The present disclosure relates to bathroom commodes, and in particular to bathroom commodes including a bidet.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a commode including a frame, a platform coupled to the frame, a supply reservoir supported by the frame and configured to store a fluid, a waste reservoir supported by the frame and configured to collect the fluid dispensed from the supply reservoir, and a toilet seat rotatably coupled to the platform above the supply reservoir and the waste reservoir. The commode further includes a bidet nozzle coupled to and disposed below the platform. The bidet nozzle is in fluid communication with the supply reservoir. A power assembly is disposed below the platform and includes a power supply and a pump powered by the power supply. The pump is in fluid communication with the supply reservoir and the bidet.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a commode including a frame, a toilet seat including a hinge post removably coupled to the frame via a hinge bolt and fastening nut, and a supply reservoir supported by the frame below the toilet seat and configured to store a fluid. The supply reservoir includes a toilet bowl. The commode further includes a waste reservoir disposed below the supply reservoir and in fluid communication with the toilet bowl. The waste reservoir is configured to collect the fluid dispensed from the supply reservoir. A bidet nozzle is adjustably coupled to the frame and disposed below the toilet seat. The bidet nozzle is in fluid communication with the supply reservoir. The commode further includes a power assembly coupled to a rear surface of the supply reservoir and below the toilet seat for distributing the fluid from the supply reservoir to the bidet nozzle and the toilet bowl.
Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Terms of degree, such as “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” etc. are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.
In some embodiments, the frame 15 can include wheels coupled to the vertical legs 50 to aid in transportation and maneuverability of the commode 10. The frame 15 can include at least two wheels coupled to adjacent legs 50 (e.g., the rear legs 50, the front legs 50, the right side legs 50, or the left side legs 50). In other embodiments, the frame 15 can include more than two wheels (e.g., four wheels, etc.). In one embodiment, the wheels can remain engaged with the surface during use of the commode 10 and each wheel can include a brake to selectively lock the frame 15 from movement in a desired location. In other embodiments, the wheels can be selectively engageable with the surface (e.g., via a foot pedal actuator). The foot pedal actuator can move at least one of the wheels relative to the legs 50 between a first position in which the wheel allows free movement of the frame 15 on the surface and a second position in which the wheel inhibits free movement of the frame 15 on the surface (e.g., allows ends of the legs 50 to engage the surface).
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In some embodiments, the supply reservoir 25 can be fluidly decoupled from the power assembly 45 and removed from the housing 80 (e.g., to clean the toilet bowl 30, to remove unwanted liquid from the supply reservoir 25, etc.). For example, any of the hoses 140, 150, 155, 170 can be decoupled to allow the supply reservoir 25 to be removed from the housing 80. In some embodiments, the hoses 140, 150, 155, 170 can include quick-disconnect fittings enabling quick and easy coupling and decoupling to/from the corresponding component. In other embodiments, the supply reservoir 25 can automatically connect with the pump 130 and the flush actuator 165 in response to sliding the supply reservoir 25 on the supply reservoir ribs 210 into the housing 80. For example, as discussed above, the power assembly 45 can be secured to a rear wall of the housing 80, and as the supply reservoir 25 slides along the supply reservoir ribs 210 toward the rear wall, the supply reservoir 25 can engage fittings coupled to the rear wall to fluidly couple the reservoir supply hose 170 and the pump supply hose 140 to the supply reservoir 25. In further embodiments, the hoses 140, 150, 155, 170 can include check valves to inhibit liquid from draining from the commode 10 as the hoses 140, 150, 155, 170 are being connected or disconnected. In yet further embodiments, the commode 10 can include different liquid supply sources (e.g., one reservoir/source can supply the flush nozzle 175 and another reservoir/source can supply the bidet 40).
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The illustrated powered commode 10 including an integral bidet 40 is selectively moveable to a desired location as a self-contained toilet. In particular, the commode 10 can be at least partially disassembled to aid in portability of the commode 10 to different locations. For example, the commode 10 can be initially assembled such that at least the toilet seat assembly 20, the bidet 40, the flush actuator 165, and the housing 80 are coupled to the frame 15. In this configuration, the commode 10 is lightweight and can be easily maneuverable to a desired location. For example, the user can tilt the frame 15 such that two legs 50 disengage the surface and the wheels that are coupled to the two other legs 50 can be used to move the commode 10 to a desired location. The supply reservoir 25, the waste reservoir 35, and the power assembly 45 can then be assembled on the commode 10 once the commode 10 is moved to the desired location. In further embodiments, the power assembly 45 can be coupled to the housing 80, as discussed above, such that the power assembly 45 moves with the frame 15 to the desired location. To couple the illustrated supply reservoir 25 to the housing 80, the supply reservoir 25 is slid on the ribs 210 for the rim opening 190 to align with the platform opening 100. The illustrated supply reservoir 25 can be inserted into the housing 80 from the rear side of the commode 10, and as such, the toilet bowl 30 can receive the bidet nozzle 115 in the embodiment in which the bidet nozzle 115 extends within the toilet bowl 30. For example, the supply reservoir 25 can be initially rotated into the housing 80 for the bidet nozzle 115 to clear the upper rim 180 before the supply reservoir 25 is slid on the ribs 210 to align the openings 100, 190. In some embodiments, the supply reservoir 25 can be filled with a desired amount of liquid via the inlet 205 before or after the supply reservoir 25 is slid into place relative to the housing 80 and/or the supply reservoir 25 can include handles to move the supply reservoir 25 relative to the housing 80 (e.g., during installation or disassembly). The hoses 150, 155, 170 can be assembled to the bidet 40 or the flush actuator 165 once the supply reservoir 25 is in a desired position relative to the housing 80. In addition, the waste reservoir 35 is coupled to the housing 80 by sliding the waste reservoir 35 along the ribs 215 for the openings 195, 220 to align. In other embodiments, the waste reservoir 35 can include handles to move the waste reservoir 35 relative to the housing 80.
In operation, a user can sit down on the toilet seat 90 when the toilet seat 90 is in the lowered position (
When sitting on the toilet seat 90, users can operate the bidet 40 to clean themselves. In particular, the user moves the bidet actuator 120 into an ON position to allow liquid from the supply reservoir 25 to travel through the pump supply hose 140, the pump 130, the manifold 145, and the bidet supply hose 150 to be ejected from the bidet nozzle 115 by the pump 130. In one embodiment, the pump 130 can be automatically operable by the power source 135 once the bidet actuator 120 is moved into the ON position. For example, the power assembly 45 can sense a decrease in liquid pressure within the bidet supply hose 150 when the bidet actuator 120 is moved into the ON position. In response to sensing the decrease in liquid pressure below a predetermined amount, the power assembly 45 can automatically power the pump 130 to eject liquid from the bidet nozzle 115. To stop liquid from being ejected from the bidet nozzle 115, the user moves the bidet actuator 120 back into an OFF position. In some embodiments, the pump 130 can be automatically shut off by the power assembly 45 once the bidet actuator 120 is moved into the OFF position. For example, the power assembly 45 can sense an increase in liquid pressure with the bidet supply hose 150 when the bidet actuator 120 is moved into the OFF position (e.g., a buildup in pressure within the bidet supply hose 150). Once the pressure within the bidet supply hose 150 exceeds a predetermined amount, the power assembly 45 can automatically shut off the pump 130.
To flush the commode 10, the user moves the flush actuator 165 into the open position. As such, liquid from the supply reservoir 25 can travel through the pump supply hose 140, the pump 130, the manifold 145, and the hoses 150, 155 to be ejected from the flush nozzle 175 by the pump 130. The pump 130 can also be automatically operable once the flush actuator 165 is moved to the open position similar to the operation of the pump 130 as discussed above. For example, the power assembly 45 can sense a decrease in liquid pressure within the flush actuator supply hose 155 when the flush actuator 165 is moved into the open position. In response to sensing the decrease in liquid pressure below a predetermined amount, the power assembly 45 can automatically power the pump 130 to eject liquid from the flush nozzle 175. In other embodiments, a limit switch may be depressed when the flush actuator 165 is moved, which can power the pump 130. Also, the flush actuator 165 may open the waste door 225 (e.g., a via common mechanical linkage, by sending a signal to a solenoid or other actuator that moves the waste door 225, etc.) and eject liquid from the flush nozzle 175 simultaneously. Liquid stops being ejected from the flush nozzle 175 when the flush actuator 165 moves back into the closed position. The pump 130 can be automatically shut off by the power assembly 45 once the flush actuator 165 is moved into the closed position. For example, the power assembly 45 can sense an increase in liquid pressure with the flush actuator supply hose 155 when the flush actuator 165 is moved into the closed position (e.g., a buildup in pressure within the flush actuator supply hose 155). Once the pressure within the flush actuator supply hose 155 exceeds a predetermined amount, the power assembly 45 can automatically shut off the pump 130.
In some embodiments, the manifold 145 can include a sensor in communication with the power assembly 45 that measures pressure within the manifold 145 to determine pressure downstream of the manifold 145 (e.g., pressure within the bidet supply hose 150/the flush actuator supply hose 155). In further embodiments, the commode 10 can include a switch that manually turns ON or turns OFF the pump 130. As such, the user can manually actuate the switch to operate the pump 130 at the desired time (e.g., when the user desires to operate the bidet 40 and to flush the commode 10).
After use of the commode 10, the user can move the waste door 225 back into the closed position via the handle 235 to trap the odor from the waste within the waste reservoir 35 between uses of the commode 10. Alternatively, the waste door 225 may automatically move back to the closed position when flushing is complete (e.g., via the mechanical linkage interconnected with the flush actuator 165, the solenoid or other actuator, etc.). In addition, the waste reservoir 35 can be selectively removed from the housing 80 to dump waste collected within the waste reservoir 35 into a sewer system by removing the outlet cap 245 and dumping the waste through the outlet 240. Furthermore, the supply reservoir 25 can be refilled with liquid by removing the supply cap 200 and pouring liquid into the inlet 205. In some embodiments, the supply reservoir 25 can remain coupled to the housing 80 or can be removed from the housing 80 during refilling operations.
The illustrated commode 10 can be easily transported to different locations. For example, the waste reservoir 35 can be removed from the housing 80 and the hose connections can be decoupled to allow for the supply reservoir 25 to be removed from the housing 80. The supply reservoir 25 can then slide out of the rear side of the commode 10 and rotated for the bidet nozzle 115 to clear the upper rim 180 of the toilet bowl 30. In other embodiments, the supply reservoir 25 can remain coupled to the housing 80 during transportation. For example, the supply reservoir 25 can be drained of liquid (e.g., by actuating the flush actuator 165 to collect within the waste reservoir 35) to remove most of the liquid within the supply reservoir 25 to reduce the weight of the commode 10 to be transported.
Although the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the disclosure as described. Various features and advantages of the disclosure
This application claims priority to prior-filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/255,517, filed on Oct. 14, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2022/046643 | 10/14/2022 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63255517 | Oct 2021 | US |