Abstract:
A liquid dispenser for enabling personal lavage, comprising a housing containing a see-through liquid reservoir, a pump, and a rechargeable battery. Liquids discharged from the pump pass through a flexible conduit which for at least part of its length is routed outside the housing. The housing may include a clip for holding the flexible conduit. The flexible conduit terminates in a form holding nozzle which may have a removable nozzle cover for discharging liquids, and a controller. The controller may comprise a resistor type switch arranged to vary pump speed, or may comprise a wireless signal generator. In the latter case, the liquid dispenser includes a transducer adapted to respond to wireless signals to control the pump. Both the form holding nozzle and its removable nozzle cover may be readily removed and replaced. A lamp may signal low battery voltage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/972,153, filed Sep. 13, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an appliance for personal lavage, and more particularly to a self-powered dispenser of wash water. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Personal hygiene may require lavage in the anal and genital areas of the body. While this may be attended to routinely in showers and baths, there arise situations when lavage is required, and showers and baths are unavailable or not feasible. For example, those who have hemorrhoids would benefit from lavage, as would individuals with pH issues in that an additive such as baking soda could be available to moderate pH of bodily secretions. Nurses in maternity wards and midwives at homes would benefit from ability to dispense water containing Epsom salts. 
         [0004]    A bidet may be employed to address the situations discussed above. However, a bidet is typically sufficiently large and unwieldy to be portable, and requires supply and waste plumbing connections. A bidet may present objections in that it is relatively expensive, and competes for precious floor space with other bathroom facilities, such as tubs, shower stalls, sinks, and toilets in most residential spaces. 
         [0005]    There exists a need for a portable appliance which provides the function of a bidet, and which enables additives to be easily mixed with water to be dispensed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention answers the above need by providing a relatively compact, portable, inexpensive appliance which assists in personal lavage. The novel appliance comprises a tank or reservoir for holding sufficient water to conduct personal lavage, a self-contained pressure source, and may have a flexible dispensing hose terminating in a convenient solid or rigid hand held dispenser. The pressure source may comprise a pump and a rechargeable battery. Appropriate controls may be provided to control the pump. 
         [0007]    The novel appliance may be considerably smaller, lighter, less expensive, and portable than a bidet or other plumbing fixture. It may be easily filled with water and provided with a desired additive. It may be rested on the floor of a building when being used, so that the user need only hold the dispenser. The water reservoir may advantageously be relatively tall compared to width and depth when placed on the floor, so that it occupies relatively little floor space. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide an appliance capable of performing many of the functions of a bidet, but which is relatively compact, lightweight, and inexpensive, compared to a bidet, and which is portable. 
         [0009]    Another object of the invention is to enable lavage water to be mixed with additives. 
         [0010]    A further object of the invention is to enable direction of discharge of water by a hand wielded device. 
         [0011]    An additional object of the invention is to enable the weight of the appliance to rest on a floor surface while it is being used. 
         [0012]    Still another object of the invention is that the appliance be self-powered. 
         [0013]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0014]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable irrigating appliance according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable irrigating appliance of  FIG. 1 , with a dispensing conduit shown in an extended condition. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic cross sectional side view of the portable irrigating appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle assembly seen at the right side of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a side cross sectional detail view of the nozzle assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an electric schematic diagram of electrical circuitry and components of the portable irrigating appliance, according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an electric schematic diagram of electrical circuitry and components of the portable irrigating appliance, according to another aspect of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a portable irrigating appliance  10  for enabling personal lavage according to at least one aspect of the invention. The portable irrigating appliance  10  may comprise a housing  12  which serves as a structural platform for supporting other components. The housing  12  may be generally cylindrical and when standing on a horizontal environmental surface (not shown) such as a floor of a building, may be considerably higher than wide or deep. On top of the apparatus there may be a recess  15  to be utilized as a handle for the user to conveniently transport the lavage. Visible at the exterior of the housing  12  are a flexible conduit  14  terminating in a nozzle assembly  16 , and a clip  18 . The clip  18  is capable of releasably holding the nozzle assembly  14  so that the nozzle assembly  14  is maintained in close proximity to the housing  12 . Of course, it would be possible to provide a clip (not shown) which engages the flexible conduit  14  to accomplish a similar function. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows the flexible conduit  14  removed from the clip  18  and extended, as it might be for use for example. The upper portion of the housing  12  defines a reservoir  20  for storing liquids associated with the housing  12 . 
         [0025]    As employed herein, “associated with” will be understood to signify that the item that is associated with the housing  12  is attached to the housing  12  either internally or externally, in a manner either permanently or integrally connected, or alternatively may be removably attached thereto. In either case, the item associated with the housing  12  is held in close proximity to the housing  12  to the extent that carrying the housing  12  about and changing the location of the housing  12  will move at least part of the item associated therewith. Casual or limited moving or repositioning of the housing  12  will move cause consequential motion of all components of the appliance except the nozzle  62  (described hereinafter) and components of the nozzle  62 , since the nozzle  62  is connected to the housing  12  by the flexible conduit  14 , which could accommodate minor motion and repositioning without transferring such motion and repositioning to the nozzle  62 . 
