US3916896A

US3916896A - Portable douche and sitz bath

Info

Publication number: US3916896A
Application number: US494489A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander K S Ballard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-08-05
Filing date: 1974-08-05
Publication date: 1975-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-04

Abstract

Apparatus for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anus and vaginal openings for douching and sitz bath cleansing, and adapted to safely apply liquid under pressure without an enema effect, the depth of liquid penetration being restricted and the exposed hip area limited to the action of liquid jets, and all of which is operable by the hand of the person applying the same for hygenic treatment.

Description

' United States Patent 1191 Ballard 1451 Nov. 4, 1975 PORTABLE DOUCI-IE AND SITZ BATH [76] Inventor: Alexander K. S. Ballard, P.O. Box

24772, Los Angeles, Calif. 90024 22 Filed: Aug. 5, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 494,489

[52] US. Cl. 128/239; 128/242; 128/251 [51] Int. Cl. A61M 3/00 [58] Field of Search 128/239, 241, 243, 229, 128/240, 242, 251, 245

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 388,510 8/1888 Terrell 128/241 550,238 11/1895 Allen, Jr. 128/241 X 698,447 4/1902 Bush 128/243 1,863,057 6/1932 Innes 128/243 x 1,870,942 8/1932 Beatty 128/241 2,139,653 12/1938 Belfrage 128/241 2,386,001 10/1945 Parrigin 128/241 2,586,553 2/1952 Moscarello 128/243 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 633,896 2/1962 Italy 128/243 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-.1. Yasko [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anus and vaginal openings for douching and sitz bath cleansing, and adapted to safely apply liquid under pressure without an enema effect, the depth of liquid penetration being restricted and the exposed hip area limited to the action of liquid jets, and all of which is operable by the hand of the person applying the same for hygenic treatment.

20 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patnt Nov.4 ,1975 shsetzof'z 3,916,896

PORTABLE DOUCHE AND SITZ BATH BACKGROUND Hygenic cleansing devices have been available in the form of bidets used for taking sitz baths, which involve special vessels with water jets by which only the hip area is immersed, usually as a medical treatment. Devices for douching are also available for applying a jet or stream of liquid applied externally or internally to some part of the body, normally applied through the vagina for cleansing the birth' canal and vulva, again as a medical or hygenic treatment. Also, devices for administering an enema are available for applying displacement liquid internally through the anus for dislodging feces from the rectum, which is the lowermost straight segment of the colon or lower intestin. In each aforementioned instance there has been inadequate control over the depth of penetration; in that the usual bidet and/or sitz bath directs liquid jets which are uncontrollable as to depth of penetration; in that the usual douche does not restrict depth of liquid penetration and so does not prevent the enema effect in case of anal application; and, in that the displacement effect of an enema is lacking in depth control: it being an object of this invention to provide means restricting the depth of liquid penetration for cleansing the vaginal and/or anal openings with liquid under pressure.

The various apparatus attachments for douching and for enemas, have provided head formations that project radial and reverse fountains of water at and surrounding the tip of the instrument that is inserted into the body opening. However, such instruments have provided no means to restrict further penetration of liquid applied under pressure, and with the result that an enema effect is simultaneously administered. Further, the excessive internal application of liquid under pressure can be dangerous and harmful; and it is to these ends that I have provided a seal at the head of such an instrument, whereby liquid penetration is restricted and flow is rearward from the said head. With the present invention, liquid jets are disposed to project liquid outwardly and rearwardly so as to have a downward flushing action backed by the head.

The apparatus of the present invention is portable and is self-sufficient with respect to liquid flow control, and it is therefore an object of this invention to provide coordinated control means by which the aforementioned seal is made effective and the liquid permitted to flow. With the present invention, the head of the instrument is expansible, and a liquid control valve operable, and an operating stem is provided which simultaneously expands the head while opening the said valve. Manual control means is provided to coordinate the head expansion and valve opening, there being return means therefor.

The apparatus hereinafter disclosed serves dual purposes, in that it is both a douche and a sitz bath, and the latter function being added to functioning of the former. To these ends it is an object to provide a selectively operable forwardly or upwardly disposed sitz .bath in combination with a douche, by providing a nozzel means ahead of a handle portion and rearward of the aforementioned douching head. With this invention, the sitz bath nozzel means is selectively positionable for its control and incorporates a shield and stop that restricts the penetration of the instrument.

