Portable power-operated douching appliance

Claim 2

A unitary device for irrigation of the human vagina comprising a flexible diaphragm pump, a nozzle secured to and in direct engagement with the outlet of said pump, a reservoir for irrigating fluid connected to the inlet of said pump, means for oscillating said diaphragm including a magnetizable movable member attached to said diaphragm, an electromagnet adapted to vibrate said member, and means for periodically energizing said electromagnet so that said movable member and the attached diaphragm oscillate at a predetermined frequency of between approximately 5 and 10 cycles per second.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein fluid is pumped from said reservoir to said nozzle at a rate of approximately one-half to 1 gallon per minute.

Claim 4

A portable power-operated douching appliance intended to be held conveniently in the user''s hand and comprising a housing, nozzle means mounted on the housing and adapted for insertion into the vagina, reservoir means containing a douching fluid, means within the housing communicating the reservoir means with the nozzle means, said last-named communicating means including oscillatory pumping means for developing a pulsating flow of variable intensity, whereby the douching fluid flows out of the nozzle means into the vagina in a series of interconnected fluid pulses, thereby improving the cleansing efficiency while providing a refreshing stimulation, and motor means within the housing for driving said oscillatory pumping means.

Claim 5

A portable power-operated douching appliance intended to be held conveniently in the user''s hand and comprising a housing, nozzle means mounted on the housing and adapted for insertion into the vagina, reservoir means containing a douching fluid, means within the housing communicating the reservoir means with the nozzle means, said last-named communicating means including oscillatory pumping means for developing a pulsating flow of variable intensity, whereby the douching fluid flows out of the nozzle means into the vagina in a series of interconnected fluid pulses, thereby improving the cleansing efficiency while providing a refreshing stimulation, and motor means within the housing for driving said oscillatory pumping means.

Claim 6

The portable power-operated douching appliance of claim 3, wherein said oscillatory pumping means includes a diaphragm, and wherein said motor means comprises an electromagnet for vibrating said diaphragm.

Claim 7

The portable power-operated douching appliance of claim 4, wherein said diaphragm vibrates at a frequency in the range of approximately 5 to 10 cycles per second.

Claim 8

The portable power-operated douching appliance of claim 3, including a battery within the housing for energizing said motor means.

Claim 9

The portable power-operated douching appliance of claim 3, wherein said nozzle means comprises a series of interchangeable nozzle elements, and wherein quick-disconnect means are provided for individually mounting a respective nozzle element directly on the housing.

Claim 10

The portable power-operated douching appliance of claim 3, wherein said reservoir means comprises a disposable hygienically sealed plastic bag.

Claim 11

A portable power-operated douching appliance comprising a housing having fluid passage means formed therein, a reservoir of douching fluid connected to one end of the fluid passage means, a nozzle adapted for insertion into the vagina connected to the other end of the fluid passage means, a movable diaphragm within the fluid passage means, a first one-way valve between the fluid passage means and the reservoir, a second one-way valve between the fluid passage means and the nozzle, a vibrating armature connected to the diaphragm, electromagnetic means for attracting the armature, spring means biasing the armature away from the electromagnetic means, means including a switch for controlling the energization of the electromagnetic means, and a pair of normally closed contacts in series with the switch, one of the contacts being fixed and the other being movable with the armature, whereby when the switch is closed, the electromagnetic means attracts the armature and diaphragm, thereby drawing douching fluid through said first one-way valve into the fluid passage means, whereby the normally closed contacts are broken to interrupt the energization of the electromagnetic means, whereby the spring means thereafter repels the armature and diaphragm away from the electromagnetic means, thereby discharging the douching fluid out of the fluid passage means, past said second one-way valve and into the nozzle, and thereby re-establishing closure of the normally closed contacts for re-energization of the electromagnetic means, and whereby the cycle is repeated as long as the switch is maintained in its closed position.

