US3229693A

US3229693A - Bathroom appliance

Info

Publication number: US3229693A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold B Lloyd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-26
Filing date: 1964-03-26
Publication date: 1966-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-18

Description

Jan. 18, 19% H. B. LLOYD BATHROOM APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 26, 1964 HG, j

IN VEN TOR. www am jam., l, EQ@ H. B. LLOYD 3,229,693

BATHROOM APPLIANCE Filed March 26, 1964 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent O 3,229,693 BATHROOM APPLIANCE Harold B. Lloyd, 2037 S. Cedar St., Sioux City, Iowa Filed Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 355,534 18 Claims. (Cl. 12S-229) This invention relates a a bathroom appliance and relates more particularly to a device to be utilized in conjunction with a nozzle means or a syringe or the like which is adapted to be attached to a bathroom faucet and employed for the purpose of giving douches, enemas or the like.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a bathroom appliance which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable, comfortable, eflicient and safe in use, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, utilize and maintain.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a bathroom appliance which in addition to its utilization in douches and enemas, will be helpful in the treatment of diverticulitis, prostatitus, cystitis, hemorrhoids and the like.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a device of the type described which is compact, portable, lightweight and attractive.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a bathroom appliance which will deliver Water from a source of the same such as the bath tub or sink faucet at a desired temperature and rate of ow to a nozzle means or the like in an extremely short time.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bathroom appliance including a safety device through which the water from the faucet must pass before introduction into the body of the user, the device including means directly responsive to the temperature of the Water to break the fluid connection between the source of the water and the nozzle means when the temperature of the water increases to an uncomfortable or undesirable degree.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a unique construction for the water temperature control device which provides sealing engagement between the various portions of the same Without the necessity of gaskets or the like.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means within the temperature responsive device to preclude feed back of water in the event of a vacuum in the source.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the type described further including, in combination, means for carrying a soluble additive such as soap or a medicament which will be intimately mixed with the water being utilized in a desired quantity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a specially designed nozzle means for either rectal or vaginal application which is easier and more comfortable to use.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing the appliance of the instant invention in position for use in a bathroom;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through one form of water temperature control device to be utilized in conjunction with the instant appliance, one means for maintaining a soluble additive therewithin being shown attached to the bottom member thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

lFIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through ice a modified bottom member showing an alternate means for securing a soluble additive therewithin;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing another alternative soluble additive holding means;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view through the upper portion of the container of the temperature control device showing a modified water feed back check valve means;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational View through one form of rectal nozzle means for use with the appliance of the instant inventive concept, certain portions being broken away for illustrative clarity;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view thereof taken substantially on line 8 8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of a modified nozzle means for both rectal and vaginal use;

FIGURE 10 is an end elevational view thereof taken substantially on line 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGUR-E 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view t-aken substantially on line 11-11 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of a rectal slip pipe for use 'when the sphincter muscles a-re too strong for utilization of the nozzle means of either FIGURES 7 or 9;

yFIGURE 13 is a top plan view of a conventional toilet seat having secured thereto means for removably holding a nozzle means used in conjunction with the appliance of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line -14-14 of FIGURE 13.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in general and more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is generally indicated at a conventional bath tub having a faucet 22 and a handle means 24, Iand a conventional ytoilet 26 having a water box `28 and a toilet seat 30. The appliance of the instant invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 32 and comprises basically -a flexible tube 34 carrying a nozzle means 36 at one end of the same and being connected at its opposite end to a ltemperature control device A38 secured to the water faucet 22. A suction cup 40 carrying a finger 42 is secured to the top of the water box 28 and is utilized to support the flexible tube 34 in a convenient position.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, the. temperature control device 38 is comprised basically of a container 44 having a top member 46 and a bottom member 48, the top member 46 including an inlet means 50 defined by an upstanding threaded or roughened tubular member 52 secured to a resilient conical c-onnector means 54 adapted to be removably attached to any conventional faucet such as the faucet 22 on the ybath tub 20 or a faucet on a sink (not shown) or the like, and also carries an outlet means 56 in the form of a tubular member securable in any conventional 4manner to the flexible tube y34. The positioning and arrangement of the outlet means 56 has no-t been found to -be critical, but the positioning of .the inlet means 50 -is advantageously arranged as sho-wn in FIGURE 2 to provide communication of the water with the container 44 directly above a temperature responsive means 58 to insure immediate response to a change in temperature of the water for a purpose, and in a manner, to be explained in more detail hereinafter. The top and bottom members 46, `4S of the container 44 lare hingedly secured to each other by an eye 60 carried by thetopmember 46 and a hook 62 carried by the bottom member 48 or by other conventional hinge means. The top member 46 includes an outwardly flaring interior peripheral surface 64 on its bottom which comates with an inwardly beveled exterior peripheral surface 66 on the 'bottom member 48 for sealing engagement between these two parts of the container 44 without the necessity of gaskets or the like. A ledge 67 limits the relative movement of said top and

bottom members

46, 48 with respect to each other to prevent too tight a seal which might stick and prevent immediate opening of the container. It will ybe understood that Ithe ledge 67 could be modiiied by including only segments of the same or small buttons to stop the relative movement of an optimum sealing engagement.

The container 44 is normally maintained in a closed position wherein a Huid connection -is afforded between the source of water at the faucet 22 and the nozzle means 36 by a latch means designated generally at 68 and including a first latch member 70 secured to the top member 46 ofthe container 44 by screws or the like 72 and having portions deiining an aperture 74 therethrough, and a second latch member 76 including a resilient element secured by screws or the l-ike 78 to the bottom member 48 of the container 44 and having an outstanding lug 80 lockingly engaged in the portions deiining the aperture 74 as seen particularly in FIGURE 2.

The temperature responsive means 58 includes a small conventional bellows-type thermostat 82 carried by a heavy gauge support bracket 84 secured by screw means 86 to the top member 46 of the container 44, the support bracket 84 and the iirst latch member 70 being integral if desired. The bellows 82 is received within a retaining frame 88 which limits its expansion to preclude breaking of the same. A pressure member 90 is threadably carried by the Ibellows 82 and may be axially adjusted in an obvious manner to engage the same against the lug 80 on the resilient second latch member 76 at a predetermined expansion of the bellows 82 and therefore at a predetermined temperature of water from the -inlet means 50, it being seen that the pressure member 90 acts directly to release the latch means 68 when the temperature of the water increases beyond a predetermined point. VDisengagement of the latch means 68 allows the bottom member 48 of the container 44 to drop by gravity about the hinge means 60, 62 to an opened position wherein the fluid connection between the source of water 22 and the nozzle means 36 is broken, the water being dumped into the bath tub or the like thereby preventing unduly hot water from reaching the user of the appliance of the instant invention.

A check valve means is carried by the temperature con` trol device 38 to prevent feed back in the event that a vacuum is created in the source of the water, this check valve means being designated generally by the reference numeral 92 and includes a valve .seat 94 defined by portions of the inlet means 50 interiorly of the container 44 and a buoyant ball means 96 carried in a perforated cage 98 and normally resting on a retainer pin 100 in spaced relationship to the valve seat 94, the ball means 96 sealingly engaging the valve seat 94 under the Iinfluence of feed back pressure. Vents 102 may be provided in the inlet means 50 to allow for overllow of water when the check valve means 92 is closed.

A modified form of check valve means is shown in FIGURE 6 wherein parts similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 2 are designated by like reference characters followed by the suflix a. In this embodiment a valve member in the form of a rubber cone or the like `104 is resiliently carried by a spring means 106 vformed of beryllium or the like riveted at l108 to the top member 46a or to the first latch member 70a, the spring means 106 normally urging the valve member '104 into sealing engagement with the valve seat 94a as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6, water pressure from the source moving the valve member 104 to the full line position in FIGURE 6 for normal operation of the appliance of the instant invention.

The improved appliance of this invention includes means for carrying a soluble additive such as soap, douche powder, perfumed or otherwise, coolants, disinfectants, pallative compounds, antibiotics, and other medicaments Ifor specilic ailments. One embodiment of such means is shown in FIGURE 2 at 110 as comprising a plurality of sharpened pegs secured to the bottom member 48 of the container 44 and adapted to impale a cake of the soluble additive shown in dotted rlines at 112. If desired, this cake may be incased in a soluble gelatin material which will :dissolve upon association with warm water passing through the temperature responsive device 38. Alternately, the cake may be covered by an impermeable material such as parchment, plastic or the like .having a plurality of different sized openings with sealing elements such as shown in dotted lines at 114 and 116 adhesive-1y secured thereover whereby one of the sealing elements may be selectively removed to provide a predetermined rate of dissolving of the additive.

A modied means for carrying a soluble additive is shown in FIGURE 4 wherein parts similar to the embod-iment of FIGURE 2 are designated by like reference characters followed by the suffix "b. In this embodiment a small peg 118 is secured to the interior of the bottom member 48b of the container 44h and receives thereover in snapping engagement a permeable bag shown in dotted lines at 120 carrying a predetermined quantity of the soluble additive.

Another embodiment of the means for carrying the soluble additive is shown in FIGURE 5 wherein parts similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 2 are designated by like reference characters followed by the suflix a In this embodiment a basket 122 having a plurality of spaced resilient members 124-is removably received over a resilient snap 126 secured in any conventionalmanner to the bottom member 48C of the container 44c. This basket 122 carries a cake of soluble additive such as shown at 112 in FIGURE 2.

It will be understood that when the soluble additive in the embodiments of FIGURES 2, 4 or 5 lis used up, it may be readily replaced by a new quantity of the same. In any of these instances, premeasured amounts of the material may be simply secured in place within the temperature control device 38 without the necessity of handling la powdered material which is inconvenient and which may be readily added in incorrect quantities.

In FIGURES 7 and 8, one specially designed nozzle means for use with the appliance of the instant invention is shown particularly at 36a and comprises basically an elongated hollow plastic element v130 having its inserting end 132 scalloped or serrated or corrugated as if the same were cut by a pinking shears or the like and then heat treated and quenched to form an extremely smooth shaped end which -is particularly comfortableY for rectal use. It has been found that this particular nozzle means lends itself better to the contour of the anus and by pressing it comfortably against the anus makes it easier for water to enter the colon. The opposite end 134 may be secured in any desired manner to the plastic tube 34 connected to the temperature control device 38, an aluminum connector 136 being shown to illustrate one -form of connecting means.

At 36b in FIGURES 9-11, a modified nozzle means is shown having a similarly shaped and treated inserting end 138 but including a plurality of spaced apertures 140 adjacent the inserting end 138 to allow free ilow of water from the source lfor rectal or vaginal use. The end 142 of the nozzle means 36b is shown as threaded for comating with corresponding threads on a plastic tube such as 34 (not shown).

In FIGURE 12 Ia more conventional form ofv nozzle means is shown at 36b in the form of a rectal slip pipe having a smooth curved inserting end '144 and a bulbous extension 146 for reception within the plastic tube 34,

this type of nozzle means being more commonly used.v

when the rectal muscles are strong.

In FIGURES 13 and 14 a holding means is shown at means 148 includes a pair of resilient lingers 150 carried by a plate 152 secured in any conventional manner such as by screws 154, a suction cup, adhesive means or the like to the underside of the toilet seat 30. The lingers 150 extend upwardly adjacent the front portion of the periphery of the opening 156 in the Itoilet seat 30 and are spaced from each other suiiiciently to snappingly engage the nozzle means 36 with the inserting end of the same extending downwardly into the toilet bowl.

