WO2012049308A2

WO2012049308A2 - Portable toilet seat and apparatus for body douching

Info

Publication number: WO2012049308A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/068020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enio Riccardo Di Cecco
Original assignee: Enio Riccardo Di Cecco
Priority date: 2010-10-15
Filing date: 2011-10-14
Publication date: 2012-04-19
Also published as: IT1402041B1; WO2012049308A3; ITMI20101894A1

Abstract

A portable toilet seat (10) and an apparatus suitable for body douching, in particular colon and vaginal douching. The toilet seat (10) comprises a C-shaped body having two side arms (12) forwardly extending from a rear body portion and having gradually decreasing thickness to render the seating more comfortable for an user; downwardly oriented suction cups (21) allow the portable seat (10) to be fastened on a conventional toilet seat, or on a toilet bowl rim. A manually actuable valve unit (31) allows to control the pressure and temperature of the douching fluid supplied to the irrigation nozzle (48).

Description

PORTABLE TOILET SEAT AND APPARATUS FOR BODY DOUCHING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable toi let seat and to a body douching device suitable to be used with the portable toilet seat for colon and vaginal douching by a douching fluid, for example water, in order to perform douching for cleaning the colon or other similar applications; in particular the invention is directed to an auxiliary portable toilet seat, conformed to support an injection nozzle and for enabling a comfortable seating of a user, as well as an adjustable fastening of the portable seat to a conventional toilet seat or to a toilet blow rim.

The invention is further directed to an assembly of a body douching apparatus, and a portable toilet seat, said apparatus being suitable for enabling a proper control of the temperature and the pressure of the douching fluid by the same user, or by an assistant, during douching.

STATE OF THE ART

Apparatuses for body douching are widely known and disclosed for example i n E P-A-1 24091 1 and E P-A-1 579880; i n particu lar E P-A-124091 1 discloses an apparatus for intestinal treatments form ing integral part of a conventional toilet seat, wherein a conventional toilet seat provided with a feeding duct for a douching fluid, which communicates with a fore hole for connection to an irrigation nozzle, or a support pipe. The feeding duct for the fluid is connectable to a pressurised water source by a manually actuable flow and pressure valve unit, in a fixed position on a side of the toilet seat. A solution of this type results impractical under different points of view and implies various problems both for the impossibility of removing the douching apparatus from the toilet seat, for example for transporting said douching apparatus to be used with other toilet seats of different type and/or configuration, and for the impossibility for a user to have a direct and safe control of the injecting conditions of the douching fluid, as well as for the difficulty of manually operating the flow and pressure control valves positioned on a side of the toilet seat, since the user is forced to twist or bend around himself.

These problems were partially tried to be solved with EP-A-1579880, by proposing a body portable douching apparatus wherein the use of a special tubular support frame for an injection nozzle has been suggested, and wherein the support frame is positioned between the upper rim of a toilet bowl and the bottom of a conventional toilet seat. Furthermore, the valve control unit for the pressure, the temperature and the flow of the treatment fluid, generally water, is positioned once again on a side of the toilet bowl, in a position hardly visible and accessible by a user.

Other portable devices for body douching are known for example from US- A-1 .838.356, US-A-2.007.069, US-A-2.528.095, US-A-5.946.741 , and WO-A-99/26679 which is considered as the closest prior art according to the preamble of claim 1 .

Certain difficulties also arose in the practical use of these douching devices, that restricted their trade expansion and application, in particular due to the difficulty in properly positioning a frame or a base plate for supporting the irrigation nozzle, between a conventional toilet seat and the upper rim of the toilet bowl, consequently due to the difficulty in obtaining a proper seating for the user in respect to the irrigation nozzle.

In the past, all this caused problems and internal injuries to a patient, with consequent irritation or bleeding.

Furthermore, said douching apparatuses result inadequate for an easy use, as a consequence of the continuous evolution of dimensions and shapes of the toilet seats and the toilet bowls.

A second problem, in the practical use of said douching apparatuses, concerns the difficulty for old people, or large build people, to twist and/or blend their own body when seating, in order to properly actuate the control valve for the water or treatment fluid flow, and to control the temperature and pressure parameters of the same fluid fed to the irrigation nozzle. A still further problem, besides providing a solution suitable for enabling a proper seating of the user and positioning of the irrigation nozzle, is to provide a douching apparatus regardless of the type of toilet seat and/or toilet bowl, to enable a proper use of the same apparatus, when on a side of the toilet bowl there is an obstacle preventing the connection to the fluid feeding line, as well as to prevent that, due to some external cause, the temperature of the fluid exceeds certain dangerous values, that can cause internal burns and possible injuries.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide an auxiliary portable toilet seat for a douching apparatus, as well as an assembly of a body douching apparatus provided with a portable toilet seat suitable for supporting an irrigation nozzle, and solving the problem previously referred to, that is enabling an easy use and transport of the auxiliary toilet seat and said douching apparatus also by unskilled people, unable to properly use a conventional irrigation apparatus.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a portable toilet seat configured for supporting an irrigation nozzle and for enabling a comfortable seating to a user, that can be applied to any type of toilet bowl and/or conventional toilet seat, assuring at the same time a firm fastening of the portable toilet seat enabling the user to hold a proper positioning in respect to the irrigation nozzle, preventing the same user from being accidentally subjected to traumas or getting hurt. A still further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary toilet seat and an apparatus for body douching of portable type, wherein the individual components can be easily assembled at time of their use, and disassembled for being stowed into a bag, or container, for preservation and/or transport. A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for body douching that is very simple and easy to use, so as to enable the pressure and the temperature of the douching fluid to be controlled during the irrigation, by providing a control unit conformed to be frontally accessible, without the user has to twist or hold uncomfortable positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects and advantages according to the invention are obtainable by a portable toilet seat according to claim 1 , as well as by the assembly of a body douching apparatus and a portable toilet seat according to claim 7.

According to a first aspect of the invention, an auxiliary portable toilet seat has been provided suitable to be used with a body douching apparatus having an irrigation nozzle, the portable toilet seat comprising:

a C-shaped body having upper and bottom surfaces, and configured for removably supporting the irrigation nozzle;

a conduit in said body for connecting the irrigation nozzle to a fluid feeding line;

characterised in that:

the C-shaped body comprises a rear body portion and two side arms of gradually decreasing thickness forwardly extending from the rear body portion, said arms being configured with an upper seating surface; and at least one suction cup downwardly extending from the bottom of the body of the toilet seat, said at least one suction cup being positioned to removably fasten the portable toilet seat to a conventional toilet seat or to a toilet bowl rim.

According to a further aspect of the invention an assembly of a portable body douching apparatus and a portable toilet seat has been provided, the assembly comprising a fluid feeding line including:

a central control unit configured for manually adjusting the flow of the douching fluid fed to the irrigation nozzle;

a first manually operable valve unit provided with a coupling for connection of the fluid feeding line to a fluid source;

a second manually operable valve unit provided with couplings for connection to the fluid feeding line and to a side of a fluid feeding conduit crosswise to the rear body portion of the portable toilet seat;

said central control unit and said first and second valve units being configured to be disengageably connectable to the fluid feeding line. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and further features, as well as a preferred embodiment of an auxiliary portable toilet seat and a portable body douching apparatus according to the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the portable toilet seat according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an upside down, perspective view of the toilet seat of figure 1 ; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail according to the cross sectional line 3-3 of figure 1 ;

Fig. 4 is the assembly of the body douching apparatus, in combination with the portable toilet seat of figure 1 ; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the central control unit;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the tubular support device for the irrigation nozzle;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an irrigation nozzle;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the nozzle, according to line 8-8 of figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to figures 1 to 3 a preferred embodiment of a portable toilet seat will be now described, suitable for being used with an apparatus according to the invention for body douching by a fluid, such as water or other treatment fluid normally used for cleaning the colon of a patient, or other similar applications.

As previously said, the auxiliary portable toilet seat according to the invention is adapted for being removably applied both to a conventional toilet seat, and directly to the upper rim of any toilet bowl, regardless of conformation and the design of the conventional toilet seats and toilet bowls.

As shown in figures 1 and 2, the portable toilet seat comprises a C-shaped body 10, for example of moulded plastic material, wood or any combination thereof, provided with a flat rear body portion 1 1 and two side arms 12 of gradually decreasing thickness, forwardly extending from the rear body portion 1 1 . The body 10 of the toilet seat exhibits an upper seating surface, substantially defined by two side arms 12 and an arch shaped fore surface 13 having anatomic shape, to enable users of different build to properly seat in position; the body 10 of the toilet seat further comprises a bottom flat resting surface provided with a peripheral edge 14 and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 15 traversely extending to the two side arms 12.

Still from figure 1 , it is noted that the arch-shaped fore surface 13 of the body 10 complies with the decreasing thickness of the two arms 12, starting from an upwardly and frontally open central cavity 16, that partially extends in the rear body portion 1 1 . The central cavity 16 has a flat bottom provided with two parallely extending projections 17, defining a fork member, suitable for holding, in a centred position, a tubular support member 47 for an irrigation nozzle 48, as explained in the following and as shown in figure 4. The body 10 of the toilet seat is further provided with fast disengageable fluid couplings, in particular two side female couplings 18 on the right and left sides of the rear body portion 1 1 , for connection of a crosswise conduit 20 to a fluid feeding line, and a third frontal female fluid coupling of the same type, within the central cavity 16, for connection of an injection nozzle 48 to the fluid feeding conduit 20.

The three fluid couplings 18 are connected to an inner conduit 20, and to a central branched out duct for the nozzle 48, wherein the conduit 20 is arranged crosswise to the rear body portion 1 1 of the toilet seat. The female couplings 1 8 can be of any type, preferably, as shown, said female couplings 18 are of fast coupling type, suitable to be connected to male couplings 1 8' normally of the type used for connecting rubber or garden tubes; the female couplings 18 may further include a check valve, comprising a plug member biased in a closed condition by a spring or by the same pressure of the supplied fluid, in which the check valve is automatically opened when a male type coupling 18' is inserted.

The body 10 of the toilet seat, owing to the particular tapered shape or forward decreasing thickness of the arms 12, and the shaped front surface 13, not only enable an user to be aided to properly seat down, in respect to the body irrigation nozzle 48, but, owing to the use of a particular suction cup fastening system, enables as well the portable toilet seat, to be easily positioned on any toilet seat of conventional type, or directly on the upper rim of the toilet bowl, regardless of the specific shapes and dimensions of said conventional toilet seat and toilet bowl. As shown in figures 1 and 2 and the enlarged detail of figure 3, the suction cup fastening system comprises two manually actuatable suction cups 21 downwardly extending from the bottom side of the rear body portion 1 1 of the toilet seat. Each suction cup 21 comprises a rear shank 23, upwardly extending into a top open large cavity 22 through a first hole 24, as well as comprises a lip lifting member 25 connected to the peripheral edge of the suction cup 21 , upwardly extending in the cavity 22 through a second hole 26. The rear shank 23 of the suction cup 21 is press-fitted into the hole 24 with the peripheral edge of the suction cup 21 normally protruding downward, beyond the bottom plane of the toilet bodies 10; conversely, the member 25 for lifting the edge and disengaging the suction cup 21 , passes through a large conical hole 26, that facilitates the gripping of said member 25 with the fingers of a hand.

Consequently, for fastening the toilet seat to an upper surface of a conventional toilet seat, generally indicated by 27 in figure 3, with which any toilet bowl is provided, or to the upper rim of said toilet bowl, it is sufficient to properly positioning the portable toilet seat on the conventional toilet seat 27, or edge of the toilet bowl, arranging the two suction cups 21 into contact with a resting surface; then, it is sufficient to press with a finger of a hand on the rear shank 23 for venting the air from the suction cup 21 and causing said suction cup 21 to firmly adhere to the resting surface. Thus, the auxiliary and portable toilet seat results firmly positioned and fastened in order to enable a user to seat in a suitable and comfortable position for inserting the injection nozzle 48 and properly using the body douching apparatus, as explained in the following with reference to figure 4.

For removing the toilet seat 10, it is sufficient to disengage the two suction cups 21 by lightly lifting a point of the peripheral edge by manually acting on the lip lifting member 25. So, air is caused to enter the suction cup 21 , causing the disengagement from the resting surface; the portable toilet seat and the douching apparatus can be disassembled and stowed into a bag or container, ready for being easily transported and/or used later. Figure 4 shows a full assembly of the apparatus for body douching, in combination with the portable toilet seat of figure 1 .

