Anal-genital viewing device and method

Viewing device comprised of two or more mirrors and an illumination component for self-viewing the anal-genital region while seated on a toilet bowl. The preferred embodiment comprises a forward mirror and a rear mirror positioned within a toilet bowl at angles with respect to each other, to the user's eye and to the user's anal-genital region such that when the user peers between slightly spread legs into the forward mirror an upward directed image of the user's anal-genital region is visible. The device preserves the region of the toilet bowl directly below the anal-genital region free of mirrors and all supportive apparatus.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

This invention relates to a device and method for viewing of the anal-genital region.

BACKGROUND

In additional to simple hygiene, there are numerous diseases, disorders and conditions that make it desirable to visually inspect the anal-genital area for detection, treatment and monitoring progress of treatment of the same.

For example, according to the Mayo Clinic fifty percent of the population experience hemorrhoids by age 50. External hemorrhoids are those that occur outside of the anal canal. They are sometimes painful, and can be accompanied by swelling and irritation. External hemorrhoids are prone to thrombosis: if the vein ruptures and a blood clot develops, the hemorrhoid becomes a thrombosed hemorrhoid. Internal hemorrhoids occur inside the rectum. As the area lacks pain receptors, internal hemorrhoids are usually not painful and most people are not aware that they have them. Internal hemorrhoids, however, may bleed when irritated. Untreated internal hemorrhoids can lead to two severe forms of hemorrhoids: prolapsed and strangulated hemorrhoids. Prolapsed hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids that are so distended that they are pushed outside the anus. If the anal sphincter muscle goes into spasm and traps a prolapsed hemorrhoid outside the anal opening, the blood supply is cut off and the hemorrhoid becomes a strangulated hemorrhoid.

The treatment of hemorrhoids depends upon the severity of the hemorrhoids and, therefore, the medical community has developed grading systems. One such system grades the severity of internal hemorrhoids based on the degree of prolapse of internal hemorrhoids as follows:

Grade I: The hemorrhoids do not prolapse.

Grade II: The hemorrhoids prolapse upon defecation but spontaneously reduce.

Grade III: The hemorrhoids prolapse upon defecation but must be manually reduced.

Grade IV: The hemorrhoids are prolapsed but cannot be manually reduced.

A less frequent but far more serious anal disorder is anal cancer. Cancers of the alimentary canal immediately above the anus are called rectal cancers. Cancers of the hair-bearing skin outside the anus are classified with skin cancers. The National Cancer Institute estimates 5,290 new cases of anal cancer in the United States in the year 2009 and at 40,870 of rectal cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, risk factors for anal cancer include anal redness, anal swelling, anal soreness and anal fistulas (abnormal openings). Anal cancer may be accompanied by bleeding, pain, itching discharge or a lump.

Stages of anal cancer are:

Stage 0: Abnormal cells are found in the innermost lining of the anus.

Stage I: Cancer has formed and the tumor is two centimeters or smaller.

Stage II: The tumor is larger than two centimeters.

Stages IIIA and IIIB: The tumor may be of any size and has spread to lymph nodes near the rectum, groin or pelvis; and/or spread to nearby organs.

Stage IV: The tumor may be of any size and cancer has spread to lymph nodes or to nearby organs and to distant parts of the body.

When detected at stage 0, the treatment is surgical removal. Treatments for Stages I, II and III include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Treatments for Stage IV anal cancer are mostly palliative. As with all cancers, success of anal cancer treatment is largely dependent upon early detection, and early detection is greatly enhanced by visual inspection of the anal-genital region.

Other diseases that affect the anal-genital region as listed by the Center for Disease Control include the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis, herpes, Syphilis, Human Papillomavirus, and Bacterial Vaginitis. Several of these diseases in early stages present as sores in the anal-genital region. In the case of syphilis, a single sore called a chancre appears during the Primary Stage, lasts three to six weeks and then heals without treatment. Treatment of syphilis with antibiotics is simple and effective in the Primary Stage. If not detected and treated in the Primary Stage or the Secondary Stage (skin rashes), syphilis enters the Latent (hidden) Stage of progressive damage to internal organs, including the brain. As with anal cancer, successful treatment of STDs depends to a large extent upon early detection, and early detection often depends upon visual inspection of the anal-genital region.

A need exists for people to be able to conveniently visually inspect their anal-genital regions. It is desirable to be able to conveniently view the anal-genital region in general and because some anal conditions including but not limited to internal hemorrhoids become more visible during defecation, it is also desirable to be able to view the anus during a bowel movement. In addition, it is desirable in some circumstances to take photographs of the anus during or immediately subsequent to defecation to provide to a medical provider to assist in disease or disorder diagnosis. The present invention provides a means of visual self-inspection of the anal-genital region and a means of visual inspection by third parties of the anal-genital region not provided by prior art.

