Ligature-resistant toilet system and method

Abstract

A toilet system with a toilet base including a toilet bowl and a shroud for covering a plumbing riser located at a rear end of the toilet base that provides ligature-resistance for institutional applications. The shroud has a mating feature that joins with a corresponding feature at a rear portion of the toilet base to prevent formation of a gap between the base and a front of shroud in at least at a top side of the area of contact between the shroud and the back of the toilet base. The mating feature can be provided by forming a rectangular cross-section at the rear of the toilet base and providing a matching aperture through the shroud. A toilet seat, which may be bonded or bolted to the toilet base has an outer edge that is chamfered to prevent ligature formation around a portion of toilet seat.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A toilet system that prevents attachment of a ligature, comprising:
 a toilet base including a toilet bowl, the toilet base having a flat bottom for supporting the toilet base on a floor of a room;   a shroud for covering a plumbing riser located at a rear end of the toilet base; and   a toilet seat separable from and removably secured to a top surface of the toilet base around the toilet bowl in a fixed position, wherein the toilet seat has a chamfered outer edge and no gap is formed between the top surface of the toilet base and the toilet seat to prevent attachment of a ligature around the toilet seat.   
     
     
         8 . The toilet system of  claim 7 , wherein an angle of the chamfered outer edge with respect to a top horizontal face of the toilet base is substantially equal to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The toilet system of  claim 7 , further comprising an adhesive bonding the toilet seat to the top surface of the toilet bowl so that the toilet seat is rendered non-separable from the top surface of the toilet base. 
     
     
         10 . A method of providing a toilet system that prevents use of a toilet seat of the toilet system or plumbing riser as a ligature securing device, the method comprising:
 affixing a toilet base including a toilet bowl to a floor of a room by mounting a flat bottom portion of the toilet base to the floor;   affixing a shroud above the toilet base to cover the plumbing riser; and   mounting a toilet seat to the toilet base, wherein the seat has a chamfered outer edge and no gap is formed between the top surface of the toilet base and the toilet seat to prevent attachment of a ligature around the toilet seat.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein an angle of the chamfered outer edge with respect to a top horizontal face of the toilet base is substantially equal to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting is performed by:
 securing bolts extending through a top surface of the toilet bowl; and   fastening the seat to the bolts with caps mounted to the seat.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting is performed by securing a lower surface of the toilet seat to the top surface of the toilet base with an adhesive.