Hygienic, removable toilet attachment for enema, douche or colonic irrigation

Abstract

A toilet attachment is configured for positioning between a toilet seat and a toiled bowl. In use, the toilet attachment is secured by the weight of the toilet seat. The toilet attachment has a base plate and a tubular irrigation assembly which can be connected to a fluid line. The base plate has an upper and lower surface, a rear end and a front end. When the base plate is installed, the rear end faces a rear portion of the bowl and the front end faces a front portion of the bowl. The base plate has ports to receive and secure the fluid line and the irrigation assembly. These ports are located at the front end. The irrigation assembly comprises an irrigation tip, and in one embodiment of the toilet attachment, a restictor as a limiter for preventing insertion of the tip too far into a body cavity.

1. A toilet attachment to be positioned between a toilet seat and a toilet bowl and to be connected to a fluid line, comprising:
 a tubular irrigation assembly comprising a U-shaped tube having an irrigation tip defining an outlet for fluid received from the fluid line at a first end, a U-shaped portion having an inlet for receiving fluid from the fluid line at an opposite second end thereof, and a limiter disposed between said irrigation tip and said U-shaped portion at a preset distance from the outlet to limit the distance the tip is inserted into a body cavity during use and for increasing the flexibility of the insertion tip, the limiter being located along a plane passing through a longitudinal axis of the irrigation assembly; and  
 a base plate, said base plate having an upper and lower surface, a rear end and a front end, and first and second ports in the base plate, one to receive and secure the fluid line and one to receive and secure the irrigation assembly to provide fluid for passage through the irrigation assembly, at least one of said ports being located at said front end, said base plate having at least a portion sized to fit between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl when the seat rests against the bowl.  
 
     
     
       2. The toilet attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate further comprises a channel, said channel extending parallel to said upper surface and connecting said ports. 
     
     
       3. The toilet attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the channel is a groove having a cross section configured to hold a flexible tube and an opening at the upper surface of the base plate smaller than the diameter of the tube but large enough so the tube can be removably inserted into the channel. 
     
     
       4. The toilet attachment of  claim 3 , wherein the tube is placed in the groove and the groove receives the tube in a press-fit manner. 
     
     
       5. The toilet attachment of  claim 3 , wherein the groove contains at least one projection located in proximity to one of said ports to secure the fluid line. 
     
     
       6. The toilet attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate comprises a middle and two outer sections, said middle section being thicker than said two outer sections and depending therefrom to depend into said bowl during use and about a portion of said bowl. 
     
     
       7. The toilet attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter has a generally double “L” shape. 
     
     
       8. The toilet attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter has a generally lateral “U”, shape. 
     
     
       9. The toilet attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter comprises a loop, said loop having a plane that is parallel to the tube. 
     
     
       10. The toilet attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter has a generally lateral “S” shape. 
     
     
       11. A toilet attachment to be positioned between a toilet seat and a toilet bowl and to be connected to a fluid line, comprising:
 a U-shaped tubular irrigation assembly, said irrigation assembly comprising an irrigation tip having a longitudinal axis and an outlet in fluid communication with the fluid line;  
 insertion limiter means disposed on said assembly for increasing the flexibility of the insertion tip and for preventing insertion of the irrigation tip into a user's body cavity beyond a preset distance, the longitudinal axis of the irrigation tip and said insertion limiter means being coplanar; and  
 a base plate, said base plate having an upper and lower surface, a rear end and a front end, said base plate receiving and securing the fluid line and the irrigation assembly during use and sized to have at least a portion fit between the seat and bowl as the seat rests against the bowl.  
 
     
     
       12. A method for applying a toilet attachment for irrigating a body cavity, comprising the steps of:
 placing a support between a toilet bowl and a toilet seat to hold a fluid connector, the support comprising a base plate having an upper and lower surface, a rear end and a front end, and first and second ports in the base plate in fluid communication with each other, at least one of said ports being located at said front end, said base plate having at least a portion sized to fit between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl when the seat rests against the bowl;  
 removably connecting a fluid source to one of the ports;  
 removably connecting a U-shaped irrigation assembly having an irrigation tip defining an outlet for fluid to the other of the ports so fluid from the source can flow to and out of the outlet of the irrigation tip;  
 furnishing the irrigation tip with a limiter that changes the direction of the fluid flow by at least 90°, and  
 locating said limiter a predetermined distance from the outlet of the irrigation tip in order to limit insertion of the tip into a user's body cavity.  
 
