GB2142055A

GB2142055A - Water closet with bidet attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2142055A
Application number: GB08411491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masaru Ichino
Original assignee: Inax Corp
Current assignee: Inax Corp
Priority date: 1983-06-22
Filing date: 1984-05-04
Publication date: 1985-01-09
Also published as: GB2142055B; MY103756A; JPH0213583Y2; JPS604675U; GB8411491D0

Abstract

In apparatus for supplying water for washing the private parts of a person seated on the toilet, a w.c. pan 2 has a spring-retracted bidet spray nozzle 6 which is telescopically extended from a cylinder 9 by water pressure supplied through a valve 10 opened by a pedal 13. The outer end of the hollow nozzle 6 (Fig. 4) has upward spray apertures (29) while its inner end comprises a piston subjected to water pressure admitted to the rear end of the cylinder 9. The piston also has a lateral water inlet (28) which, as the nozzle reaches its full extent, comes into alignment with a water supply passage (27) at the front end of the cylinder wall to feed water through the nozzle to the upward spray apertures (29). The valve 10, Fig. 2, comprises a main valve 15 in which is coaxially mounted an auxiliary valve having a depending stem. A spring-loaded thrust rod 19 raised by the pedal linkage 13-14 initially opens the auxiliary valve to lower the pressure in the upper water inlet chamber, whereafter continued movement of the thrust rod opens the main valve 15. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for washing the private parts This invention relates to an apparatus comprising a nozzle adapted to discharging water for washing the anus and its vicinity, and a toilet bowl comprising such an apparatus.

A toilet bowl having a nozzle for washing the private parts and to which water is supplied by an electromagnetic valve or an electrically driven pump is known. This bowl has a number of drawbacks, namely: (1 ) The nozzle does not work in cases of a power failure; (2) The electrical apparatus itself is considerably costly and renders the toilet bowl expensive, and (3) The utmost care is necessary to prevent any leakage of electricity and protect a person using the toilet bowl against electric shocks and this, therefore, requires a costly arrangement which renders the bowl expensive.

Under these circumstances, it is an object of this invention to provide a toilet bowl having a nozzle for washing the private parts which does not require any electrical apparatus, and is, therefore, safe and inexpensive.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for supplying water for washing the private parts of a person seated on a toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising: a valve mechanism having an inlet for connection to a source of water supply and an outlet; mechanical means associated with said valve mechanism and operable by said person in the seated position for opening said valve mechanism; a water supply pipe having a pair of ends of which one is connected to said outlet of said valve mechanism; a nozzle cylinder connected to the other end of said water supply pipe and having a peripheral wall in which an opening is provided; and a nozzle member having one end disposed sealingly in said nozzle cylinder and provided with an opening which is alignable with said opening of said nozzle cylinder, said nozzle member projecting from said nozzle cylinder and having another end provided with discharge opening for discharging water in an upward direction, said nozzle member being movable forward away from said nozzle cylinder by the pressure of water entering said nozzle cylinder through said water supply pipe upon opening said valve mechanism so that said opening at said one end of said nozzle member may be aligned with said opening of said nozzle cylinder to enable said discharge opening to discharge water.

According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided a toilet bowl having an apparatus for supplying water for washing the private parts of a person seated on the toilet bowl, the apparatus comprising: a valve mechanism having an inlet connected to a source of water supply and an outlet; mechanical means associated with the valve mechanism and operable by said person in his seated position for opening the valve mechanism; a water supply pipe having a pair of ends of which one is connected to the outlet of the valve mechanism; a nozzle cylinder connected to the other end of the water supply pipe and having a peripheral wall formed with an opening; and a nozzle member having one end disposed sealingly in the nozzle cylinder and provided with an opening which is alignable with the opening of the nozzle cylinder, the nozzle member projecting from the nozzle cylinder and having another end provided with an upwardly facing discharge opening, the nozzle member being movable forward by the pressure of the water entering the nozzle cylinder through the water supply pipe upon opening of the valve mechanism so that the opening at one end of the nozzle member may be aligned with the opening of the nozzle cylinder to enable the discharge opening to discharge water.

The apparatus of this invention is operable entireiy mechanically by, for example, a pedal, and solves, therefore, all of the drawbacks of the conventional toilet bowl which arise from the use of electrical apparatus. The apparatus of this invention does not cause any problem even in cases of a power failure. It does not involve any danger of leakage of electricity or electric shocks. It does not require any costly arrangement for preventing leakage of any electricity or electric shocks, and is, therefore, very inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a toilet bowl embodying this invention; FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of the toilet bowl, particularly showing a valve mechanism and mechanical means for actuating it; FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the valve mechanism; and FIGURE 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a nozzle cylinder and a nozzle member.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a toilet bowl embodying this invention comprises a bowl body 2, and water supply line extending from a source of water supply,which is a stop valve 1, is divided at 8 into a main line 3 connected to a ball tap 5 in a water tank 4 for supplying water for flushing the bowl body 2 and an auxiliary line 7 for supplying water to a nozzle member 6 for washing the private parts, such as the anus, of a person seated on the bowl body 2.

