Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Flush closet – Bowl
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-24
2002-06-04
Phillips, Charles E. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Flush closet
Bowl
Reexamination Certificate
active
06397406
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a toilet and bidet combination and more particularly to a bidet attachment for the toilet seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bidet attachments for toilets are known in the art, and generally include a bidet housing. The one of known toilet and bidet assembly is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,516. According to this patent the bidet housing of a bidet attachment includes a base plate for mounting on the upper horizontal rim surface of a toilet bowl, and a top cover mounted on the base plate. The bidet housing confines an opening for access into the toilet bowl.
A heating element inside the bidet housing extends around a major part of the opening. A flexible water tube is sheathed on the heating element, and confines a water passage therewith. A water supply valve supplies water to the water passage. Water from the water passage is supplied to a nozzle assembly that is movable between retracted and extended positions. The heating element can be actuated for warming up the bidet housing and for heating water that flows through the water passage from the water supply valve and that flows out of the nozzle assembly.
Each of the first and second water coupling units is mounted on the base plate, and has a water port and a coupling port. The water port of the first water coupling unit is connected to the water inlet pipe. The terminating end portions of the heating element extend respectively into the first and second water coupling units via the coupling ports of the latter.
The flexible water tube has opposite ends secured respectively on the coupling ports of the first and second water coupling units. The coupling ports are wider than the cross-sectional size of the heating element so that water entering into the first water coupling unit can flow into the water passage, and so that water, exiting the water passage can flow into the second water coupling unit.
The nozzle assembly includes a water outlet pipe disposed in the bidet housing and connected to the water port of the second water coupling unit, and a spray pipe disposed below the base plate. The spray pipe has an inlet end that extends into the bidet housing and that is coupled to the water outlet pipe such that the spray pipe is rotatable relative to the water outlet pipe about a horizontal axis between a retracted position, where the spray pipe is disposed adjacent to the base plate, and an extended position, where the spray pipe is adapted to extend into the toilet bowl. The spray pipe further has an outlet end that is provided with a spray nozzle.
The heating element can be actuated for warming up the bidet housing and for heating water that flows through the water passage from the water supply valve and that flows out of the nozzle assembly.
Such bidet attachment for toilet bowls is very complex and expensive.
Another toilet and bidet combined device is presented in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,275, wherein A multifunction toilet is shown with a conventional flushing system and auxiliary components which include an odor exhaust system which withdraws gases from the toilet bowl and delivers them to the sewage drain downstream of the toilet water trap. Other auxiliary components include a motor driven retractable nozzle pipe which provides a personal warm water spray rinse and a dryer which supplies warm drying air. The auxiliary components are operated under a switch control system which assures proper sequencing and prevents use unless the user is seated on the toilet seat.
The present invention provides a toilet with auxiliary components which include an odor removing fan and a bidet type genital washing spray with an air dryer. The auxiliary components are regulated by a unique control system which allows the user's choice but assures proper sequential use and prevents actuation when the user is not seated.
The invention provides the multifunction flush toilet with a ventilating system including an exhaust fan for withdrawing gases from the toilet bowl for odor control and delivering the gases to the sewage waste drain downstream from the toilet bowl water trap seal. The exhaust fan can only be turned on by the user when the user is seated on the toilet seat, sitting on the seat actuating an enabling switch. The ventilating system provides a water trap valve assembly which is operated by exhaust gas fan pressure, eliminating electric control for the valve, while providing maximum air flow without restriction in the ventilating air conduit and providing complete shutoff against sewer gas backflow with a water seal.
The present invention also equips the toilet with a motor driven retractable nozzle pipe which provides a bidet type genital washing warm water spray which is user operated to produce a gentle low pressure spray or a higher pressure brisk spray followed by an optional warm drying air flow, all regulated by the unique control system which assures the proper sequence functioning and prevents actuation when the user is not seated.
The multifunction toilet includes a toilet bowl with a flushing ring manifold adjacent the top of the bowl and a water trap seal between the bowl and a siphoned outlet to a sewage waste drain. A toilet seat is mounted on the top of the bowl, and a water supply tank incorporates a flushing mechanism with a valve, control outlet to the flushing ring manifold and a level control which includes an overflow tube in communication with the bowl. The auxiliary components include an exhaust fan which is connected to an air outlet in the toilet bowl for withdrawing gases from the bowl for odor control. An air conduit is connected to the fan and to the sewage waste drain downstream of the bowl water trap seal. A control system includes an enabling switch which is connected to the exhaust fan and activated by the user sitting on the toilet seat and a user on-off switch which is connected to the exhaust fan. The exhaust fan is turned on only when the user is sitting on the toilet seat and the user switches the user on-off switch to an on position
An odor extraction trap and valve assembly is connected to the exhaust fan. The assembly has a water sump and a valve with a moving member extending into the sump in a closed position of the valve to prevent backflow of gas from the gas disposal outlet. When the exhaust fan is operating, it creates an air flow from the bowl air outlet, and the air flow will lift the moving valve member to an open valve position creating an air flow path above the water sump. When the exhaust fan is turned off, the moving valve member will return to its closed position. Fresh water is supplied to the sump each time the toilet is flushed from the flushing mechanism.
The exhaust fan has a casing with an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet is connected to the air outlet in the toilet bowl. An odor extraction trap and valve assembly which has a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet has its air inlet connected to the air outlet of the fan casing. An air conduit connects the air outlet of the housing to the sewage waste drain downstream of the bowl water trap seal. The lower portion of the trap and valve assembly housing contains a water sump which together with an inlet valve define a water trap valve that is closed when the exhaust fan is not operating with the water in the sump preventing backflow of sewer gas through the housing inlet. The water trap valve is opened when the exhaust fan is operating with air flow from the fan lifting the inlet valve, creating an air flow path from the housing inlet above the water sump and through the housing and housing outlet. The housing air inlet includes a vertically oriented tubular member extending upwardly into the housing through the water sump and terminating in an end defining a water level overflow weir. A valve stem guide sleeve is centrally located in the tubular member, and a moving valve member including a circular top plate having a vertically depending valve stem is movably supported in the guide sleeve. A tubular valve skirt depends from the circular top
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