Manual bidet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9283144-B2
Application number	US-201113697951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2011
Priority date	Oct 21, 2011
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

According to an exemplary embodiment, a bidet assembly for a toilet generally includes a sprayer, a water supply system, and an arm. The sprayer is configured to spray water. The water supply system is configured to selectively communicate water from one or more water sources to the sprayer. The arm is operationally coupled to the water sprayer and the water supply system. The arm is configured such that rotation of the arm acts to rotate the sprayer and the arm forger comprises a feature configured to allow control of the amount of water flow from the water supply to the sprayer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bidet assembly for a toilet, comprising:
a sprayer configured to spray water;
a water supply system configured to selectively communicate water from one or more water sources to the sprayer;
an arm operationally coupled to the water sprayer and to the water supply system;
wherein the arm is configured such that rotation of the arm about a first axis acts to rotate the sprayer and the arm further comprises a feature configured to allow control of water flow from the water supply to the sprayer;
wherein the arm extends radially away from the first axis and includes a valve positioned in a cavity thereof to control the water flow;
wherein the arm includes a first section configured to rotate about the first axis and which extends away from the first axis, and the arm includes a second section extending from the first section, the second section being configured to rotate relative to the first section to operate the valve for controlling the water flow.

2. The bidet assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a base configured to couple to a toilet, wherein the sprayer is rotatably coupled to the base and the arm is rotatably coupled to the base.

3. The bidet assembly of claim 2 , wherein the sprayer is configured to rotate about a second axis that is generally parallel with the first axis.

4. The bidet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a first segment of tubing communicates water to the valve, a second segment of tubing communicates water from the valve to the sprayer, and at least a portion of the first and second segments of tubing are disposed at least partially within the cavity of the arm.

5. The bidet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arm is configured such that rotation of the first section may occur simultaneously with rotation of the second section.

6. The bidet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sprayer is configured to rotate about a second axis and includes a post disposed at a distal position from the second axis, wherein the arm is configured to rotate about the first axis and includes an inner arm portion having a slot disposed at a distal position from the first axis, and wherein the post is disposed generally within the slot such that rotation of the arm causes the inner arm portion to push the post for rotating the sprayer.

7. The bidet assembly of claim 6 , wherein the arm is configured to rotate up to approximately 30 degrees.

8. The bidet assembly of claim 6 , wherein the sprayer is configured to rotate up to approximately 30 degrees.

9. The bidet assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a housing;
wherein the sprayer is disposed generally within the housing in a retracted position and comprises an inlet, a wand, and a spray head; and
wherein the spray head is configured to extend telescopically from the wand to a position generally outside the housing in an extended position.

10. The bidet assembly of claim 9 , wherein the spray head extends telescopically from the wand in response to an increase of water pressure within the wand.

11. The bidet assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sprayer includes a spring configured to retract the spray head into the wand in response to a decrease of water pressure within the wand.

12. The bidet assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the housing includes a base and a cover;
the base is configured to rigidly couple to the toilet, and the sprayer and arm are rotatably coupled to the base; and
the cover is coupled to the base in a position to generally over the sprayer and an interior portion of the arm, and is configured to rotatably couple to a lid or a seat.

13. The bidet assembly of claim 1 , wherein during use, a user may both rotate the arm about the first axis and rotate the second section relative to the first section without touching the first section.

14. The bidet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second section is configured to rotate about a second axis extending in substantially a same direction as which the arm extends away from the first axis.

15. A toilet seat assembly comprising:
a lid;
a seat; and
a bidet system comprising a sprayer configured to spray water, a water supply system configured to selectively communicate water from one or more water sources to the sprayer, and an arm operationally coupled to the water sprayer and to the water supply system;
wherein the arm is configured such that rotation of the arm about a first axis acts to rotate the sprayer and the arm further comprises a feature configured to allow control of water flow from the water supply to the sprayer; and
wherein the arm extends radially away from the first axis and includes a first section configured to rotate about the first axis and which extends away from the first axis to an end, and the arm includes a second section extending from the end, radially further away from the first axis than the first section and in substantially the same direction as the first section, the second section being configured to rotate relative to the first section to control the water flow.

16. The toilet seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the bidet assembly includes a base that is configured for coupling to a base of a toilet and further comprises an inlet tube configured to couple the bidet assembly to one or more water sources.

17. The toilet seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the sprayer is configured to rotate about a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis.

18. The toilet seat assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a valve mounted in a cavity of the arm, wherein the second section of the arm is configured to control the opening and closing of the valve when rotated relative to the first section.

19. The toilet seat assembly according to claim 18 , wherein a first segment of tubing communicates water to the valve, a second segment of tubing communicates water from the valve to the sprayer, and at least a portion of the first and second segments of tubing are disposed at least partially within the cavity of the arm.

20. The toilet seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the arm is configured such that rotation of the first section may occur simultaneously with rotation of the second section.

21. The toilet seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the sprayer is configured to rotate about a second axis and includes a post disposed at a distal position from the second axis, wherein the arm is configured to rotate about the first axis and includes an inner arm portion having a slot disposed at a distal position from the first axis, and wherein the post is disposed generally within the slot such that rotation of the arm causes the inner arm portion to push the post for rotating the sprayer.

22. The toilet seat assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a housing;
wherein the sprayer is disposed generally within the housing in a retracted position and comprises an inlet, a wand, and a spray head; and
wherein the spray head is configured to extend telescopically from the wand to a position generally outside the housing in an extended position.

23. The bidet assembly of claim 22 , wherein the spray head extends telescopically from the wand in response to an increase of water pressure within the wand and the sprayer includes a spring configured to retract the spray head into the wand in response to a decrease of water pressure within the wand.

24. The bidet assembly of claim 22 , wherein:
the housing includes a base and a cover;
the base is configured to rigidly couple t

Assignees

• Bickerstaffe Mark S
• Chenesseau Bruno J
• Zang Zunqing
• Yuan Ziyi
• Teubert John A
• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Bickerstaffe Mark S
• Chenesseau Bruno J
• Zang Zunqing
• Yuan Ziyi
• Teubert John A

Classifications

• A61H35/00 Primary

  Baths for specific parts of the body {(electric circuits therefor A61H33/005; specific components therefor A61H33/60)} · CPC title

• B05B3/02

  with rotating elements (electric spraying discharge apparatus characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements B05B5/04) · CPC title

• E03D9/08 Primary

  Devices in the bowl producing upwardly-directed sprays; Modifications of the bowl for use with such devices (showers A47K3/28; bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H33/00, for specific parts of the body A61H35/00 ){; Bidets; Combinations of bowls with urinals or bidets; Hot-air or other devices mounted in or on the bowl, urinal or bidet for cleaning or disinfecting} · CPC title