Abstract:
A novel bidet housing formed from a plurality of nesting plastic parts having control modules formed therein which maintain a constant water pressure in the housing notwithstanding the supply water pressure used to fill the same. The control modules have knobs accessible to the user for regulating the temperature and pressure of the water, the addition of soap and/or scented material and the exit pressure to the toilet seat nozzles. The fabrication of the parts in plastic sections leads to a reduction in overall cost compared to that of the prior art as well as ease of assembly and installation.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   Applicant has a pending Design application Ser. No. 29/175,264 entitled “Control Housing for a Bidet” filed on Feb. 3, 2003. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a bidet housing which is manufactured in sections from plastic and is thereby an improvement over the prior art bidets which have metal components in their construction. As the housing is made from plastic the same lends itself to be readily assembled and installed as well as being economical in cost. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The use of bidets is common in many countries, but is less well known in the United States. This may be attributable to several factors such as a general unfamiliarity with the apparatus, the additional cost associated with the same, space constraints for incorporation of the same into a toilet system or, merely, lack of habit for such personal hygiene. 
   Typically, bidets are incorporated into the water supply lines of a toilet system and are positioned adjacent to the toilet seat whereby the flow, temperature and pressure of the water can be regulated for discharge from nozzles mounted on the front and rear of the toilet seat. 
   A prior art search of the United States Patent Office bidet classes uncovered U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,850,060, 4,967,423, 5,647,069 and 5,884,345 which typify recent developments in this area. The present bidet is a vast improvement over any bidets known to the inventor both in the method of manufacturing and the assembly of the various parts. As the parts are fabricated from inter-fitted, durable, plastic, the manufacturing costs per unit are greatly reduced, and the assembled product is both easily maintained and aesthetically pleasing. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The bidet of the present invention was developed to provide a bidet which is simple in construction, cost effective and easily installed into a toilet system. 
   To this end, the bidet is constructed of plastic parts including a base, a mid sub-assembly and a cover each of which have a common shape permitting the same to be readily assembled one to the other to form a unitary housing. Each of the parts has inter-fitting modules formed therein which mate with one another to form complete, individual units within which controls are disposed to regulate the flow, temperature, pressure and passage of water through the bidet as well as the dispensing of soap or scented material into the water for discharge into the nozzles disposed on a toilet seat. 
   The present bidet housing can be manufactured and assembled in combination with a toilet seat and sold as a package along with hoses for connecting the same to water supply lines and to nozzles disposed on the seat. Alternatively, the bidet housing can be sold as a unit which can be added to a toilet system. 
   The design of the bidet either as a package with a toilet seat or as an add-on permits the same to be easily installed and mounted adjacent a toilet seat without requiring special tools or skill for accomplishing the same. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the bidet housing mounted alongside a toilet seat. 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a quick-connect fitting which facilitates installation of the bidet. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded assembly view of the parts of the bidet and their relationship with base A, mid sub-assembly B and the cover C. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show various views and details of the base A. 
       FIG. 3   a  shows details of a disk controlling water flow through inlets. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show various views of the mid sub-assembly B and details of the modules disposed thereon. 
       FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of the mid sub-assembly B and the details of the lowermost parts of the modules. 
       FIG. 8  shows a colored vertical sectional view of the housing, the module parts, and the controls for regulating the water flow therethrough. 
       FIG. 8   a  shows a colored cross-section of the housing of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 9  shows details of the passageway P. 
       FIG. 10  shows the details of the pump assembly. 
       FIG. 11  shows the details of the valves controlling water out of the bidet housing. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show detail views of the toilet seat. 
       FIG. 14  shows the details of the nozzle mounting means. 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show the details of the bracket. 
       FIG. 17  shows the details of the cover. 