The use of portable irrigation apparatuses, suitable for being assembled, disassembled and stowed into a bag, is already known for example from EP- A-1579880; however in that case use was made of conventional screw connectors and sealing gaskets, requiring particular caution in order to prevent fluid leakage, thus resulting of unpractical use for old people or people having manual difficulties, since the control elements are provided on a side of the toilet bowl, in a position that forces a seated user to twist and bend.

As previously said, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable toilet seat for toilet bowls and an apparatus for body douching or other suitable applications, such to obtain different advantages, in particular:

- a fast fastening and removal of the portable toilet seat on any conventional toilet seat, or toilet bowl, regardless of the shapes and dimensions of said conventional toilet seat or toilet bowl;

- a proper seating for the user in respect to the irrigation nozzle; and

- an easy and fast assembling and disassembling of the apparatus and portable toilet seat, enabling at the same time the user to maintaining a frontal position of the control unit, remaining comfortably seated. All said above was obtained, by an assembly comprising in combination the portable toilet seat previously disclosed, and a body douching apparatus having a central control unit 30, for adjusting the flow of fluid to be fed to an irrigation nozzle; the control unit 30 is of the type shown in figures 4 and 5, connectable, by fast automatic coupling, to other members of a fluid feeding line of the apparatus, by flexible and/or extensible hoses that enable an user seated on the toilet seat, to frontally keep and operate the control unit 30. The body douching apparatus therefore comprises an irrigation nozzle 48, a first disengageable fluid coupling 42 for connection to a fluid source, and a second disengageable fluid coupling 46 for connection to the conduit 20 to feed the fluid to the injection nozzle 48; other features of the apparatus are still shown in figure 4 and in the following figures 5 to 8.

In figure 4 the same reference numbers of figures 1-3 were used in order to indicate similar or equivalent parts.

The apparatus of figure 4 comprises a first central control unit, as a whole indicated by 30, more clearly shown in the enlarged view of figure 5. The central control unit 30 comprises a pressure adjusting valve 31 , manually actuable by acting on a knob 32, a pressure gauge or pressure indicator 33, upwardly facing for aiding both the pressure regulating valve 31 to be actuated and the pressure to be read. The pressure adjusting valve 31 can be of any type and of any material, for example of metal and/or an anti scale plastic material.

On a side of the pressure adjusting valve 31 , a safety valve 35 against overpressure is provided, suitable for being manually reactivated by operating on a proper button, and an indicator 36 of the temperature of the fluid fed to the irrigation or injection nozzle 48; the dial 37 of the temperature indicator 36 is again upwardly oriented in a manner similar to the dial of the pressure gauge 33. An automatic fluid coupling 18 of female type is screwed on both sides of the control unit 30, for automatically tightly connecting to a male coupling 18' of flexible hoses 39 and 45.

The inlet side of the control unit 30 is connectable to a douching fluid source, in particular water, for example to a conventional mixer for hot and cold water of a wash-basin, bidet or douche, by a first flexible and extensible hose 39, for example a coiled up hose, a filter 40, a second flexible hose 41 and a first safety group 42 comprising a manually actuable valve 43 and a thermostatic valve 44, of normally open type, being provided as well as a thermostatic actuator suitable for actuating the valve to close when the temperature of the fluid exceeds a pre-set, dangerous value.

The central control unit 30 is also connectable to an inlet fluid coupling 18 of the toilet seat 10, by a third flexible hose 45 of suitable length, and to a second control unit 46, substantially consisting of a second, manually actuable ON-OFF valve.

In order to lighten the control unit 30, designed for being taken by hands by a user, the pressure gauge 33 can be removed from the group, by positioning said pressure gauge 33 at the side control unit 42.

Eventually, the apparatus comprises a tubular support 47 for a body irrigation nozzle 48, said tubular support 47 being connectable to the central coupling 18.

In the example of figure 6, the support 47 for the nozzle 48 substantially consists of an L-shaped tubular member, downwardly extending into the toilet bowl between the two projections 1 7; the upper end of the tubular member 47 is connected to a male fluid coupling 49 for being automatically inserted in the female central fluid coupling 18 of the toilet seat; the other end of the tubular member 47 is connected in turn to a second fluid coupling 50 comprising an extension 51 onto which a nozzle 48 can be tightly threaded. A safety valve 52 has a normally closed plug member 53 biased by a spring 54 that enables the valve 52 to be automatically opened toward a toilet bowl when the pressure of the fluid supplied to the injection nozzle 48 exceeds a pre-set, dangerous value.

The figures 7 and 8 show a type of irrigation and injection nozzle 48, particularly adapted to be used with the douching apparatus according to the present invention. The irrigation nozzle 48 comprises a tubular body ending at the upper end with an axial outlet hole 55 for the fluid to be injected; the bottom end of the nozzle 48 has an internal diameter suitable for being tightly inserted on the extension 51 of the fluid coupling 50, as well as exhibits on a side a weakened breaking zone 56 that axially extends from the bottom end of the nozzle 48, in order to enable said nozzle 48 to be removed, after the use, by acting on a tearing tongue 57; the tearing tongue 57 is provided with a ring 58 that can be hooked to the safety valve 52 of the coupling 50, as shown in figure 4; thus, the nozzle 48, retained by the tearing tongue 57 and the ring 58, is prevented from accidentally slipping off and fully penetrating into the body of a user, pushed for example by the pressure of the injected fluid, or when the user attempts to raise himself. In order to prevent the douching fluid, contaminated with organic material, from a possibly back flow, the nozzle 48 preferably comprises a check valve, consisting, for example, of an internal seat 59 and a closure ball 60.

In the example shown the tubular support member 47 of the nozzle 48 is L- shaped as a distinct member from both the coupling member 50 and said nozzle 48; however, it is clear that the different members can be obtained as a one piece unit, by moulding of plastic material, or as distinct items produced with a same or different materials, for example metal and plastic material. Also the connection system between the tubular member 47 and the central coupling 18 of the portable toilet seat can be different from the shown system, by providing for example a simple fast coupling of pressure type.

The use of the apparatus for body douching, in combination with the portable toilet seat 10 according to the invention, is briefly as follows: a user, or an assistant of said user, when the portable toilet seat has been properly positioned, for example directly on the upper rim of a toilet bowl fastened by downwardly pressing the shank 23, the suction cups 21 are caused to firmly fastening to the peripheral edge of the toilet bowl.

When the portable toilet seat has been fastened, the fluid coupling 49 of the tubular support 47 is inserted directly into the central coupling 18 of the body 10 of the toilet seat, as shown in figure 4. Then, the different parts of the apparatus such as the thermostatic safety group 42, the filter 40, the central control unit 30 and the valve group 46 are connected by the flexible tubes 41 , 39 and 45, as well as by connecting the thermostatic safety group 42 to a source of pressurised water, such as a mixer of a wash-basin, a bidet or a douche group lying nearby; a tap 46 is connected in turn to one of the two fluid coupling 18 of the conduit 20. These operations can be carried out quickly and very simply, owing to the use of the fast couplings 18 and 18', as shown.

At this point the user, after having opened the manual valves 43 and 46, maintaining closed the pressure reducing valve 31 and holding the central control unit 30 in the hand, can conveniently sit on the portable toilet seat in order to properly insert the nozzle 48 into the colon, without producing traumas or damages. Once the user is properly sitting on the portable toilet seat, by acting on the knob 32 of the pressure adjusting valve 31 can generate a gradual and controlled injection of fluid, for the amount and irrigation time required, repeating such operation one or more times.

During the irrigation step, the user can easily control pressure and temperature of the injected fluid, easily reading the values on the dials 33 and 37. In the case that, due to accidental causes, a pressure increasing takes place, the safety valve 35 of the central control unit 30 and/or the valve 52 can intervene; conversely, when, due to other causes, the temperature of the fluid at the inlet tap 43 exceeds a pre-set value, the thermostatic valve 44 closes the flowing of the fluid.

When the body douching operation is completed, the user, or an assistant, can proceed to remove the tubular support 47 with the nozzle 48, by successively slipping off the nozzle after having pulled said nozzle by the tearing tongue from the coupling 50, in order to prevent a subsequent improper use.

A this point, the entire apparatus can be disassembled, emptied of the remaining fluid in order to be stowed into a bag, together with the toilet seat 10, after the required cleaning operations.

Thus, from all said and shown in the enclosed drawings, it results that an apparatus has been provided for body douching in combination with an auxiliary portable toilet seat, that not only enable a proper seating of a user, but also highly facilitate the use of the apparatus and the control by the same user and/or the assistant.