     
     
       13. A toilet attachment for fluid irrigation of a body cavity, the attachment being for use with a toilet having a seat and bowl, comprising:
 a tubular body comprising a U-shaped portion having a first end being open so that fluid can be fed through said tubular body to a second end;  
 an elongated irrigation tip connected to the second end of the tubular body, the tip having a longitudinal axis and holes to dispense fluid during use;  
 an insertion limiter extending laterally from the irrigating tip, the longitudinal axis of the irrigation tip and said insertion limiter being coplanar, said insertion limiter being disposed on the tubular body between said U-shaped portion and said second end at a preset distance from the irrigation tip to limit insertion of the tip into a user's body, said insertion limiter being adapted to increase the flexibility of the insertion tip; and  
 a holder configured to removably connect to the tubular body and configured to have at least a portion interposed between the toilet seat and bowl when the seat rests on the bowl during use.  
 
     
     
       14. The toilet attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the means has a generally double “L” shape. 
     
     
       15. The toilet attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the means has a generally lateral “U” shape. 
     
     
       16. The toilet attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the means comprises a loop formed by the irrigation tip. 
     
     
       17. The toilet attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the means has a generally “S” shape. 
     
     
       18. A toilet attachment for use with a toilet having a seat and a bowl, to irrigate a body cavity with fluid from a fluid line, comprising:
 a tubular irrigation assembly having an inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with the fluid line and having an outlet, the irrigation assembly having a U-shaped portion and an insertion limiter disposed on said assembly at a preset distance from the outlet to hinder inserting the outlet more than said preset distance into a body cavity, the limiter extending laterally from the irrigating tip, the longitudinal axis of the irrigation tip and said insertion limiter being coplanar, said insertion limiter being adapted to increase the flexibility of the insertion tip; and  
 a base plate sized to fit between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl when the seat rests against the bowl, the irrigation assembly being secured to the base plate during use of the toilet attachment, the tubular irrigation assembly having at least one bend in the tube intermediate the base plate and the limiter to reduce the stiffness of the tubular irrigation assembly.  
 
     
     
       19. A toilet attachment as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the limiter comprises a shaped tube that changes the flow of fluid to the outlet by more than 90°. 
     
     
       20. A toilet attachment to be positioned between a toilet seat and a toilet bowl and to be connected to a fluid line, comprising:
 a tubular irrigation assembly, said assembly having an outlet for fluid received from the fluid line, the irrigation assembly having a limiter disposed on said tube at a preset distance from the irrigation tip to prevent a user from inserting the tip more than said preset distance into a body cavity, the limiter comprising a loop having a plane that is parallel to the tube, the irrigation assembly having a U-shaped tube, said tube having a first and second end, said first end comprising an irritation tip; and  
 a base plate having an upper and lower surface, a rear end and a front end, and ports to receive and secure the fluid line and the irrigation assembly, at least one of said ports being located at said front end, and said second end of said tube being adapted to connect to one of the port.  
 
     
     
       21. A toilet attachment for use with a toilet having a seat and a bowl with a rim having an upper surface, to irrigate a body cavity with fluid from a fluid source, the toilet attachment comprising:
   a tubular assembly having an inlet and a tip, the inlet configured to receive a flow of fluid from the fluid source, and at least a portion of the tip configured to be inserted into a body cavity, the tubular assembly comprising a U - shaped portion and a limiter between the tip and the U - shaped portion at a preset distance from the tip to limit the distance the tip is inserted into the body cavity during use; and        a formed support member comprising:      a base plate configured to fit between the seat and a portion of the upper surface of a bowl,        the base plate having a bottom surface and a depending portion, said bottom surface being adapted to engage the upper surface of a rim and said depending portion having a curved portion generally adapted to the contour of the curvature of a rim at the back of a bowl, and configured to depend into the bowl below the upper surface of the rim;        a substantially U - shaped channel, formed in the depending portion below the toilet bowl rim, the channel being sized and configured so that a portion of the tubular assembly can be releasably placed in the channel; and        an attachment member positioned in the channel and configured to selectively and releasably hold the tubular assembly in a press - fit manner so that the tip is oriented in a desired portion.        
     
     
       22. The toilet attachment of  claim 21 , wherein the tubular assembly comprises a flexible portion, and the attachment member comprises a port with an upper opening, the port sized to accommodate said flexible portion extending therethrough, the opening sized such that said flexible portion must be deformed to pass therethrough, wherein the tubular assembly is releasably held by the attachment member.  
     
     
       23. The toilet attachment of  claim 21 , wherein the channel comprises a first holder portion comprising a projection extending from a side of the channel so as to partially close the channel.  
     
     
       24. The toilet attachment of  claim 23  additionally comprising a second holder portion comprising a projection extending from a side of the channel so as to partially close the channel.  
     
     
       25. The toilet attachment of  claim 23 , wherein the first holder comprises a second projection extending from an opposing side of the channel.  
     
     
       26. The toilet attachment of  claim 21 , wherein the tubular assembly comprises a fluid line and an irrigation assembly, the irrigation assembly comprising the tip.  
     