There are other devices for self-inspection. U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,955, which issued Nov. 18, 1986 to Santini and U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,359, which issued Nov. 2, 1976 to Shutt, disclose toilet-mounted devices for self-examination of the anal-genital region. Both devices mount underneath the seat of the toilet using a brace, which supports a single mirror utilized to perform self-inspection of the anal-genital region. A user sits on the toilet seat and inspects herself/himself using the mirror supported by the brace. In the case of Santini the mirror is positioned directly beneath the anal-genital region, which precludes inspection of the anus during a bowel movement without soiling the device and precludes taking of photographs during the bowel movement. In the case of Shutt, the positioning of the mirror outside the toilet bowl cavity requires awkward body positions for inspection of the anus and precludes inspection of the anus during bowel movements.

Though the preceding discussion illustrates exemplary illustrations of purpose and use of this invention, they are certainly not all-inclusive, and the uses described, therefore, are not limiting. Accordingly, the invention can be used to inspect the anal-genital region for any reason or purpose including but not limited to disease symptom discovery, monitoring progress during disease or disorder treatment, visual guidance during application of medications and ointments, visual guidance during insertion of enema tips, visual guidance during removal of body hair and toilet training of children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a device for viewing the anal-genital region of a person seated on a toilet. The device includes at least one front mirror and one rear mirror positioned in the toilet in such a way so as to provide at least one line of sight from outside the toilet to anal-genital region of the person seated on the toilet. The mirrors of the device may be attached to the interior wall of said toilet and may include means for adjusting the line of sight. In one embodiment, the mirrors of the device may comprise and be built into at least a portion of the interior wall of the toilet. The mirrors may be positioned within the toilet in many different ways. For example, the mirrors could be attached to clips which are configured to hang on the rim of said toilet. The clips may include means for adjusting the line of sight. In another embodiment, the mirrors of the device may instead be attached to the seat or rim of the toilet and may in this embodiment also include means for adjusting the line of sight.

The mirrors of the device may also be attached to a frame and the frame positioned in such a manner so as to position the mirrors in such a way that the mirrors are below the rim of said toilet and provide the desired line of sight. The frame may rest on the rim of the toilet, be attached to the rim of the toilet or be attached to the seat of the toilet. The frame may include means for adjusting the line of sight.

The mirrors of the device may also be attached to a housing and the housing positioned in such a manner so as to position the mirrors in such a way that mirrors are below the rim of the toilet and provide the desired line of sight. The housing may rest on the rim or seat of the toilet.

Also disclosed herein is a device for viewing the anal-genital region of a person seated on a toilet, the device including at least one front mirror, a rear mirror, and means for positioning the mirrors in the toilet to provide at least one line of sight from outside the toilet to the anal-genital region of the person seated on the toilet. The device may include means for adjusting the line of sight.

Finally disclosed is a method for viewing the anal-genital region of a person seated on a toilet. The method includes positioning at least one front mirror and one rear mirror in the toilet in such a way so as to provide at least one line of sight from outside the toilet to the anal-genital region of the person seated on the toilet.

Thus it can be understood, that the present invention provides a simple and effective means of inspection of the anal-genital region, without obstructing the area within the toilet bowl directly beneath the anus, by means of multiple mirrors positioned within a toilet bowl. In one embodiment, two mirrors are positioned within a toilet bowl, one at the front and the second at the rear, at specific angles in relation to each other, to the anal-genital region and to the user's eye such that an upward-directed view of the anal-genital region is provided to the user while seated on the toilet seat and peering downward between spread legs into the front mirror. The user's line of sight is reflected off the specifically-angled front mirror to the specifically-angled rear mirror and then reflected off the specifically-angled rear mirror upward toward the user's anal-genital region, providing to the user a view of the anal-genital region not afforded by the prior art without obstruction of the region of the toilet bowl directly below the user's anal-genital region. The user could also include a third-party caregiver. That is to say that by standing generally above the toilet the third-party caregiver would also have a line of sight reflected off the front mirror to the rear mirror and then to the anal-genital region of the person sitting on the toilet seat. One or more illumination components provide both diffuse illumination within the toilet bowl generally and/or anal-genital directed illumination specifically as may be desired by the user.

The mirrors may be positioned within the toilet bowl by a wide variety of methods, including but not limited to: (a) mirrors that are independently and individually mounted directly on the inner surfaces of the toilet bowl or built into the toilet bowl surfaces during manufacture, (b) mirrors that are independently and individually suspended from the toilet bowl rim and/or from the toilet seat, (c) collapsible frame-mounted and user-adjustable unitized mirror systems incorporating hinges, swivels or pivots; said frame being suspended from the toilet bowl rim or from the toilet seat, and (d) enclosure of the mirrors within a shell to form a sturdy drop-in unitized housing with a flange that rests upon the toilet bowl rim or seat.

