US2791781A - Diaper washing attachment for lavatory fixtures - Google Patents

Description

May '14, 1957 T. M.IMURRAY DIAPER WASHING ATTACHMENT FOR LAVATORY FIXTURES Filed Feb. 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Shee INVENTOR.

T/zomas M. Murray AGENT May 14, 1957 T. M. MURRAY DIAPER WASHING ATTACHMENT FOR LAVATORY FIXTURES Filed Feb. 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Tka/nao M. Marr DIAPER WASI-IING ATTACHMENT FOR" LAVATORY FIXTURES Thomas M; Murray, T'umbull, Conn.

Application Feb'uary 15, 1956, SerialNo. 565',605

Claims. (Cl. 4--1) This invention relates to means for washing, or cleans ing dia-pers and the like, andmore particularly. toxattachments to be used with existing lavatory fixturestsuch as diapers and the like. In these prior proposalslthenozzle` was provided witha hose by which-it was supposed to 'be connected to the water faucet of a sink. After use, the hose in these prior devices was intended to 'be disconnected, and temporarily stored in any suitablevplace.

Such prior devices had the disadvantage that they required a connection to be'made at each timethey wereto be used, the hose beingthen disconnected after use. Also, the matter of finding a 'suitable temporary storage. place for the hose was ditcult. Often the disconnectingof 'the hose was accompanied by spilling of residual water on the floor, and since the stored hose constituted an unsightly item in the lavatory or bathroom, untidness resulted.

The present invention obviates the above drawback's and disadvantages of these prior devices, and one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved diaper washing attachment for a lavatoryfixture, which may be easily installed and is so arranged that it does 'not'requre connecting and disconnecting Operations each timethe-attachment is to be, used.

Another object of the invention is to provide an. improved cleansing attachment of" the above type; which may be readily incorporated in different makes and styles of existing toilet fixtures, and which' is;no'mally`mostly out of sight except for minor portions'thereo'f.

Accordingly, a feature of the invention residesinthe provision of an improved attachment in accordancewith the above, which can 'be allowed to remain in placeat all times, without causing an unsightlyappearance;

A still further object'of' the'invention' is to'provide 'an improved cleansing attachment as above characterized,

which may be easily and quickly installed without theuse of tools, is sanitary, does not require` cleaning-after' each instance of use, and which may be constructed'of parts which are non-Corrosive and'not subjectto deterioration.

A still further object of the invention isto provide an improved cleansing attachment as characterized, which will not interfere with the normal operation of the lavatory fitting, and which further requires no `alteration of the existing mechanism of said fitting;

Another feature of the invention resides in* theprovision' of` an improved cleansing attachment havin'gall of the above advantages, yet which is'nevertheless inexpensive` to manufacture, andmay be made to agreatextent of plastic components capable of economical fabrication.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the'provision of an improved cleansing attachment in accordance with all of the foregoing, which^is quick and effective'in itsaction, and reliab'le in operation atuall times.:

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

"ice In the drawings accompanying this specificationgsimilar characters. of reference indicate corresponding parts wherever possible in the several views, in which:

Figur-e 1` -is a top or plan view of a lavatory toilet fixture having a tank and 'bowl, showing the cover of the tank removed and the improved cleansing attachment of the presentnvention installed in the fixture.

Fig., 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the 'bowl of the fixture shown in Fig. l, taken on line 2-2 thereof.

Eig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the tank of thefixture of F'g. l, taken on line 3--3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3..

Fig..5 is a topsor plan view of the valve means of the attachment, installed on the upper edge of the tank.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken on. -line-6--6 ofFig S.

. Figrlisa perspective view of a supportingfoot member of the attachment, adapted toretain a'fiexible supply line thereofin. place on thefillng pipe of the tank.

i Refe'ringY-to Figs. 1-4there is showna lavatory fixture comprsinga watertank 10 connected with `a 'bowl 11 to supply water thereto for flushngpurposes. The tank has the usualt water discharge valve and water inlet fittings (-I10t-:` shown) 'by which the contents thereof may *be emptedinto' the bowl 11 and the tank refilledto apredetermined level, such refill'being'characterized by automatic. shutting off of the water supply when the proper level isattained; As seen in Fig; 4, part ofthismechanism comprises the usual'filling pipe'12, which leads from a hoat-controlled water shut oli valve'(not shown).

In accordance with the present invention I provide a noveland improved cleansing attachmentfor the lavatory fitting 10, 11, by which soiled diapers' and the like may be 'eadilywashed and cleansed ina-most convenient" and effective manner. This cleansing attachment includes a spray head or nozzle means 13 attached to the rear portion of the bowl 11 and comprising-a tubular' member 14 having downwardly-disposed orifi'ces 15.

In 'accordance with' the invention' I provide novel, 'adjustable mount-ing means in conjunction with' the tubular member: 14 to enable the latter tobe easily'and quickly `mount'ed on various types and shapesof bowls 11. This mountngi. means comprises a pair of spring clips 16 adaptedto snap-over the upper rim 17' of the' bowl, said clips'having inwardly extending arms 18 provided, with eyes-.1 9"in-which the ends of the tubular member 14 are received; The eyes 19 are preferablyslidable on the member 14 whereby the spaci-ng between the'clips 16 may 'be varied'. to suit the particular bowl 11 on' which the nozzle means 'is to be Secured.

lir' accordance with the present invention the nozzle means'13 is provided with a supply of 'water from the tank 10 n a novel and advantageous manner, enabling, the cleansing attachment to -be very easily and quickly installed and providing for its utmost'etfectivenessand ease 'of'operatiom while at the same time enabling .the lavatory to be maintained neat and tidy, without unsightly components `beingexposed to view 'and without the likelihood of Water' being spilled on. the floor; which latter would require aLmop-up' operation after' each use' of the attachment::

As shown, leading from the rear portionof the. tubular member 14 is a water discharge line 20 connecting the nozzlemeans with a manuall'y operable valvemechanism 21; Referringto Figs. 3 and 4, the valve mechanism 21' comprise's a pair of relatively movablememberszz and"23, the latter beingstationary and being gcarriedon the upper 'edge portion 24 of the tank 10 by meansof U-shapedclips 25`adapted tohook over saidedge portion.

I also provide a depending tab 26 engageable with the inner surface 2.7 of the tank 10, to steady the valve mechanism 21 and provide -a more stable installation. The movable member 22 of the mechanism 21 includes a handle 28, Figs. and 6, carried by a pivot bolt 29 which passes through the member 23 and has a flexible bowed Washer 30 to maintain tension between the valve members'. As shown in Fig. 6, the handle 28 passes through the space between the clips 25, and the latter may constitute stops for the handle and also establish clearance between the top edge of the tank and the lid, to provide for f ree movement. As seen in Fig. 5 the stationary valve member 23 has three ports 32, 33 and 34, and the movable member 22 has an elongate channel 35 in its undersurface, cooperable with the ports 32--34 to connect either of the outer two p- orts 32, 34 to the center port 33.

Referring to Fig. 4, the center port 33 is connected by means of a water supply line 36, which is preferably in the form of a exible piastic pipe or hose, to the filling pipe 12 of the tank. The port 34 is connected with a depending discharge pipe 37 which is adapted to empty into the tank 10, and the port 32 is connected with the discharge line 20 leading to the nozzle means 13. i

In accordance with this invention the discharge line 20, discharge pipe 37 and supply line or hose 36, as Well as the valve members 22 and 23 may all be made of plastic material. The lines or hoses 20 and 36 are of flexible plastic, and preferably the hose 36 is provided with a bell mouth at its end and an exterior fiange 38 by which it may be Conveniently pressed over the lower end of the existing filling pipe 12 of the tank. I also provide a retaining member or supporting foot 40 adapted to extend around the bell mouthed end of the hose 36 and engage the fiange 38 thereof, said foot resting on the floor surface 41 of the tank and preventing accidental sepa ration of the hose 36 from the filling pipe 12. V

Referring again to Figs. 5 and 6, the manually-operable valve means 21 may be advantageously provided with a leaf spring 43 secured to the movable member 22 and engagin-g the underside of the stationary member 23, to take or assume some of the Water pressure load during functioning of the valve.

