GB2280913A

GB2280913A - Apparatus for enabling a w.c. to act as a bidet

Info

Publication number: GB2280913A
Application number: GB9416235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Brian Smith; Jacqueline Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-08-11
Filing date: 1994-08-11
Publication date: 1995-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-11
Also published as: GB9416235D0; GB2280913B; GB9316981D0

Abstract

In a conventional water closet, the seat (4) is connected to the water supply (8) and has water directing means (26) integral therewith such that said w.c. may function as a bidet. The water supply may be heated. The toilet seat is movable and is provided with a sealing connecting means (24) to seal the directing means (26) on said seat to the water supply when the seat is in the down position. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements Relating to Toilet pedestals .and Hygienic Cleaning apparatus for Users thereof This invention relates to improvements in the provision of hygienic cleaning apparatus for users of toilet pedestals.

The hygienic apparatus comprises a means for directing at least a water flow, but preferably also an air flow, onto at least the genitals area of a person using the toilet pedestal in order to clean said area.

There are known to be several types of apparatus which allow the supply of water and commonly also air onto the genitals area. A standard bidet is a specially designed piece of bathroom furniture which is installed alongside the conventional toilet pedestal. However the majority of bathrooms are not large enough to allow the fitting of both pieces of apparatus. Other systems have been developed which allow one piece of apparatus to be fitted and said systems are for example disclosed in patent US4242764 - Fukuda, and patent applications EP0105377 - Matsushita, Go2008168 Associated Metal Works and W09208851- Colivier PTY Ltd.

However in each case the apparatus disclosed is complicated and requires a considerable amount of additional equipment to be provided. The conventional systems require that there be provided a separate water tank with a water heating means from which water is supplied to the toilet pedestal. There is also typically provided apparatus in the form of at least one exit nozzle and water supply means thereto. Each of the nozzles allows water to be directed onto the genitals area to wash the same. In preferred embodiments the same or additional nozzles are used to subsequently direct air onto the genitals area to dry the same.

It has been found that these systems are unattractive to potential users of the apparatus due to the relative bulkiness and number of parts which are required. The need for such bulky equipment also means that the cost of installing the apparatus is expensive and also requires a new toilet pedestal including a seat and associated apparatus to be fitted. Furthermore substantial alterations to the plumbing system are required to ensure that the additional water storage tank is fed with water and that the same can be supplied to the toilet pedestal nozzles.

These inconveniences and disadvantages have led to no or very limited use of the cleaning apparatus disclosed in the above documents. The aim of the current invention is to provide apparatus for providing water and preferably air to a toilet pedestal for the cleaning of the genitals area of a person in a manner which is unobtrusive and is easy to fit and use.

The present invention relates to apparatus for use in the cleaning of the genital area of a person, said apparatus comprising a water storage tank and a water supply connection to a toilet pedestal, said pedestal including a substantially annular seat upon which the person sits and wherein said seat is connected to the water supply and has provided as an integral part thereof directing means for directing the water supplied onto the genital area of the person sitting on the seat.

The directing means are any of a nozzle, spray or sprinkling means provided in one position or spaced around the inwardly facing wall of the seat.

Alternatively the directing means comprises a channel formed as part of the seat and provided with at least one nozzle, spray or sprinkling outlet in a wall thereof. Preferably the channel is located along the inwardly facing wall of the seat and protrudes inwardly into the bowl of the toilet pedestal.

Typically the channel will be formed such that the outer wall of the same will fit inside the inner edge of the toilet pedestal rim and will act to reduce the possibility of water spillage. Preferably the channel will be provided with an inlet means through which the water flow or flow of any other fluid will enter into the channel to pass along the channel and exit through the nozzles or spray means provided in the channel. In addition to water being provided the directing means will also provide direction for air supplies or the supply of any other fluid required. Typically the nozzle, spray or sprinkling outlets are provided on the inwardly facing wall of the channel and seat.

Typically there is provided at least two nozzles or spray means, one of which is provided at the rear of the seat and the other is formed at the front of the seat with the channel formed so as to ensure that the water exits the nozzles or spray means provided with sufficient force to clean. If required a plurality of nozzles or spray means can be provided along the length of the channel.

In one embodiment the toilet seat is movable and is provided with a sealing connecting means to connect the directing means on said seat to the water supply. The directing means in the seat is provided with the seal member at the edge adjacent to the water supply means such that when the connecting means is brought into contact with the pipe of the water supply there is formed a substantially water tight seal between the two ends. This ensures that substantially all of the water passes into the connecting means and into the directing means in the seat. Thus when the toilet seat is in the raised position and the water supply lever pulled the toilet pedestal bowl is flushed as the water from the water supply enters the pedestal bowl in a conventional form.

In one embodiment the storage tank is a cistern and the apparatus can be selectively operated as a conventional flushing toilet or as a means for cleaning a persons genital area.

The apparatus is provided to allow a selection of the desired mode of operation of the apparatus by diverting the flow of water to the seat and directing means or to the pedestal bowl for conventional flush supply mode. One such selection device is an adaptor which, when fitted to the water supply as it enters the toilet pedestal directs the water to one of the toilet seat or the toilet pedestal bowl for flushing.

In one embodiment the adaptor is shaped to pass round the rim of the toilet pedestal and the seat and directing means come into connection therewith. Where a channel is used as directing means the adaptor is provided with a central outlet and at least one further outlet angularly disposed thereto to allow the water or air to be passed in both directions around the channel. In each case the directing means and seat are provided with connection means formed to match, and connect with, the adaptor outlets when used.

Preferably heating means are provided to heat the water in the storage tank prior to supply to the toilet seat and in one form of apparatus there is provided an air supply means which is connected to the directing means provided as an integral part of the seat. The air supply means can be a fan blower mounted remote from the storage tank and pedestal.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for use in cleaning the genital area of a person, said apparatus comprising a cistern connected to a toilet pedestal for the supply of water thereto, said pedestal including a seat upon which the person sits and having directing means for directing the water supply to the genital area wherein the cistern includes heating means for heating the water supplied.

Typically there is provided a thermostat in the cistern and control means for adjusting the setting of the thermostat and in one specific advantage the cistern is a conventional cistern into which heating means are retrofitted.

In one form the cistern is provided with at least a first compartment for the storage of water for use in the conventional flushing of the toilet and a second compartment including a heating means for the storage and heating of water to be supplied to the toilet seat.

Furthermore a bacterial deterent and/or detergent to improve the washing capability and cleanliness of the water is introduced into one, or both, of the compartments.

Preferably the operation of the water cleaning means and, if present, the air drying means is provided by the operation of push button controls housed in a control panel which can be mounted on the toilet cistern or adjacent to the toilet pedestal. Operation of the control means activates either a mechanically or electrically controlled actuation device which causes air or water to be supplied for a set length of time.

A specific embodiment of the device is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 provides a diagrammatic illustration of the apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 provides an elevation of the toilet pedestal of the invention; Figure 3 provides a sectional elevation along the central vertice of the toilet pedestal of the invention in one embodiment; Figure 4 illustrates a sectional elevation of the seat in a second embodiment; Figure 5 illustrates a plan view of the base of the toilet seat in a third embodiment; Figure 5A illustrates a sectional view through A-A; and Figure 6 illustrates a plan elevation of an adaptor which can be fitted to connect the water supply means to the directing means.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of the invention wherein the apparatus comprises a toilet pedestal 2 with a toilet seat 4. Provided to the pedestal 2 is a water supply means in the form of a supply pipe 6 with an outlet 8 at the face of a wall of the toilet pedestal. The water supply means is supplied with water from a storage tank, in this case cistern 10, and the release of water is controlled by a flush mechanism 12. Also provided within the cistern is a water heater 14 and a flush mechanism controller 16. The flush mechanism controller 16 is operable by electrical actuation, said actuation provided by depression of buttons 18 mounted on a control panel 20.

In addition to the water supply means there is provided an air supply means 22, which again is operable by depression of a push button 18. The air flow is directed toward the toilet pedestal by means of a supply pipe.

The purpose of the apparatus is to enable the washing of at least the genital area of a person sitting on the toilet seat of a toilet pedestal and therefore while the water and air are provided to the toilet pedestal there is required a directing means to direct the water and air toward the appropriate area of the person when it enters the toilet seat. Figure 2 illustrates the toilet pedestal of the invention wherein the toilet seat 4 is shown in greater detail and in a raised position and wherein the seat is seen to include, as an integral part thereof, a connecting means 24 in a first embodiment for the connecting of either or both of water and air or other fluid as required. When the toilet seat is raised the connecting means are remote from the water supply pipe outlet 8 and therefore the toilet pedestal acts in a conventional manner.However when the seat is brought to the down position as shown in Figures 3 and 4 the connecting means is brought into connection with the water and or air supply means 6, 22.

In one embodiment when the connecting means are brought into contact with the end 8 of, for example, the water supply means, a seal (not shown) typically of rubber, contacts with the end 8 and serves to form a substantially water tight seal. With the seal in effect, water passes through the water supply means 6, into the connecting means 24 and is directed as by directing means 26 in the form of a jet or spray from nozzles or spray outlets 44 as appropriate to wash the genital or anus area of the user. A similar arrangement can be used for the supply and directing of air to the area as required.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is for use of the invention when retrofitted to a conventional toilet pedestal wherein the connecting means is required to be shaped. to as to fit under the rim 28 of the pedestal to connect with the end of the water supply means 8. The connecting means is in this embodiment further required to be shaped such that the toilet seat can be lifted without the connecting means snagging on the said rim.

Figure 4 illustrates the shape of connecting means which can be used when the apparatus is fitted as new with, typically a specially shaped rim 30 to accomodate the connecting means 24.

As an alternative to the shaping of the connecting means 24 it is possible to provide a selection means in the form of an adaptor 34 as shown in Figure 6 wherein said adaptor can be shaped to pass under the rim to present one or a plurality of outlets 36 which inturn will connect with the ends 25 of the directing means 24. One end 37 of the adaptor is provided to allow the same to be securely fitted onto the end 8 of the water supply with the other end of the adaptor containing the outlets 36 for subsequent connection to the directing means 26. The use of the adapator helps to minimise the need to change the shape of the directing means and make the system easier to fit especially to existing toilet pedestals and allows selection of the use for the toilet pedestals.

Figures 5 & 5A illustrate a third embodiment of the invention wherein the toilet seat 4 is provided with directing means 26 in the form of a channel 38. Said channel is provided with an inner wall 40 and an outer wall 42 and typically the outer wall is of a dimension to fit slidingly inside the inner rim of the toilet pedestal. In the inner facing wall 40 of the directing means there is provided a plurality of nozzles or spray means 44 and the water is directed along the channel 38 to pass through the nozzles or spray means and wash, rinse or, if air is provided in place of water, to dry.

To use the apparatus of the invention as a cleaning apparatus the user firstly places the toilet seat 4 in the down position and when it is required that the washing operation is to begin they press one of the buttons 18. Operation of this button will activate the water heater 14 which will heat all of, or water held in a seperate compartment, in the cistern 10. In one embodiment the heater is also be controlled by thermostat control to ensure that the water is held at a higher than normal temperature to reduce the time gap between the pressing of the button 18 and the water reaching the required heat.

In any case once the water in the cistern has reached the required heat it is released either automatically or by depression of a second button 18 and at least a proportion of the water held in the cistern passes down the water supply means 6 to enter the directing means 26 and directed onto the person to wash as required. It is also envisaged that the nozzles or spray means 44 are angularly adjustable and are also adjustable to enable selection between a spray or jet supply.

Once the washing operation is complete, if the user requires drying to take place they push a further button 18 which activates the air supplier 22 to pass heated air to the directing means 26 to dry the washed area.

Once completed the toilet seat can be lifted or the adaptor removed and the flush mechanism 12 activated such that, with the directing means 26 remote from the water supply 6 the toilet pedestal can be flushed in a conventional manner.

If necessary and especially if a separate compartment in the cistern is used for the washing water, there .is provided a bacterial deterrent device to clean the water and ensure that the water is sufficiently clean to be used.

The apparatus of the invention provides clear advantages over existing systems in that the apparatus is compact and utilises several features such as existing toilet pedestals and, if required, existing cisterns with only relatively minor adaptations. Furthermore existing plumbing can be used and the method of operation of the same is simple and efficient with considerable space savings thereby allowing the apparatus to be used in areas with restricted space where, previously, it would not be possible.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in the cleaning of the genital area of a person, said apparatus comprising a water storage tank and a water supply connection to a toilet pedestal, said pedestal including a substantially annular seat and upon which the person sits and wherein said seat is connected to the water supply and has provided as an integral part thereof directing means for directing the water supplied onto the genital area of the person sitting on the seat.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the directing means are any of a nozzle, spray or sprinkling means provided in one position or spaced around the inwardly facing wall of the seat.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the directing means comprises a channel formed as part of the seat and provided with at least one nozzle, spray or sprinkling outlet in a wall thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the channel is located along the inwardly facing wall of the seat and protrudes inwardly into the bowl of the toilet pedestal.

5. Apparatus according to claims 3 or 4 wherein nozzle, spray or sprinkling outlets are provided on the inwardly facing wall of the channel.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the toilet seat is movable and is provided with a sealing connecting means to seal the directing means on said seat to the water supply when the seat is in the down position.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the storage tank is a cistern and the apparatus can be selectively operated as a conventional flushing toilet or as a means for cleaning a persons genital area.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus includes a selection device to allow the person to select the desired mode of operation of the apparatus by diverting the flow of water to the seat and directing means or to the conventional flush supply mode.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the selection device is an adaptor which when fitted to the water supply as it enters the toilet pedestal directs the water to one of the toilet seat or the toilet pedestal bowl for flushing.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus is selectively operated by raising the seat to operate the device as a conventional flush toilet pedestal and lowering the seat to connect the water supply to the seat and directing means.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein heating means are provided to heat the water in the storage tank prior to supply to the toilet seat.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus further comprises an air supply means which is connected to the directing means provided as an integral part of the seat.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the air supply means is a fan blower.

14. Apparatus for use in cleaning the genital area of a person, said apparatus comprising a cistern connected to a toilet pedestal for the supply of water thereto, said pedestal including a seat upon which the person sits and having directing means for directing the water supply to the genital area wherein the cistern includes heating means for heating the water supplied.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein there is provided a thermostat in the cistern and control means for adjusting the setting of the thermostat.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the cistern is a conventional cistern into which heating means are retrofitted.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the cistern is provided with at least a first compartment for the storage of water for use in the conventional flushing of the toilet and a second compartment including a heating means for the storage and heating of water to be supplied to the toilet seat.

18. Apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.