A variety of embodiments illustrating means of positioning multiple-mirror viewing systems within a toilet bowl are presented herein, illustrating a range of complexity but not showing every possible variation of positioning the mirrors, or combinations of methods of supporting the mirrors, within a toilet bowl to accomplish the goal and purpose of the present invention. Numerous additional variations in construction of the present invention may be developed by a person skilled in the art without straying from the intended scope and field of the invention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention can be used in conjunction with any toilet, the device100is shown herein used in conjunction with a typical water flushable toilet bowl generally found in the home. However, it should be noted that various embodiments of the device100could be used in toilets with or without toilet seats or lids, with or without various means of attaching toilet seats or lids to the toilet bowl, and with various means of water delivery systems to the bowl.

As shown inFIGS. 1 through 6, the toilet4has a waste receptacle area containing water5and a void area6above the high water line shown by line7. The toilet4generally has a water storage tank8containing the water (not shown) and flushing means (not shown) which initiates a flow of water from the water storage tank8through a conduit (not shown) into the bowl, generally through the interior of the hollow rim16and is dispersed through holes (not shown) lining the underside of the rim16generally over and around the wall9a-9dthat forms the interior of the bowl or void area6. Although generally circular, semi-circular or oval in nature, the toilet bowl wall9a-9dmay be considered to have four distinct areas for the purposes of describing the invention herein: the front wall9a; the rear wall9b; the right wall9c; and the left wall9d. A toilet seat15and a toilet lid22may be attached to the area of the rear of the toilet bowl rim16by means of two hinges17secured by threaded projections (not shown) that pass through holes33in the toilet rim surface or by other attachment means. The hinges17permit the toilet seat15and toilet lid22to be concurrently or consecutively rotated from the front of the water storage tank8toward the toilet bowl4through an arc designated by the dashed line19to rest upon the bowl rim16. The toilet seat15generally includes on its underside two spacers20which maintain a short distance between the toilet seat15and the bowl rim16when the toilet seat is in the lowered position.

In the embodiments shown inFIGS. 1-4, and inFIG. 1specifically, the device100comprises a forward mirror10and a rear mirror11each respectively disposed adjacent to the front wall9aand the back wall9b. With the mirrors10,11so disposed it can be seen inFIG. 2that while seated on the toilet4, the user2looks downward approximately along the line of sight designated as12, through his or her separated legs13and14into the forward mirror in order to see a reflected image of his or her own anal-genital area. In other words, when the forward mirror10and the rear mirror11are angularly positioned correctly in relation to each other, in relation to the user's anal-genital region3and in relation to the user's eye, the line of sight12of the user2when seated on the toilet seat15is reflected by the forward mirror10to the rear mirror11and then to the anal-genital region3; thus providing a view of the user's anal-genital region3to the user2that closely resembles an upward view from beneath the user's anal-genital region3while preserving at the same time a clear path from the anal-genital region3to the high water line7and below. Specifically the user2is afforded an upward-directed view of the user's anal-genital region3while preserving the area directly below the anal-genital region free of mirrors and other apparatus. With reference toFIG. 2it can be seen that if the user2were to sit up and/or to shift to either the right or left a third-party caregiver standing generally in front of and above the toilet would have a direct line of sight to the anal-genital region of the person seated on the toilet.

There are numerous methods of disposing the mirrors10,11of the device100in the void area6so as to provide a proper and in some embodiments an adjustable line of sight. In the embodiments shown inFIGS. 1-4, the forward mirror10is attached to the inside bowl surface area designated generally as9aand the rear mirror11is attached to inside bowl surface area designated generally as9b. On some styles or models of toilet bowls, both toilet bowl walls9a,9bare sufficiently close to the desired mounting angles for mirrors10,11to achieve an acceptable line of sight12by attaching the forward mirror10and rear mirror11directly to the front wall9aand the rear wall9bof the toilet4by various permanent or semi-permanent means. Such attachment means could include for example, suction cups, liquid adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. For reasons of cleanliness, if the mirrors are intended to be left in place permanently or semi-permanently such attachment means should present little or no obstruction to the flow of waters around the attachment means and the mirrors during toilet flushing. In all embodiments it is desirable but not essential to keep all or most of the mirrors above the static water surface7recognizing that water may flow over and around the mirrors when the toilet is flushed.

