Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE; INVE~NTION
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Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hygienic apparatus and more
specifically to such apparatus readily installable in com-
bination with a conventional toilet for washing the toilet
seat before tor after) use and for cleansing the genital
area of a person seated on the toilet.
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Description of the Prior Art
The conventional method of cleaning oneself after
1~ toilet use is with paper, which is not always available,
sometimes so rough as to aggravate the skin, and which not
infrequently causes plumbing problems by stopping up the
toilet at the time of flushing.
Additional hygien~c apparatus for washing the genital
area has been developed in the form of a bidet which provides
a single spout of water and usually is included in a bowl
apart from the normal ~oilet bowl. Such a conventional
bidet is expensive, inconvenient for normal washing purposes
and often uncomfortable because of improper water tempera-
ture or because the spout of water is too strong. On occa-
sion, the spout is not strong enough and there is usually no
means of increasing the strength.
Therefore, a feature of the present invention is to
provide an improved hygienic apparatus installable in a
toilet for washing the genital area of the person with
temperature-controlled water flow.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide
an improved hygienic apparatus for washing and drying the
genital area of a person while seated on a toilet having the
invention installed therewith.
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- Yet another feature of the present invention is to
provide an improved hygienic apparatus for washing the
genital area of a person seated on a toilet with the inven-
tion installed therein, the water being made available for
temperature testing by hand prior the water its being used
for genital area washing~
Still another feature of the present invention is to
; provide a toilet with an improved hygienic apparatus for
~ washing the genital area of a person seated on a toilet,
; 10 which apparatus may also be use for cascading water over the
toilet seat before or after use.
SUM~lARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention embodiments disclosed herein include one
or more pluralities of nozzles in a water-carrying tube at
; least partly circumscribing the genital area. The tube is
preferably located in the toilet bowl underneath the lip or
rim. The water emanating from the nozzles converge at one
or more points beneath the genital area and bubbles up to
provide the washing. One or more control valves in the cold
and hot water source lines provide temperature control. A
test outlet is provided to permit hand testing of the water
temperature. Air ducts, preferably from a warm-air system,
can be located in close proximity to the nozzles for drying
the area previously washed. A controlled volume of water
and a controlled time for providing air is provided in some
of the embodiments.
A lid can be provided for covering the seat and having
channels therein leading from a central opening. With such
lid closed, the water emanating from the nozzles splashes
int~ the central opening and flows trough the channels to be
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dispensed from outlet openings into the seat, thereby effecting
washing. The water from the seat washes into the toilet.
~he seat can be split in two sections and biased together by
a spring, opening of the lid allowing the seat sections to
be in their positions of use, the closing of the lid moving
the sections together so that the seat washing water does
not overflow out of the -toilet. The seat can be dried by
air ducts through the lid and connected to the warm air
system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the above-recited features,
advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others
which will become apparent, are attained and can be under-
stood in detail, more particular description of the invention
briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the
embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended
drawings, which drawings form a part of this speciflcation.
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings
illustrate only typical embodiments of the invention and are
therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for
the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
In the Drawings:
Fig. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a preferred
embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.
Fig. 2 is a pictorial illustration of an alternate
preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.
Fig. 3 is a pictorial illustration of a preferred em-
bodiment of the invention showing one means for controlling
the temperature of the water used therewith.
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Fig. 4 is a pictorial illustration of another preerred
embodiment of the invention showing another means for con-
trolling the temperature of the water used therewith.
Fig. 5 is a pictorial illustration of a preferred
embodiment of the invention illustrated in conjunction with
a typical toilet installation.
Fig. 6 is a pictorial illustration of another preferred
embodiment of the invention illustrated in conjunction with
a typical toilet installation.
Fig. 7 is a pictorial illustration of a preferred
embodiment of the invention disclosed herein and including a
lid of preferred cnstruction through which the toilet seat
is washed before~after use, said picture made vertically
from the front.
. . . .
Fig. 8 is a pictorial illustration of preferred embodiment
of the invention illustrating a means of triggering the
water source and the air blowing means for drying the toilet
seat.
- Fig. 9 is a pictorial illustration of a preferred
embodiment of the invention illustrating an alternate toilet
seat connectable for compression when the lid is closed so
that water cascaded over the seat from the channels in the
closed lid do not overflow the toilet.