It is a general object of this invention to incorporate the foregoing objectives into a most simple and effective instrument or apparatus involving the fewest number of most economically made parts. With the present invention there is a primary and a secondary control means for the application ofliquid, firstly to the douche function and s econdly to the sitz bath function of the apparatus, and all of which is manipulated by the single hand of the person applying the device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to a hygenic instrument to be used by a person in self application of medical treatment or the like. The purpose of use is hygenic with respect to the alimentary canal and birth canal, for interior as well as exterior cleanliness. Without resort to a bidet in its usual embodiment as a vessel, the apparatus that I provide is a manipulatable instrument that involves generally an elongated body B with a shiftable stem A which coordinates operation of valve means V and expansion of a head H that seals with the walls of the canal in which the instrument is inserted. With respect to the douche function of this instrument, there is a douche nozzle DN at the juncture of the body B and head H; and with respect to the sitz bath function of this instrument there is a sitz bath nozzle ZN spaced rearward of the head H. The nozzle ZN is selectively controlled between on and off conditions by movement of a stop shield S in which it is incorporated to protect the hand of the user from excess liquid.

DRAWINGS The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the douche and sitz bath instrument conditioned preparatory to insertion into the canals illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4,

FIG. 2 is an operational view showing the instrument of FIG. 1 inserted into the vaginal opening for the purpose of douching,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the head of the instrument expanded as in FIGS. 2 and 4,

FIG. 4 is a operational view showing the instrument of FIG. I inserted into the anal opening for the purpose of sitz bath douching.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the several uses of the invention are shown, FIG. 2 as a vaginal douch with the sitz bath valve closed, and FIG. 4 as a rectal douche with the sitz bath valve opened. The body B is an elongated cylinder that carries the expansible head H at its terminal end, and over which the stop shield S is selectively positionable. The stem A is a tubular member that shifts within the body B to dilate the head and control the liquid transported therethrough from means V to the nozzles DN and ZN. The valve means V incorporates a handle for its convenient operation and the stop shield is formed for its selective manipulation to be opened and closed.

The elongated cylindrical body B is proportioned substantially as shown and of 'a diameter to readily enter the anal or vaginal openings. A bore extends through the body to slideably receive the stem A that is positioned by valve means control later described. The rear or lower portion of the body B is reserved as a grip 11, and forward or above said grip portion there is a stop shoulder 12 with a forwardly extending cylindrical bearing 13 to slideably receive the stop shield S and its nozzle ZN. The forward movement of stop shield S is limited by sleeve 14 threadedly engaged onto the body so as to extend forwardly therefrom with means incorporated therein to dilate the head H, with features to accomodate return means R biasing the stem to a forwardly projected position, and also incorporating the douche nozzle DN. As shown, the body B is ported at 15 to transfer liquid from the tubular stem to the sitz bath nozzle ZN, and has a receiver 16 at its lowermost or rear end to receive a liquid supply hose 17 and upon which the valve V handle 18 is pivoted.

The tubular stem A extends coextensively through the body B and projects from the bore 10 at both the front and rear of the body for operation of the head H to dilate the same and to be operated by the handle 18. The stem A has a right cylinder exterior that-closely fits the bore 10 to slide freely therein, there being an elongated port 19 that remains in communication with aforementioned ports at 15 throughout movement of the stem A relative to the body B. A snap ring 20 is seated into the periphery of the stem, spaced forwardly from the front 21 of body B, when the said stem is forwardly projected, there being a compression spring 23 disposed between the ring 20 and face 21 comprising return means R that yielding urges the stem A to the forwardly projected position as shown in FIG. 1. Snap ring 20 limits the forward projection of stem A.

