Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-13
2004-08-03
Casler, Brian L. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C604S515000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06770060
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally related to a personal hygiene system. More specifically, the present invention is related to a shower douching system.
Douching is a form of feminine hygiene that uses chemicals that do not detrimentally reduce the amount of natural enzymes present in the female reproductive tract. In some religious groups, douching has sometimes been used as a form of birth control to wash at least some of the sperm from the vaginal canal after sexual intercourse.
There are a variety of personal hygiene systems or douching devices that are available on the market. Such devices generally take the form of a stand alone douching device or a hand held shower douching device. While the conventional douching apparatuses have been successful, each of the conventional solutions have undesirable drawbacks. For example, douching systems that divert a portion of the water flow away from the shower head to the douching device typically require a separate valve that must be manually attached between the shower head and the water source. Such devices are often cumbersome, difficult to mount to the water supply, and are not aesthetically pleasing since such plumbing and douching devices are often permanently attached to the shower head. In regards to the stand alone devices, such stand alone devices are often costly, large and unsightly and often cannot be added to an existing structure without extensive remodeling or re-plumbing.
Therefore, what are needed are personal hygiene systems that would be easily attachable to any pressurized water system with potable water. It is further desirable to provide a system that can simply be attached and detached from a conventional shower head. It would further be desirable if such a system did not require a complex network of pipes and valves that require the use of specialized tools. It would be preferred if such a system was not permanently attached to fixed plumbing and could be moved out of sight and stored so as to minimize the user's embarrassment from untimely questions from children.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,950,231 and 5,685,028 describe stand alone personal hygiene systems. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,206,862, 5,241,714, and 4,642,100 describe a shower douching apparatus that includes a bypass system that diverts a flow of water away from the shower head. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,387 and 3,921,635 describe shower douching apparatuses that attach to a hand held shower head.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a personal hygiene system that is readily attachable and detachable from a conventional wall mounted shower head so as to allow a user to douche in the shower. Advantageously, the devices of the present invention allow the user to adjust the temperature and flow rate of the fluid flow through the douching device.
The present invention typically includes a “quick-connect” connector or knob that can attach and detach from an output of a shower rose or shower head. In exemplary embodiments the present invention takes advantage of an existing threaded opening that is present in many conventional shower heads. The existing gasket and spray adjustment component is removed and the quick connect can be threadedly attached so as to direct at least a portion of the water flow from the shower head into the personal hygiene systems of the present invention.
Unlike conventional shower douching systems that require additional plumbing and complex diverting assemblies, users can simply attach and detach the quick-connect connector to the output face of the shower head so as to take the water flow that normally flows from the shower head and divert some or all of the water into the douching or personal hygiene systems of the present invention. Such systems allow for simple and easy attachment and detachment with an existing shower head, without the need to disassemble the shower head.
Because of the simplicity of the present invention, the user may shower only, douche only, or shower and douche at the same time. Advantageously, to change between the various modes, the user need only tighten or loosen the connector on the shower head.
In a showering mode, the user can leave the connector or knob connected to the shower head, or alternatively can completely remove the connector and leave the existing gasket and spray adjustment component in the shower head. In such shower-only methods in which the connector is left on the shower head, the user can turn on the water and adjust the flow and temperature to a desired level. To shower, water can be directed only through the connector or it can be directed around and through the connector. To allow water to flow around and through the connector, the user can manually loosen the connector from the shower head so as to allow water to flow around the connector. If the user wishes to have water flow only through the connector, the user can tighten the connection between the connector and shower head, until water flows only through the connector.
If the user wishes to shower and douche concurrently, after the user has adjusted the temperature and flow to a desirable temperature and flow rate, the user can then connect a fluid conduit to the connector to direct the water that flows through the connector through the fluid conduit to a douching applicator. Similar to above, by adjusting the quick connect (by tightening or loosening the connector), the user can adjust the amount of water that flows around and into the connector and into the shower environment.
If the user desires only to douche, the user can completely tighten the quick connect knob and attach the fluid conduit to the connector so as to divert 100% of the water into the connector and douching system. Thus, if the user wishes to stay dry and only douche, the user can connect and/or tighten the quick connect to the shower head, attach the fluid conduit, and divert 100% of the water through the douching system. This would allow the user to stay completely dry from the waist up, if not entirely dry. Optionally, in some embodiments, the fluid conduit can be of a length that allows the user to douche while on the commode.
In one particular aspect, the present invention provides a personal hygiene system that is attachable to a shower head having an input interface and an output interface. The system includes a connector attachable to the output interface of the shower head so as to direct a water flow from the shower head through the connector. The fluid is directed from the connector to a flexible fluid conduit which includes an applicator for directing the fluid flow to a target portion of the user's body.
In exemplary embodiments, the connectors of the present invention are threadedly attachable to an output interface of the shower head. An exemplary shower head is manufactured by Delta Corporation.
Unlike the conventional douching shower devices, the systems of the present invention attach directly to conventional shower heads, without the need of a complex diverting system to move water away from the shower head into a separate douching system. The connectors of the present invention utilize the existing threaded opening to attach the douching system directly to the shower head.
The fluid conduit of the present invention is typically composed of a flexible rubber tubing that is capable of delivering a fluid from the connector to an applicator. Exemplary fluid conduits have an outer diameter between approximately {fraction (7/16)} inches to ⅝ inches and a length of approximately three feet to fifteen feet or more. However, Applicant has found that a ⅜ inch inside diameter works well as the volume flow allows sufficient time for extraction of the applicator should the water pressure vary (i.e., a toilet flush).
The applicator of the present invention is disposed on a free end of the fluid conduit. The applicator is typically sized and shaped for insertion into a body orifice, such as the vaginal passageway of the user. As such, the applicator will t
Casler Brian L.
Thompson Michael M.
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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