:.: DESCRIPTION OF PREFE~RED EMBODIMENT
Now referring to the drawings and first to Fig. 1, an
embodiment of the hygienic apparatus in accordance with the
present invention is illustrated. A tube 10 shaped in a
configuration so as to at least partly circumscribe the
genital area of the person seated on the toilet has one end
~0 12 capped or otherwise sealed and the other end 14 adaptable
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for the receipt of cleaning water. Typically the tube is a
chromed copper tube, but other materials, such as plastic
PVC, may be used. As is more evident in Figs. 5 and 6, the
tube is preferably fitted underneath the rim of the toilet
bowl when installed in a position of use.
A plurality of nozzles 16 are spaced along tube 10,
each of the nozzles being directed inwardly and upwardly.
Four nozzles are illustrated; however, in any particular
- installation a lesser or a greater number may be used. In
~; lg any event, water jets emanating from the respective nozzles
under operating pressure converge at a point underneath the
genital area of the person seated on thè toilet. The con-
verging streams act on each other so that there is an upward
or vertical bubbling of a combined stream to wash and clean
: the genital area. Actually, there is also a little over-
shoot at the converging point so that the result is a spreading
vertical bubbling that provides a gentle washing of the
genital area.
Fig. 2 illustrates an alternate embodiment to that
shown in Fig. 1. Tube 10 includes a plurality of nozzles
16. But, in addition, a second plurality of nozzles 18 are
spaced about tube 10, these nozzles also being inwardly and
upwardly directe~. In this case, the converging point is
vertically underneath the converging point for the first
plurality of nozzles. In operation, the water bubbling up
from the convergence of the water streams from the second
plurality of nozzles combines with the water bubbling up
from the convergence of the water streams from the first
plurality of nozzles to provide a composite washing action.
~0 Fig. 3 shows a tube 10 with nozzles 16 having both ends
capped or otherwise sealed and an injection tube 20 connected
thereto. Injection tube 20 receives its input of water
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through a water connection means including a flow direction
valve 22. The alternate position of valve 22 directs the
input flow of water to a test tube 24, the outlet end of
which is located for ready access to the hand of the person
sitting on the toilet.
Two input tubes 26 and 28 provide connection to cold
and hot sources of water, tube 26 being connected to the
cold water source and tube 28 being connected to the hot
water source. Flow control valve 30 is located in tube 26
to provide means for adjusting the flow of water therethrough
and flow control valve 32 is located in tube 28 to provide
... .
~ means for adjusting the flow of water through tube 28.
.
These valves provide an effective means of determining the
; . tempera~ure of the combined flow from these two tubes, first
. for testing at the outlet of test tube 24 andr upon the
repositioning of valve 22, for directing the water through
. . .
injection tube 20.
; To minimize the force with which the water flows from
- test tube 24, this tube is made so as to have a much larger
2~ diameter than injection tube 20, tube 10 or nozæles 16.
;` Fig. 4 illustrates an alternate system of flow control
to that shown in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, individual
flow control valves are not included in tubes 26 and 28.
Instead, these tubes are connected to a single-handle faucet
unit 34, also connected to test tube 24 and injection tube
20, as with the Fig. 3 embodiment. Handle 36 provides the
-- operating means of selecting between the amount of flow from
- tube 26 compared with the amount of flow from tube 2~ and,
with an outward rotation of the handle, the total amount of
flow. An additional handle 38 provides the means for selecting
the output flow to be directed to test nozzle 24 or injection
tube 20.
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Fig. 5 illustrates a typical installation o~ the ar-
rangement shown in Fig. 3 as it would appear installed in a
toilet 40. Tube 10 is installed sufficiently underneath the
rim or lip of the bowl of the toilet seat so that the no~zles
are shielded from urination. Controls 22, 30 and 32 are
made accessible along the side of the toilet.
Also illustrated in Fig. 5 is an air blowing system
having a plurality of ducts located with their outputs just
over tube 10, the passage of air from the ducts 42 being
1~ directed so as to dry the genital area of the person seated
. . .
on the toilet previously washed. The input of these ducts
is through a master duct 44 connected to a hot air blowing
unit 46. In operation, the blowing unit is operated by
switch 48, which includes a timer, to provide heated air for
a predetermined time through ducts 42~ automatically shutting
off at the expiration of that time.
Fig. 6 illustrate~ a system by which tube 10 receives
its input flow of water from hot water dispenser 50. Dispenser
50 includes a control 52 for thermostatically setting the
temperature at which water is dispensed from the dispenser.