The expansible head H is dilated by movement of stem A by which it is carried relative to the front configuration of sleeve 14. The head per se is made of soft plastic or an elastomer, and preferably it is made of rubber or a substitute therefor which is elastic, supple and pliable. The head is of tapered bullet shape, being rearwardly divergent from a rounded nose 25 and flaring rearwardly to an outwardly and rearwardly divergent rim 26. The wall of the rearwardly divergent rim tapers to its periphery which is circumferentially continuous for sealing engagement with the canal wall into which it is dilated. In accordance with this invention, the front face 27 of sleeve 14 is complementary to the inner divergent face of rim 26 when the stern A is forwardly projected and said rim relaxed (see FIG. 1). Forward of the said inner divergent face of the rim, there is a cylindrical counterbore 28 that normally receives the projected foremost cylindrical portion of the stem A, as shown in FIG. 1. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the expansible head H is dilated by retraction of the stem A, the face 27 being divergently inclined so as to receive and expand the counterbore 28 to stretch it radially outward, thereby dilating the rim 26. As shown, a screw retainer forms the nose 25 and secures the head H to the terminal closed end of the stem A to draw the head rearwardly for said dilation when the stem is retracted.

The douche nozzle DN is incorporated in the sleeve 16 at the front face 26, and comprises a circumferential series of channels 30 cut into said face. As above described, the front face 27 of sleeve 14 is rearwardly and outwardly divergent, and the channels 30 cut therein are then correspondingly divergent so as to jet liquid rearwardly from the rim of head H, whether the head is relaxed or dilated (compare FIGS. 1 and 3). As shown, the ports 19 are elongated to remain in communication with the channels 30 at all times.

The valve means V is provided to open and close the liquid porting to the nozzles DN and ZN, from the supply hose 17. The control handle 18 overlies and is depressible toward one side of the grip portion 11 of body B, and it is mounted by a pivot pin 33 to the receiver 16 on a transverse axis displaced laterally of the stem A-axis. A drive pin 34 is carried by the handle 18 at a radius from pin 33 and is disposed parallel therewith and engaged in a notch 35 at one side of stem A to driveably engage and rotatably orient the stem. It will be seen that the stem A is moved forwardly relative to the body B when the handle 18 is depressed, the valve action being accomplished by relatively moveable ports 36 and 37 in the body and stem respectively, the port 37 opening into the stem which is closed by a plug at 38.

The stop shield S and sitz bath nozzle ZN are slideably captured on the cylindrical bearing 13 of the body to be manipulated between two extreme positions as determined by the shoulder 12 and sleeve 14. The stop shield S is a disc that surrounds the body B, having a finger engagement portion 39 accessible from the handle l8, and having a forwardly dished radial flange 40. The stop shield has a bore 41 slideable upon the bearing 13 and a counterbore 42 to receive a nozzle ring 43 which has forwardly disposed jets 44 directed at the area surrounding the rim 26 of head H. The nozzle ring 43 provides an annulus 45 in conjunction with the shield S, said annulus being movable into and out of communication with port 15 through manipulation of the stop shield (compare FIGS. 2 and 4).

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a practical douche-sitz bath instrument that is safely applicable to the person to self-administer liquid under pressure without danger of the enema effect. The depth of penetration is inherently restricted, and opening of the valve means V is simultaneously accompanied by dilation of the head H into sealed engagement with the canal walls which are thereupon cleansed by the fountain action of the rearwardly disposed jets DN, and accompanied by the sitz bath function of jets ZN when exterior cleansing is required.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art:

I claim:

1. An instrument for limited penetration into the anal and vaginal canals and supplied with liquid under pressure for douching, and including; an elongated body with a radially expansible head at its foremost end, the head having a peripheral rim, a stop projecting radially from the body and spaced rearward of the head for restricting penetration of the body into said canals, dilating means to expand the head and rim radially into occupancy ofa canal to close the same, and nozzle means comprised of jets immediately rearward of the head and supplied with liquid through valve means for cleansing discharge from the canal surrounding the body.

2. The douche instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched by the dilating means.

3. The douche instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding a stem carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

4. The douche instrument as set forth in claim 1, wherein the expansible head and rim thereofis made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched, and wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding a stem carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

5. The douche instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dilating means and the valve means are operably connected for simultaneous manipulation.

