Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for anal cleansing comprising a mixing valve attached to a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet and an outlet for the mixed water; and a hose having a proximal end connected to the mixed water outlet and having a distal end connected to a spray head assembly, said spray head assembly being operable for spraying water to the anus and having an absorbent spray head cover provided thereupon.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 60/677,694 filed May 4, 2005 and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/215,919 filed Aug. 25, 2005, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is an apparatus for cleaning human waste by flushing water to the anus after rest room visits and method of using the same.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In many places, cultural and religious beliefs require cleaning the anus with water after rest room visits. Additionally, many whose religious and cultural beliefs do not require such cleaning nevertheless find it desirable to perform such cleaning. Containers are conventionally used to transport water to the anus and the hand is directly involved in the cleaning process. Many bidets are available that provide directed water flow to the anus to assist in the manual cleaning. When such bidets are used, typically only cold water is used. Also, the bidet requires use of a hand directly or indirectly to complete cleansing. Also, sometimes water hoses are used. Even where water hoses are used to provide water, it had been customary to use only cold water. Usually the user holds the hose with one hand and uses the other hand to remove waste from the anus.  
         [0004]     It is desirable to find a manner of cleaning human waste from the anus that does not require that the hands be directly involved. Such a device would provide improved standards of cleanliness. Clearly, the need to find a better way of cleaning human waste has become an issue in some parts of the world, such as in many Muslim regions, where anal cleaning is required by religious and cultural standards. Furthermore, it is desirable to improve the comfort of such cleaning by allowing for temperature control of the cleaning water. Also, it is desirable to find a cleaner alternative to using toilet paper. It is preferred that the improved method can be fitted into existing plumbing and plumbing designs.  
         [0005]     The present invention solves the problem of contact with waste material by using a bidet device that has a spray head having an absorbent and preferably disposable spray head cover at the end of a hose. The incoming water is directly applied to the anus to clean the same with water pressure without direct hand contact with the waste.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The invention is directed to a device for anal cleansing with water pressure without direct hand contact with the anus, comprising a mixing valve attached to and regulating hot water provided through a hot water inlet, cold water provided through a cold water inlet and a mixed water outlet, and a hose having a proximal end connected to the mixed water outlet and having a distal end connected to a spray head assembly, said spray head assembly being operable for spraying water to the anus and having an absorbent spray head cover provided thereupon. The invention is also directed to methods for anal cleansing without direct hand contact with the anus using the device or devices of the invention.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a bidet for anal cleansing without direct hand contact with the anus, comprising:  
         [0008]     (a) a hot water source, comprising a hot water source pipe connected to a hot water connector for allowing water to flow to the hot water inlet of the mixing valve described above and to a hot water inlet of a separate bathroom fixture; and  
         [0009]     (b) a cold water source, comprising a cold water source pipe connected to a cold water connector for allowing water to flow to the cold water inlet of the mixing valve described above and to a cold water inlet of a separate bathroom fixture; and is also directed to use of such a bidet. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]     Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those noted above will be become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a known cleaning system that provides only cold water for cleaning;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the invention in which a first pipe has a switch, a mixed water outlet and cold and hot water inlets;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention showing a bidet attached to a mixing valve, and the mixing valve attached to a sink, in which the mixing valve is also shown connected to a commode via a cold water line shown in phantom outline (the elements are not to scale);  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a left side elevational view of the mixing valve shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a front elevational view of the spray head shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the spray head shown in  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a front elevational view of the spray head shown in  FIG. 3  with the retainer nut removed to show how the O-ring secures the spray head cover.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     One of the unhealthiest practices in human experience is the process of cleaning the body after restroom use. Hand contact with the waste product has remained an unavoidable process that could raise health issues because of contamination. The health issues are increased mainly because hands are also utilized for eating. Although excessive washing could alleviate the problem, complete success has so far been questionable.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a known device  10  that may be used for cleaning purposes. Cold water is supplied from a water source through the cold water pipe  12 . The water is released or stopped by a mechanical switch  14 , which lets water flow through the extended hose  16 , which may have a retainer clip  18  for attaching a nozzle  19  to hose  16 . The user typically holds the hose  16  and/or the nozzle in one hand and cleans the waste off the anus by the other hand through direct contact with the waste. By “direct contact” is meant that the hand is involved in holding a tissue, cloth, or other item whose surface is directly applied to the body for contact with waste material.  
         [0020]     The present invention advantageously provides an alternate means of cleaning waste matter from a human anus without direct physical contact with the waste.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment the invention is directed to a device for anal cleansing with water pressure without direct hand contact with the anus, comprising a mixing valve  20  attached to a cold water line  22  at a cold water inlet  24 , and a hot water line  26  at a hot water inlet  27 . Mixing valve  20  is also connected to mixed water outlet  28  in which water mixed to a desired temperature exits the mixing valve. A mechanical switch  14  allows for the control of the flow of the hot and cold water from the inlets  24  and  27  to the outlet  28 . This embodiment provides improved comfort for the user over the prior systems by allowing for temperature adjustment, rather than only providing cold water. In this embodiment, the mixing valve  20  is capable of regulating water temperature in the mixed water outlet  28  by proportional mixing of hot and cold water from the cold water inlet  24  and the hot water inlet  27 . Any known electromechanical or mechanical switch  39 , including, for example, a circular, vertical, horizontal, bent or straight switch may be used for modulating hot and cold water entering the mixing valve  20  and exiting outlet  28 .  
         [0022]     The mixed water outlet  28  may be attached to a hose  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Hose  30  is preferably flexible, such as can be accomplished with flexible plastic, polyvinyl chloride, rubber, flexible metal, or other suitable material. Also, hose  30  should be capable of extending some distance from the pipe to allow for use of the hose near the body.  
         [0023]     According to one embodiment, spray head assembly  33  is attached directly or indirectly to a distal end of hose  30  using a retainer clip  31 . The spray head  33  preferably has a structure such as a mechanical switch that allows water spray to be turned on or off by the same hand that is holding spray head  33  to direct the spray of water to the desired location. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , spray head  33  may be controlled by a conventional lever-operated switch  35  on spray head  33  that releases water when depressed.  
         [0024]     Also, the flexible hose may have a second spray head assembly  37  connected to the distal end of the hose  30  and the spray head assembly  33 . An O-ring or washer  38  between the two spray heads  33  and  37  and/or between the spray head  37  and distal end of hose  30  has been shown to be desirable to avoid leakage. The spray head  37  may be attached to hose  30  by a retainer clip  31 .  
         [0025]     According to an alternative and preferred embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 3, 5  and  6 , hose  30  may have a distal end, including a handle  74 , connected directly or indirectly to a spray head assembly  32 . The distal end of hose  30  may be provided with a threaded sleeve  34  designed to engage with a threaded portion  36  of spray assembly  32 . A washer  38   a  may be provided between the spray head assembly  32  and the distal end of hose  30  to provide a waterproof connection.  
         [0026]     The exploded view shown in  FIG. 6  more particularly shows the configuration of a spray head assembly  32  that comprises a nozzle  42 , spray head cover  44 , retainer O-ring  46  and a threaded retainer nut  48 . As shown also in  FIG. 7 , cover  44  may be placed around nozzle  42  and secured by O-ring  46 , which may engage a reduced collar  43  extending downward from nozzle  42 . The threaded retainer nut  48  has threads  70  that engage with threaded portion  72  of nozzle  42 .  
         [0027]     Other methods may be used as means for securing the spray head cover  44  to the nozzle  42 . For example, a clip may be used to hold the spray head cover  44  on the nozzle  42  at the reduced collar  43 . Suitable clips may be made of a resilient material such as metal or plastic or operate by depression and release of a resilient spring and preferably allow for release of the clip by pinching two clip levers with the fingers of one hand for easy release. In this embodiment, the cover  44  is attached to the nozzle  42  by the clip and thus is released when the clip is released from the nozzle  42  without requiring contact of the hands with the cover  44 . Preferably, the means for holding the cover  44  on the nozzle  42  is such that it provides for secure holding under the pressure washing conditions yet allows for easy release, preferably with one hand, after washing and requires no hand contact between the user and the cover  44 .  
         [0028]     One end of the nozzle  42  is provided with one or more holes  50  to allow water to exit. The hole(s)  50  may be of any size, but decreasing the size and number of holes increases the fluid pressure that can be achieved. If multiple holes are used, they can be arranged in any suitable manner to optimize the fluid pressure and the surface area being cleaned. For example, placing multiple holes  50  along the spray head may increase the effective washing area and thereby clean a larger surface in a shorter period of time. In one embodiment, the nozzle is of a spherical shape and has a diameter of 1 1/16 inches. Preferably, the nozzle is spherical and has a diameter between 0.5 and 2.5 inches, more preferably between 1.0 and 2.0 inches, and still more preferably between 1.0 and 1.5 inches, inclusive.  
         [0029]     The spray head  32 ,  33 , and/or  37  may be metal, plastic, or other suitable material. The spray head cover  44  may be comprised of any conventional material that allows for water under pressure to pass through. Preferably, spray head cover  44  may be made of an absorbent material and be disposable, such as by being made of cloth, which may have a high cotton content; sponge; foamed polymer or plastic; threaded fiber; or other suitable material. The term “disposable” is used herein to describe articles that generally are not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or reused (i.e., they are intended to be discarded after a single use or after a very few uses by only one individual).  