     
       27. The toilet attachment of  claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid line is flexible.  
     
     
       28. The toilet attachment of  claim 26 , wherein the irrigation assembly comprises a flexible tube.  
     
     
       29. The toilet attachment of  claim 21 , wherein the base plate and the depending portion are unitarily formed.  
     
     
       30. The toilet attachment of  claim 21 , wherein the base plate has a front end and a back end, and the channel has an inlet and an outlet, and both the channel inlet and outlet are positioned on the front end of the base plate.  
     
     
       31. The toilet attachment of  claim 30 , wherein the inlet and outlet are positioned in the depending portion.  
     
     
       32. The toilet attachment of  claim 21 , wherein the base plate is sized and configured so that the bottom surface of the base plate engages the upper surface of the toilet rim portion in a left region, a right region, and a back region of the rim.  
     
     
       33. A body cavity irrigator apparatus for use with a toilet having a seat and a bowl with a rim portion having an upper surface, the apparatus comprising:
   a support member having a front end, a rear end, a top surface, and a bottom surface, the support member sized and configured so that the bottom surface can rest upon the upper surface of the rim portion of a bowl, the rim portion bearing the entire weight of the support member, a portion of the support member depending so as to extend, in use, into the bowl below the upper surface of the rim;        a fluid delivery device configured to deliver irrigation fluid from a fluid source to a user's body cavity, an outlet tip portion of the device configured to extend into the user's body cavity, the fluid delivery device having a U - shaped portion, the outlet tip portion having a limiter disposed a predetermined distance from an outlet, the limiter changing the direction of fluid flow by at least  90 °, and        an attachment member formed on the depending portion of the support member below the upper surface of the rim, the attachment member configured to receive and releasably support the fluid delivery device in a press - fit manner so that the tip portion is suspended over the toilet bowl and forwardly of the support member.      
     
     
       34. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the depending portion extends rearwardly from the front end but does not extend all the way to the rear end of the support member.  
     
     
       35. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the fluid delivery device comprises flexible tubing.  
     
     
       36. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the depending portion is shaped and configured to generally correspond with a back side of the bowl.  
     
     
       37. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the support member is unitarily formed.  
     
     
       38. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the fluid delivery device comprises a fluid line and an irrigation assembly, and the fluid line and irrigation assembly are both attached to the front end of the support member within the depending portion of the support member.  
     
     
       39. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein an elongate portion of the fluid delivery device engages and is supported by the depending portion.  
     
     
       40. The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the attachment member comprises a generally U- shaped channel formed in the depending portion, and the elongate portion of the fluid delivery device is received in and supported by the channel.    
     
     
       41. A method of assembling a body cavity irrigation system, comprising:
   providing a substantially elongated base plate having a depending portion and an attachment member adapted to selectively and releasably hold a tube;        placing the base plate upon an upper surface of a rim portion of a toilet so that the base plate extends across a rear portion of a bowl of the toilet and end portions of the base plate rest upon the upper surface on opposing sides of the bowl;        positioning the base plate so that the depending portion is disposed adjacent a rear portion of the rim and so that, when a seat of the toilet is lowered, the opening of the bowl through the seat is at most only partially reduced by the base plate;        providing a fluid delivery apparatus comprising a tube and an outlet tip, a portion of the tube being U - shaped, a limiter disposed a predetermined distance from the outlet tip, the limiter configured to change the direction of the fluid flow by at least  90 ° so as to limit insertion of the tip into a user's body cavity;        securing the tube in the attachment member;        connecting the fluid delivery apparatus to a source of irrigating fluid; and        inserting the outlet tip into a body cavity.      
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41  additionally comprising placing an elongate portion of the tube into contact with the depending portion so that the portion of the tube rests upon the depending portion.  
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 41 , wherein the depending portion comprises a channel, and comprising placing a portion of the tube in the channel.  
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 43 , wherein the channel is substantially U- shaped, and comprising placing a portion of the tube in the channel so that the tube is press - fit therein.    
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 41  additionally comprising placing the tube on the depending portion so that the tube is supported at a first location on the depending portion and a second location on the depending portion, and the first and second locations are spaced apart from one another.  
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 41  comprising placing the base plate onto a toilet so that the base plate straddles the rim portion of the toilet.  
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 41 , wherein a portion of the depending portion is shaped to generally correspond with the curvature of the rear portion of the rim.  
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 47  additionally comprising resting the portion of the depending portion that is shaped to generally correspond with the curvature of the rear portion of the rim against the rear portion of the rim.  
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 41 , wherein the attachment member comprises two holders, and comprising press- fitting the tube into each of the two holders.    
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 41 , wherein securing the tube in the attachment member comprises:
   at least partially compressing a portion of the tube;        placing the compressed portion of the tube in the attachment member; and        allowing the compressed portion to decompress while in the attachment member.