       FIG. 18  shows the details of the control dials. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the control unit of the bidet is designated generally at  10  and is seen to be supported adjacent the toilet seat  11  of a toilet  12  within reach of the user. Hoses  14 ,  16  are quick-connected to hot water  18  and cold water  20  piping and are introduced into the bottom of the unit  10 . To facilitate the connection, a special T-shaped member  21 , seen in  FIG. 1   a , is utilized and includes an adjustable outlet  21   a  to compensate for space constraints during the connection. The flow of water into the houses  14 ,  16  is controlled by conventional valves  22 ,  24 . In use, water passes through the unit  10  in a controlled fashion, as will be explained hereinafter, and through hoses, not seen due to their location in the toilet seat bracket  13 , and into and out of nozzles  30 ,  30  mounted at the front and rear of toilet seat  11 . 
   For a clearer explanation of the invention, the parts of the bidet are shown in an exploded view in  FIG. 2 , with the major component parts designated as A, B and C. As seen, these parts have a basic, common shape including a rectangular section RS adjacent to an ovoid-shape member OS and a wall W disposed about the entire perimeter thereof which, when the parts are nested together, will form a complete outer housing which is compact and attractive. Additionally, each part, A, B, C, has interior partial module sections which, when mated together form housings for the controls, which regulate the passage of water therethrough. 
   Water Flow through the Bidet 
   In describing the function and flow of water through the bidet  10 , ones attention is directed to  FIG. 1  in combination with  FIGS. 2 and 8  wherein water from hot  18  and cold  20  supply lines enter the chamber CH through inlets IN and passes therefrom into a conduit passageway P into supply base SB whereat soap and/or scented material SSM are present and mixed with the water, whereafter the mixture passes over a baffle wall BW into a reservoir R and then into and out of a pair of openings OO into a pair of flexible hoses, not seen, to front and rear nozzles  30 ,  30  disposed on toilet seat  11 . 
   Specifically, a control dial CD in chamber CH regulates the size of openings, not shown, disposed above the inlets IN and thereby the amount and temperature of hot and cold water entering chamber CH, and thence into passageway P. It is to be noted that in some instances there may be only one water supply line and, hence, only one connection will be made. This passageway P has a dial controlled pressure regulator PR disposed therein which regulates the water pressure as it passes into supply base SB. At this point the soap/scent is pumped out of housing SSH through outlet X in response to piston movement PM. This mixture passes over baffle wall BW into a reservoir R whereat hand-manipulated dials DO, DO control openings O,O to regulate the flow to the nozzles  30 ,  30 . A pivoted cover PC over lies and protects the dials and permits the dials to be accessed by lifting the same. 
   Base A 
   The base A, designated generally at  50 , is seen in greater detail in  FIGS. 3 and 4  whereat the rectangular  51  and ovoid  52  sections are defined by a wall  53  extending around the perimeter thereof. The ovoid section  52  is of a bowl shape  54  and is provided with two spaced openings  55 ,  56  in the wall  53  and a vertical opening  57  adjacent the rectangular section  51  which will house the pressure regulator PR, as will be explained hereinafter. The base  58  of the rectangular section  51  is provided with a circular housing  59  defined by an upstanding wall  60  having a pair of diametrically disposed openings  61 ,  62  with fittings  63 ,  63  in communication therewith, see  FIG. 2 , and the hot and cold water hoses  14 ,  16  of the main hot  18  and cold  20  water lines of the establishment, see  FIG. 1 . The circular housing  59  receives a complementary shaped rotatable disk  64 , see  FIG. 3   a , which also has a pair of diametrically disposed arcuate openings  65 ,  66  which align with the openings  61 ,  62  of the circular housing  59 . The openings  65 ,  66  will control the flow and regulate the temperature of hot and cold water into section  51  by selectively masking the openings  61 ,  62 . The disk  64  has a square central opening  67  within which a control shaft, to be described later, is disposed for rotating the disk  64 . 