The use and operation of the device of the instant invention will now be apparent. The inlet means 50 is connected to a source of water such `as the faucet 22 of the bath tub 20 or the faucet in a sink or the like after the pressure member 90 has been adjusted to function at a predetermined temperature and after the top and

bottom members

46, 48 of the container 44 have been secured in their closed position by engaging the latch means 68. A selected nozzle means 36 is secured to the flexible tube 34, the particular nozzle means depending upon the use to which the appliance is to be put. The nozzle means 36 is then snappingly engaged in the holding means 148 carried by the toilet seat 30 and the handle means 24 is opened to allow water to ow at a predetermined rate and temperature through the temperature control device 38, the flexible tube 34 and the nozzle means 36 into the toilet 26. The user then has ra time to walk back to the toilet and remove the nozzle means 36 for use, it being noted that it is not necessary to` disrobe to use the appliance of the instant invention. In the event that the temperature lof the water exceeds the predetermined point, the thermostat means 82 expands engaging the pressure member 90 directly against the lug 80 of the second latch member 76 pressing the same Ifree from its engagement with the portions of the first latch member 70 defining the aperture 74 thereby releasing the latch means 68 and allowing the bottom member 48 of the container 44 to drop by gravity laround the hinge means 60, 62 causing a break in the iiuid connection between the source of water and the nozzle means, the water being dumped into the bath tub 20 or the like. In the event of a vacuum in the water line, the check valve means 92 or 92a of FIGURES 2 or `6 is closed to prevent feed back of the water. Any of the means shown in FIG- URES 2, 4, or 5 may be incorporated into the bottom member 48 to provide a soluble additive which is selectively dissolved in the water as it passes through the temperature control device 38. Upon completion of a colonic or vaginal treatment, the nozzle means 36 is again engaged in the holding means 148 and the handle means 24 is closed to stop the flow of Water.

A simple and quick way to utilize the device is to merely push the connector means 54 of the temperature control device 338 directly onto the faucet 22 after the water has been turned on and the temperature and rate of flow of the same preset.

The container 44, or at least one member of the same, is preferably transparent to facilitate visually viewing the working parts therewithin and also to allow visual monitoring of the soluble additive to determine when it needs to be replaced.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved bathroom appliance which satisfies all of the objectives of the instant invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments shown, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense I claim:

1. A bathroom appliance comprising a flexible tube, a nozzle means secured to one end of said flexible tube, a water temperature control device secured to the other end of said flexible tube, said water temperature control device including a container having a top member vand a bottom member, an inlet means connected to said top member and communicating with a source of water, hinge means securing said top and bottom members to each other for movement between a closed position wherein a fluid connection is afforded by said container between the source of water and said nozzle means, and an opened position wherein the fluid connection between the source of water and said nozzle means is broken, portions of said top and bottom members sealingly engaging each other in said closed position, latch means including a rst latch member carried by said top member and a second latch member carried by said bottom member, portions of said latch members lockingly engaging each other to normally maintain said top and bottom members in said closed position, temperature responsive means carried within said container and having portions engaging one of said latch members for releasing said latch means upon an increase in temperature beyond a predetermined point to allow said bottom member to drop by gravity to said opened position, said inlet means communicating with said container directly above said temperature responsive means to insure immediate response to a change in temperature.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said portions of said top and bottom members sealingly engaging each other include an outwardly flaring interior peripheral surface on the bottom'of said top member, a comating inwardly bevelled exterior peripheral surface on the top of said bottom member, and stop means to limit the relative movement of the top and bottom members with respect to each other for optimum sealing engagement.

3. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said irst latch member includes portions deiining an aperture therethrough, said second latch member including a resilient element having an outstanding lug lockingly engaging said portions defining said aperture from one side of said iirst latch member when said top and bottom members are in said closed position, said temperature responsive means including a pressure member engaged directly against said lug through said aperture from the opposite side of said first latch member for releasing said latch means upon an increase in temperature.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said pressure member is adjustably carried by said temperature responsive means whereby the temperature at which said latch means is released may be varied.

