CA1086453A

CA1086453A - Bidet device

Info

Publication number: CA1086453A
Application number: CA278,708A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rainer Lutz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-05-18
Filing date: 1977-05-18
Publication date: 1980-09-30
Also published as: FR2352116B1; IT1192230B; CH621377A5; JPS537950A; DD130834A5; FR2352116A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention provides a bidet apparatus adapted as an attachment to a toilet bowl with a toilet seat including a bidet bowl with a water drain opening at the back and a common cover, which together are hinged at the back of said toilet bowl, a bowl part of the bidet bowl having an accommo-dation space for the toilet seat which space is open from below.

Description

The present invention relates to a bidet device as an attachment to a toilet bowl with toilet seat, a bidet bowl with a drain opening at the rear and a common cover in that order, which are hinged together at the back of the toilet bowl.
The present invention provides such an aEorementioned bidet device such that the requirements of hygiene are satisfied in the highest measure both when the bidet equipment itself and when the toilet equipment is being used.
In accordance with the present invention, the bidet bowl is provided at its rim with a space that is open only downwardly, to accommodate the toilet seat.
According to the present invention there is provided a bidet installation for use with a conventional toilet having a toilet pan, a seat pivotably resting on said toilet pan and a lid pivotably mounted on said toilet pan, comprising: a bidet bowl adapted to be pivotably mounted on said toilet pan, a bottom surface of the bidet bowl having a permanently open drain opening therein and being inclined towards said drain opening;
a fixing plate adapted to be secured to the toilet pan and on which the seat, the lid, and the bidet bowl are pivotally mounted; and a jet nozzle mounted in said fixing plate so that it directs a flow of cleaning fluid toward the user of the bidet installation and into the bidet bowl which enables the user to wash directly in said flow of cleaning fluid and which continuously exits from the bidet bowl through said permanently open drain opening.
; When the bidet equipment is being used, the toilet seat is located in a space for its accommodation beneath the rim of the bidet bowl and is thus completely covered. When the toilet seat is being used the bidet equipment is swung upwards so that it cannot be soiled. When the toilet equipment is being used as a urinal both the bidet equipment and the toilet seat :
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6~S3 are swung upwards, whereupon the toilet seat is lodged in the accommodation space beneath the rim of the bidet bowl and thus the top of the toilet seat is protected against soiling.
Hygiene is thus assured in every mode of use to the highest degree.
It is preferred for the bowl floor of the bowl part to be in alignment with the lower edge of the toilet seat.

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~ -la-; As a result the bowl floor is only comparatively flat and therefore does not protrude even when the bowl part is in the raised position. Owing to this flat design of the bidet bowl the bidet device fits all designs of toilet pedestals.
It is also important for the floor of the bowl to slope towards at least one water drain hole. This ensures that no water will remain on the bowl floor when the inflow of water has been shut off. It is particularly advantageous for the water drain hole to be situated somewhere near and below the dlscharge nozzle. The water is now directed in a flat stream towards the floor of the bowl and can thus flow against the parts of the body to be bathed relatively without pressure and without splashing. The water is then deflected by the interior of the bowl part and returns in counterflow to the inflowing water towards the water drain hole. With the placing of the water drain hole in the vicinity of and below the discharge nozzle such a countercurrent of water is created in the floor part of the bowl~ It is advantageous at the same time for the upper rim of the interior wall of the bowl part to be an inwardly protruding bead so that the splashing out of water is avoided.
~imilarly, for this purpose the interior walls of the bowl 1 part can slope inwardly so that water does not escape.
- Another important feature of the present invention is that the bowl part has an accommodation space around its outer ; perimeter which is reinforced by radially directed ribs, and the accommodation space spans the toilet seat, the ribs coming into contact with the upper surface of said seat. The accommoda-tion space is thus produced on the one hand by the interior wall of the bowl part and on the other by a wall which spans the toilet seat. Since the ribs in the accommodation space rest on the toilet seat when the bowl part is lowered a hollow space is maintained in the accommodation space which is suitable in an .

, ,', -i3 advantageos way for the accommodation e.g. of one or morecontinuous flow heaters. The accommodation space can be closed from below byacover plate so that the par-ts disposed therein are no longer visible when the bowl part is in the raised position.
With the characteristic that the accommodation space spans the toilet~seat, and that a plurality of ribs connected to the accommodation space rest on the rest several advantages are gained simultaneously. Firstly, with the resting of ribs disposed in the accommodation space, said space being a component of the bowl part, on the seat a sure, tight fitting of the rotatable bowl part over the toilet seat is assured. The bowl part can thus withstand high loads without slipping, or without breaking if it should be made of plastic. The bowl part is thereby automatically centred on the toilet seat when it is let down thereon. The hinges of the bowl part are not thereby stressed. 1-Another substantial advantage is that now two separate seating surfaces or surfaces of contact with the skin of the user are produced which are hygienically separated from each other. The toilet seat can thereby be used by a different set of users than the bowl part lowered onto the toilet seat.
Those using the toilet seat do not sit on the bowl part, since during use of the toilet seat the bowl part must be in the raised position. The bowl part is lowered only when the bidet apparatus is to be used for bathing purposes, so that now the possibly soiled toilet seat is covered. This substantial advantage is not known from any arrangements of the prior art.
It is also an advantage that the cover hinged to the bowl part covers the bowl part and the accommodation space of the bowl part. This guarantees that the seating surface of the bowl part is kept clean when the entire bathing apparatus is folded together. It is possible, indeed to join the cover ts the bowl part lockably, so that only by opening a lock, for example, between the cover and the bowl part can the latter be used.
This may be preferred, for example, in the case of bidet apparatuses attached to a toilet used by a relatively large number of persons.
It is also possible, however, for the cover to span and lock only over the open bowl section, but not over the adjacent, bead-shaped hollow profile. The oover is thus designed so that its top surface is flush, with the hollow profile, and hence the structural height of this unit can be dept relatively small. The advantage of this is that when both parts are turned~up only a small space is required behind the toilet pedestal.
An important characteristic of the apparatus of the present invention has been defined above to the effect it is particularly favourable for the user to bathe himself in a counterflow of inflowing and outflowing water on the floor of the bowl part. According to another embodiment of the present invention, however, it is also possible for one or more drain openings to be disposed around the perimeter of the interior wall ~ of the bowl part. The effect of these drains is then to produce ; a direct flow instead of a counter flow. It is especially advantageous for the cover to cover the drain of the bowl part and for the water dripping from the floor of the bowl in the raised position of the two parts to be guided into the drain groove of the fastening plate by the cover closing off the drain of the bowl part. It is also an advantage to provide a drain that is shielded from splash water from the toilet bowl. Thereby, soiling of the bidet bowl by water splashing from the toiletstand is no longer possible even withthe bidet bowl lowered. It is an advantage for the drain to be designed as a narrow slit.

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``~ as3 In this way easy draining of the running water either in counter flow or direct flow is achieved and at the same time the pene-tration of dirty water is prevented in both the down and the up positions of the bidet apparatus.
So as to protect the operating knobs as well from soiling, it is preferred to situate the operating knobs for the bidet equipment outside the bidet bowl. For purposes of assembly, cleaning and for any repair work that may be required, as well as for hygienic reasons it is also preferable to design the supply unit of the bidet equipment as a separate structural part. In this embodiment it is possible to provide flanges on the supply uni-t with bearings for the toilet seat, the bidet bowl and the common cover. In this way, maintaining a small lnterval between the axis of rotation of these structural parts and the rear interval of the bidet equipment these structural parts can be assembled separately and in such a way as to be hygienically satisfactory in use. In order to ensure that the bidet apparatus can be fitted to toilet pedestals of various lengths it is also preferably for the bidet apparatus to be ~ 20 displaceable and adjustable in the longitudinal direction.
; A covering disposed on the bidet bowl simultaneously covers the discharge nozzle when the bidet bowl is in the up position. In this way the discharge nozzle is also kept at all times in a satisfactory hygienic condition. The toilet seat is preferably disposed inside the accommodation space of the bidet bowl and thus forms a unit with the bidet bowl when the latter is turned up. By this arrangemen~ an easy, hygienic handling of toilet seat and bidet bowl is ensured.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings in which: ¦
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bidet apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention with bidet ; - 5 - i s ~ 3~ S 3 bowl part turned up and toilet seat turned down, the Figure illustrating the bathing equipment in its use as a traditional toilet seat.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of ` Fig. 1 with bidet bowl part turned clown, cover turned up, this Figure illustrating the use as a bidet bathing device.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the toilet seat in the apparatus of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a section along the line IV - IV in Fig. 3.
~ 10 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus according to ; Fig. 2 in its use as a bidet bathing apparatus with bowl part turned down. '~
Fig. 6 is a section along the line VI - VI in Fig. 5.
' Fig. 7 is a section through an apparatus according to Fig. 2 with the bowl part partially raised and with a container for the bathing utensiles attached to the inside of the cover. ~;
Fig. 8 is an underneath view of a bidet apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a side view of the bidet apparatus of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the bidet apparatus of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 is a rear view of a supply unit for the apparatus of Fig. 8.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the operating knobs of the apparatus of Fig. 8 with discharge nozzle and flanges to which bearings are added.
Fig. 13 is a view from above of the bidet apparatus ;~ with a cover up.
;~ 30 Fig. 14 is a view from above of the bidet apparatus with the bidet bowl raised.
Fig. 15 is a cletail of Fig. 13 enlarged to clarify the drainage from the bidet bowl.