6. The douche instrument as set forth in claim 1, wherein the expansible head is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched, and wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding a manipulatable stem slideable within the body and carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

7. An instrument for restricted penetration into the anal and vaginal canals and supplied with liquid under pressure for douching and sitz bath cleansing, and including; an elongated body with a radially expansible head at its foremost end, the head having a peripheral rim, a stop shield and nozzle ring projecting radially from the body and spaced rearward of the head for restricting penetration of the body into said canals and having liquid jets surrounding the body and disposed in alignment with an area surrounding the head, dilating means to expand the head and rim radially into occupancy of a canal to close the same, and nozzle means comprised of jets immediately rearward of the head, the body being supplied with liquid through valve means for simultaneous discharge from the two said nozzle jets.

8. The douche and sitz bath instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein the stop shield is selectively shiftable on the body to open and close liquid ports to the jets thereof.

9. The douche and sitz bath instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched by the dilating means.

10. The douche and sitz bath instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding a stem carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

11. The douche and sitz bath instrument as set forth in claim 7, wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched, and wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding a stem carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

12. The douche and sitz bath instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein the dilating means and the valve means are operably connected for simultaneous manipulation.

13. The douche and sitz bath instrument as set forth in claim 7, wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched, and wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding a manipulatable stem slideable within the body and carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

14. An instrument for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anal and vaginal openings for douche and sitz bath cleansing, and including; an elongated cylindrical body with a bore therethrough, a tubular stern slideably carried in the body, a radially expansible head carried by the stem at the forward end of the body, said stem being retractably shiftable by means operating the stem at the rearward end of the body, the head having a peripheral rim, a stop shield and nozzle ring projecting radially from the body and spaced rearward of the head for restricting penetration of the body into said canals and having liquid jets surrounding the body and disposed in alignment with an area surrounding the head, dilating means to expand the head and rim radially into occupancy of a canal to close the same, and nozzle means comprised of jets immediately rearward of the head, the body being supplied with liquid through valve means for simultaneous discharge from the two said nozzle jets.

15. The instrument for directing streams of liquid both internallyand externally at the anal and vaginal openings as set forth in claim 14 and wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched by the dilating means.

16. The instrument for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anal and vaginal openings as set forth in claim 14 and wherein the dilating means and rim thereof is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding the stem carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

17. The instrument for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anal and vaginal openings as set forth in claim 14, wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched, and wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding the stem carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

18. The instrument for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anal and vaginal openings as set forth in claim 14 and wherein the dilating means and the valve means are operably connected by the stem for simultaneous manipulation.

19. The instrument for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anal and vaginal openings as set forth in claim 14, wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adpated to be stretched, and wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding the manipulatable stem slideable within the body and carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

20. The instrument for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anal and vaginal openings as set forth in claim 14 and wherein the stop shield is selectively shiftable on the body to open and close liquid ports to the jets thereof.

Claims

1. An instrument for limited penetration into the anal and vaginal canals and supplied with liquid under pressure for douching, and including; an elongated body with a radially expansible head at its foremost end, the head having a peripheral rim, a stop projecting radially from the body and spaced rearward of the head for restricting penetration of the body into said canals, dilating means to expand the head and rim radially into occupancy of a canal to close the same, and nozzle means comprised of jets immediately rearward of the head and supplied with liquid through valve means for cleansing discharge from the canal surrounding the body.

4. The douche instrument as set forth in claim 1, wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched, and wherein the dilating means is comprised of a sleeve slideable over and surrounding a stem carrying the head, the sleeve and head having complementary outwardly and rearwardly divergent faces engageable to expand the head.

14. An instrument for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anal and vaginal openings for douche and sitz bath cleansing, and including; an elongated cylindrical body with a bore therethrough, a tubular stem slideably carried in the body, a radially expansible head carried by the stem at the forward end of the body, said stem being retractably shiftable by means operating the stem at the rearward end of the body, the head having a peripheral rim, a stop shield and nozzle ring projecting radially from the body and spaced rearward of the head for restricting penetration of the body into said canals and having liquid jets surrounding the body and disposed in alignment with an area surrounding the head, dilating means to expand the head and rim radially into occupancy of a canal to close the same, and nozzle means comprised of jets immediately rearward of the head, the body being supplied with liquid through valve means for simultaneous discharge from the two said nozzle jets.

15. The instrument for directing streams of liquid both internally and externally at the anal and vaginal openings as set forth in claim 14 and wherein the expansible head and rim thereof is made of elastomeric material adapted to be stretched by the dilating means.