GB2336533A

GB2336533A - Portable personal hygiene device

Info

Publication number: GB2336533A
Application number: GB9808662A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barrie Charles Singleton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-24
Filing date: 1998-04-24
Publication date: 1999-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-24
Also published as: GB9808662D0; GB2336533B

Abstract

A portable device for washing the anal region comprises a water reservoir 14 enclosed in a shell 1 with a removable lid 3 and mounted removably on a base 2. The base has electric sockets 27 connected to a mains supply and which receive pins 12 on the reservoir connected to a thermostatically controlled water heater 17 and a charger 18 for battery 19. For use the reservoir is removed using handle 5 and the pump 20 is energised under battery power by switch 26 whereby heated water is circulated to a valve-controlled water outlet (Fig 3) by way of flexible outflow and return lines 9,10. After heated water flow has stabilised the valve of the outlet may be opened for washing. Valve 21 controls water flow. Tray 22 and pocket (25, Fig 1) provides storage for respectively, the lines 9,10 and outlet valve.

Description

2336533 - i PERSONAL HYGIENE DEVICE This invention relates to a personal

hygiene device.

The use of paper to cleanse the region of the anus, as is the current practice, is unhygienic, inefficient, and often ineffective, particularly, .,hen body hair i'spresent.

The bidet, a long established facility, is an effective means of cleaning and maintaining good hygiene. It directs a stream of water at a rate and temperature agreeable to the user and runs soiled water to waste. it is a fixed installation with plumbing for hot and cold water and waste -n,-, tfl--w, it requires similar floor space to a flush toilet. k The bath-.cam or WC of a typical family home has neither bidet nor space to r, accommodate one but in all homes there is at least one flush toilet plummed to foul drain with an associated supply of toilet paper. Toilet paper of the soft variety, being akin to blotting paper, is an excellent, single use, drying mediumwhich is structured to be flushed to drain via the toilet.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable or mcbile washing device comprising a mains electricty means, a heated temperature controlled and monitored refillable fluid resevoir ha. 7ing an associated electric pump with on/off switch and electric s-'Ora3e provision, pressurelflow control means and a directable valve-controlled cutlet with associated flexible tubing.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 shows an elevation, not to scale, of the device standing on its base. Figure 2 shows a lateral diametric section with reference to figure 1. Figure 3 shows a cross section, not to scale, of the valve controlled outlet. Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of the electric circuit.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a cylindrical outer shell 1 standing on a base 2 with a removable lid 3 attached by catches 4 and having a carrying handle 5 affixed. The shell has orifices 6 to allow reading of temperature gauge 7 adjustment of thermc-static 'heater 17 accomodation of flow pipe 9 and return pipe 10 and shaft of pressure/flow adjustment knob 11. To the outside of the shell are mounted an annular tray 22 to stare the flemible tubing 13, a pin 23 to marshall the flexible tubing 13 whe.n. valve controlled outlet 24 is stored in pocket 25 and an electrical switch 26 to control the pump 20. Three electrical contact pins 12 pass through and are fixed into the underside of the shell 1. Inside the shell are housed a fluid resevair 1-4 with re=oveable vented lid 15 temperature gauge 7 thermostatic heater 17 a battery charger 1-3 electric storage battery 19 electric pum- 20 flow pipe 9 and return pipe 10 in which is located P.-ess,-,re.Iflow control valve 21.

The base 2 has three electrical contact sockets 27 a mains supply lead 41. and a mains plug 42. The flexible tubing 13 may be any convenient length and connects at its extrenity to valve- controlled outlet 24. The valve controlled cutlet 24 is of a size convenient to one-banded use and comprises a hollow member with lever 31 mounted pivotally at 38 acting at it's end on a threaded nut 33 fitted to threaded shaft 32 which passes through seal ring 39 washer 40 compression spring 34 and disc 35 to which it is- fixed Cap 37 has a perforated face and is threaded such that when screwed hcne it clamps dual-seal- 3C against the body of the valve controlled outlet 24 and against disc 35 partially compressing spring 34. Flow pipe 4-3 delivers fluid adjacent to disc 35. Flos,,, pipe 43 and return pipe 44 are mounted in plate 8 which is driven by screwed ring 30 towards shoulder 29 thereby compressing seal 28.