In another embodiment generally shown byFIGS. 5-8, the device100is configured to be adjustable either for use with toilet bowls where the line of sight12is not acceptable or simply for the convenience of the user2. By affording the user the ability to adjust the line of sight12, the user can accommodate various combinations of height, weight and physical disability to obtain the most desirable line of sight12for a particular user's requirements. As shown by enlargement viewsFIGS. 7 and 8, either or both of the rear mirror11and forward mirror10may be fitted with various angle adjustment mechanisms32whose purpose is to allow variable adjustment of the angle of mirrors10,11.FIG. 7is a side view illustrating one means of attaching rear mirror10to the rear wall9bof the toilet bowl4. A lower suction cup55L adheres the rear mirror11to the rear wall9b. In this embodiment, the rear mirror preferably comprises a rear mirror11attached or adhered to a rear mirror backing11A. An upper suction cup55U serves as a base for a rear adjustment stem56R. The rear adjustment stem56R passes through an opening in the rear mirror backing11a. The vertical angle of the rear mirror11is adjusted by means of the notches in the rear adjustment stem56R being held in place by the opening in the rear mirror backing11a.FIG. 8is a side view illustrating a similar means of attaching a forward mirror10to the front wall9bof the toilet bowl4. In this embodiment, the front mirror preferably comprises a front mirror10attached or adhered to a front mirror backing10A. An upper suction cup55U serves as a base for a front adjustment stem56F. The front adjustment stem56F passes through an opening in the front mirror backing10a. The vertical angle of the front mirror10is adjusted by means of the notches in the front adjustment stem56F.

The angle adjustment mechanism32of the forward mirror10and/or the rear mirror11permits the user2to select and fixate an angle of the mirror or mirrors that directs the user's line of sight12toward the rear mirror11for a variety of user seating positions, heights, weights, etc. As should be appreciated, the forward mirror10may also be positionally adjusted by the user2on the bowl surface9atoward the front of the toilet bowl4or toward the center of toilet bowl4to further vary the angles of reflection of the line of sight12.

While in most applications the forward mirror10will be placed adjacent to the center of the front bowl wall9a, users may elect to place forward mirror10adjacent to the bowl wall9a,9c, or9dof the toilet4along any point of the interior surface9a,9c,9dwithin the front portion of the toilet bowl between locations10R and10L as shown inFIG. 9.FIG. 10illustrates a user's2body posture and approximate line of sight12when forward mirror10is positioned at the extreme left position denoted as10L. Mounting positions of the forward mirror10other than at the center front of the toilet bowl wall9amay be desirable to the user2when the normal line of sight12as shown inFIG. 2or6, for example, is obstructed by the user's2hands or by a medicine delivery device.

In another embodiment shown generally inFIGS. 11-14, additional lines of sight12may be achieved while at the same time preserving the line of sight afforded by placing the front mirror10adjacent the front wall9aby the use of additional mirrors placed adjacent9cand/or9dor anywhere adjacent the wall between locations10R and10L shown onFIG. 10. For example, rather than moving the forward mirror10from the center of the front wall9aof the toilet4, the device100could include additional left mirror24and/or right mirror23disposed adjacent to the left9dand/or right wall9cof the toilet4. The left mirror24and the right mirror23are respectively positioned on the left wall9dand right wall9cof the toilet4such that the viewer's2line of sight is reflected off either side mirror and then off the rear mirror11to offer alternate perspective views of the anal-genital region3. As was the case above with alternate locations of the forward mirror10, these additional views are particularly useful to the person2when the view afforded by the forward mirror10/rear mirror11as described above is blocked by the person's hands or by use of a medicine delivery device and yet still retains the line of sight of the forward mirror10/rear mirror11combination. Although the left mirror24and right mirror23in this embodiment may be of almost any shape, the preferred shape is a teardrop shape which best matches the multi-curved shapes of the side walls of most toilet bowls. A teardrop shape maximizes perimeter contact of the single-plane mirror with the multi-curved inside surfaces of the toilet bowl and thereby simplifies attachment as well as minimizing obstruction to the flow of flush waters. The left mirror and the right mirror may attach directly to the inside surfaces of the toilet bowl by various means as described herein. An embodiment using multiple mirrors, particularly multiple mirrors between the locations designated as10R and10L inFIG. 10, is especially useful where a third-party caregiver desires a line of sight to the anal-genital region of the person seated on the toilet4. Although such an embodiment could include two forward mirrors placed anywhere along the positions between10R and10L, for best viewing concurrently by the third-party caregiver and the user2, there is a front mirror10placed at9aadjacent the center front of the bowl4and a side mirror24or23placed at either location10R or10L. This arrangement would provide two lines of sight12sufficiently separated to allow for easy concurrent viewing both by the user2and a third-party caregiver. For example, the caregiver could take a position generally in front of and above the bowl and have a line of sight from the front mirror10to the rear mirror11to the anal-genital region of the user2while the user could lean either to the left or right and have line of sight from either or both side mirrors23,24to the rear mirror11to the anal-genital region of the user2, thus keeping each of the viewers' heads a comfortable distance apart.