   The opening  57  at the top of the bowl  52  adjacent the rectangular section  51  receives a pressure control shaft  70  therein, see  FIG. 2 , having a portion extending upwardly with a transverse hole  71  extending therethrough and a downwardly extending portion  72  disposed outside of the bottom of base  58  receiving a control knob  73  thereon which will ultimately control the water pressure as the opening  71  will be adjusted in the passageway P to control the water flow therethrough, as explained hereinafter. The lower portion  72  of the shaft is square-shaped and fits into a complementary opening in the knob  73  to secure the same together. A pair of washers  75 ,  75  are disposed bout the shaft at the bottom of the base and above the square-shaped opening to prevent the flow of water up the shaft  70 . 
   With continuing reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  and now  FIG. 4 , the pair of spaced openings  55 ,  56  in the upstanding wall  53  are protected by a cover  53 ′ extending thereover with a vertical depending surface  70  having a pair of beveled or slanted openings  71 ,  72  aligned with the openings  55 ,  56 . Fittings  73 ,  73  will be inserted into these openings and will be connected to individual hoses leading to the toilet seat  11  and the nozzles  30 ,  30  positioned therein. Additionally, a pair of spaced braces  74 ,  74  are transversely disposed in the bowl  54  serving to rigidify the bowl which would, without the braces, flex inwardly and outwardly in response to the varying water pressure and ultimately cause damage to the bowl. The braces  74 ,  74  negate this condition. During fabrication of this part, plastic fusion lines  76 ,  77  are respectively disposed on a ledge  78  following the inner outline of the bowl  52  and rectangular chamber  51  and around the circular housing  59 , which are utilized to fuse part B to part A during the assembly process. 
   Mid Sub-Assembly B 
   Again, as seen in  FIG. 2  and the enlarged views of  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , the assembly B is of the same general shape as base A differing in that the dimensions are slightly smaller to permit the same to nest entirely in base A with the top wall  53   a  thereof being flush after assembly with the top wall  53   a  of base A. The base of B in the OS section is provided with three circular upstanding housings  90 ,  91  and  91 , each of which are adapted to receive various control components. The largest of the housings  90  will serve as a reservoir for soap, scented material or a combination thereof while the two identical housings  91 ,  91  will receive control dials to regulate passage of water through the fittings  73 ,  73  and the hoses leading to the toilet seat nozzles  30 ,  30 . The rectangular section  51  has a circular housing  93  with an opening therein which aligns with the circular housing  59  in section  51  of the base and disk  64  positioned therein. A conduit  92 , passageway P, extends into circular housing  93  in the rectangular section and into the circular housing  90  and is used to conduct the mix of the hot and cold water to the base chamber SB. The details of the conduit  92  in  FIG. 9  are seen to be elongated in shape with a passageway  80  extending the length thereof. Inlet and outlet ports  81 ,  82 , respectively, are formed at either end for introducing and exiting the water into and out of the passageway  80 . A circular bulbous section  83  is formed in the passageway  80  within which the hole  71  of pressure control shaft  70  is disposed, which, when rotated in response to movement of dial  73 , the same will be selectively moved into and out of alignment with passageway  80  thereby causing the flow and pressure of the water to be regulated into chamber SB. 
   A pump assembly generally indicated at  100 , shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 10  and at E in  FIG. 2 , is disposed within the large circular housing  90  and controls the discharge of soap and/or scent therefrom into the water, and includes a cap  101  with a depending flange  102  which will engage and circumscribe the top of the housing  90 . The cap  101  is provided with a control opening  103  having a finger-engaging knob  103   a , see  FIG. 2  positioned therein which nests in a smaller circular housing  104  on the underside of the cap  101 . The cap  101  supports a spring-biased  103   b  reciprocating plunger shaft  105  extending downwardly therefrom. The top of the shaft has a cut-out  106  forming a ledge  107  which engages a ring member  108  at the bottom of the housing  104  to limit upward movement of the shaft upon its return stroke in response to the upward bias of the spring  103   b . The bottom of the shaft is provided with a ring-shaped detent  109  positioned above a plurality of radially extending ribs  110 ,  110 . A resilient, flexible collar  111  covers the ribs  110  and is secured in place by plunger cap  112  which engages the ribs  110 . When assembly  100  is inserted into the housing  90 , the lower most portion of the plunger shaft  105 , the ribs  110 ,  110 , collar  11  and cap  112  are slidably disposed in the depending circular portion  113 ,  114  whereby reciprocating movement of the plunger will force fluid out of portion  120  into chamber  5 B as described hereinafter. 
