US3794031A

US3794031A - Electric douche

Info

Publication number: US3794031A
Application number: US00238912A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Bloom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-03-28
Filing date: 1972-03-28
Publication date: 1974-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-26

Abstract

An electric douche has a generally cylindrical housing that may be quickly coupled to the neck portion of a douche bag. The housing contains a motor-driven pump for drawing the douching fluid out of the bag and discharging the same through a hose having a nozzle on its other end. A low-voltage switch is located substantially on the end of the hose, adjacent to the nozzle, for remote control of the electric douche.

Description

1 United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,794,31 Bloom Feb. 26, 1974 [541 ELECTRIC DOUCHE 2,908,273 10/1959 Huston 1. 128/251 [75] Inventor: Leonard Bloom, Towson, Md. 222:5 128,66 UX 3 Assignee: Jerome I. Rebold, Timonium, 3,508,546 4/1970 Rogers et al 128/230 a part interest Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet [22] Flled' 1972 Assistant Examiner.l. Yasko [21] Appl. No.: 238,912

[57] ABSTRACT l28/23A0kl1I2n8/l2/31) An electric douFhe has a generally cylindrical housing 58 d 51 66 241 that may be quickly coupled to the neck portion of a 1 o are l douche bag. The housing contains a motor-driven pump for drawing the douching fluid out of the bag [56] References Cited and discharging the same through a hose having a noz' UNITED STATES PATENTS zle on its other end. A low-voltage switch is located 2,139,653 12/1938 Belfrage 128/241 substantially on the end of the hose, adjacent to the 2/1956 Kabnickl l28/230 nozzle, for remote control of the electric douche. 3,653,377 4/1972 Rebold [28/230 2,802,466 8/1957 Thomas 128/241 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC DOUCIIE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an electric douche which is safe, compact, economical, and convenient to use.

In accordance with the broad teachings of the present invention, an electric douche includes a douche bag constituting a reservoir of douching fluid. The bag is substantially closed and has a central neck portion with an opening formed therein. The electric douche further includes a housing which is attached directly to the opening in the douche bag. A quick-disconnect means is provided between the bag and the housing, whereby the housing may be quickly and conveniently connected to the bag, with a water-tight seal being formed therebetween. A pump driven by an electric motor is disposed in the housing for drawing the douching fluid out of the bag. A hose is connected to the pump, and a nozzle is on the end of the hose remote from the bag and housing. In this manner, the user need only hold the nozzle during operation of the electric douche.

In accordance with the further teachings of the present invention, a low-voltage switch is located substantially on the end of the hose, adjacent to the nozzle, for remote control of the electric douche.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following drawings and detailed description:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the electric douche of the present invention, the view showing the douche bag, the housing for the pump and motor, hose, and nozzle.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the housing, taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, the view showing an interference or snap fit between the housing and the neck portion of the bag, thereby providing a preferred quick-disconnect means.

FIG. 3 corresponds to a portion of FIG. 2, but shows a suitable threaded connection between the housing and bag, thereby providing an alternate quickdisconnect means.

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal section of the end of the hose, substantially adjacent to the nozzle, showing the low-voltage switch for safer remote control of the electric douche.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the nozzle, showing its connection with the end of the hose, and further showing the substantially cup-shaped shield in section, the shield being adjustable along the elongated shank of the nozzle.

FIG. 6 is a section view, taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 2, and showing one of the spring clips for holding the low-voltage wires onto the hose.

FIG. 7 is a section view, corresponding to FIG. 6, but showing the low-voltage wires integrally molded within the hose.

FIG. 8 corresponds to a portion of FIG. 2, but shows the hose being provided with prongs to be received within openings in the housing, thereby making electrical contact for the control switch, the arrangement allowing the subassembly of the hose, wires, and switch to be removed from the housing and thus replaceable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to FIG. ll, there is illustrated the electric douche 10 of the present invention, including a douche bag 11 constituting a reservoir of douching fluid. The bag may be molded from rubber, vinyl, or any suitable material, and is adapted to closely resemble the manual douche bags which employ a gravity feed of the douching fluid. The electric douche further comprises a housing 12 connected to the bag, a hose 13 connected to the housing, and a nozzle 14 on the end of the hose.

With reference to FIG. 2, the housing 12 is generally cylindrical, and comprises

housing portions

12a and 12b. Housing portion 12a contains one or more batteries 15, while housing portion 12b contains an electric motor 16 and a pump 17. Housing portion 12b is substantially sealed and is separated from housing portion 12a by means of an internal wall 18. Housing portion 12a has an internal annular recess 19a adapted to cooperate with an external annular protrusion 1% formed on housing portion 12b. In this manner, housing portion 12a may be quickly removed from housing portion 12b for ready access to the batteries, and then quickly connected to housing portion 12b by means of an interference or snap fit. As shown, the batteries 15 are of the disposable or throw-away type; however, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to rechargeable batteries or to special adapters for operating the electric douche from a plug-in receptacle.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the batteries 15 may be separated by a divider wall 20, and the batteries engage

respective spring terminals

21 and 22 for making ultimate electrical connection to contacts 23a and 23b mounted on the wall 18. A first wire lead 24 connects contact 23a to terminal 25a of motor 16; a second wire lead 26 is connected to contact 23b; and a third wire lead 27 is connected to the other motor terminal 25b. The

wires

26 and 27 run along the housing, emerge therefrom through a grommet 28, and run along the length of the hose l3; and are secured to the hose by means of several spaced clips, one of which is shown as at 29 in FIG. 2.

With reference again to FIG. 2, the motor 16 has a shaft 30 for driving the pump 17. The pump includes an inlet tube 31 extending into the bag 11 for drawing douching fluid out of the bag and discharging the same through an outlet tube 32 on which the end of the hose 13 is mounted.

The douche bag 11 is substantially closed and is provided with a central neck portion 33 having an opening 34 formed therein. Quick-disconnect means is provided between the housing 12 and the bag 11', this quick-disconnect means includes an external annular protrusion 35 formed on the housing 12 and adapted to cooperate with an internal annular groove 36 formed within the neck portion 33 of the douche bag. The cooperating annular groove and protrusion have a slight interference fit, so that the housing 12 may be quickly snapped into and out of the douche bag 11, yet provide a substantially water-tight seal therebetween.

With reference to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of the quick-disconnect means comprises threads 37 formed on the the housing 12 for engagement with corresponding internal threads formed within the neck portion 33 of the douche bag.

With reference to FIG. 4, and with further reference to FIG. 5, a low-voltage control switch 38 is located substantially between the nozzle means and the end of the hose 13 for remote control of the electric douche. Preferably, the switch 38 is mounted on the end of the hose l8 and comprises a sliding switch button 39 having a contact 40 adapted to bridge terminals 41a and 41b connected to

wires

26 and 27, respectively. The

wires

26 and 27, as previously noted, run along the length of the hose l3 and are retained thereto by spaced clips 29, one of which is shown in FIG. 6. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the

wires

26 and 27 may be integrally molded within the hose 13, if desired.

In this manner, only the nozzle 14 need be held during operation of the electric douche; the electric douche may be turned on'and off by means of the remote control switch 38; and the switch 38 is of the lowvoltage type for reasons of electrical safety.

After usage of the electric douche, the housing 12 may be quickly removed from the douche bag 11 by means of the quick-disconnect means; the nozzle 14 (if desired) may be removed from the hose l3; and the hose with its

wires

26 and 27 may be coiled around the housing 12 for convenient storage in a suitable kit or container.

With reference to FIG. 8, the end of the hose 13 engaging the outlet tube 32 of the pump may be provided with prongs 42a and 42b connected to the

wires

26 and 27, respectively, and adapted for engagement with

suitable sockets

42c and 42d, respectively, for making electrical contact with the wires directly at the housing. In this manner, even the hose may be removed from the housing for convenient storage, as well as more convenient replacement as a serviceable part.

With reference again to FIG. 5, the nozzle 14 includes flutes 43 with openings 44 for discharge of the douching fluid, and further includes an elongated tubular shank portion 45 connected to the hose 13 adjacent to the remote-control switch 38. A shield means comprising a substantially cup-shaped element 46 is slidably mounted on the elongated shank 45 of the nozzle, between the discharge openings 44 and the switch 38. In this manner, the shield means may be adapted for engagement with the vaginal lips during operation of the electric douche, and its relative position with respect to the nozzle may be adjusted for individual comfort and convenience by the particular user.

Obviously, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention; and thus within the scope of the following claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described therein.

I claim:

1. An electric douche for feminine hygienic usage comprising a collapsible douche bag constituting a reservoir of douching fluid, the bag being substantially closed and having a central opening formed therein, a substantially cylindrical housing adapted to be attached directly to the bag, quick-disconnect means between the bag and the housing and forming a substantially water-tight seal therebetween, whereby the housing may be quickly and conveniently connected to the bag, pumping means in the housing for drawing the douching fluid out of the bag, a low-voltage electric motor in the housing for driving the pumping means, a battery for energizing the motor, a hose connected to the pumping means, a nozzle on the end of the hose remote from the bag and housing, and means adjacent to the nozzle for controlling the flow of douching fluid.

2. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the quickdisconnect means between the bag and housing comprises an interference fit.

3. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the quickdisconnect means between the bag and housing comprises a threaded connection.

4. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the pumping means includes a tube extending past the quickdisconnect means and into the bag.

5. The electric douche of claim 1, further including shield means associated with the nozzle, the shield means comprising a cup-shaped element slidably mounted on the shank portion of the nozzle and adjustable along the axial length thereof.

6. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the flow of douching fluid comprises a low-voltage switch located substantially on the end of the hose adjacent to the nozzle, and adapted to remotely control the energization of the electric motor.

7. The electric douche of claim 6, further including low-voltage electric wires running along the length of the hose to the switch.

8. The electric douche of claim 7, wherein the wires are integrally molded within the hose.

Claims

1. An electric douche for feminine hygienic usage comprising a collapsible douche bag constituting a reservoir of douching fluid, the bag being substantially closed and having a central opening formed therein, a substantially cylindrical housing adapted to be attached directly to the bag, quick-disconnect means between the bag and the housing and forming a substantially water-tight seal therebetween, whereby the housing may be quickly and conveniently connected to the bag, pumping means in the housing for drawing the douching fluid out of the bag, a lowvoltage electric motor in the housing for driving the pumping means, a battery for energizing the motor, a hose connected to the pumping means, a nozzle on the end of the hose remote from the bag and housing, and means adjacent to the nozzle for controlling the flow of douching fluid.

2. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the quick-disconnect means between the bag and housing comprises an interference fit.

3. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the quick-disconnect means between the bag and housing comprises a threaded connection.

4. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the pumping means includes a tube extending past the quick-disconnect means and into the bag.