The mirrors may be attached to the bowl surfaces permanently, semi-permanently or temporarily by means such as but not limited to epoxies, glues, double sided adhesive tapes, calking, suction cups, a wide assortment of mechanical devices, magnets or bolts through holes drilled in the toilet bowl shell. Alternatively, the mirrors could be embedded in the toilet bowl walls at time of manufacture according to the invention. Some portion of the forward mirror10or the rear mirror11or both and/or the optional side mirrors23,24may be disposed below the high water line7. Numerous other means of disposing the mirrors10,11,23,24of the invention adjacent to the interior bowl surfaces and other means of angularly adjusting the mirrors10,11,23,24could be developed by a person skilled in the art without straying from the intended scope and field of the invention described herein. For example, mirrors10,11,23,24of the invention could be supported within the toilet bowl cavity6in accordance with the invention by means of U-shaped clips fitted over the bowl rim16to which the desired mirrors are attached, by tab extensions friction-fit into slotted receivers adhered to the top surface of bowl rim16, or by other means developed by a person skilled in the art.

The mirrors can be constructed of mirrored glass on a rigid backing material, mirrored glass with a shatter-proof backing material, mirrored plexiglass material or other suitable materials or combinations of materials that provide an adequate coefficient of reflection, durability and user safety. The rear mirror11or front mirror10may use a concave reflective surface to produce magnified images of the anal-genital area.

Most users will prefer to use at least one illumination device30disposed within the bowl of the toilet4.FIGS. 4,12and16show one example of such an illumination device30comprised of a battery powered light source30attached to a generally U-shaped rim clip31designed to be placed over the bowl rim16. One such device is powered by three AAA batteries in series, has five standard LED bulbs and attaches magnetically to a flat metal U-shaped rim clip31shaped to fit over a toilet bowl rim16. The magnetic means of attachment to the metal rim clip31allows rotation of the light source30to point the light directionally as the user2prefers. Most users2will elect to employ two or more of the illumination devices30, especially those monitoring disease conditions. Other illumination alternatives will be discussed in connection with the various embodiments described below with which they are most appropriately used. A person skilled in the art could develop numerous other means of providing illumination to the inside of the toilet bowl cavity6generally and/or to the user's2anal-genital region3specifically in accordance with the invention.

The mirrors of the anal-genital self-viewing device100may be disposed in various manners so as to provide the user with easy and convenient manners of placing the device100within in a toilet bowl4so as to achieve the proper line of sight12. In one embodiment, shown inFIGS. 15-20, the forward mirror10and the rear mirror11are equipped with mirror backing projection tongues10b,11bwhich are designed to mate via a friction fit with slotted receives50F,50R which are attached to the underside of the toilet seat15. The mirrors10,11may be removably attached to the slotted receivers50F,50R and thus to the underside of the toilet seat15. The slotted receivers may then be left mounted to the underside of the toilet seat15on a permanent or semi-permanent basis and the mirrors may then be installed and removed on an as-needed basis.

InFIGS. 15-20, the slotted receivers50F,50R are shown attached to the front and rear portions of the underside of seat15so that a front mirror10and a rear mirror11may be attached. However, slotted receivers could be placed anywhere on the underside of the seat15in such a way so as to be able to affix any combination of mirrors desired—front10, rear11, right23or left24or a single rear mirror11and a single front mirror10whereby the front mirror could be placed at any location between10R and10L as shown inFIG. 9. The slotted receivers could also be placed in corresponding locations on the rim16or the top surface of the toilet seat15, in such a manner so as to provide the proper line of sight12. The slotted receivers50F,50U may be attached to the toilet seat15or to the rim16by means of screws, adhesive tape, double-sided adhesive tape, reusable connectors, glue, epoxy or other suitable means.