When deployed in the home, the base 2 is placed in a convenient adjacent to a mains socket cutlet and plugged in. The rec-evcir 14 is filled with, ic- water plus any desired addition such as detergent or bacter 4de. The thermostatic heater 17 is set and the device placed on its base thereby mating pIns 12 with sockets 2? thus initiating water he-ating and battery charging.

When required for use, the device is ulDlifted from its base 2 using handle 5 and placed conveniently near to the flush toilet to be used. After defae- ::at-zn, the switch 26 is actuated energising p,-,=p 20 and initating flow tbereby flushing tubing 13 and valve controlled outlet 24 with', warn water. The valve controlled outlet is held below the body and the lever 31 depressed to release a spray of warn water the flowpressure of whi.:h is then adusted usJ---g ewntrc- valve 21. After use, switch 26 is retuned to the off DL-sitJ-n-, the tubing coiled into tray 22 and valve controlled outlet returned t_c 25. The device is then replaced on base 2 in readiness for further -,se.

A-ff 5 An alternative embodiment comprises the device as described above but d--- r in that the valve controlled outlet is detatchable at a qu4ck-release coupling allowing user-specific valve controlled outlets.

A second alternative embodiment comprises the device as described abcve but differs in that the resevoir has an exterior heat source instead of thernostatic heater 17.

A third alternative embodiment comprises the device as described ab,2ve but differs in that pressure/f12w is controlled using a variable speed r,, jm.p associated controller. Pressure/flow control valve 21 is deleted.

A fourth alternative embodinent com,,,rises the device as described above but differs in that vcltages may be varied to suit, c-' use and altern-ative charger /battery/punp comb inatic-ns.

Claims

1 A portable or ---bile washing device c----Dr4-sing a mains electric4ty connection/disconnection rteans, a heated temperature controlled and monitored refillable fluid reservoir havin3 an ass,.:yc-4-.ted electric pump with Dn/off switch and electric storage provision. pressure!fl-cw means and a directable T.-.lve-c-.ntro'L led outlet with f tubing.

2 A washing device as cialmed in Clai= 1 twin. tubes allow flow from reservoir to valve-controlled outlet and from valvecontrolled outlet back to reservoir,,,,hen the DUM- p.) 4- ct4s.7ated.

3 A washing device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the interior cf the valve-controlled outlet is cc-if4-gured such that the residual- fluid therein is substantially completely displaced by warmed fluid fron.'.he reserv2ir when the pump is activated.

4 A washing device as claimed in C!_ain, 1 wherein the fluid cTr-,r4zee tap water with small additions of one or more substances.

A washing device as claimed n Clai= 4 wherein the small additinns to the water can be bactericide, deterSent, perfume, dye, iihibitor and emcllient.

6 A washing device substantially as herein, describef with rferen.:e tc figures 1 - 4 of- the ac,:,cnDany4-n-g draw4----w.

6 A washing device substantially as described lerein with reference to fiSures 1 - 4 of the aecc=pan,ying dra,..!ing.

U- Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A portable warn-water washing device with st--t,-,,: base further comprising mains-electricity interl-ocked means, a heated temperature and refillable having an associated electric- pump.!4th 3n/zff and st=r-age 1,. - provisicm, pressureffiew czntrol means and a directable fle-A-"-,le and return tubes.

2 A washir.3 device as claimed in Claim 1,.:hera4-n the r en means is actuated by place=ent cr renoval- ---f the n, respect to the base.

,,,here4,, the 4nte-4C.r f the 3 A washin3 device as claimed 4- Claim 1 c 7al cQ-.i..-rolled outlet is configured suzh that the residual fluid +h=-rein is substantially completely displaced via the return tube b-7,r.ar=ed the reservoir via the flcw tube when the pump is activated.

4 A washing device as claimed in Claim the fluid cc=,;:.rises tap water W4th small additicns --f one or mcre substances.

A washing device as claimed in Claim 4 i..,herein the small! ±-- th-e water may be bactericide! detergent, perfune, dye, inh4.b,+or and enoll-4-e,-.t.