Bidet seats

Abstract

A bidet seat is disclosed that includes a body that forms a sitting pedestal; a cavity formed within the body; a seat cover that surrounds the cavity and is adapted to receive a sitting person; and a water storage tank located outside of the body. The water storage tank is fluidly coupled to a water inlet and a water outlet, with the water inlet being fluidly coupled to an external water line and the water outlet being fluidly coupled to a cleaning nozzle housed within the cavity or a shower rose located outside of the cavity. The water storage tank is configured to allow water contained therein to increase in temperature to room temperature, without using an electrical energy source. The water may then be transferred to the cleaning nozzle or shower rose, with the increased temperature of the water enhancing user comfort.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bidet seat that comprises:
 (a) a body that forms a sitting pedestal;   (b) a cavity formed within the body;   (c) a seat cover that surrounds the cavity and is adapted to receive a sitting person; and   (d) a water storage tank located outside of the body, wherein (i) the water storage tank is fluidly coupled to a water inlet and a water outlet, (ii) the water inlet is fluidly coupled to an external water line, (iii) the water outlet is fluidly coupled to a cleaning nozzle housed within the cavity or a shower rose located outside of the cavity, and (iv) the water storage tank is configured to allow water contained therein to increase in temperature to room temperature, without using an electrical energy source.   
     
     
         2 . The bidet seat of  claim 1 , wherein the water inlet is fluidly coupled to a bottom half of the water storage tank, whereas the water outlet is fluidly coupled to a top half of the water storage tank. 
     
     
         3 . The bidet seat of  claim 2 , wherein the water inlet is fluidly coupled to a bottom quartile of the water storage tank, whereas the water outlet is fluidly coupled to a top quartile of the water storage tank. 
     
     
         4 . The bidet seat of  claim 3 , wherein the water inlet comprises an in-line water inlet switch and a pressure regulator. 
     
     
         5 . The bidet seat of  claim 4 , wherein the water outlet comprises an in-line water outlet switch. 
     
     
         6 . The bidet seat of  claim 5 , which further comprises a condensation pan that surrounds a bottom perimeter of the water storage tank, wherein the condensation pan comprises a lip that is configured to collect condensation that forms on an exterior surface of the water storage tank. 
     
     
         7 . The bidet seat of  claim 6 , wherein the water storage tank is cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The bidet seat of  claim 6 , wherein the water storage tank is rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . The bidet seat of  claim 6 , wherein the water storage tank houses a series of heat exchanging tubes or heat exchanging plates which are configured to hold and allow the water to increase in temperature to room temperature, without using an electrical energy source. 
     
     
         10 . A bidet seat that comprises:
 (a) a body that forms a sitting pedestal;   (b) a cavity formed within the body;   (c) a seat cover that surrounds the cavity and is adapted to receive a sitting person; and   (d) a water storage tank located outside of the body, wherein (i) the water storage tank is fluidly coupled to a water inlet and a water outlet, (ii) the water inlet is fluidly coupled to an external water line, (iii) the water outlet is fluidly coupled to an interior area of the seat cover and a cleaning nozzle housed within the cavity, and (iv) the water storage tank is configured to allow water contained therein to increase in temperature to room temperature, without using an electrical energy source.   
     
     
         11 . The bidet seat of  claim 10 , wherein the water inlet is fluidly coupled to a bottom half of the water storage tank, whereas the water outlet is fluidly coupled to a top half of the water storage tank. 
     
     
         12 . The bidet seat of  claim 11 , wherein the water inlet is fluidly coupled to a bottom quartile of the water storage tank, whereas the water outlet is fluidly coupled to a top quartile of the water storage tank. 
     
     
         13 . The bidet seat of  claim 12 , wherein the water inlet comprises an in-line water inlet switch and a pressure regulator. 
     
     
         14 . The bidet seat of  claim 13 , wherein the water outlet comprises an in-line water outlet switch. 
     
     
         15 . The bidet seat of  claim 14 , which further comprises a condensation pan that surrounds a bottom perimeter of the water storage tank, wherein the condensation pan comprises a lip that is configured to collect condensation that forms on an exterior surface of the water storage tank. 
     
     
         16 . The bidet seat of  claim 15 , wherein the water storage tank is cylindrical. 
     
     
         17 . The bidet seat of  claim 15 , wherein the water storage tank is rectangular. 
     
     
         18 . The bidet seat of  claim 15 , wherein the water storage tank houses a series of heat exchanging tubes or heat exchanging plates which are configured to hold and allow the water to increase in temperature to room temperature, without using an electrical energy source. 
     
     
         19 . A water storage tank for use in connection with a toilet or bidet seat that comprises:
 (a) a tank that is configured to hold water that includes an exterior surface and an interior surface;   (b) a water inlet that is configured to be fluidly coupled to an external water line;   (c) a water outlet that is configured to be fluidly coupled to a cleaning nozzle or a shower rose;   (d) at least one baffle that is integrally connected with a top inside surface of the water storage tank that stops short of a bottom inside surface of the water storage tank; and   (e) at least one baffle that is integrally connected with the bottom inside surface of the water storage tank that stops short of the top inside surface of the water storage tank, wherein the water storage tank is configured to allow water contained therein to increase in temperature to room temperature, without using an electrical energy source.