FIG. 15shows mirrors10,11being placed into friction-fit slotted receivers50F,50R located at the front and rear portions of the underside of toilet seat15or wherever mirrors are desired to be located.FIG. 16illustrates rotation of the toilet seat15partway between the bowl rim16and the water storage tank8with mirrors10,11attached to the underside of seat15after being inserted into the slotted receivers50F,50R. It can be seen inFIG. 18that when toilet seat15is lowered to the bowl rim16the device100is positioned such that a user2while seated on the toilet seat15, may look downward approximately along the line of sight12through separated legs into the forward mirror10to see a reflected image of his or her anal-genital region. With reference toFIGS. 19 and 20, side views of the rear mirror11and the front mirror10of the device100are shown with the seat15fully lowered to the rim. With continuing reference toFIG. 19, the rear mirror11is shown attached to a bendable metal rear mirror backing11awhich ends in a rear mirror backing projection tongue11bconfigured to frictionally fit into the rear slotted receiver50R. If bendable metal or other similarly malleable, non-rebound material is used, the rear mirror backing projection tongue11bmay contain bends11c,11d,11eso as to properly angle rear mirror11so as to achieve the proper line of sight12. With reference toFIG. 20, the front mirror10is shown attached to a bendable metal front mirror backing10athat ends in a front mirror backing projection tongue10bconfigured to frictionally fit into the front slotted receiver50F. If bendable metal is used, the front mirror backing projection tongue10bmay contain a bend10cso as to properly angle front mirror10so as to achieve the proper line of sight12. It should be noted that there are numerous locations and numbers of bends10c,11c,11d,11ethat could be used with respect to the rear and front mirror backing projection tongues11b,10bto achieve the proper line of sight12. In various embodiments, the bends may be permanent or, preferably, the metal is soft enough so as to be adjustable by the user. In other embodiments, the front and rear mirror backing projection tongues10b,11bmay comprise a number of lengths joined by adjustable hinges, pivots, swivels, gooseneck tubing and the like may be used in place of bends10c,11c,11d,11eto adjust the front and rear mirrors10,11for proper line of sight12. In one embodiment, particularly suited to concurrent viewing by a caregiver and a person seated on the toilet, but also useful for self-viewing alone or by a caregiver alone, the mirror backings of the side mirrors23,24may also end in projection tongues comprising a number of lengths joined by adjustable hinges, pivots, swivels and the like in place of bends to adjust the side mirrors23,24for proper line of sight12in all directions—including front-to-back and side-to-side. An omni-directional swivel joint or gooseneck tubing may be used in place of hinges or other type joints to provide simple and complete omni-directional adjustability.

As can be seen inFIG. 16this embodiment may be used with a light source(s)30attached to a U-shaped clip31designed to go over the rim16. If metal is used for or as part of the mirror backings11a,10a, a light source(s)30may be magnetically attached to the front and/or mirror backings11a,10aas is shown inFIGS. 19 and 20.

The slotted receiver and docking flange means for attaching the mirrors to the underside of the seat15is just one manner of disposing the mirrors into the toilet bowl4so as to create the proper line of sight12. However a wide variety of attachment means may be used to removably attach the mirrors to the underside of toilet seat15or to the rim16, including but not limited to hook and loop fasteners (trade name Velcro), magnets, embedded bolts and wing nuts, keyhole-shaped slots and flared bolt heads and frictional twist latch devices. It is desirable that the attachment means provide a firm, solid connection to the toilet seat underside or to the toilet rim to resist dislodgment during activities such as raising or lowering of the toilet seat and while the user is manually adjusting mirror angles.

In one embodiment the mirror backings10a,11aand the mirror backing projection tongues10b,11bcould be bent into hanger clips in the shape of an inverted U that simply hangs over the rim16or over the top surface of the toilet seat15similar to the U-shaped clip31used to hang the light source30. The mirrors could then be placed anywhere around the bowl so as to achieve the desired line of sight12and would be easily removable by the user. One embodiment of a generally U-shaped configuration that is slightly more complex than a simple hanger clip31that is easy to attach and remove yet provides a firm solid connection to the rim16or seat15is shown inFIGS. 19A and 20A. With reference toFIG. 19A, the rear mirror backing projection tongue11bextends from the rear mirror backing11agenerally up and around the rear wall9bof the toilet4via bends11e,11dand11cto rest on and be supported between the rim16and the seat15. The rear mirror backing projection tongue11bis preferably made of a malleable metal or other similar material so as to be able to be bent to configure to a wide variety of bowl/rim shapes and configurations. In some embodiments, the rear mirror backing projection tongue can be slid under and secured by the hinges17. In other embodiments the rear mirror backing projection tongue11bmay wrap up over and around the seat15or can merely rest on the surface of the rim16. With reference toFIG. 20A, the forward mirror backing projection tongue10bextends from the forward mirror backing10aup to and over rim16via bends10d,10eand10fto rest on and be supported between the rim16and the seat15. In other embodiments, the forward mirror backing projection tongue10bcan wrap up over and around seat15or can merely rest on the surface of the rim16. The front mirror backing projection tongue10bis preferably made of a malleable metal or other similar material so as to be able to be bent to configure to a wide variety of bowl/rim shapes and configurations.FIG. 19AandFIG. 20Aare conceptually representative of and inconclusive of all various designs that use clips, or other devices that functionally serve the purposes of clips, over the seat15or over the rim16to serve as supports for forward mirror10, rear mirror11and/or side mirrors23,24.

The embodiments shown inFIGS. 15-20and discussed with reference thereto afford several advantages. Firstly, some users will find it more desirable to install mirrors10,11on the underside of raised toilet seat15, on the rim16or to hang the mirrors form the seat15than to install mirrors10,11inside the toilet bowl as in the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-14. Secondly, mirrors10,11of this embodiment may be extracted from the interior of toilet bowl cavity6prior to flushing the toilet or prior to use of the toilet as a urinal by simply rotating toilet seat15upward to its resting position leaning against the water storage tank8or by removing the mirrors hanging by clips on the rim or seat.

Other embodiments that may have some of these same advantages are shown inFIGS. 21-25. In these embodiments of the anal-genital self-viewing device100a forward mirror10and a rear mirror11are attached to a frame29. As shown inFIGS. 21-22, the frame29is preferably thin and flat so as to rest on the rim16of the toilet bowl4beneath the toilet seat15. In some embodiments (FIGS. 21-22), the frame29is secured in place on the rim16by the lowered toilet seat15. In other embodiments (FIGS. 23-24), discussed below in more detail, the frame29may be attached directly to the underside of the toilet seat15either permanently or preferably by means which permit ease of attachment to the underside of the toilet seat and ease of removal from the toilet seat15.

Whether the device100is designed to rest on the rim16or be attached to the underside of the toilet seat15, the forward mirror10is attached to the frame29such that the forward mirror10is adjacent the front wall9aof the toilet bowl4and the rear mirror11is attached to the frame29such that the rear mirror is adjacent the rear wall9bof the toilet bowl4thus affording the user2the proper line of sight12allowing the user2a direct upward view of the anal-genital region3(seeFIG. 25). The forward mirror10, the rear mirror11and optional side mirrors or additional forward mirrors could be an integral part of the frame29or preferably either permanently or removably attached to the frame29with hinges or other suitable fasteners as shown inFIGS. 21-24. If an integral part of the frame29, the frame29would preferably be made of a bendable metal so as to allow adjustment of the front mirror10, rear mirror11and optional side mirrors.FIGS. 21-24shows embodiments of the device in a frame29wherein the forward mirror10is attached to the frame29by hinges (preferably friction)35,36and the rear mirror is attached to the frame29by hinge (preferably friction)37. Hinges35,36,37permit adjustment of the angles of mirrors10,11to suit various user preferences as well as permitting mirrors10,11to rotate upward into the plane of the flat frame29for convenience of storage and transporting.FIG. 23shows the mirrors10,11rotated upward into the plane of the frame29and extended across the frame29in a position desirable for storage and transport.FIGS. 21,22and25show the device resting on the rim16substantially as it would be disposed in a toilet bowl4with the front mirror10and the rear mirror11folded down into the void area6to afford the proper line of sight12as discussed above. Hinges35,36,37allow simple and convenient means of manually adjusting the vertical angles of mirrors10,11to accommodate varying lines of sight12of user2that correspond to various postures assumed by the user2as well as particular user's height and weight. Hinges35,36could be replaced by or supplemented with devices such as swivels, pivots or stay-put gooseneck tubing to provide omnidirectional positioning of forward mirror10and/or rear mirror11in accordance with the invention.

In this embodiment as well as the embodiment shown inFIGS. 23-24, hinges may optionally be inserted on both sides of the frame29at locations denoted38in the sides of the flat frame29allow the frame to fold at those locations permitting further compaction of the device for storage and transport. Hinges35,36,37,38may be any type hinges commonly available in the art, including but not limited to living hinges, fixable-position hinges, standard hinges, friction hinges or various combinations thereof. Friction hinges or other hinges that hold any position desired by the user are preferred.

Similar to previously described embodiments, the forward mirror10may be attached to frame29at any point in the front half of the frame29, corresponding to the range of positions within the toilet bowl from10R to10L illustrated inFIG. 9. Alternatively, more than one forward mirror and/or side mirrors adjacent to the side walls9c,9dof the toilet4may be attached to frame29to concurrently provide alternative lines of sight12to the user2similar to the configurations shown inFIGS. 11-14orFIGS. 26-29. These alternative lines of sight12could be particularly useful to provide simultaneous viewing by a caregiver and the person seated on the toilet.

Rather than the frame29being held in place by the lowered toilet seat15, the frame29could be attached directly to the underside of the toilet seat15.FIGS. 23 and 24show an embodiment of the device100disposed in a frame29in which the frame29is attached to the underside of toilet seat15by means of insertion of forward tab45and rear tab46located on the frame29into forward slotted receiver50F and rear slotted receiver50R located on the underside of the toilet seat15, respectively. Preferably, the length of the forward tab45is approximately twice the length of the rear tab46. In one such embodiment the frame is attached to the underside of the toilet seat15by first slipping forward tab45into the forward slotted receiver50F, then aligning rear tab46with the slot in the rear receiver50R and lowering the frame until the lower edges of the frame29rest upon rear slotted receiver50R and/or upon toilet seat hinges17. Slotted receivers50F,50R are positioned on the underside of toilet seat15such that the forward half of forward tab45remains within the forward slotted receiver50F when rear tab46is fully inserted within the rear slotted receiver50R. Use of tabs and slotted receivers is one of numerous means of attaching the frame29to the toilet seat. For example, the frame29may alternatively be attached to the underside of toilet seat15by a wide variety of methods, including but not limited to hook and loop Velcro, double adhesive mounting tapes, mated fasteners, clips, suction cups or magnets in accordance with the invention.

As shown inFIGS. 21 and 22, an illumination component30may optionally be attached to the frame29as well. One or more illumination devices30may be magnetically attached to metal strips imbedded in or attached to the underside of frame29at a position on the frame29that overhangs toilet void space6and is not obstructed by rim16. Alternatively, illumination component30could be attached above forward mirror10or rear mirror11as shown inFIGS. 19 and 20, attached to a rim clip31as shown inFIG. 4, or attached directly to the frame.

FIGS. 26-29illustrate another embodiment of the anal-genital self-viewing device100according to the invention, whereby a forward mirror10, a rear mirror11, and optionally a right side mirror23and/or a left side mirror24are disposed in and encircled by a rigid or semi-rigid housing25with integral lip27which housing is then disposed into the toilet bowl4. The mirrors10,11,23and24in the embodiment illustrated are attached to or built into the housing in positions at angles that create the proper line of sight12as discussed with respect to the embodiments described above and illustrated inFIGS. 2,6,10,18and25for example.

The housing25is open at the top and at the bottom28. In some installations the bottom28of the housing25may be allowed to go below the high water line7, although that configuration would not be preferred. The housing is preferably sized and shaped so as to preserve a space between the inside bowl surface9of the toilet bowl4and the housing25such that the normal flushing operation of the toilet bowl4is preserved unhindered by the presence of the housing25. The housing25drops into the void area6of the toilet bowl4and is suspended within the void area6of the toilet bowl4by means of the flared lip27, which flared lip27rests on and is supported by the rim16of the toilet bowl4.

It should be appreciated that this embodiment of the device100may comprise many combinations and number of forward, rear and side mirrors many of which were disclosed with respect to embodiments discussed above. For example, the device100in a housing25may include only a forward mirror10and a rear mirror11or may also include either or both side mirrors23,24. Alternatively, the forward mirror10or multiple forward mirrors may be placed anywhere along the housing in positions similar to those shown between locations10R and10L onFIG. 9. Although other embodiments discussed above may provide optimum adjustability, this embodiment may be particularly convenient for concurrent viewing by a caregiver and a person seated on the toilet in that multiple front mirrors10or the front mirror10and side mirror23or24could be factory-fixed at angles that establish two well-separated lines of sight12to best accommodate viewing by a caregiver and the person seated on the toilet. The housing25could be made of any material sufficiently strong to support the mirrors10,10R,10L,11and by a large variety of manufacturing methods as is known in the art.

As in other embodiments discussed herein, the device100in this embodiment is best used with an illumination source. Any of the illumination sources discussed above may be used.FIG. 30is an enlarged drawing of another possible illumination device60that is particularly adapted for use with the housing25. The illumination source60comprises a substantially transparent lens62that fits through an opening in the side of the housing25, bulb(s)64optionally LED bulbs, a power source63, optionally batteries and an ON/OFF switch69located externally to the toilet bowl4by means of a tube65containing connective electrical wiring; said tube65fits in the space between the rim16and the toilet seat15(not shown). The illumination component60is supported on a shelf68extending from the housing25and held in place by means of a retainer clip67. The illumination device60may be installed in either side or both sides of the housing25. The illumination device60may be detachable to simplify replacement of the power source63, the LED bulb62and/or for cleaning or replacement of the illumination device60in its entirety. The illumination device shown comprises three batteries wired in series and five LED bulbs, however various other configurations of illumination sources similar to illumination device60or illumination source30comprising different materials, power sources, types and number of batteries, types and number of lights and locations may be also be used.