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ig. 16 is a view from above of a bide-t apparatus in the raised position, mountedon a toilet bowl.
Fig. 17 is a section along the line I - I o~ Fig. 8.
Fig. 18 is a rear view of the bidet bowl, and Fig. 19 shows the separate rim elements of the bidet apparatus side by side.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bidet bathing apparatus - is attachable to a toilet pedestal. In Fig. 1 the bathing apparatus is shown in its application as a conventional toilet, 10 i.e. bowl part 6 and cover 1 rotatably attached thereto are in the raised position. Toilet seat 4 rests via pads 17 (see Fig. 7) on the upper rim of toilet pedestal 40. In the rear part, the toilet seat ring is open and a fastening plate 5, with operational fittings 8 secured thereto is disposed in the gap. The toilet seat 4 is rotatably secured by hinges 2 (see Fig. 3) to the fastening plate 5. The fastening plate 5 is detachably secured to toilet pedestal 40 by conventional fastening means, e.g.
screws or clamps. What is important in the present invention is the fact that the bathing apparatus may be exchanged for a simple toilet seat already present on toilet pedestal 40. The points of attachment fastening plate here are so chosen that any conventional toilet seat ring can be replaced.
In Fig. 2 the bathing equipment is shown in use.
Thus, the bowl part, also rotatably secured by means of hinges 21 (see Fig. 3) to the fastening plate 5 (Fig. 7), has now been lowered onto the seat 4. A discharge nozzle 14, mounted by hinge 15 on operational fitting 8 is directed into the bowl part 6. By operating fitting 8, a jet of water may be directed 3~ from discharge nozzle 14 into bowl part 6. For bathing purposes the user sits on the bowl part 6 facing the raised cover 1 and operates faucets 12, 13 of the operational fitting 8.

An important feature of the present invention is the ., ~

fact that floor 7 of the bowl part 6 is a water draining surface and has at least one drain opening l9 approximately at the `~ level of the floor 7, and that the water input is a discharge nozzle 14, which can be directed lnto the bowl part 6. As is evident from Fig. 2, and especially from Fig. 6, the floor i of the bowl is relatively flat. Thereby an accumulation of water is avoided; the user is able to bathe himself in free-; running water, but without splashed water and without uncomfort-able water pressure.
To illustrate these special characteristics, reference is made especially to Fig. 3 to 7.
Figs. 3 and 4 show the bathing apparatus with the representation only of toilet seat 4 in the lowered position.
It is clear from Figs. 3 and 4 that toilet seat ring 4 is rotat-ably joined by means of a hinge 2 to fastening plate 5. It is essential that hinge 2 be disposed in the front part of fastening plate 5 so that sufficient room will be left rearwardly of it for hinge 21 of bowl part 6 (see Fig. 5 and 7). Hinges