         [0026]    The reservoir  20  may be at least partially light transmissive, so that a water level or liquid level within the reservoir  20  may be readily discerned. The reservoir  20  may include a receptacle portion (not separately shown) and a closure  22  which is manually removable for example to replenish the receptacle of the reservoir  20 . The closure  22  may fit by friction for example to the receptacle of the reservoir  20 , or in any other suitable way. It should also be noted that the recessed handle  15 , may or may not be attached to the closure  22 . The receptacle portion of the reservoir  20  may be integral with the housing  12 . The housing  12  may extend below the receptacle portion to house additional components such as a pump  24  and a rechargeable battery  26  within a lower portion  28 . A vertical riser  30  extends along the housing  12  to enclose a portion of the flexible conduit  14 . 
         [0027]    The battery  26  may be recharged by a stand-alone battery charger  32  well known type which may comprise a plug  34 , a power adapter  36  disposed for example to transform 120 volt AC power to DC power of voltage lower than 120 volts, and a power cord  38  terminating in a terminal  40 . The portable irrigating appliance  10  may be provided with a power port (not shown) which is matingly compatible with the terminal  40 , to conduct power to the battery  26 . Rechargers, such as the battery charger  32 , are well known, and their structure and electrical connection ports usable therewith need not be set out in further detail herein. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the closure  22  is seen to provide an outlet  42  located so that the flexible conduit  14 , which may extend upwardly within the vertical riser  30  from the pump  24 , may exit the housing  12  at a point which is relatively high on the housing  12 . The closure  22  may also support an indicator light  44  which is disposed to illuminate when the battery charge of the battery  26  falls below a predetermined voltage threshold. 
         [0029]    The portable irrigating appliance  10  includes a liquid circuit associated with the housing  12  and disposed in fluid communication with the reservoir  20 . The liquid circuit may comprise the reservoir  20 , the pump  24 , which will be understood to include an electric motor (not separately shown) drivably coupled to the pump  24 , the flexible liquid conduit  14 , and the nozzle assembly  16 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the nozzle assembly  16  will be described in greater detail. The nozzle assembly  16  terminates the flexible liquid conduit  14 , and may be made from a constituent material displaying form holding rigidity. Form holding signifies that the element so described has sufficient rigidity to maintain its form in the absence of outside forces other than those imposed by the mass and, where provided, elasticity of the constituent materials of the nozzle assembly  16 . Rigidity is sufficient to cause at least the exteriorly exposed components to individually or collectively assume the form described herein. It would be possible for the constituent materials to be selectively flexible to deform elastically under outside forces, such as manual handling, but where this is the case, the constituent materials would have sufficient elasticity to reassume the original form when the outside forces are removed. 
         [0031]    The nozzle assembly  16  may comprise a two part body comprising a first section  46  and a mating second section  48  ( FIG. 4 ), which collectively include a proximal end  50  ( FIG. 5 ) dimensioned and configured to pass therethrough the flexible conduit  14 , and a distal end  52 . The distal end  52  may be dimensioned and configured to enable interfitting engagement of a nozzle wand  54  the proximal end  56  of the nozzle wand  54 . The proximal end  56  of the nozzle wand  54  may include dogs  59 A,  59 B which are resilient and tend to expand outwardly after being inwardly compressed as the proximal end  56  is inserted into engagement with the distal end  52  of the two part body. The dogs  59 A,  59 B engage corresponding notches or depressions  60 A,  60 B formed in the distal end  52  of the nozzle wand  54  to retain the nozzle wand  54  in place. 
         [0032]    Of course, a friction fit, a snap fit, a twisting motion, such as that using helical threads or bayonet connection or the like, and other manual connections, may be provided as alternatives. Also, the relative locations of the actual connecting components, such as the dogs  59 A,  59 B and their corresponding notches  60 A,  6 B may be exchanged. 
         [0033]    The nozzle wand  54  may be elongated so that the two part body may serve as a handle, with the nozzle  62  spaced conveniently well away from the handle by a wand conduit  58  borne at the distal end  64  of the nozzle wand  54 . 
         [0034]    The nozzle  62  may comprise an enlarged head  66  having a groove  69  for receiving a removable outlet cover  68 . The outlet cover  68  is removable to enable for example cleaning of the nozzle  62 , and for ready replacement of the outlet cover  68  itself if desired. The outlet cover  68  may have a plurality of discharge orifices such as the discharge orifice  70  enabling liquids under pressure from the pump  24  to be ejected as a spray (shown representatively as arrows A, B) from the nozzle  62 . 
         [0035]    The nozzle assembly  16  may house a connection of the flexible conduit  14  to the nozzle wand  54 . Connection may be enabled by provision of an interface connector  72  contained within the two part body. The interface connector  72  may have a barbed fitting  73  for securely engaging the flexible conduit  14  and a grommet  74  for engaging a conduit stub  76  formed in the nozzle wand  54 . The grommet  74  may be made from a flexible or resilient material such as a silicone rubber for example. The remaining components of the two part body of the nozzle assembly  16  and the nozzle wand  54  may be made from polymeric materials for example, which are substantially rigid so as to enable manual engagement of the nozzle wand  54  to the two part body of the nozzle assembly  16 . A seat  78  may be formed in the two part body of the nozzle assembly  16  for receiving and holding the interface connector  72  and the grommet  74  in place. 
         [0036]    A power circuit is provided and is connected to the battery  26  as well as to the indicator light  44 , as will be further explained hereinafter. 
         [0037]    The portable irrigating appliance  10  has a flow controller disposed to control flow from the reservoir  20  to the nozzle  62 . The flow controller may comprise the pump  24  and the power system serving and operating the pump  24 , or may comprise a valve (not shown) or both. The pump  24  may be operated using a power circuit connected to provide operating power from the battery  26  to the pump  24 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a representative power circuit  80 , which may include the battery  24 , the motor  26 A associated with the pump  26 , a switch  82 , and the indicator light  44 . The switch  82  is in this example a manual switch which controls operating power provided to the pump  26 . The power circuit  80  also includes hardwired electrical conductors, shown representatively by reference numeral  84 . The electrical conductors  24  will be understood to be potentially discontinuous as they connect intervening components such as the battery  24 , the motor  26 A, and the switch  82 . 
         [0039]    The switch  82  may be a variable speed switch located on the nozzle assembly  16 , such as a resistor type switch having a slide operator  88  (see  FIG. 5 ). Where the switch  82  is located on the nozzle assembly  16 , the electrical conductors  84  may include a hardwired electrical conductor  84 A ( FIG. 5 ) extending in close proximity to the flexible liquid conduit  14  from the switch  82  to the housing  12  and further to the battery  24 . The flexible liquid conduit  14  and the electrical conductor  84 A may be covered by a protective braided sheath  90 . 
         [0040]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , as an alternative to the hardwired circuit of the power circuit  80 , a power circuit  100  incorporating a wireless link may be provided to operate a pump, such as the pump  26 . In the power circuit  100 , a battery such as the battery  124  supplies power to the pump motor such as the pump motor  126 A. The battery  124  and the pump motor  126 A may be structural and functional counterparts of the respective battery  24  and pump motor  26 A, and need not be further detailed herein. A switch  182  may be disposed on a flexible conduit or on a nozzle assembly, which may respectively be the functional counterparts of the flexible conduit  14  and the nozzle assembly  16  for example. This switch  182  may incorporate a radio frequency signal generator (not separately shown), which signal generator may operate according to a protocol such as that of Bluetooth for example, and may generate a radio frequency signal  102  responsive to operation of a manual operator  188 , which, apart from controlling a wireless signal generator, may be the functional equivalent of the slide operator  88 . The radio frequency signal  102  is received by a transducer  104  which in turn operates a relay  106  to make and break that portion of the circuit  100  connected to the motor  126 A. If desired, the transducer  104  and relay  106  may be modified, replaced or both to provide variable speed control of the motor  126 A. 
         [0041]    Circuitry will be understood to comprise the number of conductors, and specific connection schemes necessary to carry out the described functions, as well as supporting apparatus such as switches, connectors, relays, transducers, circuit breakers and fuses, transformers, and voltage dividers, among others. 
         [0042]    Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the portable irrigating appliance  10  may have the following proportions and characteristics to enable usage as a self-supporting, stand-alone device which may stand erect on a floor or other flat horizontal environmental surface (not shown) with its length projecting upwardly while occupying floor space of diameter not exceeding one third of the height of the portable irrigating appliance  10 . To these ends, the housing  12  may have a vertically oriented central axis  94  and a base  96  having a flat bottom surface for stably resting on the flat horizontal environmental surface. The base  96  will be understood to be generally perpendicular to the central axis  94  of the housing  12 . 
         [0043]    It will be seen that the flat bottom surface of the base  96 , the battery  26 , the pump  24 , and the reservoir  20  are generally aligned vertically along the central axis  94 , and are located along the housing  12  in the order just recited. The reservoir  20  is dimensioned and configured such that its length is also generally aligned along the central axis  94 . 
         [0044]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as vertical and others refer to the referenced drawing figure as viewed by an observer. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention, its component parts in any particular way, or usage of any of these in any way. 
         [0045]    The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, although the invention has been described with respect to limited examples, it is to be understood that for example components presented in the singular may be provided in the plural. Where feasible, it would be possible to provide a single component rather than a plurality of components. Also, locations of components as described herein may be modified to suit. 
         [0046]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.