten fastener is a thumb screw.
11. The support device of claim 1 , wherein each handle has an overall shape that is substantially C-shaped.
12. The support device of claim 1 , wherein each handle comprises a body portion that is substantially C-shaped and a pair of arms extending from the C-shaped body portion.
13. The support device of claim 1 , wherein the seat and/or the handles are made from a plastics material.
14. The support device of claim 1 , being a shower chair or stool, or a toilet seat riser.
15. A shower chair or stool comprising:
a seat comprising a seating surface for supporting a weight of the user, and comprising side portions defining substantially opposite side faces;
a plurality of legs removably attached to the seat;
a pair of handles configured to attach to the substantially opposite side faces of the seat, each handle comprising a pair of tapering end portions for attaching to the seat; and
a securing element for securing each handle to the seat;
wherein each side portion of the seat comprises a pair of receptacles for snugly fitting the respective tapering end portion of a respective handle, each receptacle extending into the seat so that respective end portions of the receptacles are flush with the substantially opposite side faces of the side portions of the seat,
wherein each receptacle comprises a central axis, the central axis and a plane defined by the seating surface of the seat enclosing an angle ranging from approximately 3° to approximately 87°, and
wherein the shower chair or stool is configured such that a portion of the user's weight on the handles of the support device applies a force that has a force component directed into each receptacle parallel to a central axis of each receptacle, and into the seat.
16. A toilet seat riser comprising:
a seat comprising a seating surface for supporting a weight of the user, and comprising side portions defining substantially opposite side faces, the seat comprising a central aperture for waste disposal;
a plurality of legs removably attached to the seat;
a pair of handles configured to attach to the substantially opposite side faces of the seat, each handle comprising a pair of end portions for attaching to the seat; and
a securing element for securing each handle to the seat;
wherein each of the substantially opposite side faces of the side portions of the seat comprises a pair of receptacles for snugly fitting the respective end portions of a respective handle, each receptacle extending into the seat so that respective end portions of the receptacles are flush with the substantially opposite side faces of the side portions of the seat,
wherein each receptacles comprises a central axis, the central axis and a plane defined by the seating surface of the seat enclosing an angle ranging from approximately 3° to approximately 87°, and
wherein the toilet seat riser is configured such that a portion of the user's weight on the handles of the support device applies a force that has a force component directed into each receptacle parallel to a central axis of each receptacle, and into the seat.
17. A support device for assisting a user in showering or toileting, the support device comprising:
a seat comprising a seating surface for supporting a weight of the user, and comprising side portions defining substantially opposite side faces;
a plurality of legs attached to the seat; and
a pair of handles configured to attach to the substantially opposite side faces of the seat, each handle comprising a pair of tapering end portion for attaching to the seat;
wherein each side portions of the seat comprises a plurality of receptacles for snugly fitting the tapering end portions of a respective handle, each receptacle extending into the seat so that respective end portions of the receptacles are flush with the substantially opposite side faces of the side portions of the seat,
wherein each receptacles defines a central axis, the central axis and a plane defined by the seating surface of the seat enclosing an angle ranging from approximately 3° to approximately 87°, and
wherein the support device is configured such that a portion of the user's weight on the handles of the support device applies a force that has a force component directed into each receptacle parallel to a central axis of each receptacle, and into the seat.