Abstract:
A dryer component for a bidet includes a drying member ( 40 ), a blower component ( 50 ) and a pipe component ( 70 ). The pipe component ( 70 ) includes a first separable part ( 72 ) and a second separable part ( 82 ) so as to provide fluid connection between the blower component ( 50 ) and the drying member ( 40 ). There is no hose used in the pipe component ( 70 ) and the fitting surface between the first part ( 72 ) and the second part ( 82 ) is tilted, which allows comparatively great fitting tolerances of members of the dryer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of International Application PCT/CN2010/078805, filed Nov. 16, 2010, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which claims priority from Chinese Application No. 200911000218.2, filed Nov. 17, 2009, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a dryer component for a bidet or bidet toilet. The dryer component includes a drying member, a blower component and a pipe component. The present invention in particular relates to a dryer component used for toilet/bidet. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,473. Such patent relates to the bidet system provided with a fixed wand which is used for sanitary cleaning Adjacent to the wand is an independent fixed air duct which is used for blowing hot air. The fan blows the air into the air duct, wherein a heating unit is installed. Such heating unit is used for heating the air which flows through the air duct into the bidet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,484 describes a toilet equipment including a water emitting tube. The water emitting tube extends and retracts in an arcuate path. This patent discloses an embodiment, wherein the water emitting tube extends out by manually exerting pressure on the handle which is connected to the tension spring. In this way the water emitting tube can be forced to retract to its original position under the spring&#39;s offset force after the pressure on the handle is relieved. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,745 relates to a system for flush toilet cleaning and drying. This device provides hot water for the liquid injection outlet and provides air for a separate air guiding outlet. The blower makes the air flow past the airflow pipeline connected with the tubular member. Lifting rod fastens pivotally to a tubular member. Such scheme allows liquid injection outlet and air guiding outlet to rotate between the storage position and usage position. This patent describes an embodiment, wherein the blower with a heating element therein heats the air. 
         [0005]    Other prior art includes the following: The Chinese patent application publication No. 200710199074.2, which is suitable for toilet system and equipped with a hot air pipe with three branches. One of such three branches heats the toilet seat; the second branch heats the room wherein the toilet is installed; and the third branch is led to the toilet bowl. The Japanese patent No. 2007-205141, which describes a warm air dryer provided with a pipeline connected to a warm air source. The reciprocating drying nozzle can extend out to the usage position and retract to the storage position. When the drying nozzle is in an extended position the rear part of the drying nozzle is provided with an opening connected with an air pipe and when the drying nozzle is in a retracted position the rear opening of the drying nozzle is not connected with the air pipe. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Embodiments of the present invention meet the need of providing a hoseless and separable air pipe component. Furthermore, this method provides tilted fitting surfaces between the separable parts of the air pipe members. 
         [0007]    An aspect or embodiment of the present invention relates to an improved dryer component. The improved dryer component includes a drying member, a blower component and a pipe component. This invention includes the separable parts of a pipe component, with each part provided with a fitting surface mirroring the fitting surface of another part. For example, the pipe component can allow the optimal fluid connection when each part is fitted with each other and restrict fluid connection when each part separates from each other. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect or embodiment of the invention, the connection between the blower component and the drying member is hoseless. One part of the pipe component is connected to the blower component while the other part of the pipe component is connected to the drying member. These separable parts allow retracting of the drying member without the need of moving or bending a flexible hose. Therefore the movement of parts can be simplified and the wear can be minimized. 
         [0009]    In another aspect or embodiment, the fitting surface of each part of the pipe is tilted. Said tilted fitting surfaces advantageously allow the minimum possible force to separate or fit pipe parts in assembling process. The tilted (e.g., angled) surfaces can also reduce the catching or hanging of pipe parts to the least possibility. These tilted fitting joints advantageously do not need precise alignment, which allows comparatively great alignment tolerance between the drying member and the blower component. For example, the drying member can slightly deviate or loosen, however, when the drying member extends out, each part of the pipe component basically aligns so as to provide fluid connection with the drying member. 
         [0010]    At least one embodiment of the present invention is aimed at providing a drying component including a blower component and a pipe component. Such pipe component includes a first separable part and a second separable part. Said first part and said second part are respectively connected by first and second fitting surfaces, and such connection is demountable, thereby providing a selectable fluid connection between the blower component and the drying member. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments of the invention, the first fitting surface and the second fitting surface are tilted (e.g., angled relative to the axis of the pipe). In other embodiments of the invention, the drying member is a bidet wand. In addition, in some embodiments of the invention, the drying member is an arcuate (e.g., curved) wand. In another embodiment of the invention, the drying member further includes a liquid injection member. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments of the invention, the first part and the second part are substantially rigid. Some embodiments of the invention further includes a heating element. Some embodiments of the invention includes a driving device. The driving device can be configured to cause at least one of the first part and the second part to be moved to a position wherein the first part and the second part of the pipe are in fluid connection. In some embodiments, the driving device is a manually operated device. In other embodiments of invention, the driving device is a motor. In yet other embodiments of the invention, the driving device is an actuator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bidet. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of an embodiment of a dryer component. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a partial, sectional perspective view of the dryer component as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a partial, sectional perspective view of another dryer component. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the dryer component as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a pipe component. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is another partial perspective view of a pipe component. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a partial, side sectional view of a bidet, including the dryer component as illustrated in  FIG. 2  in the extended position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8A  is a partial, side sectional view of a bidet, including another embodiment of the dryer component. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a partial, side sectional view of a bidet, including the dryer component as illustrated in  FIG. 2  in the retracted position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a partial, sectional perspective view of another dryer component; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a partial, sectional perspective view of another dryer component. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a bidet  20 .  FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of a dryer component  30 . A dryer component  30  includes a drying member  40 , a blower component  50  and a pipe component  70 . The drying member  40  can move between a first position and a second position. For example, the drying member  40  can be a bidet wand which can be provided with an extended position and a retracted position. In varying embodiments, the drying member  40  can have a fixed position or a plurality of extended positions. A part of the drying member  40  defines an inlet  42  while another part of the drying member defines an outlet  44 . When dryer component  30  is in operation, a fluid connection is utilized between the inlet  42  and the outlet  44 . For example, the air can flow from the inlet  42  to the outlet  44  in order to dry certain body part of the user. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a blower component  50 . As shown, blower component  50  includes a blower shell  52  and an interior gas flow source like a blower  54 . The blower component  50  can optionally be a channel which allows fluid connection from exterior sources like a heating pipe adapted for other devices or a blower. The blower  54  can be any type of gas-moving device such as a fan or a turbine. In the illustrated embodiment, the blower  54  produces gas moving and blows the air out of the blower outlet  58 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , drying component  30  can optionally include a heating element  56  such as an electric heating coil. When the gas is driven through the blower outlet  58  and flows past heating element  56 , the gas becomes warm. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a pipe component  70 . Such pipe component  70  includes a first part  72  and a second part  82 . The first part  72  is connected to a drying member  40  (e.g., as also shown in  FIG. 2 ) at inlet  42  by means of any type of connection (e.g., a screw, bolt, nipple, tab, adhesive or friction fitting, etc.). In the illustrated embodiment, the first part  72  is connected to the drying member  40  via tab  71 , and the tab  71  is fitted in a tab socket  46  on the drying member  40 . The first part  72  is provided with a first shell  74 . The size and shape of the first opening  76  of such first shell  74  is set to be able to fit the inlet  42  in order to provide fluid connection with the inlet  42 . The size and shape of the first part  72  is set as being fitted into the inlet  42  and such first part  72  includes at least one tab  71 . The size and shape of the second opening  78  of the first shell  74  is designed to be able to fit the second part  82 . The first opening  76  and the second opening  78  can be of any type of section shape, such as rectangular, circular or oval. In the embodiment shown, the first opening  76  is provided with a substantially oval section while the second opening  78  is provided with a rectangular section. The first fitting surface  80  (as referenced in  FIGS. 2 and 6 ) is defined by the outermost peripheral surface of the second opening  78 . The first fitting surface  80  can be the outermost peripheral surface of the first shell  74 , such as a washer or coating material. The distance from the first point  73  of the first fitting surface  80  to the central axis x of the drying member  40  is illustrated by dl . The distance from the second point  75  of the first fitting surface  80  to the central axis x of the drying member  40  is d 2 . The first distance dl can be equal to, shorter or longer than the second distance d 2 . In the embodiment shown, the first distance dl is shorter than the second distance d 2 , and therefore the first fitting surface  80  is tilted away from the central axis x. 
