Wash, clean and dry system with removable spray canister device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 11825992
  • Patent Number
    11,825,992
  • Date Filed
    Monday, February 21, 2022
    2 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 28, 2023
    5 months ago
Abstract
A method and a wash, clean and dry system are provided for washing, cleaning and drying a surface region of a human body. The system includes a toilet seat assembly with a bidet assembly having a spray canister device for spraying the surface region with a solution, such as a skin protecting barrier solution, a cleaning solution or a medicated solution. In one aspect, the spray canister device can be movably insert into and out of the toilet seat assembly and is easy to operate and use. In addition, the bidet assembly further includes a spray nozzle assembly and a drying nozzle assembly, which are adapted to wash, clean and dry the region of the human body in three dimensional moments. The removable spray canister device with the removable sleeved cover element is thus easy to carry and be re-filled with new solutions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a spray device and particularly to a spray canister device for the delivery of water, medication, solutions and/or a pharmaceutical formulation to a surface area of a human subject. More specifically, aspects of the present invention provide a method and a wash, clean and dry system with the spray canister device for washing, cleaning, applying water, medication, and/or a cleaning solution to a region of a human body (e.g., skin, genital or anal area, intimate parts, perineal region) and cleaning thereof.


DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Bidets and other modern toilet seat systems have been used to spray water and clean private parts of a user using a toilet. The bidet systems are used for washing the genital and anal areas using cleaning water of appropriate temperature sprayed from the center of the bidet system, instead of a toilet paper after relief stool or urination. Originally being developed for washing the pubic area of females, bidet systems are now popular among people of all ages and both sexes because it is known to be more hygienic to wash the intimate parts and anus with water instead of paper after relief. In addition, cleansing the pubic/anal regions with water may help to avoid infection and prevent hemorrhoids and other anal disease. Furthermore, it is very effective for women with gynecological diseases. It is also very useful for the elderly or obese people to relieve themselves with great convenience.


People who have problems controlling their urine or bowels and suffer from incontinence are at risk of skin problems around the buttocks, hips, genitals, and the area between the pelvis and rectum (perineum). Excess moisture in these areas may result in skin problems (e.g., redness, peeling, irritation, and yeast infections, etc.), and if the person spends most of his or her day in a wheelchair, or bed, it is likely that bedsores may also develop. Such skin problem may be worse if the person uses diapers and other products, which allow urine or stool to be in constant contact with the skin. As such, special care by cleaning and drying the area right away after urinating or having a bowel movement, and/or cleaning the skin with mild, dilute soap and water then rinsing well and gently patting dry.


In addition, moisturizing creams can help keep the skin moist. Also, a skin sealant or moisture barrier, barrier creams or ointments that contain occlusive, barrier-type topical, such as zinc oxide, lanolin, or petrolatum can form a protective barrier on the skin. Some skin care products, often in the form of a spray or a towelette, create a clear, protective film over the skin. A doctor or nurse can recommend barrier creams to help protect the skin. There are a wide variety of ointments, creams, barrier sprays, or lotions known and available in the market for the treatment of diaper rash or incontinence. Most of these products include ingredients that offer some beneficial property to the product, for example, by acting as a skin protectant, water repellant, emollient, neutralizer or antibiotic.


If the individual is alone, applying skin protection paste, ointments, barrier sprays, lotions, solutions, and fluids to an individual's skin is impossible since an individual cannot adequately apply skin protection fluid onto hard-to-reach areas of his or her own back and bottom. Accordingly, it is necessary to utilize the services of a second individual to apply the skin protection fluid on hard-to-reach areas such as the back and upper neck. Thus, there is a need for using a spray device, which applies barrier materials, medicated solutions, fluids, protectants, suspensions, or paste to the skin area of a person, to be incorporated into a bidet seat cleaning system having a water spray nozzle for washing and cleaning private parts of the person.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a method and a wash, dry, clean, and protect system that is easy to handle for washing, drying, and the delivery of water, medication, cleaning solutions, moisturizing creams, skin sealant, moisture barrier, medicaments, and/or a pharmaceutical formulation to a surface area of a human subject. In one embodiment, a wash and dry system is provided and includes a toilet seat assembly, a spray canister device inside a housing of the toilet seat assembly, and a spray nozzle assembly inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly. In another embodiment, the wash and dry system further includes a medicine delivery assembly.


In one aspect, the wash and dry system further includes a dryer assembly. In another aspect, the dryer assembly is able to move back and forth, sideway, and/or rotatably in a three-dimensional direction. In addition, the spray nozzle assembly is able to move back and forth, sideway, and/or rotatably in three-dimensional direction.


In still another aspect, the spray nozzle assembly and the dryer assembly can be combined and formed into a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly. Further, the dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly is able to move back and forth, sideway, and/or rotatably in three-dimensional direction.


In another embodiment, the spray canister device of the wash and dry system may include a sleeved cover element and a canister element. In one example, the spray canister device is removable and can be installed in and out of the housing of the wash and dry system though a cover on the housing of the toilet seat assembly. In one aspect, the spray canister device is a stand-alone device for spraying a barrier material or medicament or a solution on to a surface area of a human subject. In another aspect, the sleeved cover element of the spray canister device can be separated from the canister element.


In one example, the sleeved cover element of the spray canister device comprises an opening, a sleeve portion, and a trigger bar. In addition, the sleeved cover element may include a handle grip for easy gripping and easy handling of the spray canister device. In another example, the canister element of the spray canister device includes a top outlet, a bottom portion, and a canister body.


In still another embodiment, the interior content of the canister element is sprayed out of the spray canister device by triggering the trigger bar of the sleeved cover element against the canister element and moving the bottom portion of the canister element to be closer to the opening of the sleeved cover element.


Another embodiment of the invention provides a method for using a wash and dry system. The method includes positioning a wash and dry system near a surface area of a subject, where the wash and dry system includes a toilet seat assembly comprising a housing, a spray canister device inside the housing, and a spray nozzle assembly inside the housing. The method further includes washing the surface area of the subject using the spray nozzle assembly, and applying a spray delivered from an opening of the spray canister device onto the surface area of the subject.


In one aspect, the method further includes, optionally, cleaning the surface area of the subject using a cleaning solution sprayed from the wash and dry system. In another aspect, the method further includes drying the surface area of the subject using a dryer assembly of the wash and dry system.


In one example, drying the surface area is performed by the dryer assembly at high power prior to applying the spray delivered from the spray canister device. In another example, drying the surface area is performed by the dryer assembly at low power after applying the spray delivered from the spray canister device.


Further, the method may also include installing the spray canister device into the housing of the toilet seat assembly prior to using the wash and dry system. In one example, the spray canister device is installed by gripping a handle grip of the spray canister device and positioning the spray canister device into a cover of the housing of the toilet seat assembly. In another example, the spray canister device is installed by coupling a trigger bar of the spray canister device securely onto a delivery rack inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly.


In another embodiment, the method may further include shaking the spray canister device by moving the spray canister device inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly. In one aspect, shaking the spray canister device is performed prior to applying the spray delivered from the spray canister device.


In still another embodiment, the method may further include applying the spray by moving a canister element of the spray canister device against a sleeved cover element of the spray canister device along a delivery rack inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly.


In one embodiment, the removable sleeved cover element of the spray canister device includes a top cap portion, an opening, a sleeve portion, a handle grip, and a trigger bar. In another embodiment, the inner canister element includes a top outlet and a canister body. In still another embodiment, the canister body of the inner canister element is covered by a sleeved portion of the removable sleeved cover element and the top outlet is fitted to channels inside the top cap portion of the removable sleeved cover.


In a further embodiment, a spray canister device is incorporated into a wash, clean and dry bidet system that is designed to easily dispense water, medication, cleaning solutions, moisturizing creams, skin sealant, moisture barrier, medicaments, and/or a pharmaceutical formulation from a wash, clean and dry bidet system to a surface area of a human subject.


The wash and dry system of the present invention applies barrier materials, skin protection lotions and oils, medicaments directly to the skin and an operator of the wash and dry system will be able to spray lotions evenly on the individual, especially in hard-to-reach areas such as the bottom, back and neck of a human subject.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.



FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wash and dry system with a spray canister device therein according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a wash and dry system with a spray canister device and a combined dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly extended out below a cover according to another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 2B is an inside view of a housing of a wash and dry system showing a spray canister device and a combined dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly extended from a housing of the wash and dry system and extended out below a cover of the base of the wash and dry system according to another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wash and dry system wherein a cover positioned on a housing of a base of the wash and dry system is opened with a spray canister device stored therein according to another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a spray canister device with a removable sleeved cover element and a canister element according to another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 4B is a perspective view of operating a spray canister device to fit into a delivery track positioned next to a spray nozzle assembly and a dryer assembly that are combined and formed into a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly according to yet another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 4C is another side perspective view of installing the spray canister device of FIG. 4B to be secured onto a delivery track positioned next to a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly according to yet another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 4D is another side perspective view of the spray canister device of FIG. 4B when the spray canister device is securely installed onto a delivery track positioned next to a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly according to yet another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 4E is another side perspective view of the spray canister device of FIG. 4B after the spray canister device is securely installed next to a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly and both the spray canister device and one or more nozzles head elements of the combined dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly is ready to be extended out according to yet another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 5A is another side perspective view of the spray canister device, showing the spray canister device is being extended out and ready to spray a solution out of its front opening according to yet another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 5B is a side view of one example of a spray canister device, showing a motor, a rail and a slot element of a driving motor assembly for moving the spray canister device according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the spray canister device of FIG. 5B, showing a driving motor assembly used to move and extend the spray canister device according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 6A is a side perspective view of a spray canister device installed next to a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly, showing a spray nozzle wand of the dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly is being extended out of a spray nozzle housing and ready to spray water or a cleaning solution out of its front spray nozzle head according to yet another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 6B is a side view of one example of a spray nozzle assembly, showing a spray nozzle housing of the spray nozzle assembly and a driving motor assembly with a motor, a rail and a slot element for moving the spray nozzle assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the spray nozzle assembly of FIG. 6A, showing a driving motor assembly used to move and extend the spray nozzle assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 7A is a side perspective view of a spray canister device installed next to a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly, showing a dryer wand of the dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly extended out of a dryer housing and ready to blow air or gases out of its front blower head according to yet another embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 7B is a side view of one example of a dryer assembly, showing a dryer housing of the dryer assembly and a driving motor assembly with a motor, a rail and a slot element for moving the dryer assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the dryer assembly of FIG. 7A, showing a driving motor assembly used to move and extend the dryer assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 8 illustrates a method of operating a wash and dry system with a removable spray canister device according to one or more embodiments of the invention.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention includes a method and a wash, dry, clean, and protect system for providing easy washing, cleaning and protection of a person's bottom while using a toilet is provided. In one embodiment, the system can be placed directly over a rim of a toilet bowl or a seat of a toilet seat system. In another embodiment, the wash, dry, clean, and protect system include a removable spray canister device for the delivery of water, medication, cleaning solutions, moisturizing creams, skin sealant, moisture barrier, medicaments, and/or a pharmaceutical formulation to a surface area of a human subject.


The spray canister device as described herein is easy-to-handle and makes it easy to apply and spray fluids, solutions, suspensions, or paste of a barrier chemical or medicament to the skin area of a person. The spray canister device contains a removable sleeved cover element and a canister element to allow for easy operation and make it easy to spray, and can be handled manually or can function together with a toilet seat wash and dry system or other devices.


In one embodiment, a spray canister device is incorporated into a wash, clean and dry bidet system and is designed to easily dispense water, medication, cleaning solutions, moisturizing creams, skin sealant, moisture barrier, medicaments, and/or a pharmaceutical formulation from a wash, clean and dry bidet system to a surface area of a human subject.



FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wash and dry system with a spray canister device 100 (shown in FIG. 2B) according to one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the wash and dry system includes a toilet seat assembly 200 with the spray canister device 100 positioned stationery or removably inside a base housing 220 of the toilet seat assembly 200. In general, the toilet seat assembly 200 includes a seat cover 210, the base housing 220, a base housing cover 222, a seat 230, a seat body 232, and a base 240.


In one example, the wash and dry system further includes a dryer assembly 170 (shown in FIG. 4D) and a spray nozzle assembly 160 (shown in FIG. 4D) positioned inside the base housing 220 of the toilet seat assembly 200. The dryer assembly 170 is able to move back and forth, sideways, and/or rotatably in a three-dimensional direction. In addition, the spray nozzle assembly 160 is able to move back and forth, sideway, and/or rotatably in a three-dimensional direction. In another example, the dryer assembly 170 and the spray nozzle assembly 160 are combined and formed into a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly, such as a wash and dry assembly 150, as shown in FIG. 4D. In one aspect, the dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly is able to move back and forth, sideway, and/or rotatably in three-dimensional direction.


The wash and dry system of the present invention applies barrier materials, skin protection lotions and oils, and medicaments directly to the skin and an operator of the wash and dry system will be able to spray lotions evenly on the individual, especially in hard-to-reach areas such as the bottom, back and neck of a human subject.


In addition, the wash and dry system may further include a power switch, a power indicator for powering up the system and operating wash, clean, dry, protect, and/or other functions of the system. In one aspect, the system is connected to a power cord. In another aspect, the system is connected to a battery power pack.



FIG. 2A is a perspective view of one example of a wash and dry system. The wash and dry system may include the spray canister device 100 and a combined dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly (e.g., the wash and dry assembly 150, as shown in FIG. 4D). As shown in FIG. 2A, the spray canister device 100 and the wash and dry assembly 150 are adapted to be extended out below a cover 172, which is located near a side of the base housing 220 of the base 240.



FIG. 2B is an inside view of the base housing 220 of the wash and dry system having the spray canister device 100 and the wash and dry assembly 150 (shown in FIG. 4D) extended from the base housing 220 of the wash and dry system and extended out below the cover 172 of the base 240 of the wash and dry system according to another embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the wash and dry assembly 150 is adapted to be connected to a water inlet of a water hose assembly for supplying water and other liquid into the wash and dry system.



FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wash and dry system where the base housing cover 222 positioned on the base housing 220 of the base 240 of the wash and dry system is opened with the spray canister device 100 stored therein. In one aspect, the spray canister device is adapted to be removable in and out of the base housing cover 222 of toilet seat assembly 200 of the wash and dry system.


In one embodiment, the wash and dry system further includes a medicine delivery assembly 190. The medicine delivery assembly 190 may include medication and/or cleaner solutions therein. Suitable medication and cleaning solutions are not limited and can be any of a desirable cleaning solution, a medication solution, a fragrant solution, a deodorant solution, a moisturizing solution, and/or combination thereof. In addition, the content of liquid solutions within the medicine delivery assembly 190 can be changeable according to personal preference of a user or under the instruction of a doctor for treating various perineal or urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, and/or hemorrhoids, among others.



FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the spray canister device 100. In one aspect, the spray canister device 100 includes a sleeved cover element 110 and a canister element 120 according to another embodiment of the invention. In another aspect, the sleeved cover element 110 of the spray canister device 100 can be removably separated from the canister element 120. In one example, the spray canister device 100 is a stand-alone device for spraying a barrier material or medicament or a solution on to a surface area of a human subject. In another example, the spray canister device 100 is installed into the base housing 220 of the toilet seat assembly 200 through the base housing cover 222 so as to effect spraying a barrier material or medicament or a solution on to a surface area of a human subject. In another example, the sleeved cover element 110 of the spray canister device 100 can be separated from the canister element 120.


As shown in FIG. 4A, the sleeved cover element 110 of the spray canister device 100 includes a top cap portion 104, and a sleeved portion 106. The top cap portion 104 may also include a cut-out portion 102, a top body portion 108, an opening 116, and a top flat surface portion 118. The sleeved portion 107 of the sleeved cover element 110 may also include a handle grip 112 and a trigger bar 114. The handle grip 112 of the sleeved cover element 110 is provided for easy gripping and easy handling of the spray canister device 100. In addition, the canister element 120 of the spray canister device 100 includes a top outlet, a bottom portion 128, and a canister body 126.



FIG. 4B is a perspective view of operating and installing the spray canister device 100 to fit into a track 143 positioned next to the wash and dry assembly 150. FIG. 4C is another side perspective view of installing the spray canister device 100 of FIG. 4B to be secured onto the track 143. FIG. 4D is another side perspective view of the spray canister device 100 of FIG. 4B when the spray canister device 100 is securely installed onto a delivery track positioned next to the wash and dry assembly 150. FIG. 4E is another side perspective view of the spray canister device of FIG. 4B after the spray canister device 100 is securely installed next to the wash and dry assembly 150 and both the spray canister device 100 and one or more nozzles head elements of the wash and dry assembly 150 is ready to be extended out.


In one embodiment, the interior content of the canister element 120 is sprayed out of the spray canister device 100 by triggering the trigger bar 114 of the sleeved cover element 110 against the canister element 120 and moving the bottom portion 128 of the canister element 120 to be closer to the opening 116 of the sleeved cover element 110.



FIG. 5A is another side perspective view of the spray canister device 100, showing the spray canister device 100 is being extended out and ready to spray a solution out of the opening 116. FIG. 5B is a side view of the spray canister device 100, showing a motor 132, a motor holder 133, a track 143, and a slot element 142 of a driving motor assembly for moving the spray canister device 100.



FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the spray canister device 100 of FIG. 5B, showing the track 143, a solenoid 145 of a driving motor assembly used to couple with the trigger bar 114 of the spray canister device 100 so as to move and extend the spray canister device 100.



FIG. 6A is a side perspective view of the spray canister device 100 installed next to the wash and dry assembly 150, showing a spray nozzle wand 163 of the wash and dry assembly 150 is being extended out of a spray nozzle housing 162 and ready to spray water or a cleaning solution out of a spray nozzle head 166.



FIG. 6B is a side view of a spray nozzle assembly of the wash and dry assembly 150, showing the spray nozzle housing 162 of the spray nozzle assembly and a driving motor assembly with a motor 136, a motor holder 137, a rack 144 and a slot element for moving the spray nozzle assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the spray nozzle assembly of FIG. 6B, showing the motor 136, the motor holder 137, and the rack 144 of the driving motor assembly used to move and extend the spray nozzle assembly.


As shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, the spray nozzle assembly of the wash and dry system includes the spray nozzle wand 163 and the spray nozzle head 166 that are able to be movably extended by the motor 136 of a driving motor assembly. The spray nozzle assembly further includes one or more liquid channels therein such that the liquids flowing therein can be delivered via the spray nozzle wand 163 and the spray nozzle head 166 and sprayed out. For example, water and other liquids can be sprayed out and used to wash onto a desirable area (e.g., a genital area, an anal area, anterior private parts, perineal region, etc.) of a human body while a human is using a toilet.


The spray nozzle head 166 is adapted to spray out liquid in a stream or a mist form onto a desirable area of a human body. The shape and size of the spray nozzle head 166 positioned at the tip of the spray nozzle wand 163 is not limited and can be a small opening, a multiple-holed nozzle type element, among others.


Suitable liquid that can be contained and flowed within the one or more channels of the spray nozzle assembly of the wash and dry assembly 150 includes water, medication solutions, cleaning solutions and combinations thereof. The temperature of the liquids are not limited and may range from cold water temperature to warm temperature of about 60° C. In one embodiment, the wash and clean system includes a water inlet adapted to connect to a water hose assembly (for supplying water and other liquid into the wash and dry system. For example, the water inlet can be positioned near the back wall of the toilet seat assembly 200.



FIG. 7A is a side perspective view of the spray canister device 100 installed next to a dynamic dryer and spray nozzle assembly, e.g., the wash and dry assembly 150 as shown, where a dryer wand 165 of a dryer assembly of the wash and dry assembly 150 is being extended out of a dryer housing 164 and ready to blow air or gases out of its front blower head. FIG. 7B is a side view of the dryer assembly, showing the dryer housing 164 of the dryer assembly and a driving motor assembly with a motor 134, a motor holder 135, a rack 146 and a slot element for moving the dryer assembly. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the dryer assembly of FIG. 7A, showing a driving motor assembly used to move and extend the dryer assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.


Referring back to FIG. 1, the wash and dry system may further includes one or more power switches or control units 340, 342 and 344 such that various motors and electric circuits contained within the system can be turned on for powering up the system and operating wash, clean, dry, protect and other functions of the wash and dry system. The control units can be positioned, in one example, on the top or the side of the system, and can be easily visible to a user. In one embodiment, the control unit 340 is a remote control unit. In addition, one or more power indicators can be positioned on the control units 340, 342 and 344 to indicate turning on of the electric power and proper functioning of the wash and clean system. In one example, a power indicator and the control unit 344 can be positioned at or near a front side of the system as exemplarily shown in FIG. 1.


In one aspect, the wash and clean system is connected to a power cord via a power connector. The power cord is adapted to connect to an electric outlet and provide electric power to power up the wash and dry system. In another aspect, the wash and dry system is connected to a battery power pack in order to conveniently power up the wash and dry system without the need to find an electric outlet.


In operation, once the electric power is turned on and the motors within the wash and dry system are adapted to deliver all desirable liquids (e.g., water and liquid from a water hose assembly via a water inlet, a cleaning or medication liquid solution from the medicine delivery assembly 190, and combinations thereof) from one or more channels therein to the spray nozzle assembly.



FIG. 8 illustrates a method 700 of operating a wash and dry system with a removable spray canister device according to one or more embodiments of the invention. In one aspect, the method includes, optionally, at step 710 of cleaning the surface area of the subject using a cleaning solution sprayed from the wash and dry system.


In another aspect, the method includes positioning a wash and dry system near a surface area of a subject, where the wash and dry system includes a toilet seat assembly comprising a housing, a spray canister device inside the housing, and a spray nozzle assembly inside the housing. At step 720, the surface area of the subject is washed using the spray nozzle assembly, and at step 740, a spray delivered from an opening of the spray canister device is applied onto the surface area of the subject.


At step 730, the surface area of the subject is dried using a dryer assembly of the wash and dry system. In one example, drying the surface area is performed by the dryer assembly at high power prior to applying the spray delivered from the spray canister device. Optionally, at step 750, drying the surface area is performed by the dryer assembly at low power after applying the spray delivered from the spray canister device.


Further, the method may also include installing the spray canister device into the housing of the toilet seat assembly prior to using the wash and dry system. In one example, the spray canister device is installed by gripping a handle grip of the spray canister device and positioning the spray canister device into a cover of the housing of the toilet seat assembly. In another example, the spray canister device is installed by coupling a trigger bar of the spray canister device securely onto a delivery rack inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly.


In another embodiment, the method may further include shaking the spray canister device by moving the spray canister device inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly. In one aspect, shaking the spray canister device is performed prior to applying the spray delivered from the spray canister device.


In still another embodiment, the method may further include applying the spray by moving a canister element of the spray canister device against a sleeved cover element of the spray canister device along a delivery rack inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly.


In one embodiment, the removable sleeved cover element of the spray canister device includes a top cap portion, an opening, a sleeve portion, a handle grip, and a trigger bar. In another embodiment, the inner canister element includes a top outlet and a canister body. In still another embodiment, the canister body of the inner canister element is covered by a sleeved portion of the removable sleeved cover element and the top outlet is fitted to channels inside the top cap portion of the removable sleeved cover.


While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims
  • 1. An apparatus for storing a first solution and spraying the first solution onto a region of the human body, comprising: a toilet seat assembly having a seat cover and a bidet seat, wherein the bidet seat comprises a seat body, a seat base, a bidet housing for housing a bidet assembly therein, a bidet spray cover, and a bidet housing cover, wherein the bidet housing cover is positioned at a surface of the bidet housing, wherein the bidet spray cover is capable of being in an open position and a closed position and adapted to cover the bidet assembly housed within the bidet housing, and wherein the bidet assembly comprising a removable spray canister device adapted to store the first solution and be inserted in and out of the bidet housing cover.
  • 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the removable spray canister device further comprises: a sleeved cover element; and a canister element.
  • 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sleeved cover element of the removable spray canister device further comprises: a top cap portion;an opening at the top cap portion;a sleeve portion; anda trigger bar.
  • 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first solution is stored within the canister element of the removable spray canister device and the first solution is sprayed out by triggering the trigger bar of the sleeved cover element against the canister element and moving the bottom portion of the canister element to be closer to the opening of the sleeved cover element.
  • 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first solution is selected form the group consisting of skin protectants, ointments, mineral oil, silicone fluids, dimethicone, cyclomethicone, petrolatum, cod liver oil, lanolin, zinc oxide, talc, calamine, kaolin, topical starch and allantoin, barrier materials, zinc oxide, skin moisturizers, skin lotions, moisturizing creams, skin sealants, water, medication, cleaning solutions, moisture barriers, medicaments, a pharmaceutical formulation, and combinations thereof.
  • 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bidet assembly further comprises: a spray nozzle assembly comprising: a spray nozzle housing adapted to house one or more spray nozzle units comprising one or more spray nozzle wands that are retractable and adapted to deliver a second solution to the region of the human body; and a first driving motor being connected to the one or more spray nozzle wands and adapted for moving the one or more spray nozzle wands in retracting- and extending motion.
  • 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the spray nozzle assembly further comprises one or more steering mechanisms, and a second driving motor being connected to the one or more spray nozzle wands and adapted for moving the one or more spray nozzle wands in three-dimensional circular rotational motion.
  • 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more spray nozzle units of the spray nozzle assembly further comprise: a first spray nozzle channel adapted to deliver the second solution; and a second spray nozzle channel adapted to deliver a third solution, wherein the second solution is selected form the group consisting of water, a cleaning solution, a barrier spray solution, a medicine-containing solution, and combinations thereof, and wherein the third solution is selected form the group consisting of water, a cleaning solution, a barrier spray solution, a medicine-containing solution, and combinations thereof.
  • 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first spray nozzle channel is adapted to deliver water to the region of the human body for washing the region, and wherein the second spray nozzle channel is adapted to deliver a cleaning solution to the region of the human body for cleaning the region.
  • 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second spray nozzle channel is adapted to deliver a medicine-containing solution to the region of the human body for treating the region.
  • 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bidet assembly further comprises a drying nozzle assembly comprising: one or more drying nozzle units comprising one or more retractable air blower wands adapted to deliver air at a predetermined temperature to the region of the human body; and a fan connected to the one or more drying nozzle units.
  • 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the drying nozzle assembly further comprises: a first driving motor being connected to the one or more drying nozzle units and adapted for moving the one or more retractable air blower wands in retracting- and extending motion; and a second driving motor being connected to the one or more drying nozzle units and adapted for moving the one or more retractable air blower wands in three dimensional circular rotational motion.
  • 13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a medicine delivery assembly having one or more medicine storage cartridges, wherein the medicine delivery assembly is adapted to deliver one or more medicine-containing solutions stored at the one or more medicine storage cartridges.
  • 14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: one or more control units adapted to receive an user input and, based on the user input, to direct movements of the bidet assembly to be retractable out of the bidet housing when the bidet cover is in an open position and retractable inside the bidet housing when the bidet cover is in a closed position, wherein the one or more control units is selected from the group consisting of a remote control unit, a touch screen control unit, a joystick type control unit, a hand-held control unit, a steering-wheel type control unit, a built-in control unit adjacent the toilet seat assembly, a front end touch control unit, and combinations thereof.
  • 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more control units is a front end touch control unit being positioned at a front end of the seat body to control the movements of the bidet assembly, and adapted to control opening and closing movements of the bidet cover; wherein the front end touch control unit is a single button with electric circuits therein to be adapted to control the movements of the bidet assembly and the opening and closing movements of the bidet cover, wherein the user input comprises repeated touching of the single button.
  • 16. An apparatus for storing a first solution and spraying the first solution onto a region of the human body, comprising: a toilet seat assembly having a seat cover and a bidet seat, wherein the bidet seat comprises a seat body, a seat base, a bidet housing for housing a bidet assembly therein, a bidet spray cover, and a bidet housing cover, wherein the bidet housing cover is positioned at a surface of the bidet housing, wherein the bidet spray cover is capable of being in an open position and a closed position and adapted to cover the bidet assembly housed within the bidet housing, and wherein the bidet assembly comprising a removable spray canister device adapted to store the first solution and be inserted in and out of the bidet housing cover; and a front end touch control unit position at a front end of the seat body to control the movements of the bidet assembly, and adapted to control opening and closing movements of the bidet cover.
  • 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the bidet assembly further comprises: a spray nozzle assembly having a spray nozzle housing adapted to house one or more spray nozzle units comprising one or more spray nozzle wands that are retractable and adapted to deliver a second solution to the region of the human body; anda drying nozzle assembly, comprising: one or more drying nozzle units comprising one or more retractable air blower wands adapted to deliver air at a predetermined temperature to the region of the human body; and a fan connected to the one or more drying nozzle units.
  • 18. A method of using an apparatus to deliver one or more solutions to a region of a human body, comprising: washing an area of the region with water using the apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprising: a toilet seat assembly having a seat cover and a bidet seat, a seat body, a seat base, a bidet housing for housing a bidet assembly therein, a bidet spray cover, and a bidet housing cover, wherein the bidet assembly comprising:a removable spray canister device; a spray nozzle assembly; anda drying nozzle assemblydrying the area of the region using an drying nozzle assembly of the bidet assembly; andapplying a spray of a first solution onto the area of the region using the removable spray canister device which stores the first solution therein.
  • 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: drying the area of the region after applying the spray of the first solution onto the area of the region using the removable spray canister device.
  • 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: controlling the movements of the bidet assembly and the opening and closing movements of the bidet cover using one or more control units; wherein the one or more control units comprises a front end touch control unit which is a single button with electric circuits therein to be adapted to control.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/650,957 which claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/363,232, filed on Jul. 16, 2016, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/363,234, filed on Jul. 16, 2016, and is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/649,564, filed Jul. 13, 2017; a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/588,635, filed May 6, 2017; a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/588,637, filed May 6, 2017; a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/588,638, filed May 6, 2017; and a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/588,640, filed May 6, 2017. This patent application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/847,594, filed on Dec. 12, 2017, is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/230,143 filed on Aug. 5, 2016, and is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/674,536 filed on Aug. 11, 2017. The disclosures of all of the above referenced US patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

US Referenced Citations (191)
Number Name Date Kind
2875450 Umann Mar 1959 A
D198085 Rich Apr 1964 S
3306252 Knight Feb 1967 A
3449780 Merry Jun 1969 A
3516424 Eagle Jun 1970 A
3810260 Lodi May 1974 A
3995326 Umann Dec 1976 A
4067499 Cohen Jan 1978 A
4279362 Pursell Jul 1981 A
4287618 Silver Sep 1981 A
4327560 Leon May 1982 A
D266758 Johannsen Nov 1982 S
4422189 Courvette Dec 1983 A
4428512 Nosek Jan 1984 A
D279184 Sakamoto Jun 1985 S
4628548 Kurosawa Dec 1986 A
D303966 Fritzsche Oct 1989 S
4903347 Garcia Feb 1990 A
4987617 Furukawa Jan 1991 A
5031252 Oyama Jul 1991 A
5101520 Lockhart Apr 1992 A
5201060 Tanaka Apr 1993 A
5201080 Tanaka et al. Apr 1993 A
5203037 Kang Apr 1993 A
5247711 Kwon Sep 1993 A
5335855 Borod Aug 1994 A
D355246 Kawamura Feb 1995 S
5409167 Borod Apr 1995 A
D367922 Kobayashi Mar 1996 S
5504948 Chandler Apr 1996 A
5551098 Wilk Sep 1996 A
5566402 Agha El-Rifai Oct 1996 A
5630234 Childs May 1997 A
D387851 Pieters Dec 1997 S
5720054 Nakayama Feb 1998 A
5765238 Furukawa Jun 1998 A
5813060 Klopocinski Sep 1998 A
5864894 Fedele Feb 1999 A
5898956 Kurisaki May 1999 A
5911516 Chang Jun 1999 A
5941419 Molinary Aug 1999 A
5953765 Hayashi Sep 1999 A
5987659 Cannizzaro Nov 1999 A
6003159 Sadegh Dec 1999 A
6009570 Hargest Jan 2000 A
D423655 Otte Apr 2000 S
6073275 Klopocinski Jun 2000 A
6105178 Kurisaki Aug 2000 A
D432220 Hulsebus Oct 2000 S
6128788 Yamazaki Oct 2000 A
D435638 Merry Dec 2000 S
6167577 Hammad Jan 2001 B1
6178568 Boulieris Jan 2001 B1
6192527 Paul Feb 2001 B1
D451076 Sommer Nov 2001 S
D451177 Scholpp Nov 2001 S
6339852 Huang Jan 2002 B1
6397406 Moshkovich Jun 2002 B1
6481590 Simkins Nov 2002 B1
D471966 Hatakenaka Mar 2003 S
D481016 Hillis Oct 2003 S
D485337 Tani Jan 2004 S
6688500 Cheng Feb 2004 B1
6691328 Delfino Feb 2004 B2
6754912 Hayashi Jun 2004 B1
D500130 Jung Dec 2004 S
D508733 Peng Aug 2005 S
D512425 Watanabe Dec 2005 S
6973679 Schad Dec 2005 B1
7096518 Takenaga Aug 2006 B2
D528991 Katsuyama Sep 2006 S
7120946 Lazar Oct 2006 B1
7127750 Lim Oct 2006 B2
D533788 Kleiman Dec 2006 S
7155755 Olivier Jan 2007 B2
D538907 Kaule Mar 2007 S
7191473 Matsumoto Mar 2007 B2
D541225 Katsuyama Apr 2007 S
7216374 Hassan May 2007 B2
7284285 Scalzi Oct 2007 B2
7287286 Lee Oct 2007 B2
D554613 Hikino Nov 2007 S
D558181 Takada Dec 2007 S
D564976 Billings Mar 2008 S
D565554 Fan Apr 2008 S
D578515 Ikeda Oct 2008 S
D579342 Claughton Oct 2008 S
D583030 Kobayashi Dec 2008 S
D594537 Driedger Jun 2009 S
D594945 Nakasaki Jun 2009 S
7543339 Harris Jun 2009 B1
D608426 Ando Jan 2010 S
D616445 Wong May 2010 S
D634735 Maier Mar 2011 S
D639399 Takeuchi Jun 2011 S
D639400 Kang Jun 2011 S
7954181 Lim Jun 2011 B2
8060953 Dorra Nov 2011 B1
D654808 Gidlow Feb 2012 S
8161580 Hashidume Apr 2012 B2
8261377 Oh Sep 2012 B2
D668642 Feldman Oct 2012 S
8291527 Pan Oct 2012 B2
D670659 Ishikawa Nov 2012 S
D671935 Mao Dec 2012 S
8365317 Dorra Feb 2013 B1
8425475 Sodo Apr 2013 B2
D682246 Boqueho May 2013 S
D688359 Ogata Aug 2013 S
D692417 Tu Oct 2013 S
D692541 Hosoi Oct 2013 S
D698754 Vuillet Feb 2014 S
D703797 Shinozaki Apr 2014 S
D704316 Ishikawa May 2014 S
D704317 Shinozaki May 2014 S
D706402 Yeung Jun 2014 S
D708954 Barnes Jul 2014 S
8776278 Dorra Jul 2014 B1
D713815 Ookawa Sep 2014 S
D715774 Lee Oct 2014 S
D716768 Lee Nov 2014 S
D717930 Kergoet Nov 2014 S
8904575 Lindheimer Dec 2014 B1
D724058 Chandel Mar 2015 S
D724059 Kim Mar 2015 S
9049970 Dorra Jun 2015 B2
9084864 Schroeder et al. Jul 2015 B1
9212477 Tiagai Dec 2015 B2
D750765 Giametta Mar 2016 S
9273454 Slawinski Mar 2016 B2
9279241 Morioka Mar 2016 B2
D753095 Jou Apr 2016 S
9464425 Bailey Oct 2016 B2
D781808 Pista Mar 2017 S
D792867 Maxwell Jul 2017 S
D805615 Schwab Dec 2017 S
9889982 Falcon Feb 2018 B2
20030140407 Matsumoto Jul 2003 A1
20040055080 Marshall Mar 2004 A1
20050000006 Takenaga Jan 2005 A1
20050010997 Olivier Jan 2005 A1
20060000012 Schad Jan 2006 A1
20060047055 Agostini Mar 2006 A1
20060265801 Riccobon Nov 2006 A1
20070241929 Marchetto Oct 2007 A1
20080016608 Lee Jan 2008 A1
20080055394 Shiue Mar 2008 A1
20080201837 Oh Aug 2008 A1
20080251551 Huber Oct 2008 A1
20090313752 Kunimoto Dec 2009 A1
20100012685 Ramsey Jan 2010 A1
20100152475 Raichle Jun 2010 A1
20100176224 Hasselschwert Jul 2010 A1
20110132929 Bennett Jun 2011 A1
20110133001 Cooper Jun 2011 A1
20110191950 Liu Aug 2011 A1
20110203044 Lim Aug 2011 A1
20110284601 Pullin Nov 2011 A1
20120005817 Jeong Jan 2012 A1
20120011647 Mochita Jan 2012 A1
20120150148 Shi Jun 2012 A1
20120180785 Trill Jul 2012 A1
20120218106 Zaima et al. Aug 2012 A1
20120222207 Slothower et al. Sep 2012 A1
20120266483 Palermo Oct 2012 A1
20130133131 Peng May 2013 A1
20130180041 Ding Jul 2013 A1
