US2251039A - Bidet - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1941- R. R. DA SILVA BIDET Filed Oct. 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l a my #5 a Md .m. m m. m

R. R. DA SILVA BIDET July 29, 1941.

Filed Oct. 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Vin 70R: 2215a Q70. fa'zvcz Patented July 29, 1941 BIDET Raul Ribeiro (la Silva, Rio deJaneiro, Brazil Application October 24, 1939, Serial No. 301,033

2 Claims, (on. 4-6) This invention relates to bidets for use in connection with watercloset bowls to furnish an added toilet convenience for bathrooms equipped with the usual bathtub, watercloset and washstand fixtures or for rooms equipped solely with a watercloset fixture, whereby certain toilet operations may be performed with greater ease and convenience than by the use of such ordinary or usual toilet fixures.

One object of the invention is to provide a bidet of novel form and construction to adapt it for application to the seat of conventional forms and sizes of closet bowls, while allowing of the reception therein of a greater amount of water for toilet purposes than is possible in prior devices of this character which are designed to lie within the confines of the bowl, and to thus provide an ample quantity of water for use without objectionable extrusion or projection of any of the parts of the bidet beyond the closet bowl.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bidet which while it may be made light in weight is adapted to maintain its shape and to be supported firmly in operative position against any tendency to contact and sag underthe weight of the water therein, and against shifting under the body movements of the user while the desired toilet operations are being performed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bidet which will operate as a sanitary protector and which may, if desired, be used as a commode.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bidet which may be made as cheaply or as expensively as desired of paper, rubber or metal for single use or repeated use, and as a portable article capable of being conveniently packed and transported by the user, or employed as a permanent fixture of a bathroom or watercloset, and which, when made of rubber or like flexible material, may be readily rolled up or folded for package in a holder and transportation in a suitcase or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a-bidet which may be coupled to a water supply system to supply hot, cold or tempered water to the bidet at will.

In the accompanying drawings'illustra'ting the invention- Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a watercloset bowl showing the application of one form of my improved bidet thereto, which may, for example, be made of waterproof paper.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the bidet shown in Fig. 1 taken longitudinally thereof, or along the line of its major axis.

Fig. 3 is a similar section of the bidet shown in Fig. 1 taken transversely thereof, or along the line of its minor axis.

Fig. 4 is a topplan View of the bidet shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a type of bidet designed to be formed of rubber.

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the bidet shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating how a bidet of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be folded or rolled up for storage and transportation in a carrier receptacle.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 5 showing a bidet having means for supplying it with water from a water supply system.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the closet bowl and the type of bidet shown in Fig. 8 showing a hose pipe applied for supplying water thereto from a faucet.

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section through the bidet shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, l represents a watercloset bowl of conventional construction having a rim portion 2, and 3 and 4 represent respectively the hinged seat and lid or cover for the closet bowl.

My improved bidet comprises, in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, a body or bowl portion 5 formed of a bottom portion 6 and vertical wall portions 1.

This body or bowl portion 5 is substantially of elliptical shape in plan or horizontal section and of material depth to fit well down into the bowl I and below'the plane of the upper surface of the seat 3. At its base the body is closed by a flat bottom wall 5 connected substantially at right angles to the vertical walls of the body. The bowl portion 5 is thus adapted when applied for use to lie wholly within the confines of the toilet bowl and below the plane of the upper surface of its seat and is devoid of portions projecting above or outwardly beyond the bowl seat and which interfere with the toilet operations of the user or render his seat uncomfortable or otherwise render the use of the bidet annoying or inconvenient to the user. At the same time the bowl 5 is so dimensioned as to adapt it to hold a greater quantity of water for toilet purposes than prior constructions of bidets which are designed to lie within the confines of the toilet bowl. At its upper edge the body 5 provided with an outwardly extending marginal supporting flange 8 to rest upon the upper surface of the downturned seat 3. This flange is preferably curved transversely to conform to the curvature of the upper surface of the seat 3 and to closely hug the same. The flange 8 is also preferably of sufficient width to substantially cover the seat surface of the seat 3. By this means the flange 8 will form a comfortable seat surface to be engaged by the part of the person of the user resting thereon and the pressure of such part of the person will serve to clamp the flange against the seat 3 to support the bowl 5 against any tendency to sag or slip downward under the weight of the water therein and the flange will be held from shifting under the body movements of the user and causing annoyance to him. An additional advantage of this construction is that the body of the user is shielded by the flange from contact with the seat 3 and the flange thus serves as a sanitary protector to safeguard the user against disease germs.

The bidet constructed as above described and as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, may be made of waterproof paper, rubber or other suitable material. If made of paper it may be intended for use once only and to be discarded after use. When so made of paper the bidet may be manufactured and sold at a low cost and each bidet may, if desired, be put up for sale in a suitably sealed sanitary wrapper. It is to be understood that oiled paper, waxed paper or any other suitable type of fairly strong waterproof paper may be used.

While the bidet constructed as disclosed in Figs. 1 to l, inclusive, may be made of rubber or materials other than rubber, it is desirable in the man iacture of the bidet of rubber to somewhat modify the construction in one or more respects. In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown a form of bidet intended to be constructed of rubber, such bidet comprising a bowl portion 5a composed of walls 60. and la having the same structural characteristics as the parts 6 and 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and formed of suitably soft or flexible rubber, and a relative stiffer flange portion 8a formed of rubber stiffened in this instance by means of a fabric reinforcement 9. This reinforcement may be embedded in the rubber, as shown, or may be formed of a layer of rubberized fabric cemented or vulcanized to the underface of the rubber flange. Any other mode of providing a reinforced or stiffened flange may be employed, provided that the flange presents a soft seat surface and one of a character which will not mar the seat 3 and provided further that the flange is sufficiently soft and flexible to hug the seat 3 and to be folded or rolled with the bowl portion into compact form for packing. For example, instead of using the fabric reinforcement the flange 30, may be made relatively stiffer than the body portion by vulcanizing the same to a higher degree than the body portion. This obviously applies also to the construction of bidet shown in Figs. 1 to l, inclusive, in making the same of rubber. A bidet formed of rubber in either of these ways may be permanently used as part of an equipment of a bathroom or watercloset of a household or as an article to be carried by a traveler for use whenever or wherever occasion requires. This construction of bidet may be compactly rolled or folded upon itself for insertion into a protective bag or casing It], as shown in .Fig. 7, so that it may be packed for sale or for convenient transportation in a suitcase, trunk or the like. This bag or casing may be closed by a drawstring or other fastening Illa.

In the manufacture of a bidet of flexible rubber or other flexible waterproof material, which is capable of being rolled into a package, as shown in Fig. '7, or which is capable of successful use without shifting in use or causing other annoyances or inconveniences to the user, certain practical difficulties arise. These difficulties apply particularly to bidets of the suspended type, or which hang in use pendent from the closet seat, and to which my invention especially relates. In order to support a bidet of suspended type in position, it has been the practice to provide the bidet body with a flange at its upper edge to rest upon the closet seat and to employ means of some character for fastening the flange to the seat. This is necessary, with bidets of ordinary construction, where the bidet body or bowl is made of flexible rubber or other flexible material, for the reason that the tendency of the bowl, when filled with water, is to sag downward under the weight of the water into the bowl. Bidet bodies of circular or strictly oval conformation and having dished or curved bottoms, are particularly subject to this objection, for the reason that such forms of bidet bodies and bottoms are not uniformly resistant to collapse, but readily yield under the weight of the water. Under the depression of the bottom wall, the bidet body is diametrically contracted, with the result that, in addition to the downward pull on the top supporting flange, whereby it is caused to bend or flex upwardly, the diametric contraction of the bottom also causes the flange to shift inwardly. Unless fastened in position, therefore, the flange will shift from engagement with the seat with the result that the bidet as a whole tends to sag or drop downwardly into the bowl. The use of auxiliary fastening means for securing the bidet flange to the seat adds complexity to the construction of the seat or to the bidet. It has heretofore been proposed to provide a bidet supporting flange with means to grip or engage the rim edge of the seat, but it has been found impossible to form a flange with such gripping means to properly engage seats of difierent widths and the addition of gripping means renders it diflicult to roll the bidet into a package of compact character. As stated, the sagging difliculties mentioned are liable to occur particularly with bidets whose bowl portions are of circular form or truly oval form in horizontal section and which are provided with dished or curved bottoms which are inherently non-resistant to sagging under the weight of the water thereon.

My improved construction of bidet overcomes these objections. By making the bidet body of elliptical form in horizontal section and having straight vertical walls, which body is symmetrical and of like form on each side of its vertical longitudinal center, as well as of like form on each side of its vertical transverse center, its tendency to contract under contracting strains is reduced. By providing the bidet body with a flat bottom marginally united substantially at right angles to the straight vertical walls of the elliptical body, the walls of the body and the bottom of the body are rendered uniformly resistant respectively to contraction and depression under the weight of the water on the bottom wall such as would occur if the bottom should sag and the walls and bottom were not so rendered resistant to inward movement at their junction points. The use of such a form of body and bottom, therefore, allows a body of some material depth and width and capable of holding a comparatively large quantity of Water to be used without liability of the bottom of the body being depressed and the lower portion of the body contracted under the weight of the water, causing inward shifting thereof and diametric contraction of the upper part of the body portion and its descent into the closet bowl. By uniformly stiffening the supporting flange throughout its breadth relatively to the body portion, by means which prevents its distortion without materially impairing its flexibility, as by vulcanizing the flange to a greater degree than the body portion or by providing it with a flexible reinforcing layer coextensive in width therewith, the flange is rendered resistant to upward bending motion and diametric contraction in use upon a closet bowl, so that the body with its weight of water may be supported by the flange from the closet seat to prevent either shifting of the flange on the seat or sagging of the body into the closet bowl, while at the same time the flange is left sufiiciently flexible to adapt it to be readily rolled or folded upon itself in rolling or folding the article into package form.

In Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, I have shown a form of bidet which comprises a body or bowl 517, bottom wall 61), side walls lb and a rim flange 8b. A feature of this form of the invention is that its flange portion 82) is reinforced or stiffened by providing it on its underside with a facing H of rubber, rubberized fabric, felt or the like to rest upon the surface of the bowl seat 3. Also the flange portion 8b is provided with a water flow channel [2 communicating with the interior of the bidet bowl for the supply thereto of water from a water supply system. The flange is also formed with a nipple IE3 or other fitting to which 1 a hose pipe 54 or the like may be attached for connecting the bidet with a faucet l5 or other source of water supply to furnish hot, cold or tempered water to the bidet. An overflow outlet I6 is provided in the bidet body at the level to which the bowl is to be filled and to allow water to discharge therefrom into the closet bowl when this level is reached. By this means a continuous flow of water may be allowed and its rise beyond a predetermined height prevented. The hose connection employed for the purpose may be of any suitable type to couple with a single faucet or individual faucets for the supply of hot and cold water.

A special feature of my invention is that it provides a form of bidet which, when made of specified dimensions, will fit all standard sized closet bowls whether having elliptical or ovoidal seat openings. The bidet, as shown, is hat shaped, comprising a bowl part corresponding in general form to a mans hat body and a flange part corresponding in general form to the brim portion of a hat. A bidet of this character which may be used in connection with all standard closets may have a body of a height or depth of four to six inches, length (or dimension along its major diameter line) ten inches, and a width (or dimension along its minor diameter line) of eight inches, while its flange to serve the purposes described may have a width of four inches.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of use of my improved bidet will be readily understood without a further and extended description, and it will be seen that the invention provides a device of this character embodying the substantial and important advantages set forth in a simple structure, whereby the device may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost. While the structural features described are preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportions and specific construction of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A bidet for use in connection with a water closet comprising a body or bowl portion formed of flexible material and of elliptical shape in horizontal section, said body being adapted to fit Wholly within the closet bowl below the plane of its seat and having straight vertical walls and being of like form and dimensions on each side of its vertical longitudinal center as well as of like form and dimensions on each side of its vertical transverse center, a flat horizontal bottom marginally united substantially at right angles to the straight vertical walls of the body so as to render the bottom resistant to downward deflection and to render the vertical walls and lower portion of the body resistant to diametric contraction under the weight of the water therein, an annular outwardly extending flange at the upper edge of the body formed to rest upon the upper surface of the closet seat free from fastening engagement therewith, said flange being flexible to a degree adapting it to be rolled with the body into a package but being stiffened uniformly throughout its entire area and breadth relatively to the body or bowl portion so as to be resistant to upward bending movements upon itself and to diametric contraction of the upper portion of the straight vertical walls of the body under the weight of the water therein, whereby the filled body is adapted to be sustained against distortion and sagging under the weight of the water and rendered self-supporting from and without fastening connection with the closet seat.

2. A bidet for use in connection with a water closet comprising a body or bowl portion formed of flexible material and of elliptical shape in horizontal section, said body being adapted to fit wholly within the closet bowl below the plane of its seat and having straight vertical walls and being of like form and dimensions on each side of its vertical longitudinal center as well as of like form and dimensions on each side of its vertical transverse center, a flat horizontal bottom marginally united substantially at right angles to downward deflection and to render the vertical walls and lower portion of the body resistant to diametric contraction under the weight of the water therein,.an annular outwardly extending flange formed to rest upon the upper surface of the closet seat free from fastening engagement therewith, and reinforcing means of flexible but stiffening character applied to said flange and uniformly stiffening the same throughout its area and breadth relatively to the body or bowl portion so as to render said flange resistant to upward bending movements upon itself and to diametric contraction of the upper portion of the straight vertical walls of the body under the weight of the water therein, whereby the filled body is adapted to be sustained against distortion and sagging under the weight of the water and rendered self-supporting from and without fastening connection with the closet seat.

RAUL RIBEIRO' DA SILVA

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