         [0028]    The second part  82  is connected to a blower component  50  at the blower outlet  58  by means of any type of connection (e.g., a screw, bolt, nipple, tab, adhesive or friction fitting). The second part  82  is provided with a second shell  84  (e.g., referenced in  FIGS. 2 and 7 ). The size and shape of the third opening  86  of the second shell  84  is set to be able to fit the blower outlet  58  in order to provide fluid connection from the blower component  50  to the second part  82 . The size and shape of a fourth opening  88  of the second shell  84  is designed to be able to fit the first part  72 . The third opening  86  and the fourth opening  88  can be of any type of cross-sectional shape, such as rectangular, circular or oval. In the embodiment shown, the third opening  86  and the fourth opening  88  are provided with a rectangular cross section. The second fitting surface  90  is determined by the outermost peripheral surface of the fourth opening  88 . The second fitting surface  90  can be the outermost peripheral surface of the second shell  84 , such as the washer or the coating material. The size and shape of the second fitting surface  90  is designed as being fitted with the first fitting surface  80 . In the embodiment shown, the second fitting surface  90  is tilted to mirror the first fitting surface  80  in order to provide optimal assembling when the first part  72  and the second part  82  are connected with each other. 
         [0029]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the first part  72  is connected to a driving device  25 , such as a motor, an actuator or a manually operated device, with the second part  82  fixed and stationary. A manually operated device can be a crank, a joystick or a handle, for example.  FIG. 10 , for example, shows a bidet equipped with a rotary rod, for example, which serves as the driving device  25 . In varying alternative embodiments, the second part  82  can be optionally connected to the driving device  25  with the first part  72  fixed and stationary, or the first part  72  and the second part  82  are both immovably fixed, or both connected to the driving device  25 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the drying member  40  is also connected to the driving device  25  with the drying member  40  in fully extended position. Alternatively, the drying member  40  can be fixed. The drying member  40  can further include an injection member (e.g., shown as a water sprayer at the tip of dryer member  40 ), as is shown is  FIG. 8A . Such an injection member can be adapted for injecting water to certain body part of the user. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  shows a drying member  40  in fully retracted position and a first part  72 . As shown in the embodiment, the first part  72  is separated from the second part  82  in the retracted position so that the first part  72  does not receive any airflow from the blower component  50  via the second part  82 . The airflow is prevented from directly entering the first part  72  and thereby prevents the airflow from passing through drying member  40  and outlet  44 . When a user (not shown) wishes to obtain airflow from the drying member  40 , the user can activate driving device  25  so as to move the drying member  40  to the extended position as shown in  FIG. 8A . In the extended position, the first fitting surface  80  is fitted with the second fitting surface  90  such that the gas can flow from the blower component  50  to drying member  40  via the pipe component  70 . The blower component  50  can optionally rotate the airflow in reverse direction such that the gas can flow from the drying member  40  to the blower component  50  via the pipe component  70 . The counter rotating airflow can make use of air to produce inhaling or vacuum effect. 
         [0031]    Even if the first part  72  is not perfectly fitted with the second part  82 , the airflow can be still guided through the outlet  44 . For example, if the drying member  40  does not fully extend out, or one or both of the first part  72  and the second part  82  are misaligned. As long as the first part  72  is partially fitted with the second part  82 , certain amount of airflow can still flow past the pipe component  70 , whereby allowing users to continue employing the drying characteristic of the bidet until the misalignment is corrected. 
         [0032]      FIG. 10  shows a dryer component, the ensemble of which is labeled as  30 . Such dryer component is provided with a driving device  125 , which is a manually operated device. 
         [0033]    The driving device  125  is a pivotal arm which is connected to at least one of the first part  72  and the second part  82 . The driving device  125  can be manually rotated in one direction in order to move the first part  72  and the second part  82  to a position where the two parts fit each other. And the driving device  125  can be manually rotated in the countervailing direction in order to move the first part  72  and the second part  82  to a position, where the two parts do not fit with each other. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  shows a dryer component, the ensemble of which is labeled as  230 . Such dryer component is provided with a driving device  25 , which is an actuator. The driving device  25  can be actuated in one direction in order to move the first part  72  and the second part  82  to a position where the two parts can fit with each other. The driving device  25  can be actuated in the countervailing direction in order to move the first part  72  and the second part  82  to a position, where the two parts do not fit with each other.