         [0030]     Spray head assemblies  32 ,  33 , and/or  37  may assist in removing waste through water pressure. Spray head assembly  32  may also remove waste through scrubbing contact of the cover  44  and the area to be cleansed. In alternative embodiments, the spray head assemblies  33  and  37  may be altered to cover the nozzles with an absorbent and preferably disposable cover of the type discussed herein with regard the spray head assembly  32 .  
         [0031]     The embodiment of the cleansing device that utilizes spray head  32  will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . Mixing valve  20  is contained within valve housing  40 , which is attached to or integral with a flange  41 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the flange  41  may be attached directly to a wall or other substrate. Furthermore, the mixing valve may be connected to a mechanical switch or handle  39  for adjusting the flow of hot and cold water. Valve housing  40  may be sized to fit on a bathroom wall between a commode  62  and a sink  60 , under a sink  60 , or so that the mixing valve  20  can easily fit near any conventional water source, such as sink  60 , even if there is little available space. Preferably valve housing  40  is located near a commode, wash basin, shower stall, or other suitable area for ease of use and to allow the water to drain.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , spray head assembly  32  may be placed or hung in a cradle  42  or other suitable means that may be mounted to a wall or other substrate. Using this or a similar configuration, the spray head assembly  32  can be releasably maintained within reach of a user and/or proximate to the valve housing  40 . Hanging the spray head  32  in an upright position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , may have the additional benefit of reducing or eliminating any water from exiting the spray head  32  after the mixing valve  20  is closed.  
         [0033]     The cleansing device, which may include the mixing valve  20 , hose  30 , and spray head  32  as described above, may be connected to existing water lines to retro-fit existing plumbing, such as that which may be found in a typical bathroom. To accomplish this task, a conventional water connector  52   a,b,c  may be connected so that a given source of water, such as cold water source pipe  56   a  or hot water source pipe  56   b , can service the original fixture as well as the cleansing device. For example, for a given cold water source pipe  56   a , connector  52   a  may be T-shaped and can be added between water source pipe  56   a  and the existing fixture inlet pipe  58   a  so that water also flows to cold water line  22 . The hot water source pipe  56   b  could be similarly attached to the cleansing device&#39;s hot water inlet  26  and the fixture inlet pipe  58   b . In  FIG. 3 , the existing fixture is represented as a sink  60 . Alternatively or additionally, the fixture could be a shower (not shown).  
         [0034]     The cold water line  22  could also alternatively be connected to the commode water source  56   c , rather than to sink water source  56   b . As shown in phantom outline, the cold water line, which is designated as  22   cc  for clarity, of the cleansing device could be connected to water source  56   c  by a connector  52   c . Connector  52   c  may also allow water to flow to inlet pipe  58   c  of the commode tank  62 .  3  The connectors  52   a,b,c  may be formed of any conventional shape to accommodate the locations and orientations of the plumbing and may be formed of any conventional materials such as metal or plastic. The connectors  52   a,b,c  may have one water inlet, two water outlets, and may comprise a conventional mechanical valve to regulate or restrict water flow to the outlets. Of course, the various water lines could be reversed, such that the hot and cold water flows through the opposite pipes described above, without diverting from the present invention.  
         [0035]     Other variations of the embodiments described above are envisioned. For example, the nozzle  42  or the handle  74  on the hose  30  may include a shut-off valve, which is not shown in the figures. Such a valve may operate by means of a lever or button that is normally biased to the closed position for shutting off the flow through the nozzle. The lever or button can be operated by squeezing the lever or pushing and holding the button with one hand and thereby opening the cut-off valve to allow water to flow through the nozzle. In this manner, on/off control of the water flow can be maintained by the hand holding the handle of the hose. Such a shut-off valve at the nozzle or handle of the hose would be in addition to the mixing valve  20  that also controls flow of water to the nozzle. In this embodiment, a second flow control would be located such that it could be operated by the hand holding the hose and thereby provide for simplified control of the water flow.  
         [0036]     Clearly, the invention is not limited to the examples provided herein, such as the examples embodied in the  FIGS. 2-7 . In fact, a combination of different pipes as shown in  FIG. 3  can also be assembled for the same purpose. The direction of the inlet and outlets on the pipes may be adjusted to fit the architecture. The separation between the two pipes in a given assembly is variable. The hot water source pipe  56   a  and the cold water source pipe  56   a , or  56   c , may be between a few inches apart to 3 feet apart depending on the application; the method provides flexibility in installation because these two pipes are not in a fixed relationship to each other. Thus, the bidet embodiments can be retro-fitted into an existing bathroom easily. It is possible for the hot water and cold water mechanical switches to be mounted on the wall, such as in a box.  
         [0037]     The products of the invention allow a user to clean the anus without hand contact. By this is meant that either the water pressure from the spray alone or the water pressure from the spray head in coordination with contact with an absorbent spray head cover is sufficient to remove most or all of the waste without requiring any hand wiping. Such avoidance of hand use allows a user to achieve proper cleansing without risking contamination of the user&#39;s hands.