Claim 12

A portable power-operated douching appliance comprising a housing having fluid passage means formed therein, a reservoir of douching fluid connected to one end of the fluid passage means, a nozzle adapted for insertion into the vagina connected to the other end of the fluid passage means, a movable diaphragm within the fluid passage means, a first one-way valve between the fluid passage means and the reservoir, a second one-way valve between the fluid passage means and the nozzle, a vibrating armature connected to the diaphragm, electromagnetic means for attracting the armature, spring means biasing the armature away from the electromagnetic means, means including a switch for controlling the energization of the electromagnetic means, and a pair of normally closed contacts in series with the switch, one of the contacts being fixed and the other being movable with the armature, whereby when the switch is closed, the electromagnetic means attracts the armature and diaphragm, thereby drawing douching fluid through said first one-way valve into the fluid passage means, whereby the normally closed contacts are broken to interrupt the energization of the electromagnetic means, whereby the spring means thereafter repels the armature and diaphragm away from the electromagnetic means, thereby discharging the douching fluid out of the fluid passage means, past said second one-way valve and into the nozzle, and thereby re-establishing closure of the normally closed contacts for re-energization of the electromagnetic means, and whereby the cycle is repeated as long as the switch is maintained in its closed position.

Claim 13

The portable power-operated douching appliance of claim 9, wherein said diaphragm comprises a sheet of thin flexible material, and whereby said first and second one-way check valves comprise respective slits in the diaphragm, whereby movement of the armature and diaphragm towards and away from the electromagnet creates respective pressure differentials which cause said respective slits in the diaphragm to open selectively to alternately pump the douching fluid into and out of the fluid passage means.

Claim 14

A portable power-operated douching appliance comprising a housing intended to be conveniently held in the user''s hand, a nozzle element mounted directly on the housing and projecting therefrom, reservoir means containing a douching fluid, means including a pump in the housing communicating the reservoir means with the nozzle element, a motor in the housing for driving the pump, a battery in the housing for energizing the motor, and low-voltage electrical control circuit means including a switch interconnected with the motor and battery, said switch being mounted on the housing for convenient manipulation by the user as she grasps the housing and inserts the nozzle element into her vagina.

Claim 15

A portable power-operated douching appliance comprising a housing intended to be conveniently held in the user''s hand, a nozzle element mounted directly on the housing and projecting therefrom, reservoir means containing a douching fluid, means including a pump in the housing communicating the reservoir means with the nozzle element, a motor in the housing for driving the pump, a battery in the housing for energizing the motor, and low-voltage electrical control circuit means including a switch interconnected with the motor and battery, said switch being mounted on the housing for convenient manipulation by the user as she grasps the housing and inserts the nozzle element into her vagina.

Claim 16

Douching apparatus comprising a disposable hygienically sealed plastic bag having a frangible seal and containing a predetermined amount of a water-soluble douching powder, whereby the user may quickly break the seal and add a quantity of water of a desired temperature, thereby dissolving the powder, a hose, means connecting one end of the hose to the broken seal of the disposable plastic bag, a power-operated douching appliance connected to the other end of the hose, said douching appliance comprising a housing having oscillatory pumping means for developing a pulsating flow of variable velocity, and nozzle means connected to the housing and adapted for insertion into the vagina, whereby the douching fluid flows out of the nozzle means into the vagina in a series of interconnected fluid pulses, thereby improving the cleansing efficiency while providing a refreshing stimulation.

Claim 17

Douching apparatus comprising a disposable hygienically sealed plastic bag having a frangible seal and containing a predetermined amount of a water-soluble douching powder, whereby the user may quickly break the seal and add a quantity of water of a desired temperature, thereby dissolving the powder, a hose, means connecting one end of the hose to the broken seal of the disposable plastic bag, a power-operated douching appliance connected to the other end of the hose, said douching appliance comprising a housing having oscillatory pumping means for developing a pulsating flow of variable velocity, and nozzle means connected to the housing and adapted for insertion into the vagina, whereby the douching fluid flows out of the nozzle means into the vagina in a series of interconnected fluid pulses, thereby improving the cleansing efficiency while providing a refreshing stimulation.