20130267890 Li Oct 2013 A1
20140042195 Geis Feb 2014 A1
20140047626 Dorra Feb 2014 A1
20140068862 Al-Jafar Mar 2014 A1
20140107409 Bailey Apr 2014 A1
20150000025 Clements Jan 2015 A1
20150059076 Tiagai Mar 2015 A1
20150203279 Falcon Jul 2015 A1
20150225167 Andersen Aug 2015 A1
20150337525 Bailey Nov 2015 A1
20160316978 Peng Nov 2016 A1
20170021116 Rahmel Jan 2017 A1
20170101838 Razvi Apr 2017 A1
20170142306 Peng May 2017 A1
20170265624 Wilson Sep 2017 A1
20170319794 Schwab Nov 2017 A1
20170321406 Schwab Nov 2017 A1
20170321407 Schwab Nov 2017 A1
20170321408 Schwab Nov 2017 A1
20180015238 Schwab Jan 2018 A1
20180028797 Schwab Feb 2018 A1
20180036473 Schwab Feb 2018 A1
20180044903 Schwab Feb 2018 A1
20200377288 Sylvia Dec 2020 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (33)
Number Date Country
1103917 Jun 1995 CN
1780966 May 2006 CN
104455363 Mar 2015 CN
104727411 Jun 2015 CN
204864021 Dec 2015 CN
1625201 Feb 1970 DE
025022450001 Jul 2014 EM
2138640 Dec 2009 EP
2671294 Jul 1992 FR
2869596 Nov 2005 FR
2351779 Jan 2001 GB
2689190001 Oct 2015 IN
S4815806 Feb 1973 JP
H0614282 Feb 1994 JP
H0717881 Mar 1995 JP
H0893034 Apr 1996 JP
H0988165 Mar 1997 JP
H1163666 Mar 1999 JP
2001279778 Oct 2001 JP
2003286738 Oct 2003 JP
2003342993 Dec 2003 JP
2006035654 Feb 2006 JP
2007321443 Dec 2007 JP
20030064724 Aug 2003 KR
20110062720 Jun 2011 KR
20120002832 Apr 2012 KR
101501751 Mar 2015 KR
469317 Dec 2001 TW
2007040279 Apr 2007 WO
WO2008024005 Feb 2008 WO
2010134656 Nov 2010 WO
WO2013020240 Feb 2013 WO
WO2012044086 Apr 2017 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (19)
Entry
Chinese Patent Office Action for Related Application No. 201780056311.1 dated Oct. 21, 2022 (13 pages, Including an English statement of relevance).
European Patent Office Action for Related Application No. 17793535.0 dated Oct. 27, 2022 (5 pages).
U.S. Appl. No. 15/847,594, dated Dec. 19, 2019, Schwab.
Extended European Search Report for European Application No. 17831614 dated Mar. 18, 2020.
Extended European Search Report for European Patent Application No. 17831608.9 dated Feb. 25, 2020.
Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 15/588,640 dated Dec. 3, 2018.
Kohler, Self-Cleaning Wand, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z629hpdnWj8, published Oct. 12, 2016.
Office Action from Chinese Patent Application No. 2017800570280, with English translation, dated Nov. 27, 2019; 22 pages.
PCT Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of The International Searching Authority, or Declaration, PCT/US2017/031482, filed on May 6, 2017 by Whole Bath, LLC.
PCT Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of The International Searching Authority, or Declaration, PCT/US2017/031483, filed on May 6, 2017 by Whole Bath, LLC.
PCT Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of The International Searching Authority, or Declaration, PCT/US2017/031484, filed on May 6, 2017 by Whole Bath, LLC.
PCT Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of The International Searching Authority, or Declaration, PCT/US2017/031485, filed on May 6, 2017 by Whole Bath, LLC.
PCT Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, PCT/US2016/45932, dated Oct. 24, 2016.
PCT Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, PCT/US2017/031484, dated Aug. 14, 2017.
PCT Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of The International Searching Authority, PCT/US2017/042288, dated Sep. 28, 2017.
PCT Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of The International Searching Authority, PCT/US2017/42253, dated Nov. 21, 2017.
Schwabcare website 2017, http://schwabcare.com/, site visited Jan. 21, 2018.
European Patent Office Action for Related Application No. 17793537.6 dated Nov. 7, 2022 (4 pages).
European Patent Office Office Action for Application No. 17793534.3 dated Feb. 28, 2023 (6 pages).
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20220279992 A1 Sep 2022 US
Provisional Applications (4)
Number Date Country
62363234 Jul 2016 US
62363232 Jul 2016 US
62373957 Aug 2016 US
62333152 May 2016 US
Continuations (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 16703532 Dec 2019 US
Child 17676240 US
Parent 15650957 Jul 2017 US
Child 16703532 US
Continuation in Parts (8)
Number Date Country
Parent 15588635 May 2017 US
Child 15650957 US
Parent 15588637 May 2017 US
Child 15588635 US
Parent 15588638 May 2017 US
Child 15588637 US
Parent 15588640 May 2017 US
Child 15588638 US
Parent 15649564 Jul 2017 US
Child 15588640 US
Parent 15674536 Aug 2017 US
Child 16703532 US
Parent 15847594 Dec 2017 US
Child 15674536 US
Parent 15230143 Aug 2016 US
Child 15847594 US