US4087868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spray apparatus for toilet
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-28
•
Granted: 1978-05-09
•
Expires: 1996-07-28
Abstract
Abstract The present apparatus for a toilet has the following features: (1) a spray conduit in a recess in the bottom of the toilet seat at the back; (2) a fluid-tight, rotatable water supply fitting aligned with the hinge axis of the toilet seat and connecting the spray conduit in the seat to an external water pipe; (3) a switch-operated valving arrangement for purging the spray conduit in the seat of standing water and filling it with hot water, and then causing the spraying operation to take place; (4) a switch-operated mechanism for flushing the toilet; (5) a pressure switch in the toilet seat to prevent spraying or flushing except when the seat is down and a person is seated on it; and (6) wiring extending through a tubular safety frame for the toilet to switches at the front for the valving arrangement and the toilet flushing mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Gentz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:47
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K13/00; A47K13/24; A47K13/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
For use with a toilet having a seat, the combination of: water spray means adapted to be mounted on the toilet seat for spraying water onto a selected area of a person sitting on said seat, and a water supply conduit leading to said spray means; first electrically-operated, normally-closed valve means having a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet which is connected to said water supply conduit, means for limiting the pressure of the water supplied to said conduit by said first valve means to a value insufficient to produce an effective spray discharge at said spray means; second electrically-operated, normally-closed valve means having an outlet which is connected to said supply conduit for supplying warm water to the latter at a pressure high enough to produce an effective spray discharge at said spray means; and switch means operatively connected to said first and second valve means to open them separately for supplying water to said supply conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
For use with a toilet having a seat, the combination of: water spray means adapted to be mounted on the toilet seat for spraying water onto a selected area of a person sitting on said seat, and a water supply conduit leading to said spray means; first electrically-operated, normally-closed valve means having a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet which is connected to said water supply conduit, means for limiting the pressure of the water supplied to said conduit by said first valve means to a value insufficient to produce an effective spray discharge at said spray means; second electrically-operated, normally-closed valve means having an outlet which is connected to said supply conduit for supplying warm water to the latter at a pressure high enough to produce an effective spray discharge at said spray means; and switch means operatively connected to said first and second valve means to open them separately for supplying water to said supply conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
The combination of claim 1, and further comprising: a toilet seat having hinge means at the back for attachment to the toilet, said seat having an elongated recess on the bottom at the back which snugly receives said water supply conduit, said supply conduit extending into said recess from one side of the seat at the back; and a fluid-tight, rotary water supply fitting attached to said water supply conduit at said one side of the seat, said fitting having a water passage therethrough and having its rotational axis substantially aligned with the hinge axis of the seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said toilet has a flush valve, and further comprising: electrically-operated means for opening said flush valve to flush the toilet; and an additional switch operatively connected to said electrically-operated means for controlling the latter's operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein the toilet has a flush tank containing said flush valve, and said electrically-operated means comprises: water pressure-operated means for opening said flush valve in the flush tank to flush the toilet; and a third electrically-operated, normally-closed valve for supplying water from a pressurized water supply to said pressure-operated means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said flush valve has an external handle for operating the valve, and said electrically-operated means comprises: a solenoid operatively coupled to said handle to open the flush valve when the solenoid is energized by closing said additional switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said switch means and said additional switch are in close proximity to each other for operation selectively by a person sitting on the seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination of claim 6, and further comprising: a normally-open pressure switch on the seat which is operable to close when the seat is down on the toilet and a person is sitting on the seat, said pressure switch being operatively connected to said first and second valve means and said electrically-operated means to prevent them from being operated as long as the pressure switch is open.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
The combination of claim 7, and further comprising: a toilet seat having hinge means at the back for attachment to the toilet, said seat having an elongated recess on the bottom at the back which snugly receives said water supply conduit, said supply conduit extending into said recess from one side of the seat at the back; and a fluid-tight, rotary water supply fitting attached to said water supply conduit at said one side of the seat, said fitting having a water passage extending therethrough and having its rotational axis substantially aligned with the hinge axis of the seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises first and second switches operatively connected individually to said first and second valve means, respectively, and in close proximity to each other for operation selectively by a person sitting on the toilet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The combination of claim 9, and further comprising: a normally-open pressure switch on the seat of the toilet which is operable to close when the seat is down and a person is sitting on the seat, said pressure switch being operatively connected to said first and second valve means to prevent them from being opened by the respective first and second switches as long as the pressure switch is open.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
