BIDET WASHING APPARATUS

A bidet washing apparatus attachable to a toilet bowl for cleaning one or more body parts of a user is disclosed. The apparatus can include one or more water inlets configured to supply water, and a control unit, housing one or more valves connected to the one or more water inlets, including one or more control switches configured to operate the one or more valves. The apparatus can include a nozzle assembly with at least one washing nozzle fluidically connected to at least one of the valves with one or more water tubes. The at least one washing nozzle can be positioned for directing water to the body parts of the user. The apparatus can also include a protective shield gate covering at least a portion of the at least one washing nozzle, where the protective shield gate is rotatably coupled to the bidet washing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use embodiments described herein. Descriptions of specific devices, techniques, and applications are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the examples described herein will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples described herein and shown, but is to be accorded the scope consistent with the claims.

Reference will now be made in detail to aspects of the subject technology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process disclosed herein is an example of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Any accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

Embodiments disclosed herein describe a new, clean and hygienic washing bidet. Various embodiments comprise one or a plurality of water inlets, a control means housing one or a plurality of control valves to control the flow of water from the water inlet(s) to one or a plurality of water tubes, one or a plurality of washing nozzles, a protective shield gate, and securing unit configured to securing the sanitary washing device to the toilet seat.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a clean and hygienic bidet washing apparatus100attachable to an existing toilet for cleaning the body parts of the user sitting on or near the toilet. As described herein, a “bidet” is a toilet attachment for cleaning the body parts of the user. The term “water inlet” means any structure that may provide water to the bidet washing apparatus. “Control unit” (aka “control panel”) is the housing which has “control switche(s)” thereon controlling the various functionalities of the bidet, including but not limited to, flow of water, adjusting the angle of the nozzles, and opening and closing the protective shield gate. “Control valves” are controller parts located inside the control panel housing which control the flow of water or other fluids from the water inlet(s) to one or more “water tubes” by opening, closing or partially obstructing various passageways. “Water tubes” are channels that connect the control valves to a “nozzle assembly,” wherein, the “nozzle assembly” includes a single nozzle or a collection of nozzles comprising at least one “washing nozzle.” “Nozzle” is a device designed to eject water or other fluids into the surrounding medium as a coherent controlled spray. The “washing nozzle” is the nozzle that can be used to wash the body parts of a user. The nozzle assembly may also have other types of nozzles such as a “self cleaning nozzle,” which is used to clean the nozzle assembly itself, a “toilet cleaning nozzle,” which is used to clean the bidet and/or the toilet, and a “shield cleaning nozzle,” which is used for cleaning the “protective shield gate.” The “protective shield gate” is a structure placed at least partially in front of the nozzle assembly (e.g., between the user and the nozzle assembly) to protect the nozzle assembly from pollutants. The “protective shield gate” can have a “hinged” edge. The term “hinged” here means a joint that allows the turning or pivoting of the gate, by any conventional turning or pivoting mechanism. The term “fluidically coupled” means a connection or a passageway which allows fluid to flow therethrough. The term “reservoir” means a fluid holding tank.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the bidet washing apparatus100of the present embodiment can be mounted on a toilet bowl110using the securing mechanism105aand105b. Any conventional securing unit (e.g., one or more screws) can be implemented. A seat (seeFIG. 2) can pivot around, and can be connected to, a rear portion of the toilet bowl110. On the rear portion of the toilet bowl110can be mounted a refillable toilet tank109in which an amount of water is stored. In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the toilet tank109may be used as the water source, by a fluidic connection, for the bidet washing apparatus100. On the bidet washing apparatus100can be mounted a nozzle assembly101comprising at least one washing nozzle for washing the body parts of the user sitting on or near the toilet bowl110.FIG. 1andFIG. 2show one exemplary embodiment with two washing nozzles101aand101b, respectively (see, e.g.,FIG. 3). However, in an installation a lesser or greater number of nozzles may be used. Each washing nozzle can spray a stream of water upwardly and inwardly, according to various embodiments.

A control unit108can be provided for easy access for the user, and houses control switches102aand102bfor providing operational instructions to the bidet washing apparatus. The depicted example shows two switches102aand102b; however, one of ordinary skill in the art would realize that any number of switches may be provided for performing various operations, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Some examples of operational instructions are (but are not limited to) controlling the flow of water from the water inlet, changing the angle of the washing nozzles, and opening and closing the protective shield gate (described in further detail below). The type of control switches may be selected from a group comprising knobs, dials, levers, and depressible buttons, or any conventional control mechanism. An installation may have all similar control switches where both control switches102aand102bare knobs. On the other hand,FIG. 9shows an embodiment of the present disclosure where one of the control switches102bis a knob and the other control switch102cis a lever.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the nozzle assembly101can have a protective shield gate104substantially or partially in front of it. The position of the protective shield get104is such that it can act as a shield between the user's body and/or water in the toilet bowl110and the nozzle assembly101thus protecting the nozzle assembly101from pollutants during use.

Certain aspects of the bidet washing apparatus will be detailed hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 3-9.FIG. 3shows a front perspective view of one embodiment described herein. Referring toFIG. 3, the bidet washing apparatus100comprises the water inlets103aand103bto feed water into the bidet. The water inlet can be controlled by the user using the control switches102aand102bsituated on the control panel108. The water from the water inlets103aand103bcan be ultimately provided to the nozzle assembly101via tubes (as described in greater detail with reference toFIG. 7, for example). The nozzle assembly shown in this aspect of the disclosure has two washing nozzles101aand101b. The protective shield gate104protects the nozzle assembly101from excrement and pollutants as described above. In this example, the protective shield gate104is positioned in front of the nozzle assembly101of the bidet such that it is between the user sitting on the toilet seat, for example, and the nozzle assembly. Hence, when the user is using the toilet, the nozzles are shielded behind the shield gate104and do not become polluted.

Referring toFIGS. 5-6, the protective shield gate104can be movable along a hinged edge111to provide for further hygiene. The protecting shield gate104rotates and thus can be manually, for example, opened (FIG. 6) and closed (FIG. 5) after using the toilet to clean any minute left over pollutants on the outer covering of the nozzle assembly to ensure complete cleanliness. In the present embodiment, the user may open and close the gate manually and, thus, the gate can stay in the position (i.e., open or closed) that the user places the gate. However, it is to be noted that in certain embodiments, the gate may be opened and closed by an electrical signal using a control switch located on the control panel108, which can allow the gate to remain open until the user closes the gate via the control switch, so the user can clean the nozzle, for example. It is also to be noted that in certain embodiments, the hinged edge111is on the top of the protective shield gate104, and not on the side edge as shown in the illustrativeFIGS. 5-6. In yet another embodiment, the user may be able to completely remove the protective shield gate104for cleaning the nozzle(s), and reattach it after cleaning. Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the hinged edge could comprise any rotatable joint mechanism that allows for the rotation of the gate104to provide efficient access to the nozzle(s). If the gate104is completely removable, a grooved and slideable mechanism can be employed so that the gate104can slide in and out to be attached and removed. Of course, other mechanisms (e.g., a magnet or a snap structure) may be utilized for removably attaching the gate104.

In certain embodiments, the protective shield gate104has a flap portion perpendicular to the shield gate104such that it covers the bottom of the nozzle assembly101. Additionally, the flap can have a spring mechanism such that it is pushed out and aligns with the shield gate104by the force of the water stream when water flows out of the nozzle assembly101. When the water flow stops, the flap can spring back into its original position perpendicular to the shield gate101.

The protective shield gate104of the present disclosure can be made from a material selected from the group comprising plastic, metal, material having anti-microbial properties, and material with increased pollutant repellant properties.

In certain embodiments, the angle of the washing nozzles may be adjusted using control switche(s) located on the control unit108. Thus, when a user wants to clean certain body parts, water may be sprayed on a desired body part by adjusting the angle of the washing nozzle(s). In the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 3, the height of the protective shield gate is such that it allows for an uninterrupted spray of water from the nozzle assembly101, since the nozzle assembly101can extend beyond the bottom edge of the gate104.

FIG. 4shows another embodiment wherein the height the protective shield gate is equal to or greater than that of the washing nozzles101aand101b. Here, the washing nozzles101aand101bare thus housed within an outer covering comprising a spring mechanism for pushing the washing nozzles out when water flows through the washing nozzles such that the water flow is not interrupted by the protective shield gate104. Each washing nozzle comprises an outer covering and an inner nozzle operated slidably back and forth with hydraulic pressure of the supplied washing water in accordance with an instruction from the control unit108. During use of the washing nozzles, the nozzles are extended from their outer covering below the length of the shield gate by the hydraulic force of the washing water and water is sprayed on the user for cleaning purposes. After use, when the water flow is stopped, the nozzles are retracted in their outer covering which is hidden behind the shield gate. In certain other embodiments, the user may control the movement of the washing nozzle by using the control unit108, instead of the hydraulic pressure. When an instruction of a washing operation is given by the control unit108, a washing nozzle driving unit is activated to advance the nozzle. The washing nozzle angle can also be adjusted by an instruction given by the control unit108to position the nozzle for cleaning. Thus, the washing nozzle can reach the user's desired washing position by the combined advancement of the nozzle and/or the angular positioning.

According to the present embodiment, the nozzle assembly101comprises at least one washing nozzle. In yet another embodiment, the bidet washing apparatus100further comprises a self cleaning nozzle for cleaning the nozzle assembly itself. The self cleaning nozzle can be positioned to spray water onto the nozzle assembly100and/or washing nozzle(s) before and/or after usage for additional hygiene. The self cleaning nozzle may be adapted to be controlled by the control unit108, and thus provides an additional hygiene level. Another embodiment comprises a toilet cleaning nozzle for cleaning the toilet and the bidet before and after use of the toilet. The toilet cleaning nozzle can be positioned to spray water on the toilet bowl110and/or the bidet apparatus100, and may be controlled by the control unit to provide additional hygiene. Yet, another embodiment comprises a shield cleaning nozzle for cleaning the protective shield gate104. The shield cleaning nozzle may be similarly controlled by the control unit108. Additionally, the shield cleaning nozzle may be positioned to clean the shield gate104in an open and/or closed position.

Any or all of the washing nozzles may be connected to the nozzle assembly101via a ball joint, for example, which could allow the user to manually swivel a washing nozzle around 360 degrees, in order to direct the spray of water in a desired and precise direction. Of course, other types of joints and connectors could be implemented in order to allow for the manual swivel or direction correction, as desired by the user to spray water to a desired body part, for example.

Moreover, according to an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the washing nozzle(s)101a-101bcan be connected to the nozzle assembly101by a mechanism allowing for the easy removal of the nozzle(s)101a-101b. For example, the washing nozzle(s)101a-101bcan slide into place via a grooved portion of the nozzle assembly101, or could otherwise snap into place. Any conventional mechanism of removably attaching the nozzle(s)101a-101bcan be implemented, so that the user can swap the nozzle(s)101a-101bwith other nozzles or increase or reduce the number of washing nozzle(s)101a-101bconnected to the nozzle assembly101.

According to an embodiment, a washing nozzle can be replaced with a nozzle that is configured to hold materials such as soap, disinfectant or any medicinal substance which can be expelled along with water as it flows through the nozzle. For example, such materials could be in a solid form, which dissolves at a predetermined and desired rate, as the water flows through the nozzle and is carried out of the nozzle by the spraying water. The above-mentioned materials are provided merely for exemplary purposes and are not intended to limit the disclosure in any way. Other substances/materials could be held/stored in a nozzle in order to be expelled with water through the nozzle.

An exemplary water supply system to the nozzle assembly101will be detailed hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 7-8. The control unit108can house the control valves106aand106b(as shown inFIG. 8), to control the flow of water to the water tubes and has the control switches102aand102b, for giving instructions to the control valves. Two control valves and control switches are depicted for exemplary purposes, but it should be understood that any number of control valves and corresponding switches may be employed.

The control valves106aand106bcan be situated at the entrance to the water tubes107a-107cin this example. The control valves106aand106bare designed to open, close or partially obstruct the water inlet103opening into the water tubes107a,107band107c, such that the volume of the water flowing through the any tube at any given time can be easily controlled by the user by giving simple instructions thorough the control switches. The water tubes107a-107cconnect the control valves106a-106bat one end to the nozzle assembly101at the other end. Thus the control valves106a-106bcan effectively control the volume of water flowing to the nozzle assembly101. In the present embodiment, one water tube107bpasses through the back of the bidet100, and two water tubes107aand107cpass through the front of the bidet100. However, it is to be noted that in an embodiment, more than one water tube could pass through the back of the bidet100, and the number of water tubes passing through the front of the bidet100could be more or less than two.

According to an embodiment, the bidet washing apparatus100can include a vacuum breaker (not depicted), which can be situated at various locations within the bidet washing apparatus100. The vacuum breaker can be located anywhere between the water supply (e.g., the water tank supplying water to the toilet bowl) and the washing nozzle(s) (e.g.,101a-101b) output. The vacuum breaker can be intended to halt the flow of water that is not expelled by the washing nozzle(s) back into the water supply. According to one exemplary embodiment, the vacuum breaker(s) can be housed within the control unit108, located between a valve106a-106band the nozzle assembly101; however, one of ordinary skill in the art would realize that various locations of one or more vacuum breakers can be implemented within the scope of this disclosure to perform the desired function.

In one exemplary embodiment, each water inlet103a-103bis connected to a control valve106a-106bby a single, non-jointed, connection115(seeFIG. 10) thereby removing any intervening parts and extra connections, which can considerably increase the durability and lifetime of the bidet system. Of course, multiple water inlets103a-103bcould be connected to a single control valve; however, each connection between the water inlets103a-103band the single control valve can be a single-body structure, according to one embodiment.

As a result of the foregoing description, a bidet washing apparatus is provided with an objective of satisfactorily and hygienically washing a user's body parts after toilet use. The protective shield gate, according to embodiments described herein, can provide advanced hygiene by protecting the nozzle(s) from excrement, while allowing for the easy cleaning and/or replacement of nozzle(s) as desired. Moreover, the single-body design of the connector between the water inlet(s) and the valve(s) provides for enhanced durability of the bidet washing apparatus, with decreased risk of leakage.

While the inventive features have been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those in the art that the foregoing and other changes may be made therein without departing from the sprit and the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described. They instead can be applied alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.