5. The structure of claim 1 further including, in combination, check valve means carried by said container in operative engagement with said inlet means, said check valve means preventing feed back of water to the source' of same.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said check valve means includes a Valve seat defined interiorly of said container by portions of said inlet means, a buoyant ball means, a support cage normally carrying said ball means in spaced relationship to said valve seat, said ball means sealingly engaging said valve seat under the influence of feed back pressure.

7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said check valve means includes a valve seat defined interiorly of said container by portions of said inlet means, a valve member, and a spring means resiliently carrying said valve member and normally urging said valve member into sealing engagement with said valve seat.

8. The structure of claim 1 further including, in combination, means for carrying a soluble additive within said container.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a cake of said soluble additive and securing means fixing said cake to the interior of said bottom member.

10. The /structure of claim 9 wherein said cake is covered by an impermeable wrapper, a plurality of differently sized sealing elements being removably secured to said Wrapper, whereby one of said sealing elements may be selectively removed to provide a predetermined rate of dissolving said additive.

11. The structure of claim 9 wherein said securing means includes at least one sharpened peg secured to said bottom member, said cake being impaled on said peg.

12. The structure of claim 9 wherein said securing means includes a basket having a plurality of spaced linger members resiliently engaging said cake, and snap means lixing said basket to said bottom member.

13. The structure of claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a permeable bag carrying a quantity of said soluble additive material, and snap means fixing said bag to said bottom member.

14. The structure of claim 1 wherein said nozzle means is to be utilized when sitting on a toilet seat further including, in combination, means carried by the toilet seat for removably holding said nozzle means.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said means carried by said toilet seat includes a pair of resilient lingers extending upwardly adjacent the front portion of the periphery of the opening in the toilet seat,'said fingers being spaced sufliciently to snappingly engage said nozzle means.

16. The structure of claim 1 wherein said nozzle means is hollow and includes an inserting end, said inserting end being scalloped and smooth for comfort in use.

17. The structure of claim 16 further including, in combination, a plurality of spaced apertures deiined in said nozzle means adjacent said inserting end.

18. The structure of claim 1 wherein at least one of said top and bottom members is transparent to permit visual access to the interior of said container when said top and bottom members are in said closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,303,140 5/1919 Yeiser 4-145 1,988,737 l/1935 Jauregui 4-7 2,954,046 9/1960 Lloyd 128-229 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner'.

Claims

1. A BATHROOM APPLIANCE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE TUBE, A NOZZLE MEANS SECURED TO ONE END OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE, A WATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE, SAID WATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE INCLUDING A CONTAINER HAVING A TOP MEMBER AND A BOTTOM MEMBER, AN INLET MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TOP MEMBER AND COMMUNICATING WITH A SOURCE OF WATER, HINGE MEANS SECURING SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN A FLUID CONNECTION IS AFFORDED BY SAID CONTAINER BETWEEN THE SOURCE OF WATER AND SAID NOZZLE MEANS, AND AN OPENED POSITION WHEREIN THE FLUID CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SOURCE OF WATER AND SAID NOZZLE MEANS IS BROKEN, PORTIONS OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS SEALINGLY ENGAGING EACH OTHER IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, LATCH MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST LATCH MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID TOP MEMBER AND A SECOND LATCH MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID BOTTOM MEMBER, PORTIONS OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS LOCKINGLY ENGAGING EACH OTHER TO NORMALLY MAINTAIN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE MEANS CARRIED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING PORTIONS ENGAGING ONE OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS FOR RELEASING SAID LATCH MEANS UPON AN INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE BEYOND A PREDETERMINED POINT TO ALLOW SAID BOTTOM MEMBER TO DROP BY GRAVITY TO SAID OPENED POSITION, SAID INLET MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CONTAINER DIRECTLY ABOVE SAID TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE MEANS TO INSURE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO A CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE.