Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A BIDET Arr~CHMENT FOR TOILET BOWLS
SPECIFI(:~IIONS
This invention relates to a device which permits an ordinary toilet bowl to be used
as a fully functional and a very convenient biclet. The installed device does not
interfere with the operation and use of the toilet bowl.
The use of a bidet is favoured by many people for hygienic puIposes after using
the toilet, for medical reasons (or simply for convenience especially for femaleusers). A conventional bidet is relatively costly, and requires additional space in the
bathroom which cannot be provided by most of today's bathrooms. In order to use
a conventional bidet, for example after a bowel movement, the user is subjected to
certain inconveniences; the user leaves the toilet seat; adjusts the bidet's water
temperature by manipulating the hot and cold water valves, and senses the water
temperature by wetting his/her hand. In addition, the user is frequently discnuraged
from using the conventional bidet (which does not have a means for proper seating)
due to the relatively cold bidet surface in contact v~ith the user's body.
I believe that this invention provides an economical, user convenient, readily
installed and sirnple to operate device which will overcome the above-mentioned
drawbacks of a conventional bidet.
In drawings which illustrate embodirnents of the invention, Figure 1 is an isometric
view of the embodiments, Figure 2 is a top view of the embodiments attached to
the toilet bowel with the toilet seat being removedj Figure 3 is an elevation of the
embodiments attached to the toilet bowl and a schematic representation of water
routing inside the control box, Figure 4 is a section through the toilet bowl
revealing one embodiment? Figure S is a schematic representation of water ilow
through the embodiments during temperature adjustment of the ~owing water,
Figure 6 is a schernatic representation of water flow through the embodiments
during the wash operation.
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The device illustrated comprises oE three embodiments. The first is a small box 1
(approximately 8" long by 6" high by 4" deep) which houses two water flow valves2, 3, one water mixing chamber 4 and a touch surface 5 to feel the water
temperature. This box is fixed to the mounting bracket 6 and positioned on the
exterior side of the toilet bowl.
The second embodiment of this invention is a molmting bracket 6 which supports
the control box 1 and embodies the water flexible deliYery tubes 7, 8. The bracket
is positioned under the toilet seat 9 and fixed to the toilet bowl using the existing
seat to bowl attachment 10. In order to fit the majority of today's toilet bowls, the
bracket provides a means of position adjustments 10, 11 and lateral centering 25of the retractable water spray nozzle 18.
The third embodiment of this invention is a normally retracted water spray system
14 which extends automatically 13 to spray the user's anus and genitals needed to
be washed 12 when the bidet attachment is in operation. A water spray nozzle 18
is attached to the inner end of a permanently coiled tube 14. The outer end of the
coiled tube is attached to a rigid connecting tube 21 which is laterally supported by
bonding it to a rigid thin strip 22. The bonded rigid connecting tube 21 and therigid thin strip 22 assembly is shaped to fit the contour of the rear lip and the
interior surface of the toilet bowl. The upper end of the assembly 22 is attached
to a thicker horizontal transfer plate 23 which is connected to the mounting plate
6 at 25. T~e transfer plate 23 fits underneath the rear fixed end of the toilet seat.
The transfer plate 23 embodies the upper horizontal portions of the rigid by-pass
tube 19 and the rigid connecting tube 21. The upper ends of the rigid tubes 19,
21 protrude from the rear end oE the transfer plate 23 in order to provide a means
of connection to the flexible tubes 7, 8 which deliver water from the control box 1.
The bidet attachment is connected to the bathroom's cold and hot water
distribution pipes via the water intake ports 15, 16 which are individually sonnected
to the main water shut-off and flow proportioning valve 2. The operator pulls the
handle of this valve 2 outward in order to turn the water on. The water
temperature is adjusted by proportioning the flow of cold and hot water using the
~ a ~
main valve 2. The water temperature is raised by rotating the handle of this valve
in one direction and lowered by rotating it in the other direction. The shut-off and
opening of this valve 2 for subsequent use of the bidet attach~ent can thus be
accomplished without disturbing the desired setting of water ~emperahlre.
The mixed water leaves the proportioning valve 2 into a mixing metallic chamber 4
having a square or rectangular exterior cross section perimeter. The mixing
chamber fits inside the control box 1 ~n its upper outer corner. Two adjacent sides
of the mixing chamber (One vertical S and one horizontal 17) protrude slightly from
the control box through a special cut-out provided in the top horizontal and outer
vertical walls of the control box 1. The vertical side S of the mi~nng chamber is
touched by the w~ist or the hand of the user during the adjustment of water
temperature. The horizontal side 17 of the mi7~ng chamber is used as a substratefor a stick-on thermo-chromatic temperature read-out strip 17.
During the adjustment of water temperature, the mixed water ]eaves the mixing
chamber 4 through a normally open, single-action, two-way ~hut-off valve 3 to bedrained into the toilet bowl via a by-pass drain tube 19. Prior to reaching the
desired water temperature, the mixed water by-passes the branch pipe 24, which
leads to the retractable spray noæzle 18, due to the reversed orientation of thebranch pipe 24, and due to the increased flow resistance exerted by the spirallycoiled connecting tube 1~ with respect to the over-sized drain outlet 19. The by-
pass drain water is directed to hit the side of the coiled tube 14 in order to flush
out any urine or bowel materials which may come in contact with its surface.
Once the desired water temperature is attained, the user closes the by-pass drain
valve 3 by pulling its handle outward which forces the tempered water to flow into
the branched pipe 24 leading to the spirally coiled connecting tube 14. The washwater spray nozzle 18, attached to inner end oE the spirally coiled tube, is normally
retracted by the norrnally wound flattened flexible connecting tube. The connecting
tube 14 is unwound under the action of water pressure. Once the connecting tube
13 is extended, the water spray nozzle 18 is positioned under the user's anus and
genitals and the tempered water is sprayed upward 12.
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To end the wash operation the user opens the by-pass clrain valve 3 by p-ushing its
hand]e inward. This directs the flow of water to the by-pass drain 19 through the
straight leg of the Y branch intersection 20. The flow of water in the straight leg
of the Y intersection 20 interrupts the flow of water in the branched leg 24 andpumps out any water which have remained in the coiled connecting tube 14. The
flow of water through the by-pass drain pipe 19 permits the extended connecting
tube 13 to return to its natural coiled shape 14 which will retract the spray nozzle
18 in order to allow the normal use of the toilet bowl. The flow of water through
the by-pass drain pipe 19 rinses the retractable spray system 14 automatically
following every use of the bidet attachment. The user then closes the main flow
proportioning valve 2 by pushing its handle inward.