   With reference to  FIG. 7 , the details of the bottom of the mid sub-assembly B are seen with the housings  90 ,  91 ,  91  having extensions terminating in smaller circular segments integrally formed thereon. The extension of housing  90  has stepped circular segments  113 ,  114  with the lowermost segment  114  having an opening  120  therein. The hole  120  communicates with the interior reservoir of housing  90  and is the exit for the soap/scent to be dispensed. A flexible, resilient collar  121  covers the opening  120  and flexes outwardly in response to the reciprocating movement of the piston P to ensure that the fluid will be discharged notwithstanding the water pressure present in the bowl. 
   With continuing reference to the top views of mid sub-assembly B as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , housings  91 ,  91  each have closed channel members  130 ,  130  in communication with the interior thereof for conducting fluid to the fittings  73 ,  73  which are held captive in the slanted openings  131 , 131  formed in the wall  53  which are aligned with the openings  55 ;  56  in the base member A. In the manufacture of the sub-assembly B, the fittings are preferably disposed in the openings  131 ,  131  and when part B is nested within part A the nipples  73 ,  73  will seat within the lower base openings  55 ,  56  respectively. 
   Also as seen, the interior of the housings  91 ,  91  are threaded at  200 ,  200  and have washers  201 ,  201  seated at the base thereof to surround identical control valve members  202 ,  202  disposed in each. Valve members  202 ,  202 , see  FIG. 11 , each have a hollow shaft  203  having a threaded section  204  at the top thereof engaging the threads  200 ,  200  of the housing for adjustable movement into and out of the housings  91 ,  91 . The lower end of each of the shafts  203 ,  203  is similar to the structure of the housing plunger  105  and includes a plurality of radially extending ribs  205 ,  205  formed thereon and a packing  206  inserted onto the bottom of the hollow shaft  203  and about the ribs  205 ,  205  which cooperate with the openings  92 ,  92  disposed at the bottom of housings  91 ,  91  to prevent the flow of water upwardly about the shaft  203 . The top of the shaft  203  has a serrated surface  206  which the handle DO frictionally engages for rotatably displacing the valves  202 ,  202  to regulate the flow of water through the openings  92 ,  92 . 
   Seat Nozzle Mounting 
   The toilet seat  11  of  FIG. 1  is formed with atop  400  and a mating bottom  401 , see  FIGS. 12 and 13 , to form a hollow interior  402  for housing the hoses H. H conducting the fluid from fittings  73 ,  73  to the back and front nozzles  30 ,  30 . With reference to  FIG. 12 , the bottom  401  is seen to have front and rear openings  404 ,  404  adapted to receive the nozzle support housings  405 ,  405  of  FIG. 13  therein. Each of the housings  405 ,  405  of  FIG. 14  include a flat tapered base  406  matching the shape of the opening  404  with an opening  407  in the base  406  communicating with an outlet opening  408  formed at the bottom of the base. Flexible snap members  409 ,  409  are positioned about the base for snapping and securing the same in the openings  404 ,  404 . 
   The outlet opening  408  accommodates a nozzle base  410  having an annular shape  411  at one end complementary to the opening  408  for mounting therein and a spherical adapter head  412  at the other end engaging a nozzle head  413  thereon permitting directional adjustment thereof as desired by the user. 
