Combination toilet seat and bidet apparatus

Abstract

A combination toilet seat and bidet apparatus includes a toilet seat member formed with a top wall, a continuous arcuate outer sidewall extending between opposite ends of a back wall and an inner sidewall defining, in part, a seat opening. An arcuate nozzle support arm is mounted on the seat member for rotation about an axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the seat member. An operating handle is connected to the arm at one side of the seat and a water flow control valve and operating handle are mounted on the seat opposite the arm operating handle for controlling water flow to a water jet nozzle mounted on the arm. The arm is adapted to be moved to selected working positions by the arm operating handle, and water flow may be selectively varied at will.

1 . A combination toilet seat and bidet apparatus comprising: 
 a toilet seat member including wall means defining a seat opening;    a nozzle support arm mounted for rotation on said seat member and moveable between a retracted position disposed in a recess in said seat member and a selected working position about an axis generally normal to a longitudinal axis of said seat member; and    a water jet nozzle mounted on said support arm for ejecting a stream of water in a direction corresponding to a selected working position of said support arm.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said support arm is connected to an operating handle disposed on one side of said seat member for moving said support arm between said retracted position and a selected working position.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1  including: 
 a retainer for retaining said support arm in said retracted position disposed in said recess in said seat member.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 3  wherein: 
 said retainer includes a magnet operable to retain said support arm in said retracted position by magnetic forces.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 2  wherein: 
 said support arm includes at least one trunnion disposed thereon adjacent one end of said support arm and operably connected to said operating handle, said trunnion being supported at least in part by said seat member.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 5  including: 
 a coupling operable to conduct water from a flow control valve to said nozzle, said coupling including cooperating members supporting said support arm for rotation with respect to said seat member.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 6  wherein: 
 said flow control valve is supported on said seat member.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 7  including: 
 an operating handle operably connected to said flow control valve for controlling the flow of water to said nozzle.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8  wherein: 
 said operating handle for said flow control valve is disposed on a side of said seat member opposite said operating handle for moving said support arm between working and retracted positions.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said seat member includes a top wall, a continuous outer sidewall extending from one end of a backwall to an opposite end of said backwall and said opening in said seat member is defined in part by an inner sidewall.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1  including: 
 a spring return mechanism operably connected to said support arm for biasing said support arm toward said retracted position.    
   
   
       12 . A combination toilet seat and bidet apparatus comprising: 
 a toilet seat member including a top wall, an outer sidewall, a back wall and an inner sidewall defining at least in part a toilet seat opening;    a nozzle support arm mounted for rotation on said seat member and moveable between a position disposed in a recess in said seat member and a selected working position about an axis generally normal to a longitudinal axis of said seat member, said support arm is connected to a first operating handle disposed on one side of said seat member for moving said support arm between a retracted position and a selected working position;    a nozzle mounted on said support arm for ejecting a stream of water in a direction corresponding to a selected working position of said support arm;    a water flow control valve supported on said seat member; and    a second operating handle connected to said flow control valve for controlling the flow of water to said nozzle.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 12  including: 
 said second handle is disposed on a side of said seat member substantially opposite said first handle.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 12  wherein: 
 said support arm includes at least one trunnion disposed thereon and operably connected to said first handle, said trunnion being supported at least in part by said seat member.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 14  including: 
 a spring return mechanism including a torsion coil spring operably connected to said one trunnion and said seat member for biasing said support arm toward said position disposed in said recess.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 12  including: 
 a coupling operable to conduct water from said flow control valve to said nozzle, said coupling including cooperating members supporting said support arm for rotation with respect to said seat member.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 12  wherein: 
 said flow control valve is supported on said seat member.    
   
   
       18 . A combination toilet seat and bidet apparatus comprising: 
 a toilet seat member including wall means defining a toilet seat opening;    a nozzle support arm mounted for rotation on said seat member and moveable between a position disposed in a recess in said seat member and a selected working position about an axis generally normal to a central longitudinal axis of said seat member, said support arm includes at least one trunnion disposed thereon and operably connected to a first handle for moving said support arm between a retracted position and a selected working position;    a nozzle mounted on said support arm for ejecting a stream of water in a direction corresponding to a selected working position of said support arm;    a water flow control valve supported on said seat member;    a coupling operable to conduct water from said flow control valve to said nozzle, said coupling including cooperating members for supporting said support arm for rotation with respect to said seat member; and    a second handle connected to said flow control valve for controlling the flow of water to said nozzle.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 18  including: 
 a retainer for retaining said support arm in a retracted position disposed in said recess in said seat member.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 19  wherein: 
 said retainer includes a magnet operable to retain said support arm in said retracted position by magnetic forces.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 18  wherein: 
 said second handle is disposed on a side of said seat member opposite said first handle.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 18  wherein: 
 said seat member includes a top wall, a continuous outer sidewall extending from one end of a backwall to an opposite end of said backwall and said opening in said seat member is defined in part by an inner sidewall.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 18  wherein: 
 said support arm comprises a channel shaped member for supporting a conduit extending between said coupling and said nozzle.