WO1997004698A1

WO1997004698A1 - Toilet bidet

Info

Publication number: WO1997004698A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/009713
Authority: WO
Inventors: Salvatore C. Latora
Original assignee: Latora Salvatore C
Priority date: 1995-08-01
Filing date: 1995-08-01
Publication date: 1997-02-13
Also published as: AU3155095A

Abstract

A toilet bidet (10) provides a water supply hose (14) for attachment to an existing toilet's filler tube (16), a water delivery hose leading to a bracket housing (24) mounted on the rim of the existing toilet bowl, and a bidet arm (30) directing the water upwards through a bidet nozzle (32) towards the center of the toilet bowl.

Description

TOILET BIDET DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to household plumbing and related fixtures, and more specifically to an improved bidet apparatus for connection to standard toilet fixtures. BACKGROUND ART

Toilet fixtures and bidets are well known. Most known bidets are stand-alone units, requiring additional bathroom floor space and appropriate separate plumbing to install. As an alternative, some designers have developed portable bidet units that can be used in conjunction with an existing toilet. However, these portable units are typically bulky and awkward to use, and yet still require supplemental plumbing to install. Other known portable units have a self-contained water supply, but these generally require constant heating of the water for spontaneous use, and repetitive refilling of the water reservoir for continued use.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The toilet bidet of this invention provides a bidet apparatus suitable for retrofit installation to existing toilet fixtures, or original installation into manufactured fixtures. The toilet bidet comprises a water supply hose conditioned for attachment to an existing toilet's filler tube, leading to a bracket housing mounted on the rim of the existing toilet bowl, with a bidet arm directing the water upwards through a bidet nozzle towards the center of the toilet bowl. Each time the toilet is flushed, water from the toilet's filler tube, which normally would be directed to the toilet tank's overflow tube, is instead delivered through the bidet's water delivery hose to the bidet arm and nozzle for delivery to the user.

After flushing, the toilet tank refills with water, and the existing toilet's ball-cock assembly automatically stops the water flowing through the toilet's filler tube, and thus no water is delivered to the bidet arm and nozzle. Thus, the toilet bidet of this invention uses only the water that would normally be directed to the toilet tank's overflow tube, thereby saving water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet bidet of this invention as installed on a standard toilet fixture; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred design for the bracket housing, bidet arm, and bidet nozzle of the toilet bidet of this invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet bidet

10 of this invention as installed on a standard toilet fixture 12. The toilet bidet comprises a water supply hose 14 (e.g., five-sixteenths inch plastic hose) conditioned for attachment to an existing toilet's filler tube 16, leading to a bracket housing 24 mounted on the rim 26 of the existing toilet bowl 28, with a bidet arm 30 directing the water upwards through a bidet nozzle 32 towards the center of the toilet bowl. Each time the toilet is flushed, water from the toilet's filler tube 16, which normally would be directed to the toilet tank's overflow tube 42, is instead delivered through the bidet's water supply hose 14 to the bidet arm 30 and nozzle 32 for delivery to the user.

After flushing, the toilet tank refills with water, and the existing toilet's ball-cock assembly 44 automatically stops the water flowing through the toilet's filler tube 16, and thus no water is delivered to the bidet arm and nozzle.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred design for the bracket housing 24, bidet arm 30, and bidet nozzle 32 of the toilet bidet 10 of this invention. Bracket housing 24 may be designed with a left wing 50 and right wing 52, which may be installed under an existing toilet seat simply by loosening of the toilet seat's screws, sliding the left and right wings under the toilet seat and against the screws, and retightening the screws. Pressure valve 60 (e.g., a simple gate valve or butterfly valve) may be installed in the housing 24 to regulate the water pressure after installation.

While this invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious that modifications and changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art to which it pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

TOILET BIDET CLAIMS What is claimed as invention is: 1. A toilet bidet for connection to a toilet fixture, said toilet fixture having a toilet tank, toilet bowl, and filler tube, said toilet bidet comprising: a water supply hose adapted for attachment to said toilet fixture filler tube; a bracket housing connected to said water supply hose; said bracket housing adapted for mounting to said toilet fixture toilet bowl; and a bidet arm connected to said bracket housing, said bidet arm including a bidet nozzle, wherein when said toilet fixture is flushed, said toilet fixture filler tube delivers water through said water supply hose to said bracket housing and said bidet arm for delivery through said bidet nozzle.