EP0705373B1

EP0705373B1 - Sanitary spray arrangement for toilet bowl

Info

Publication number: EP0705373B1
Application number: EP94919942A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anders Abrahamson; Joakim Svanberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-06-17
Filing date: 1994-06-17
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-17
Also published as: AU7088994A; DE69422175D1; EP0705373A1; JP3601826B2; SE501266C2; SE9302102D0; SE9302102L; JPH08511596A; WO1995000721A1; DE69422175T2

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary spray arrangement to be used in connection with a conventional toilet bowl and toilet seat. A curved arm provided with a sprayer head is oscillably mounted by a shaft on the under side of the toilet seat, which shaft extends in the transverse direction of the toilet seat such that the arm in a swinged back position is mainly horizontal and extends to the approximate circumference of the toilet seat with the sprayer head positioned adjacent the middle line of the toilet seat. The swinging motion is effected by an operating means protruding laterally from the seat and attached to the arm, which operating means is designed like a handle which is not only oscillably movable essentially in the vertical plane but also in the lateral direction.

A large variety of sanitary spray arrangements of this and similar kinds are priorly known.

In some cases the entire toilet bowl is especially designed for the additional usefulness, which increases the manufacturing costs in an actual manufacturing scale absurdly.

In other cases it is mainly the toilet seat only that has been modified and completed, which at least initially would be the only economical possibility to have the arrangement accepted to a greater extent, and not only as an aid for disabled persons entitled to social allowance. A sanitary spray attachment for a toilet bowl of this type is disclosed by US-A 2852782 showing a handle that can be pivoted to the operating position of the sprayer head, and while holding the handle in this position the handle is movable in lateral direction for starting and regulating the flow of water. A serious drawback is, however, that the sprayer head cannot be moved during the spraying operation, which is necessary.

Another embodiment is disclosed by US-A-4926509 showing a normal toilet converted into a bidet. The force of spray is adjusted by moving a lever handle vertically without altering the the area being washed. The temperature of the water is regulated by moving the handle in lateral direction, which is of minor value. A drawback is, that the area being washed cannot be varied at the same time as the force of spray is adjusted.

It is of course a necessary condition that the arrangement is designed and constructed such that it is aesthetically and practically attractive and so easy to operate that even a disabled person or a person having reduced arm or hand muscular strength is able to operate the arrangement.

The object of the invention is to produce an arrangement of the kind introductory mentioned, which for attaining a sufficiently large volume of production is so uncomplicated and inexpensive to install that it can be accepted not only by non-disabled persons but for all is so easy to handle that it does not restain persons having reduced ability to move arms or hands from using it.

This has been achieved, according to the invention, in that the handle is permitted during all the movement in the vertical plane to operate a valve for regulating the flow of water to the sprayer head in proportion to the lateral movement of the handle. Only a very light touch against the upper part of the handle in the lateral direction is necessary for regulating the flow of water because the entire length of the handle serves as a lever arm. This movement can, if necessary, be accomplished by an arm or elbow.

It is suitable, in this connection, that the valve is opened against the influence of a spring force so that the valve closes automatically when the pressure against the handle in lateral direction ceases, as stated in claim 2. It is also suitable, for practical reasons, to give the arm supporting the sprayer head a return motion to the rest position by a spring means when the handle is no more touched.

The invention is explained more in detail in the following description thereof especially when viewed in connection with the following drawings in which an embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention is schematically disclosed. Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, and Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II in Fig. 1 showing the essential parts of the arrangement.

The drawings show a conventional toilet seat 1 which is hinged on a conventional toilet bowl 2. The toilet seat is made of plastics and has comparatively high side brims 3. A reinforcing plate 4 is attached to the under side of the seat 1, in which plate a transverse shaft 5 is rotatably mounted in a horizontal position or inclined about 20-25°, as shown in Fig. 2. A curved arm 6 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 5, which arm has a free end supporting a sprayer head 7. The other end of the arm extends a distance off the outer side of the seat 1 and through a valve housing 8 attached to the plate 4. A handle 9 is attached to the shaft 5 on the outer side of the valve housing. The handle 9 is positioned essentially in the same plane as the curved arm 6 and pivotable a bit in this plane against the action of a spring-loaded pin 10 protruding from the valve housing 8 and which, when pushed against the action of a spring lla opens a valve 11 connected to a water supply tube 12 and to tne sprayer head 7 via a duct 13 through the shaft 5 and arm 6. The water supply tube 12 is connected to a temperature regulator 14 attached to for instance the rear part of the toilet bowl 2 and connected to the water mains.

The arm 6 is designed such that when the handle 9 is turned forwards and downwards to the position shown in Fig. 1 the arm 6 follows the inner contour of the seat 1 just inside its inner side brim 3. The handle 9 is now directed straight forward, and the sprayer head 7 is positioned inside the brim 3 and directed towards it. Before use of the sprayer device water must be flushed with the right temperature to the sprayer head 7. This is carried out by pushing the handle 9 laterally so that the valve 11 is opened. Water starts spraying out from the sprayer head 7 and the water which hits the inside of the brim 3 is reflected down into the bottom of the toilet bowl. After a while the water has reached the water temperature regulated by the temperature regulator and the handle 9 can be turned upwards, suitably with interrupted water spraying until the sprayer head 7 has reached the right position essentially in the center of the toilet bowl, as shown in Fig. 2 and with point-dashed lines in Fig. 1.

Owing to the inclination of the shaft 5 the sprayer head 7 will become a more flat or shallow path than a horizontal shaft 5 would give rise to. Moreover, the handle 9 will be directed slightly outwards during the turning upwards, which is practical from considerations of space. When the turning upwards begins it is suitable to have the water flushing interrupted. With some practice an increasing lateral pressure on the handle 9 during the turning upwards is obtained by retaining the handle in the vertical plane, which results in a soft starting of the water flushing from the sprayer head during the final phase of its movement when the handle has the position shown by point-dashed lines in Fig. 2, in which position the pin 10 is pushed down and the valve 11 is open. The water squirts from the sprayer head 7 now are directed straight upwards. By turning the handle 9 slightly to-and fro the water squirts will be moved slightly forwards and backwards in a horizontal plane just beneath the under side of the toilet seat 1 simultaneously with a change of direction because the focusing point of the squirts owing to the inclination of the shaft 5 is positioned just above said plane. The shaft 5 is for practical reasons suitably influenced by a spring 5a, which strives to bring back the arm 6 to its rear, in Fig. 1 shown rest position.

A sufficient cleaning is achieved in this way of the rectal and genital regions of the user with a minimum of operating. In order to obtain also a drying of said regions the toilet seat is, in a manner known per se, provided also with a hot-air sprayer head 15, which via a flexible tube 16 is connected to an air heating apparatus 17.

The invention is, of course, not restricted to the embodiment shown here by way of example only, but various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention defined by the claims. Hence, the shaft 5 may be horizontal when the seat 1 is in its horizontal position. Moreover, the valve means may be of the type used in connection with single-handled mixers but with unused temperature regulating function, which implies an essential simplification from a manufacturing point of view.

Claims

A sanitary spray arrangement to be used in connection with a conventional toilet bowl (2) and toilet seat (1), the under side of the toilet seat (1) being provided with a curved arm (6) supporting a sprayer head (7) and being pivoted by a shaft (5) extending in the transverse direction of the toilet seat (1) such that the arm (6) in a swinged back position is mainly horizontal and extends to the approximate circumference of the toilet seat (1) with the sprayer head (7) positioned behind a part of a downwards protruding brim (3) adjacent the middle line of the toilet seat, and the swinging motion of the arm (6) is effected by an operating means (9) protruding laterally from the seat and attached to the arm (6), which operating means (9) is designed like a handle which is not only oscillably movable substantially in the vertical plane but also in the lateral direction, characterized by the operating means (9) being permitted during its entire movement in the vertical plane to operate a valve (10,11) for regulating the quantity of flow of water to the sprayer head (7) in proportion to the lateral movement of the operating means (9).
An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by the valve (10,11) being arranged to be opened against the influence of a spring (11a) such that closing of the valve is obtained when the lateral pressure against the operating means (9) ceases.
Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the arm (6) supporting the sprayer head (7) being returned to its rear position by a spring means (5a) when the operating means (9) is no more operated.