Although the point 8 of line division is not necessarily limited to the secondary side of the stop valve 1 as shown in FIGURE 1, this arrangement is preferable in view of the convenience of maintenance of the lines 3 and 7.

A nozzle cylinder 9 is horizontally supported by the bowl body 2 and at least one end thereof projects into the bowl body 2. The nozzle cylinder 9 is, however, not always supported by the bowl body 2, but may alternatively be supported by a seat which will be provided on the bowl body 2, though not shown.

A valve mechanism 10 has an inlet connected to the auxiliary water supply line 7 and an outlet connected to one end of a water supply pipe of which the other end extends to the nozzle cylinder 9. The valve mechanism 10 is operable by a mechanism which comprises a pedal 11 which can be stepped down by the person seated on the bowl body 2, a lever 1 3 having one end connected to the pedal 11, and which is vertically rotatably supported at 12, and a vertically disposed connecting rod 14 having a lower end connected to the other end of the lever 13, while its upper end is slidably connected to a valve housing.

The valve mechanism 10 and its operating mechanism are shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 3. The valve mechanism 10 comprises a main valve member 1 5 disposed within the valve housing and an auxiliary valve member 1 6 which is disposed coaxially with the main valve member 1 5 and axially slidably therein.

A spring 1 7 is provided between the auxiliary valve member 1 6 and the upper end of the valve housing and normally urges the auxiliary valve member 16 downwardly to maintain the main valve member 1 5 in its closed position in which it rests sealingly on a valve seat 1 8.

The valve members 1 5 and 16 are coaxial with the connecting rod 14. An upright thrust rod 1 9 is slidably disposed in the valve housing and located between the connecting rod 14 and the valve members 1 5 and 1 6 coaxially therewith.A spring 31 is provided at the lower end of the valve housing to normally urge the thrust rod 1 9 into its lowermost position in which the upper end of the thrust rod 1 9 is spaced below the valve members 1 5 and 1 6. The auxiliary valve member 1 6 has a lower end 1 6a which normally projects downwardly of the lower end 1 5a of the main valve member 1 5. The valve housing has an inlet 21 connected to a valve chamber 20 upstream of the valve members 1 5 and 16, and an outlet 22. If the pedal 11 is stepped down, the connecting rod 14 abuts on the lower end of the thrust rod and pushes it up against the force of the spring 31.The upper end of the thrust rod 1 9 abuts on the lower end 1 6a of the auxiliary valve member 16 and pushes it open against the force of the spring 1 7 so that water may flow out of the valve chamber 20 through the clearance between the valve members 1 5 and 1 6 and create a lower water pressure in the chamber 20. If the thrust rod 1 9 is further raised, its upper end abuts on the lower end 1 5a of the main valve member 1 5 and thrusts its upward so that it may be disengaged from the valve seat 18 to allow for the flow of water from the inlet 21 to the outlet 22 which is connected to the nozzle cylinder 9 by the water supply pipe.

The nozzle member 6 and the nozzle cylinder 9, as well as the water supply pipe, are shown in detail in FIGURE 4. The water supply pipe, which extends from the outlet 22 of the valve mechanism 10, is divided into two lines 23 and 26. The first line 23 is connected to the nozzle cylinder 9 at its outer end which is remote from the nozzle member 6, and which is closed except for the passage for water. The nozzle member 6 has one end sealingly disposed in the nozzle cylinder 9, and is axially slidable along the inner surface of the nozzle cylinder 9. The nozzle member 6 has an upwardly facing discharge opening 29 adjacent to its other or outer end. The nozzle cylinder 9 is provided with an opening 27 in the peripheral wall thereof.The nozzle member 6 is likewise provided with an opening 28 in its peripheral wall adjacent to the inner end thereof, and the opening 28 is alignable with the opening 27 of the nozzle cylinder 9. The inner end of the nozzle cylinder 9 is substantially closed by an end plate 24, and the nozzle member 6 extends outwardly through the end plate 24. The nozzle member 6 and the end plate 24 have a small clearance therebetween. The second line 26 divided from the water supply pipe is connected to the opening 27. A compression spring 30 is provided in the nozzle cylinder 9 between the inner end of the nozzle member 6 and the end plate 24 to maintain the nozzle member 6 normally in its retracted position in which its opening 28 is out of alignment with the opening 27 of the nozzle cylinder 9.

When water flows into the nozzle cylinder 9 through the line 23, it creates an elevated pressure therein which pushes the nozzle member 6 forward against the force of the spring 30 until the opening 28 is brought into alignment with the opening 27. Upon alignment of the openings 27 and 28, water flows from the second line 26 into the nozzle member 6 through the openings 27 and 28, and flows out through the discharge opening 29. The nozzle member 6 is provided on its outer peripheral surface with a shoulder 25 which is engageable with the end plate 24 to prevent any further forward movement of the nozzle member 6 upon alignment of the openings 27 and 28.

The removal of the force from the pedal 11 lowers the connecting rod 14 and the spring 31 lowers the thrust rod 19 to disengage it from the valve members 1 5 and 16, whereby the valve mechanism 10 is closed to discontinue the supply of water through the discharge opening 29. Upon closure of the valve mechanism 10, the pressure of the water in the nozzle cylinder 9 becomes lower than the force of the spring 30 and the spring 30 urges back the nozzle member 6 into its retracted position. As the nozzle member 6 is moved back, water flows out of the nozzle cylinder 9 into the nozzle member 6 through the lines 23 and 26 and the openings 27 and 28 to continue discharging water through the discharge opening 29 until the opening 28 is completely disconnected from the opening 27. Upon movement of the nozzle member 6 by a distance which is substantially as long as the diameter of its opening 28, the water flowing out of the nozzle cylinder 9 flows into the other side of the nozzle cylinder 9 where the inner end of the nozzle member 6 is disposed through the lines 23 and 26 and the opening 27. This water, then, flows out through the clearance between the nozzle member 6 and the end plate 24 into the bowl body 2. This water can be used for washing the discharge opening 29.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying water for washing the private parts of a person seated on a toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising: a valve mechanism having an inlet for connection to a source of water supply and an outlet; mechanical means associated with said valve mechanism and operable by said person in the seated position for opening said valve mechanism; a water supply pipe having a pair of ends of which one is connected to said outlet of said valve mechanism; a nozzle cylinder connected to the other end of said water supply pipe and having a periph elm wall in which an opening is provided; and a nozzle member having one end disposed sealingly in said nozzle cylinder and provided with an.opening which is alignable with said opening of said nozzle cylinder, said nozzle member projecting from said nozzle cylinder and having another end provided with a discharge opening for discharging water in an upward direction, said nozzle member being movable forward away from said nozzle cylinder by the pressure of water entering said nozzle cylinder through said water supply pipe upon opening said valve mechanism so that said opening at said one end of said nozzle member'may be aligned-with said opening of said nozzle cylinder to enable said discharge opening to discharge water.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said valve mechanism comprises a housing having said inlet and outlet, a main member in said housing, an auxiliary valve member disposed coaxially with said main valve member and normally maintained in its closed position to maintain said main valve member in its closed position, and a thrust rod provided in said housing and normally maintained in its retracted position, said thrust rod being movable into abutment on said auxiliary and main valve members successively to push them open, and wherein said mechanical means comprises a pedal, a rotatably supported lever having one end connected to said pedal, and a connecting rod having one end connected to the other end of said lever and the other end normally spaced from an end of said thrust rod, said valve members, thrust rod and connecting rod being coaxial with one another, said other end of said connecting rod being brought into abutment on said end of said thrust rod to enable said abutment thereof on said valve members.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said water supply pipe is divided at said other end thereof into two lines of which one is connected to said nozzle cylinder at one end thereof to create said water pressure, while the other line is connected to said opening of said nozzle cylinder.

4. An apparatus for supplying water for washing the private parts of a person seated on a toilet bowl, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A toilet bowl having an apparatus for supplying water for washing the private parts of a person seated on the toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising: a valve mechanism having an inlet for connection to a source of water supply and an outlet; mechanical means associated with said valve mechanism and operable by said person in the seated position for opening said valve mechanism; a water supply pipe having a pair of ends of which one is connected to said outlet of said valve mechanism; a nozzle cylinder connected to the other end of said water supply pipe and having a peripheral wall in which an opening is provided; and a nozzle member having one end disposed sealingly in said nozzle cylinder and provided with an opening which is alignable with said opening of said nozzle cylinder, said nozzle member projecting from said nozzle cylinder and having another end provided with an upwardly facing discharge opening, said nozzle member being movable forward by the pressure of the water entering said nozzle cylinder through said water supply pipe upon opening of said valve mechanism so that said opening at said one end of said nozzle member may be aligned with said opening of said nozzle cylinder to enable said discharge opening to discharge water.

6. A toilet bowl as set forth in claim 5, wherein said valve mechanism comprises a housing having said inlet and outlet, a main valve member in said housing, an auxiliary valve member disposed coaxially with said main valve member and normally maintained in its closed position to maintain said main valve member in its closed position, and an upright thrust rod provided in said housing and normally maintained in its lowered position, said thrust rod being upwardly movable into abutment on said auxiliary and main valve members successively to push them open, and wherein said mechanical means comprises a pedal, a horizontally disposed and vertically rotatably supported lever having one end connected to said pedal, and a vertically disposed connecting rod having a lower end connected to the other end of said lever and an upper end normally spaced below the lower end of said thrust rod, said valve members, trust rod and connecting rod being coaxial with one another, said upper end of said connecting rod being brought into abutment on said lower end of said thrust rod to push it up to enable said abutment thereof on said valve members.

7. A toilet bowl as set forth in claim 6, wherein said water supply pipe is divided at said other end thereof into two lines of which one is connected to said nozzle cylinder at one end thereof to create said water pressure, while the other line is connected to said opening of said nozzle cylinder.

8. A toilet bowl having an apparatus for supplying water for washing the private parts of a person seated on the toilet bowl substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.