The combination of claim 9, and further comprising: a toilet seat having hinge means at the back for attachment to the toilet, said seat having an elongated recess on the bottom at the back which snugly receives said water supply conduit, said supply conduit extending into said recess from one side of the seat at the back; and a fluid-tight, rotary water supply fitting attached to said water supply conduit at said one side of the seat, said fitting have a water passage therethrough and its rotational axis substantially aligned with the hinge axis of the seat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 11, and further comprising: a normally-open pressure switch on the seat which closes when a person sits on the seat, said pressure switch being operatively connected to said first and second valve means and said electrically-operated means to prevent their operation as long as the pressure switch is open.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 3, and further comprising: a normally-open pressure switch on the seat which closes when a person sits on the seat, said pressure switch being operatively connected to said first and second valve means and said electrically-operated means to prevent their operation as long as the pressure switch is open.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
127 words
For use with a toilet having a seat, the combination of: water spray means adapted to be mounted on the toilet seat for spraying water onto a selected area of a person sitting on said seat, and a water supply conduit leading to said spray means; a valve having a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet which is connected to said water supply conduit, means for limiting the pressure of the water supplied to said conduit by said valve to a value insufficient to produce an effective spray discharge at said spray means; and a switch operatively connected to said valve for opening the latter to supply hot water to purge said supply conduit of standing water and to fill said conduit with hot water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
For use with a toilet having a seat, the combination of: water spray means adapted to be mounted on the toilet seat for spraying water onto a selected area of a person sitting on said seat, and a water supply conduit leading to said spray means; a valve having a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet which is connected to said water supply conduit, means for limiting the pressure of the water supplied to said conduit by said valve to a value insufficient to produce an effective spray discharge at said spray means; and a switch operatively connected to said valve for opening the latter to supply hot water to purge said supply conduit of standing water and to fill said conduit with hot water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
For use with a toilet having a seat and a flush valve for flushing the toilet, the combination of: water spray means adapted to be mounted on the toilet seat for spraying water onto a selected area of a person sitting on said seat, and a water supply conduit leading to said spray means; an electrically-operated, normally-closed spray valve for supplying water to said spray means at a pressure sufficient to produce a spray discharge; a switch operatively connected to said spray valve to open the latter; electrically-operated means for opening said flush valve to flush the toilet; and an additional switch operatively connected to said electrically-operated means for selectively operating the latter to open said flush valve to flush the toilet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
122 words
For use with a toilet having a seat and a flush valve for flushing the toilet, the combination of: water spray means adapted to be mounted on the toilet seat for spraying water onto a selected area of a person sitting on said seat, and a water supply conduit leading to said spray means; an electrically-operated, normally-closed spray valve for supplying water to said spray means at a pressure sufficient to produce a spray discharge; a switch operatively connected to said spray valve to open the latter; electrically-operated means for opening said flush valve to flush the toilet; and an additional switch operatively connected to said electrically-operated means for selectively operating the latter to open said flush valve to flush the toilet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 15, wherein the toilet has a flush tank containing said flush valve, and said electrically operated means comprises: water pressure-operated means for opening said flush valve; and an additional electrically-operated, normally-closed valve for supplying water from a pressurized water supply to said pressure-operated means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 15, wherein said flush valve has an external handle for operating the valve, and said electrically-operated means comprises: a solenoid operatively coupled to said handle to operate the latter for opening the flush valve when the solenoid is energized by closing said additional switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 15, wherein said switches are in close proximity to each other for operation selectively by a person sitting on the toilet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
98 words
The combination of claim 15, and further comprising: a toilet seat having hinge means at the back for attachment to the toilet, said seat having an elongated recess on the bottom at the back which snugly receives said water supply conduit, said supply conduit extending into said recess from one side of the seat at the back; and a fluid-tight, rotary water supply fitting attached to said water supply conduit at said one side of the seat, said fitting having a water passage therethrough and having its rotational axis substantially alinged with the hinge axis of the seat.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 15, and further comprising: a hinged seat for the toilet; and a normally-open pressure switch on the seat which closes when a person sits on the seat, said pressure switch being operatively connected to said spray valve and said electrically-operated means to prevent their operation by the respective switches as long as the pressure switch is open.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 20, wherein said switches for the spray valve and said electrically-operated means are in close proximity to each other for operation selectively by a person sitting on the toilet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
101 words
The combination of claim 21, wherein said seat has hinge means at the back for attachment to the toilet, and further comprising: means defining an elongated recess on the bottom of the toilet seat at the back which snugly receives said water supply conduit, said supply conduit extending into said recess from one side of the seat at the back; and a fluid-tight, rotary water supply fitting attached to said water supply conduit at said one side of the seat, said fitting having a water passage therethrough and having its rotational axis substantially aligned with the hinge axis of the seat.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
101 words
The combination of claim 20, wherein said seat has hinge means at the back for attachment to the toilet, and further comprising: means defining an elongated recess on the bottom of the toilet seat at the back which snugly receives said water supply conduit, said supply conduit extending into said recess from one side of the seat at the back; and a fluid-tight, rotary water supply fitting attached to said water supply conduit at said one side of the seat, said fitting having a water passage therethrough and having its rotational axis substantially aligned with the hinge axis of the seat.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-08 | 1981-11-07 | 1982-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-08 | 1985-11-07 | 1986-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-08 | 1989-11-07 | 1990-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |