GB2276398A

GB2276398A - Combined water closet and bidet incorporating heated air supply

Info

Publication number: GB2276398A
Application number: GB9405958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Capper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-26
Filing date: 1994-03-25
Publication date: 1994-09-28
Also published as: GB9405958D0

Abstract

A combined water closet and bidet incorporating a heated air supply (34) comprises a single bowl (4) connected to a cistern (6) for flushing the bowl, and includes a water fountain (18) or the like for spraying or otherwise discharging water into the bowl, said water being heated before being sprayed or otherwise discharged. One or more means (10, 12) are provided to flush the water closet and bidet, and the water closet and bidet may be provided with electrically or electronically actuated controls. <IMAGE>

Description

WATER CLOSETS AND BIDETS This invention relates to water closets and bidets, and more partcularly to combined water closets and bidets.

In providing a water closet and bidet combined with its washing fountain, it is thought that a greater degree of personal hygiene could be achieved by washing off, rather than wiping off, excrement from one's private parts and drying with tissues or paper towels.

In addition, a much smaller bathroom could be designed and provided, and hence huge sums of money could be saved on building materials, if the water closet and bidet were combined into a single unit.

The present invention thus seeks to provide an improved form of water closet and bidet which will overcome the disadvantages of conventional equipment.

According to the present invention, there is provided a combined water closet and bidet incorporating a heated air supply.

Preferably, the combined water closet and bidet will comprise a single bowl connected to a cistern for flushing said bowl.

The combined water closet and bidet will preferably include a water fountain or the like adapted to spray or otherwise discharge water into the bowl, means being provided to control the rate of flow of water to and from said fountain or the like.

Means will preferably be associated with said water fountain or the like to heat the water fed thereto so that heated water issues therefrom.

Means will be provided to flush the bowl of the combined water closet and bidet, and preferably there will be two discrete means to flush said bowl, said two discrete means being located at differing levels or heights with respect to said bowl.

Said heated air supply will preferably be incorporated on a pivotable arm which is movable from a first position housed within a bowl of said combined water closet and bidet to a second position overlying said bowl and in which heated air may be directed upwardly.

Said heated air supply will preferably consist of an outlet connected to a heating unit preferably housed within a pedestal of said combined water closet and bidet.

The combined water closet and bidet may include electrically or electronically actuated controls, said controls being floor or wall mounted. Alternatively, said controls may be mounted on a floor supported column or on the bowl of the unit, and said controls may be operated by remote control.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 is a front perspective elevation of a combined water closet and bidet in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a component feature of the invention in a second position; Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the combined water closet and bidet of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing electrically or electronically actuated controls for the water closet and bidet.

Referring to the drawings, a combined water closet and bidet, indicated generally by reference numeral 2, comprises a bowl 4 and a cold water cistern 6, the bowl 4 being incorporated in and forming part of a pedestal 8.

The pedestal 8 will preferably have a wider base than is normal, so that the pedestal will cover any existing floor space vacated by an existing water closet when a water closet and bidet in accordance with the invention is used to replace said water closet. Thus there will be no need to replace carpets and/or floor tiles or other forms of floor coverings.

The water cistern includes the usual flushing machanism (not shown), the flushing mechanism being operable by means of either a high level handle 10 or a low level handle 12 so as to empty water from the cistern into the bowl and flush away the contents of the bowl, the contents leaving the bowl via the usual outlet 14 and U-bend 16 and thence into a soil pipe or other means, not shown.

As will be seen, the bowl 4 is fitted with a water fountain 18 which is fed with water from a supply pipe 20, a water heater 22 being located in the supply pipe so as to heat water passing to the water fountain and hence have heated water issuing therefrom. The water heater is supplied with electricity from a supply source 24 via a flex or cable 26.

The water supply to the heater 22 and hence to the fountain 18 is controlled by means of a slidable springloaded lever or knob 28 which, through a spindle 30, controls a valve 32 so as to allow water from the supply pipe 20 to pass into the water heater 22 and to be heated thereby, prior to issuing from the fountain 18.

Associated with and forming part of the combined water closet and bidet is a warm air outlet duct or nozzle 34 which is located on the end of a pivotable arm 36, the arm being movable from the position shown in Figure 1, wherein the arm and duct or nozzle lie within the confines of the rim of the bowl 4, to the position shown in Figure 2 wherein the arm and duct or nozzle overlie the bowl and the water fountain 18. The arm 36 is movable between its two positions by means of a push/pull handle 38, the arm pivoting about point 40 (Figure 3).

Air passing to the arm 36 and thence to the duct or nozzle 34 is heated by a heater 42 located within the pedestal 8.

In order to gain access to the water heater 22, air heater 42, and other associated parts of the water closet and bidet, the pedestal 8 is provided with removable panels 44 and 46 which are secured in position by means of fastening devices 48 and 50.

Thus the invention provides a combined water closet and bidet incorporating drying facilities as well as washing facilities, which will permit the non-wiping of a user's private parts, and will also permit the non-sighting of body waste solids and, in the case of women, all other body waste material, since the fountain may be operated by means of the low level handle 12 whilst the user remains seated on a seat 52 of the combined water closet and bidet. After washing of one's personal parts, these may be dried using the warm air duct or nozzle 34 simply by movement of the handle 38 which may be such that the heater 42 is actuated upon the arm 36 being moved from its first position to its second position.

In addition, the fact that the water closet and bidet are combined in a single unit reduces the floor space needed to accommodate the unit.

The high level handle 10 may be used by male users of the unit to flush the water closet after only urinating into the bowl of the water closet, or it may be used in all circumstances if preferred.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be seen that the low level handle 12, the lever or knob 28, and the push/pull handle 38 - all shown in Figures 1 to 3 - have been dispensed with. The functions performed by these items, i.e. the operation of the water fountain, the movement of the arm 36 and the issuance of heated air from the duct or nozzle 34, and the flushing of the bowl 4, are replaced by electrically or electronically actuated control means indicated generally by reference numeral 54.

As will be seen, the controls are located on a floor mounted column 56 which consists of a plurality of packings 56A so that the column may be formed to any suitable and varying height.

The controls 54 include buttons 58, 60, and 62, said buttons being respectively for actuating the controls for the water fountain 18 and the water heated associated therewith, the heater for the air outlet duct or nozzle 34, and for flushing the bowl 4, the latter control being usable as an alternative to the flushing handle 10. The actuating controls will be supplied with electricity via cables (not shown) and suitable solenoids and/or other appropriate component parts will be included in the said circuitry so as to give the required degree of control.

As implied above, the control for the arm 36 to move the arm from its inoperative to its operative position will simultaneously actuate the heater for the air issuing from the duct or nozzle 34, although it will be appreciated that seperate controls may be provided if preferred.

It will be appreciated that the control button for the flushing of the bowl 4 may totally replace use of the handle 10, in which case the handle 10 would be dispensed with. However, it is thought that the inclusion of the handle 10 would be useful when the combined water closet and bidet has been used by a non-disabled person.

It will also be appreciated that the actuating controls may be wall mounted, or mounted directly on the floor, or that they may be located on the side of the bowl 4. In the case of wall mounted controls, these would enable the controls to be operated by the nose, in case of seriously disbabled people, as well as being conveniently located for normal use. In addition, the actuating controls may be operated by remote control via a hand set. Further, such actuating controls may be computer controlled if desired.

Finally, it will be appreciated that modifications may be made to the combined water closet and bidet in accordance with the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, instead of a water fountain, means may be provided for the water to flow into the bowl of the combined unit instead of being sprayed into the bowl. In addition, the means for controlling the flow of and for heating the water fed to the fountain may be different to those illustrated and described herein. Also, the heated air may be supplied by means other than those described. Other changes and modifications will readily present themselves to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A combined water closet and bidet incorporating a heated air supply.

2. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the water closet and bidet comprises a single bowl connected to a cistern for flushing the bowl.

3. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with Claim 2, wherein the water closet and bidet includes a water fountain or the like adapted to spray or otherwise discharge water into the bowl, means being provided to control the rate of flow of water to and from said fountain or the like.

4. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with Claim 3, wherein means are associated with said water fountain or the like to heat the water fed thereto so that heated water issues therefrom.

5. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the water closet and bidet is provided with at least one means to flush the water closet and bidet.

6. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with Claim 5, wherein there are two discrete means to flush the water closet and bidet, said two discrete means being located at different levels or heights with respect to the bowl.

7. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with any of Claims 2 to 6, wherein said heated air supply is incorporated on a pivotable arm which is movable from a first position housed within said bowl to a second position overlying said bowl and in which heated air may be directed upwardly.

8. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with Claim 7, wherein said heated air supply consists of an outlet connected to a heating unit housed within a pedestal of the water closet and bidet.

9. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, wherein said water closet and bidet includes electrically or electronically actuated control means.

10. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with Claim 9, wherein said controls are floor or wall mounted or are mounted on the bowl of the water closet and bidet.

11. A combined water closet and bidet in accordance with Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein said controls are remote controlled.

12. A combined water closet and bidet substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, or Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figure 4, of the accompanying drawings.