Faucet-like bidet attachment

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates generally to bidet devices for cleansing the anal and genital areas of the human body, and more particularly to a simple, useful, cost-effective, and affordable faucet-like bidet device for use in conjunction with a conventional flush toilet.

#2. Brief Description of the Prior art

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a bidet device in accordance with the present invention shown installed adjacent to an existing conventional flush toilet fixture.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the faucet-like control valve of the bidet device showing the outer housing in dashed line.

#FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view showing the components of the control valve in an unassembled condition and showing various cam disc elements to allow adjustable settings for hot, warm, or cold water.

#Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a preferred bidet attachment device 10 in accordance with the present invention for use in connection with a conventional flush toilet T. The bidet device 10 has a faucet-like control valve 12 which may be enclosed inside a box-like housing 11. Optionally, the box-like housing 11 may be omitted. As described in detail hereinafter, the control valve 12 of the bidet device 10 is connected to the existing cold water supply line C and hot water supply line H.

#A pliant S-shaped water conduit 13 connected at one end to the control valve 12 extends under the toilet seat S, curves over the rim R of the toilet bowl B, then extends downwardly, and then curves back upwardly inside the bowl. A spray nozzle 14 is attached to the upwardly extending free end of the conduit 12. The pliant water conduit 13 may be easily manually adjusted to assume various positions, as indicated by opposed arrows in FIG. 1, and thereby direct a spray of water from the nozzle 14 to the desired target area. The control valve 12 regulates the water pressure and temperature that flows through the S-shaped water conduit 13.

#A preferred embodiment of the control valve 12 is shown in an assembled condition in FIG. 2 and an exploded unassembled condition in FIG. 3. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the control valve assembly 12 includes a valve body 15 with a semi-spherical concave chamber 16, and an interior cold water inlet port 17, a hot water inlet port 18, and a water outlet port 19 in fluid communication with the chamber 16 (FIG. 4). A cold water inlet conduit 20 extends from the cold water inlet port 17 and has a fitting such as a compression nut fitting 21 which connects to the existing cold water supply line C. A hot water inlet conduit 22 (FIG. 3) extends from the hot water inlet port 18 (FIG. 4) and has a fitting such as a compression nut fitting 23 which connects to the existing hot water supply line H. A water outlet nipple 24 in fluid communication with the water outlet port 19 extends outwardly from the side wall of the valve body 15.