The operation of the cleansing attachment of this invention is as follows: For normal usage of the lavatory fixt'ure, the handle 28 and valve member 22 are placed in the dotted line 'position shown in Fig. 5. The usual flushing lever or button (not shown) is actuated in the ordinary manner, thereby opening the usual discharge valve `of the tank (not shown) and enabling water therefrom to flush the bowl 11 as heretofore. Filling of the tank will take place, water passing from the filling pipe 12 through the supply hose 36 to the discharge pipe 37, and thence passing into the tank 10. When it is desred to utilize the attachment for cleansing diapers and the like, the handle 28 is shifted to the full-line position shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the *supply line 36 is connected through the valve 21 to the discharge line 20. usual flush lever or button of the tank is actuated, whereupon the bowl 11 will be flushed in the usual manner. The diaper, being held in the bowl, will be initial ly cleansed by the flushing water, and fresh water entering the filling pipe 12 of the tank will pass through the line 36, valve 21, and discharge line 20 to the nozzle means 13. This water will be ejected from the orfices of the 'nozzle means, and may be utilized further for cleansing the diaper or other article. It will be understood that this water may run continuously, so that the user will have as much of a supply as might be necessary. When the diaper is satisfactorily cleansed, the -user merely shifts the handle 28 back to the dotted-ine position shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the supply of water will be discoutinued from the nozzle means 13, and instead will flow through the discharge pipe 37, to fill the tank in the usual manner. Upon the water level in the tank reaching the proper height, the usual fioat or other level-responsive Now the means Will shut off the water inlet valve in the customary manner.

It will be readily understood that, in accordance with the above, I have provided an advantageous and simple cleansing attachment which may be readily fitted to various styles of lavatory fixtures. The attachment does not have any large unsightly parts which require storage or attachment to faucet fittings or the like, but instead is simple and convenient to use and does not cause untdiness in the lavatory. The attachment may be left in place at all times, is sanitary, quick and efiective in its action, and may be easily and quickly installed without the use of tools. The operable parts may be made of non corrosive plastic material which can be economically fabricated, thus holding the cost of the device to a minimum. Operation of the lavatory fixture in the normal manner is not interfered with, and no alteration is required of the existing flushing mechanism.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions 'of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A cleansing attachment for a lavatory fixture of the type having a tank and a bowl supplied with water from the tank, and having a water-level actuated shut-oli valve connected with a filling pipe, comprising a nozzle means for attachment to the bowl; a manually-operative valve means attachable to the tank; a water-supply line and a water-dschar-ge line respectively connecting the filling pipe of the tank with the valve means and the latter to the nozzle means; and a water-discharge means connected with the valve means for ejecting water into the tank, said valve means connecting said water supply line with either said water-discharge means or said water-discharge line as determined by its different settings.

2. The invention as defined in claim l in which there is means adapted to eXtend over a top edge of the tank, for supporting the valve means within the latter, and in which the valve means has a handle adapted to extend outwardly of the tank past the said top edge and adjacent to the said supporting means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which the supporting means comprses a pair of members dsposed on opposite sides of the said handle and adapted to constitute stops therefor.

4. The invention as dened in claim 2 in which the supporting means comprses a pair of members disposed on opposite sides of the said handle, said members spacing the lid of the tank from the upper edge thereof, to provide clearance' for the said handle.

5. The invention as dened in claim 1 in which the valve means is adapted to be disposed within the tank and has clips for engagement with the upper edge of the tank,

'to support the valve means thereon.

`member having means for detachably supporting it on the upper edge' of the tank and within the latter, said other member having connected to it the said supply and discharge lines and the said water-discharge means.

7., The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the nozzle means comprses a tubular member having a plurality of orifices, and in, whichrthere are means adjustably connected to said tubular member and including clips 'for removably supporting the tubular member within the said bowl.

8. The invention as dened in claim 1 in which the water supply line comprses a flexible hose adapted to fit over the end of the filling pipe of the tank, and in which there is a retainer adapted to be placed in the tank, for holding the hose in place on the filling pipe.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which there are coop'erable abutment means on the retainer and said exible hose, preventng the latter from slipping off the operabl e means on the hose comprses a flange engage filling pipe, said retainer being adapted to engage an inable with said foot. side wall of the tank.

10. The invention as dened in claim 9 in which the References Cited in the file of this patent retaner comprises a sustantally tubular supporting foot 5 FOREIGN PATENTS adapted to extend around the hose, and n whch the co- 69,368 Netherlands u Jan 15, 1952

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