   Bidet Hose Connection to Toilet Seat 
   A pair of hoses H. H leading from nipples  73 ,  73  of mid sub-assembly B are threaded into bracket  13  of  FIG. 1 . Bracket  13  is comprised of a two-piece assembly with the top  300  being shown in  FIG. 15  and its complementary bottom part  301  in  FIG. 16 . These pieces snap together to form a housing having a hollow interior due to the downwardly extending flange disposed around the top  300  engaging the peripheral edge  310  of bottom  301 . Spaced openings  302 ,  302  receive the toilet hinges therein for securing the bracket to the toilet bowl. An opening  303  with a removable cover  304  is placed at one end and the hoses H, H, only one being shown, will be threaded into the opening  303  and into the hollow toilet seat for connection to the nozzles  30 ,  30 , respectively, located at the front and rear of the toilet seat  11 . 
   Cover C 
   The cover shown in  FIG. 17  includes an ovoid section OS and a rectangular section RS like that of base A and mid sub-assembly B with the section RS being raised a distance above the top surface  500  of the ovoid section OS. The top surface  500  is formed with a pair of like openings  502 ,  502  which align with the top of housings  91 ,  91  and a larger opening  504  which aligns with housing  90  of mid sub-assembly B. When cover C is placed onto mid sub-assembly B, the knurled portions of shafts  203 ,  203  will extend through the openings  502 ,  502  and dials DO, DO will be secured thereon. Likewise, the knob  103   a  of the pump assembly  100  will extend through the opening  504 . Each of the openings  502 ,  502  have an interrupted circular flange  408 ,  408  formed at the bottom of the opening to accommodate key members formed on the bottom of dials DO, DO when disposed therein. 
   The details fo the dials DO, DO are shown in  FIG. 17  and are seen to have a circular base  600 ,  600  with keys  602 ,  602  extending outwardly thereof, and finger-engaging knobs  604 ,  604  disposed on the top thereof. The dials are inserted into the respective openings  502 ,  502  with the keys  602 ,  602  free to rotate within the cut-out portion  406  of the flanges  408 ,  408 . On and Off and Front and Rear indicia are inscribed on the surface  500  whereby, when the know is turned, the user can control the amount of fluid passing to the toilet seat nozzles as the keys limit the rotation of the knobs. 
   The cover is formed with an extension H which serves as a cover for the fittings  73 ,  73  extending outwardly of mid sub-assembly B and slotted into openings  53 ,  53 . 
   Additionally, the top surface of rectangular section RS is provided with an opening receiving a dial and the disk control shaft therein, as seen in  FIG. 2 , which is designed to be limited in movement like the knobs DO, DO. Warm and Cold indicia is placed on the top surface to aid the user in the amount of mix and, therefore, the temperature of the water entering the bidet. 
   The ovoid section OS is recessed at the rear thereof and openings OP, OP are provided in the wall surface to pivotally receive nubs NS of transparent cover CO therein. The transparent cover is normally positioned over the top surface of the ovoid section and serves to protect the knobs. When the knobs are to be accessed, the cover is pivoted upwardly. 
   Assembly 
   To assemble the housing, the parts A, B and C being of the same general shape, are aligned with one another as shown in  FIG. 2  and nested together to form the housing  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . When part B, which is slightly smaller in dimension than part A, is nested in Part A the edge  53   a  thereof is disposed slightly above that edge  53   a  of part A and, upon application of pressure and heat to these parts, the fusion lines  76 ,  77  melt causing the parts A and B to fuse together whereupon the upper edge  53   a  of part B will move downwardly and be flush with edge  53   a  of part A. 
   Part C is then placed over the top of part B and is frictionally secured to part A by having the recessed upper peripheral edge PE, PE engaging the complementary lip L on part A. To further rigidify the parts, retention screws are threaded into openings OG, OG on the top surface which align with threaded openings in retention posts RP, RP disposed at either end of mid sub-assembly B. Thereafter hose connections are made to the hot and cold water lines and to the hoses connected to the toilet seat nozzles, as explained hereinabove. 
   As the described controls regulate the flow, temperature and water pressure, the water in the housing is always under pressure and, therefore, ready for instant use. 
   The user can adjust the inflow of water, the pressure thereof and, therefore, the pressure exiting into the nozzles and the position of the same to direct the flow to the body parts to be cleaned.