Therefore, it is understood that all was said and shown with reference to the enclosed drawings has been given merely by explanatory way of a preferred solution; consequently, other modifications or variations may be made to the portable toilet seat and/or the entire apparatus, without thereby departing from the enclosed claims.

Claims

1 . A portable toilet seat suitable for a body douching apparatus having an irrigation nozzle (48) for injecting a douching fluid, the portable toilet seat comprising:

a C-shaped body (10) having upper and bottom surfaces, and

configured for removably supporting the irrigation nozzle (48);

a conduit (20) in said body for connecting the irrigation nozzle (48) to a fluid feeding line (39, 45);

characterised in that:

the C-shaped body comprises a rear body portion (1 1 ) and two side arms (12) of gradually decreasing thickness forwardly extending from the rear body portion (1 1 ), said arms (12) being configured with an upper seating surface; and

at least one suction cup (21 ) downwardly extending from the bottom of the body (10) of the toilet seat, said at least one suction cup (21 ) being positioned to removably fasten the portable toilet seat to a conventional toilet seat (22) or to a toilet bowl rim.

2. The portable toilet seat (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that at least one suction cup (21 ) is positioned at the rear body portion of the body (10) of the portable toilet seat.

3. The portable toilet seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the suction cup (21 ) comprises a stem (23) rearwardly extending and press- fitted into a first through hole (24), and a lip lifting member (25) for the peripheral edge, said lip lifting member (25) rearwardly extending into a second through hole (26) of the C-shaped body (10) of the portable toilet seat.

4. The portable toilet seat according to claim 3 characterised in that said first and second through holes (24, 26) open into a wide top-open cavity (22) at said upper surface.

5. The portable toilet seat according to claim 1 , characterised by comprising a fluid feeding conduit (20) for the douching fluid, crosswise extending in the rear body portion (1 1 ); and

a fluid coupling (18) at a conduit branched from the feeding conduit (20) for connection to the irrigation nozzle (48) at a fore edge (13) of the body portion (1 1 ) of the portable toilet seat.

6. The portable toilet seat according to claim 5, characterised in that said branched out conduit open into a central cavity (16), at the fore edge (13) of the rear body portion (1 1 ), provided with parallely arranged projections (17) configured to retain a support tubular member (47) for the irrigation nozzle (48).

7. An assembly of a portable body douching apparatus and a portable toilet seat (10) according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, characterised by comprising a fluid feeding line (39, 45) including:

a central control unit (30) configured for manually adjusting the flow of the douching fluid fed to the irrigation nozzle (48);

a first manually operable valve unit (42) provided with a coupling (43) for connection of the fluid feeding line (39, 41 ) to a fluid source;

a second manually operable valve unit (46) provided with couplings (18') for connection to the fluid feeding line (45) and to a side of a fluid feeding conduit (20) crosswise to the rear body portion of the portable toilet seat (10);

said central control unit (30) and said first and second valve units (42, 46) being configured to be disengageably connectable to the fluid feeding line (39, 41 , 45).

8. The assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that the central control unit (30) is connectable to the side valve units (42, 46) by flexible and/or extensible hoses (39, 41 , 45).

9. The assembly according to claim 7 characterised in that the central control unit (30) comprises a manually actuable pressure reducing valve (31 ).

10. The assembly according to claim 7 characterised in that the central control unit (30) comprises a pressure gauge (33) and/or a temperature control device (37) for the fluid fed to the irrigation nozzle (48).

1 1 . The assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that the first valve unit (42) comprises a thermostatically actuated safety valve (44).

12. The assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that the fluid feeding line (39, 41 , 45) comprises a filter (40).

13. The assembly according to one or more of claims 7 to 12, characterised in that the central control unit (30) and the first and second valve units (42, 46) are connectable to the fluid feeding line (39, 41 , 45) by male and female couplings (18) of fast coupling type.

14. The assembly according to claim 7 characterised in that the irrigation nozzle (48) is removably connected to said branched out conduit by a tubular support member (47).

15. The assembly according to claim 14, characterised in that the irrigation nozzle (48) comprises a weakened breaking zone (56) at the bottom end, a tearing tongue (57), and a check valve (56, 60).