2 and 21, therefore, are arranged, in accordance with the invention, one behind the other. This avoids a hinge extending laterally, and considerable saving of space in the width of the bathing apparatus is achieved.
Fig. 5 shows the bathing apparatus with the bowl part 6 lowered, but with the cover l removed, and Fig. 6 also shows cover l lowered ontothe bowl part 6. It will be seen that the hinge 21 of the bowl part 6 engages at the back of fastening plate 5. It will also be seen that cover l is rotatably connected by a hinge 3 to the bowl part 6. Further, the

3~ toilet seat ring 4 is rotatably mou~ed by hinge 2 at the top of fastening plate 5, and by this means also a laterally extending hinge is avoided. From Fig. 6 it will also be seen that floor 7 of bowl part 6 is aligned more or less with the ,':

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lower edge of the seat ring 4. From this it is evident that floor 7 has little depth. The advantage of this will be seen from Fig. 1, inasmuch as the relatively flat floor 7 in the raised position of bowl part 6 does not touch the back of a user seated on toilet seat 4. Fig. 5 and 6 also show approximately the direction of water flow in a first embodiment of the bathing apparatus. The water emerging from discharge nozzle 14 flows in the direction 16 as an open jet into ; the bowl part 6 and thus con-tacts the floor 7 at a small angle.
Thereby, spashed-up water and high water pressures, which could be uncomfortable on contacting the skin of the user are avoided.
The user can bathe sitting on bowl part 6 and the bath water flows int he direction 18 towards drain opening 19 in the vicinity of operational fitting 8 and drains into toilet pedestal 40.
The user thus bathes in the counter flow. This counter flow generates an accumulation of water in which the water is continuously being replenished in an advantageous manner. The ` hygienic conditions here are optimum, since the user can now bathe in running water without coming into contact with drainage water or even standing bath water. The additional accumulation of water enables the user to scoop up water with his hands from the floor of the bowl and to wet parts of his body which are not reached by the water flowing in direction 15.
It is also an important feature that the interior wall 20 of bowl part 6 merges into an accommodation space 25 which spans the perimeter of toilet seat 4 with its bowl rim 9.
In this manner, in accordance with the aforesaid description, two different surfaces of contact of toilet seat 4 and bowl `~ part 6, which are separated from each other, are created. Thus persons using seat 4 are prevented from coming simultaneously , into contact with the seating area of bowl part 6.

In accordance with Fig. 1, the bowl part 6 has an g _ ~ ~36~ ~

accommodation space 25 a-t its outer perimeter which is reinforced by radially directed ribs 2~, and the accommodation space 25 spans toilet seat 4, ribs 24 bein~ capable of coming into contact with the upper surface of toilet seat 4. The advantage of this is that a cavity is formed between toilet seat 4 and accommodation space 25 which is suitable for housing e.g. of one or more electric continuous flow heaters which provide a supply of warm water to operational fitting 8~ Another provision of the present invention is that additional discharge nozzles and/or drain openings can be disposed within accommodation space 25. The drain holes which are located inside accommodation space 25 can also terminate in the waste~water collector. Thus, with the provision of accommodation space 25 it is not only possible to provide a single drain opening 19, but it is also possible to provide drain openings distributed in any desired manner around the perimeter on interior wall 20 of the bowl part. Similarly it is possible to provide corresponding discharge nozzles or inflow holes. Moreover, suitably designed air inputs can also ~ be provided in accommodation space 25 to dry the wetted parts ; 20 of the body at the conclusion of the kathing process.
It is also an important feature, in accordance with Fig. 6, that cover 1 overlaps bowl part 6. In this case it is preferred that cover 1 is lockably joinable to bowl part 6 so - that bowl part 6 can only be used when the lockable connection is unlocked. In a first embodiment in accordance with Fig. 6 cover 1 can overlap the base leg of the U cross section of accommodation space 25 or, in a second embodiment (not shown) it can extend only down to the top edge of interior wall 20 of bowl part 6.
Fig. 6 and 7 show a container 26 mounted on the inside of cover 1, which container, when the cover is lowered, can extend into bowl part 6. Fig. 2 shows -the utility of such a con-tainer ;

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(the container no-t being shown in the Figure). In container 26 the user can keep his bathing utensi:l, which are then immediately ~; available during the bathing process and can be kept without misplacement in the container 26. Container 26 is fitted with a sliding or hin~ed cover 27 (see Fig. 7) which ensures that when cover 1 is down the bathing utensil does notfall out of the container 26 on to floor 7 of bowl part 6. It is preferred that the container 26 and the cover are in one piece, since the manufacturing costs are especially low.
Referring to Figs. 1, 5 and 7 other features of the invention are illustrated. Fig. 5 shows that on the upper surface of fastening plate 5 at least one drain groove 23 is provided which surrounds operational fitting 8 and empties into toilet pedestal 40 in front of fastening plate 5. The advantage of this arrangement will be seen from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 7. Thus, I when only toilet seat ring 4 is to be used, i.e. bowl part 6 is ~ in the raised position, the drip water thus produced would flow ,~
downwards from drain opening 19 in the direction of arrow 22 (Fig. 1). Because of the fact that the cover overlaps drain opening 29 of bowl pa~t 6 and that in the raised position of ~`~ parts 1 and 6 the water dripping from bowl floor 7 can be conducted into drain groove 23 of fastening plate 5, wetting around the vicinity of the toilet stand by dripping water is prevented. Fig. 7 shows an only partially raised bowl part 6. By comparison with Fig. 1, however, it can be seen that '~ water dripping from bowl floor 7 into drain groove 23 is conducted around operational fitting 8.
Another feature of the invention is that the faucets 12, 13 and/or the mixing fixture (operational fitting 8) may be on cover 1 or on the bowl part 6 or on the toilet seat 4, faucets 12, 13 being operable when cover 1 is in the raised position.

Similarly the water flow through the connecting pipes 10 and 11 of the operatlonal fitting 8 ma~ be controlled so that a valve is open on upward swivelling of the cover and closed on downward closing of the cover. Similarly, the faucets 12, 13 and/or the operational fitting 8 may be coverable by a protective cover which is lifted or removed when bowl part 6 is being used.
The fastening between bidet apparatus and toilet pedestal 40 may also be made adjustable. For this purpsoe a multiply perforated intermediate plate or one furnished with longitudinal slots can be used which is solidly joined to one 10 of the two parts and is adjustably and lockably connected to the other part, so that the securing of the toilet-bathing ; apparatus is adjustable in any desired direction in relation to toilet pedestal 40.
A bathing apparatus has been successfully provided which permits bathing in free-flowingt running water without generating splash water or a water pressure which feels uncomfortable. Consideration has been given to maximum hygiene requirements, since the bathing water immediately flows back ;~ out of the bowl part, and through the various coverings soiling of individual apparatus i5 not possible.
Another embodiment o~ the bidet apparatus of the present invention is attached to a toilet bowl 41 with a rim 42 (see Fig. 16). It comprises substantially a toilet seat 43 (see Fig. 19), a bidet bowl 44, a common cover 45 and a supply unit 46 for the bidet bowl. Supply unit 46 is also shown in Fig. 12. It comprises lateral handles 47 (see Fig. 10 and Fig. 13) forvalves for a cold water connection 48 and a hot water connection 49. Both connections supply a`discharge nozzle 50 which is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the bowl. The water jet can in this way be made wide or narrow as a garden hose.
Supply unit 46 also has several parallel, side-by-side, upwardly projecting flanges 51, which constitute bearings 52 ~or the .
` - 12 -~16~3 toilet seat, the bidet bowl and the cover (see also Fig. 11).
According to theinvention the bidet bowl 44 has a drain hole 53 at its rear, which is a narrow slit. It is also covered on top by a shield 54 to prevent splashed water from toilet pedestal 41 from getting into the bidet bowl 44. Discharge nozzle 50 is also protected against splashea water. Reference is especially made to Figs. 15, 17 and 18 which also show the accommodation space 25 open at the bottom for the toilei seat.
Fig. 8 shows the under side of shield 54. Fig. 8 also shows that a fastening plate 55 of supply unit 46 has slots 56 on both sides which have guide holes 57 for screws. Adaptations can thereby be made in the assembly of the apparatus to the various securing systems at home and abroad. Thus, any desired distance 58 between screws for fastening can be set. For longitudinal adjustment 59 of the bidet apparatus (see especially Fig. 9) rubber pads 60 are provided on the under side of toilet seat 43. Fig. 11, in particular, shows that flanges 51 with their bearings 52 coact with corresponding flanges on the other structural parts and thereby achieve the inclinable fastening of these structural parts 43, 49 and 45.
Fig. 14 shows that in order to adapt fastening plate 55 to different attachment systems at home and abroad spacers 62 are provided below bidet bowl 44. These guarantee that the spacers, in the lowered position of the bidet bowl, rest on seat 43. The depressionof bidet bowl 44 is completely covered by cover 45. The front part of the bidet bowl merges almost flush into the plane of cover 45. At the same time cover 45 projects forwards slightly over the front of the bidet bowl in order to provide a grip for raising the cover. Rubber pads 60 secured to toilet seat 43 rest on the edge 42 of toilet bowl 41. Adaptation ; in the arrow direction 59 can also be accomplished by means of 5i3 suitable elongated holes or other suitable means.
Fig. 19, in particular, shows that the bidet apparatus comprises a few easily assembled par-ts which permit satisfactory hygienic use of all parts.
; The fact that cover 54 is mounted on the bidet bowl so that when the latter is in the raised position it simultaneously covers discharge nozzle 50 also satisifies hygienic requirements.
Thus, the discharge nozzle is open at the moment when the bidet bowl is in use. When lt is not being used, e.g. when the toilet seat also is raised, or when only the bide-t bowl is raised, soiling of said discharge nozzle even by splashed water is not possible, so that absolutely satisfactory hygienic conditions are obtained. Even when the toilet is being used, with the toilet seat down, this discharge nozzle cannot be soiled by faeces or urine. This requirement is also served by the fact that the toilet seat disposed inside the bidet bowl in the raised position constitutes a unit with said bidet bowl. As a result of this feature of the invention, therefore, it is not possible to use the toilet seat without raising the bidet bowl, ar.d immediately the latter is covered by the invented arrangement, or it is not even possible to raise the toilet seat alone without raising the bidet bowl as well, because the seat forms a unit with the bowl.
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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A bidet installation for use with a conventional toilet having a toilet pan, a seat pivotably resting on said toilet pan and a lid pivotably mounted on said toilet pan, comprising:
a bidet bowl adapted to be pivotably mounted on said toilet pan, a bottom surface of the bidet bowl having a permanently open drain opening therein and being inclined towards said drain opening;
a fixing plate adapted to be secured to the toilet pan and on which the seat, the lid, and the bidet bowl are pivotally mounted; and a jet nozzle mounted in said fixing plate so that it directs a flow of cleaning fluid toward the user of the bidet installation and into the bidet bowl which enables the user to wash directly in said flow of cleaning fluid and which continuous-ly exits from the bidet bowl through said permanently open drain opening.

2. A bidet installation according to claim 1, further comprising controls on the fixing plate for controlling the jet nozzle.

3. A bidet installation according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the bidet bowl is substantially in alignment with an underside of the seat.

4. A bidet installation according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall and an edge of the bidet bowl define a receiving space into which the seat is received during use of the bidet bowl.

5. A bidet installation according to claim 4, wherein radial ribs strengthen the receiving space, the ribs resting on the seat during use of the bidet bowl.

6. A bidet installation according to claim 4, further comprising heaters located in the receiving space to heat the cleaning fluid.

7. A bidet installation according to claim 1, further comprising a container secured to an underside of the lid and in which washing utensils may be stored.

8. A bidet installation according to claim 1, further comprising a supply unit for the bidet bowl having hot and cold water connections.

9. A bidet installation according to claim 8, wherein the jet nozzle is connected to said water connections and is movable from side to side.

10. A bidet installation according to claim 1, in which the drain opening is shielded against splash water from the toilet bowl.

11. A bidet installation according to claim 1, in which the drain opening is in the form of a narrow slit.

12. A bidet installation according to claim 11, in which the edges of the slit overlap to provide protection against splash water from the toilet bowl.

13. A bidet installation according to claim 11, wherein said bottom surface of the bidet bowl is generally flat.

14. A bidet installation according to claim 13, wherein said bottom surface comprises a first panel sloping generally downwards towards said slit and extending from the front of the bidet bowl, and a second panel extending from the rear of the bidet and overlapping said first panel in a spaced relationship therewith so as to define said slit, said second panel protecting the nozzle against splash water from the toilet bowl.