Typically, the dispenser includes a storage reservoir and a
heater, the temperature in the reservoir being maintained as
determined by the setting of control 52. Electrical connection
is made via lines 54 and water connection ïs made via tube(s)
56. Plunger 58 provides the means for xeleasing or dispensing
a predetermined volume of water from the dispenser.
The Fig. 6 embodiment also includes an air blowing
apparatus. Ducts 42 located in the toilet receive warm air
from master duct 44 as determined by hot air blowing unit
46. Connection 60 to a microswitch 62 provides the means
for activating the air blowing unit. Line 60 also includes
a time delay mechanism 64. In operation, when the micro-
switch is activated, the time delay mechanism is activated
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so tha~ air is blown by the air blowing unit after a prede-
termined time. As with the Fig. 5 embodiment, air shuts off
automatically after a predetermined period of time.
The operations of plunger 58 and microswitch 62 are
preferably made by toilet handle 66. Following the flushing
of the toilet in the conventional manner, handle 66 is
rotated past the microswitch to start the delay timing
action just described and then to plunger 58, to discharge
the predetermined amount of water.
1~ Alternatelyj the dispenser can be made to dispense a
continuous flow so long as the handle depresses plunger 58
and the microswitch is operated on the return rotation of
handle 66.
Now referring to Fig. 7, an embodiment of the present
invention is shown which includes a lid 70 that provides
washing of toilet seat 80 when the lid is closed. As is
shown toilet 40 has installed therein a plurality of nozzles
16 for creating an upward combined stream. Lid 70 includes
a central opening 72 located over such stream and has included
~ therein a plurality of downward sloping channels 74 terminating
i in outlet openings 76 in close proximity to the top surface
of seat 80. As is illustrated in Fig. 9, there are sîx
channels fanning out to provide a complete coverage. The
individual outlet openings preferably merg~ into a single
arcuate opening for providing overall washing coverage.
However, a lesser nun~er of channels can be provided, if
desired.
In operation, the combined water spout flows downwardly
through the lid channels and emanates from the outlet openings
to cascade over the seat into the toilet bowl to thereby
effect washing.
Air ducts 78 are provided through the lid also having
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outlet openings in the proximity of the seat to effect
drying from the same warm air system previously descrihed,
as more fully explained hereinafter.
Now turning to Fig~ 8, actuating means in the form of
knob 90 is connected to a water source (not shown). The
knob is mounted to actuate valve 98 to permit flow from the
source through conduit 97 to conduit 96 to the nozzles. A
microswitch 93 is connected via leads 95 for actuating the
warm air system. Projection 92 is provided for actuating
knob 90 and projection 94 is provided for actuating microswitch
93. These projections are connected to the extension of
handle 36 onto which lid 70 and seat 80 are mounted. The
fit of lid 70 with respect to handle 36 is sufficiently
close such that when the lid is closed the projections
rotate upwardly to actuate knob 90 and to close microswitch
93~ ~ spring or other biasing means (not shown) may be
connected to the handle extension to rotate the knobs downward
after the lid has been closed for a moment. Handle 36, of
course, provides the means to rotate the knobs upward to
contact knob 90 and switch 93 independent of lifting the
lid, if desired.
In operation, the actuating o~ knob 90 supplies water
for washing the seat for a predetermined period of time and
the closing of microswitch 93 actuates a time delay switch
that causes the warm air system to blow drying air through
air ducts 78 after the conclusion of the water washing
period for a second predetermined length of time.
Now referring to Fig. 9, an arrangement of a seat is
shown having two complementary sections separated both at a
back opening ~3 and at a front opening 84. The handle
extension to which the seat is connected has a compression
spring 82 wound thereover for maintaining the separation of
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the sections in the position of use. Near the rear of each
section is an external edge 85 that contacts an inwardly
sloping edge 86 on the lid. When the lid is up, openings 83
and 84 are fully expanded. When the lid is closed the
tapering of the sloping edge against straight edge 85
causes the compression spring to be compressed and to reduce
openings 83 and 84. This minimizes the risk that the cascading
water over the toilet seat will overflow from the toilet.
From the discussion of Figs. 7-9 it is apparent that
the lid arrangement for providing washing and drying of the
toilet seat does not interfere with the hygienic cleansing
function of the components described with respect to Figs.
1-6. The alternate structures discussed with respect thereto
can equally functionally operate with such lid arrangement.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown, it will be understood that the invention is not
limited thereto, since many modifications may be made and
will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
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