US3045248A

US3045248A - Sanitary rectal fountain

Info

Publication number: US3045248A
Application number: US142628A
Authority: US
Inventors: Merle O Gentry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-10-03
Filing date: 1961-10-03
Publication date: 1962-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-24

Description

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July 24, 1962 M. o. GENTRY 3,045,248

SANITARY RECTAL FOUNTAIN Filed OCL. 3, 1961 INVENTOR. FIG 2 MERLE 0./GENTRY BYZZZQ/J ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,045,248 SANITARY RECTAL FOUNTAIN Merle 0. Gentry, Rte. 1, Box 890, Ventura, Calif.

, Filed Uct. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 142,628

5 Claims. (Cl. 47)

This invention relates to attachments to toilet bowls and more particularly to an improved sanitary rectal fountain for cleansing the rectal area after defecation.

In my United States Patent No. 2,995,759, there vis described a sanitary rectal fountain in which 4water spray is confined to the precise area to be cleansed with the resulting advantage that-a minimum of the buttock area of the user is splashed with water. rlhis rectal fountain is `also designed to be swung to a position in the toilet bowl to intercept normal flushing water when not in use so that upon flushing of the toilet, the device will be washed and thus kept in a relatively sanitary condition, tall in an automatic manner. f

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a rectal fountain similar to that described and claimed in my foregoing mentioned United States p-atent but including certain Ifeatures providing an improved structure and mode of operation.

More particularly, it is found desirable to operate the fountain structure at the time that the initial toilet water is being ilushed so that the operating structure itself is in a raised position to be free of the initial surge of flushing water. This positioning of the fountain structure will prevent contamination by any foreign matter being flushed. On the other hand, the device is designed to be repositioned adjacent the rear wall of the toilet bowl so that it will be cleaned by the latter portions of the flushing water and by subsequent flushings of the toilet in the manner as originally `described in the above U.S. patent.

ln addition to the foregoing, the instant invention provides an improved water outlet means in the fountain structure itself which will aid in cleansing the cup-shaped member surrounding lthe anal opening. Essentially, the

improvement resides in the provision of small openings in the pipe in addition to the main outlet opening to direct water against the inside surface and upper edge portions of the cup-shaped member. This action cleanses the member in addition to that realized by subsequent flushing water after the device has been repositioned adjacent the rear wall of the toilet bowl to insure that'sanitary conditions exist.

Another consideration, when operating the structure defined in my above-mentioned patent, relates to certain plumbing code-requirements which require that any overiiow be at least six inchesbelow any atmospheric breaker. The instant invention accordingly incorporates in its structure means for automatically limiting the level to whioh the fountain structure may be swung kso as to insure adherence to plumbing `code provisions.

A better understanding of the improved sanitary rectal fountain will be had by now referring to the accompanying drawings, Vin which:

FIGURE l is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating in solid and dot-ted lines the improved sanitary rectal fountain of this invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side'view partly in cross section of the improved cup-shaped structure and outlet openings employed in the structure of FIGURE l.

Referring first to FIGURE l, there is shown a conventional toilet bowl 1i) provided with a seat 11 and the conventional cover 12, the latter being shown in the up position. Also provided is a conventional flush tank 13.

The sanitary rectal fountain of the present invention includes a pipe i1d extending transversely -across the rear 3,045,248 Patented July 24, 1962.

ICC

portion of the toilet bowl 10 and having a central portion thereof rotatably coupled to the rear portion as shown. This `central portion includes a T-joint 15 from which a branch pipe E16 extends terminating in 'an outlet cup-shaped structure 17. The pipe 16 extends normally away .from the central portion of the pipe 14 as shown and in a rst position will depend downwardly adjacent the rear wall of the toilet -bowl 10.

One end of the transverse pipe 14 terminates in a closed bent portion 18 defining a handle for enabling rotation of the central portion of the pipe 14 about its own axis. The other end of Athe pipe 14 connects to a exible hose 19, in turn having its inlet end connected to a push button valve 20 leading from a source of water supp-ly indicated by the small arrow. The flexible hose 19 :can accommodate a ninety degree torsional twist upon rotation of the pipe 14- hy an upward swinging movement of the handle 18.

The operation of the structure described thus far in FIGURE l is identical to that set forth in the abo'vementioned prior Patent No. 2,995,759. Rotation of the handle .18 through an arc ofapproximately ninety degrees to the dotted line position will swing the cup-shaped structure 17 yand -branch pipe 16 to a position generally parallel to the plane of the upper peripheral edges of the toilet bowl 10. The cup-shaped member is then in position to surround the anal area of the user and cause water passing from the end of the pipe 16 to impinge upon the area and cleanse the same.

The first improved structure of the instant invention lover that described in the aforementioned patent takes the form of a laterally extending member 21 rigidly secured to the pipe 1d and caused to rotate therewith. An actuating rod 22 in turn has one end coupled to the member 21 and at its other end coupled to the ush handle 23 for the flush tank 13. With this arrangement, it'will be evident that rotation of the pipe 1d between the solid dotted line positions shown will automatically cause operation of the liush handle 23 through the mediurn of the rod 22 to liush the toilet. Therefore, the

toilet will be flushed `only when the lbranch pipe 16 Iand cup-shaped fountain structure 17 is moved to its second or dotted line position free of the initial surge of ush water. Contamination of the structure by the excrement in the flush water during initial lflushing isr thus avoided.

In addition to the foregoing, the rod 22 will serve to limit the degree of upward swinging of the branch pipe 16 and cup-shaped member 17. This upward swinging is limited to a level no higher than the plane of the upper peripheral edges of the toilet bowl lll so that plumbing codes requiring that any atmospheric breaker be at least six inches above an overflow are 4fully met.

It is understood, of course, that when the cup-shaped structure 17 is in the dotted line position and the toilet is being liushed, the user simultaneously operates the push button valve 20 to cause water to` pass through the pipe 14 and'ibranch pipe 16 :and thereby spr-ay the surrounding -anal area.

The foregoing cleansing operation will become clearer by referring to FIGURE 2 wherein it will be noted that the cup-shaped structure 17 includes surrounding walls 24 and an upper annular seating surface 25. The bottom portion of fthe |walls 24 is open so that water may drain therefrom. The pipe 16, as shown, terminates in a main opening 26 directed upwardly, and includes a plurality of smaller openings 27 disposed to direct spray adjacent the inside surface portions of the walls 24 and the upper edges of the seating surface 25, thereby thoroughly cleansing these Iareas as the anal area is being sprayed.

The terminal portion of the ilushing operation will also serve to cleanse the cup-shaped member and other por- 3 tions of the rectal fountain when the same is returned to the first or solid line position illustrated in FIGURE 1. A subsequent or second flushing operation, of course, will also serve to cleanse the device. As mentioned, the feature of automatically flushing the toilet upon positioning the device in its dotted line or operating position avoids possible contamination of the device by excrement oating in the water at the initial portion of the rst flushing.

The improved sanitary rectal fountain thus provides an automatic means for insuring that the toilet is flushed at the proper time during use ofthe device as well as providing a limiting means to avoid the possibility of violating .any plumbing code provisions in the use of the structure.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toilet structure including a toilet bowl, tlush tank, and flush tank operating handle, a sanitary rectal fountain comprising, in combination: a `fountain structure swingably mounted to the upper rear portion of said toilet bowl for movement from a iirst position adjacent the rear wall of said bowl to a second position substantially parallel .to the plane of the upper peripheral edges of said bowl; and actuating means coupling said fountain structure to said ush tank operating handle, whereby swinging movement of said fountain structure from said 'first position to said second position operates said handle to flush said toilet bowl.

2. The subject matter of claim l, in which said sanitary rectal fountain structure includes a pipe mounted to the rear of said toilet bowl for rotation about its own axis, one end of said pipe being connected to a source of fluid and the other end of said pipe terminating in a handle, the intermediate portion of said pipe including a branch pipe extending normally therefrom and terminating in water outlet openings, said actuating means including a laterally extending portion integrally formed on said pipe and a single rod member having one end coupled to the end of said laterally extending portion and its other end coupled to said handle, whereby rotation of said pipe will move said rod in a general axial direction to operate said handle.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, in which the extent of said laterally projecting portion is adjusted such that said rod limits the degree of rotation of said pipe whereby prising, in combination: a pipe having an inlet end for attachment to a source of water, the other end yof said pipe terminating in a handle; coupling means intermediate the ends of said pipe for rotatably securing the central portion of said pipe to the upper rear edge portion of said toilet bowl; a branch pipe extending normally from said central portion and terminating in outlet opening means; a cup-shaped member surrounding said opening means and having an upper annular seating surface for engaging the users rectal area over 360 degrees to surround the anal opening, the bottom of said cup-shaped member being open to drain water after passing from said outlet opening means to impinge against said rectal area and upper inside surface portions of said seating surface and cup-shaped member to cleanse the same, said coupling means allowing said pipe to rotate about its own axis through substantially ninety degrees to swing said branch pipe and cup-shaped member from a lirst position adjacent the rear wall of said toilet bowl to a second position substantially parallel to the plane of the upper peripheral edges of said toilet bowl during use; valve means adjacent the inlet end of said pipe for starting and stopping water ow from said source through said pipe and branch pipe to said opening means; and actuating rod means coupling said pipe to said flush handle whereby rotation of said lpipe from said first to said second position operates said References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 613,616 Adee Nov. 1, 1898 1,963,329 Hornell June 19, 1934 2,995,759 Gentry Aug. 15, 1961 und v-