Patent Publication Number: US-6339852-B1

Title: Bidet toilet seat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to toilets arid, more specifically, a simple, useful, cost-effective and affordable toilet seat having a bidet built therein, whereby cleansing the anal and genital areas of the human body is effected. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art 
     Many prior art combinations of a toilet seat and bidet attachment are typically bulky and awkward to use, however, most of these devices are characterized by an undue level of mechanical complexity which may affect their reliability, the mechanisms and moving parts of the said combinations are unsightly, exposed and cumbersome during a man&#39;s period of use in the restroom. Furthermore, when the toilet seat has been raised it is a fact of life that when a man uses a commode with the toilet seat raised, a certain amount of splatter of a corrosive and unsanitary liquid results, a splatter which must be constantly cleaned from all surfaces on which it lands. The bidet attachments of the prior art are particularly susceptible to this splatter due to their exposure. Because of their size and intricate mechanisms, they are uncomfortable to the user and difficult to keep clean. As a result, although the use of bidets is popular and desirable where they are available, because of their complexity and unsightly appearance, they have not become popular or commercially available. The lack of practicality may be the bottom line of consumers&#39; passive attitude towards this remarkable device. 
     Particularly, without any exposed mechanisms, moving parts or rigid bidet arm, this invention is very convenient to the user and is easy to maintain and keep clean. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a simple and effective toilet bidet seat which has a conduit built around the bottom side of the inner rim of the toilet seat, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The conduit may comprise a passage within the frontal portion of the seat, as indicated in FIG.  8 A. The conduit typically comprises a tube formed of appropriate plastic, and has nozzle holes located on the rim edge, water streams project out horizontally with a slightly upward angle on the nozzle holes, the nozzle holes having respective orientations to direct respective water streams in a generally converging pattern, as indicated in FIG.  1 . The water streams cleanse the human intimate area which generally are disposed inches below the horizontal water stream line. The nozzle holes are so spaced that a central space or area has no nozzle holes as shown in FIG. 4, thus to avoid direct impingement of water streams on male genitalia. The desired water pressure and angle of projection are controlled by an inline valve. This inline valve is mounted on the toilet seat at the end of the conduit and is manually operable to control flow. The inline valve is then connected to the toilet&#39;s water line or an adjacent pre-mixed hot and cold-water faucet. The valve and conduit are connected with a utility water supply. 
     This invention has a circular conduit built around the inner rim of a toilet seat and has several nozzle holes located on the lower side of the conduit in the front rim area. The conduit is then connected by a flexible tube to a pre-mixed cold and hotwater faucet. Water pressure and streams projection control are by an adjustable valve. Sprinklers serve to shoot a water stream out horizontally parallel along the user&#39;s thigh, toward the center of the back, to cleanse the user&#39;s private parts which generally sit inches below their thigh. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of a sprinkler bidet and toilet seat with a flush closet showing water streams; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a faucet with a water diverter showing the water source for the bidet; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the circular sprinkler bidet with a flush closet showing a water stream projecting slightly upward; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view thereof showing the positions of nozzle holes and a water inlet tubing inserted into the bidet via a connector and an adjustable valve; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the connector; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bidet showing the conduit and position of nozzle holes; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view thereof showing a front part of the rim; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the front rim showing the position of the conduit; 
     FIG. 8A is a sectional view of a rim of a modified toilet seat showing a conduit mounted therein; and 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the nozzle holes. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a bidet toilet seat  2 , pivotally connected to a toilet bowl, as indicated at  16  (FIG.  3 ), with water streams  3  extending out horizontally from front to rear  4  parallel under the user&#39;s thigh to reach their target, instead of the vertical water projection used in the prior art (which generally needs a shaft, a nipple or a nozzle gun operated by a mechanical arm). The inner rim of the toilet seat  2  ends with a connector  10 , connected by a flexible tube  12  with an adjustable valve  7  to a water source  15 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a conventional water diverter valve  14 , which has been publicly used for years. FIG. 3 shows the water stream  3  extending horizontally with a slightly upward angle. FIG. 4, a bottom view of the seat, shows a partial perspective view of the nozzle holes  9  located on both sides of the front rim (except the center area) near the lower part of circular conduit  6  which is connected by conduit  13  which is a hollow channel inside the seat. 
     FIG. 5 shows connector  10  with O-rings  11  or threads inside. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the seat showing the positions of the nozzle holes  9  and conduit  6 . FIG. 7 is a side view of the seat showing the front part of the rim  5 . FIG. 8 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the front rim  5  inside the bottom of the inner rim of the bidet seat showing the position of the conduit  6 . FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of another form of a portion of a modified bidet seat showing a conduit disposed within the toilet seat. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing nozzle holes  9 .