BIDET

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a bidet.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a bidet is a device capable of washing a user's body by spraying cleaning water at a certain pressure. Such a bidet may include a fixed bracket mounted on an upper portion of a toilet bowl, a bidet body installed on the fixed bracket, and a cleaning nozzle that can spray cleaning water toward the user.

In order to install the bidet on the toilet bowl, the fixed bracket included in the bidet is first fixed to the toilet bowl. The user can secure the fixed bracket to the toilet bowl while adjusting the appropriate front-to-back position of the fixed bracket based on the size of the bidet and the size of the toilet bowl. Once the fixed bracket is firmly secured, the bidet body is attached to the fixed bracket, thereby completing the installation of the bidet onto the toilet bowl.

However, when the bidet is installed on the toilet bowl, if the fixed bracket is secured either in front of or behind the correct position of the toilet bowl, the bidet body would also be installed in an incorrect position depending on the fixing position of the fixed bracket. In order to install the bidet body that has been installed in the incorrect position in the correct position, an installer must separate the bidet body and the fixed bracket from the toilet bowl, and then repeat the installation process of the bidet body and the fixed bracket onto the toilet bowl until the bidet is installed in the correct position. To address this issue, a technology has recently been proposed that allows the installer to adjust the position of the bidet body while the fixed bracket is secured to the toilet bowl.

In this regard, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2016-0033845 entitled “Bidet frame and bidet device including the same” (Patent Document 1) of the present applicant discloses a bracket having an engagement part 130 with a locking protrusion formed thereon, a base member slidably mounted on the bracket, and an attachment/detachment manipulation part that is movable up and down to engage with the locking portion.

However, in Patent Document 1, due to the structure that increases the overall height of a bidet frame, the seating stability of a user seated on the bidet may be reduced. In other words, due to the structure in which the attachment/detachment manipulation part moves up and down to be selectively fixed to the locking portion of the bracket when pushed or pulled by the user, a space for movement of the attachment/detachment manipulation part in an up-down direction is required within a base member. As a result, the overall height of the bidet frame may be unnecessarily increased. The increased height of the bidet frame may reduce the seating stability when a user sits on the bidet. In addition, since Patent Document 1 provides a complex structure in which a fixing part of the bidet frame is moved up and down while being guided by a slit portion, there is a problem in that frequent malfunctions may occur due to the complex operation when the attachment/detachment manipulation part is manipulated, which increases the cost of the product.

In addition, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2016-0038930 entitled “Bidet frame and bidet device including the same” (Patent Document 2) discloses a base member, a slit cover having a fixing pin moving slit, an attachment/detachment manipulation part providing a fixing pin engaging projection having a plurality of branch protrusions formed thereon, and a fixed pin that is fixed to a toilet seat to be detachably engaged with the fixing pin engaging projection.

However, since the attachment/detachment manipulation part of Patent Document 2 is configured such that the branch protrusions are directly fitted into and fixed in engagement grooves of the fixed pin, when the bidet frame is moved in the front-rear direction on the upper surface of the toilet bowl to adjust its position, friction may occur between the base member of the bidet frame and the upper surface of the toilet bowl. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not easy to move the bidet frame in the front-rear direction. In addition, in Patent Document 2, since the fixing pin engaging projection of the attachment/detachment manipulation part has the plurality of branch protrusions formed to be spaced apart, the user is required to manipulate the attachment/detachment manipulation part such that the plurality of branch protrusions are moved simultaneously on the base member. Therefore, there is a problem that the user's operability of the attachment/detachment manipulation part may be reduced due to the weight and friction of the plurality of branch protrusions. In addition, in Patent Document 2, due to the complex structure in which the plurality of branch protrusions are formed on the fixing pin engaging projection to be spaced apart from each other, interference may occur between the plurality of branch protrusions and the surrounding components when the attachment/detachment manipulation part is manipulated, which may cause the attachment/detachment manipulation part to become inoperable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Technical Problems

In order to solve the above problems, the present disclosure provides a bidet that allows for easy adjustment of the installation position on the toilet bowl and reduces installation time.

Technical Solution

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a bidet comprises: a main body including a base forming a lower case; and an assembly module for securing the base to a toilet bowl, wherein the assembly module includes: a fixed bracket to be securely installed to the toilet bowl and engageable with the base; a fixer disposed on either the base or the fixed bracket; and a fixer holder, disposed on the other of the base and the fixed bracket, to which the fixer is detachably fixed, and wherein the fixer is configured to be fixed to the fixer holder by moving to one side in a left-right direction and to be released from the fixer holder by moving to the other side in the left-right direction, and is fixed to the fixer holder so that a position of the base with respect to the toilet bowl is adjustable in a front-rear direction.

Further, the fixer holder may include a plurality of locking portions configured to be selectively engaged with the fixer, and the plurality of locking portions be arranged in the front-rear direction.

Further, the assembly module may further include an elastic member disposed on the fixer, the elastic member applying an elastic force to the fixer to move the fixer toward the one side in the left-right direction.

Further, the base may include a base guide configured to guide movement of the base in the front-rear direction relative to the fixed bracket.

Further, the fixed bracket may include a bracket guide for guiding the movement of the base in the front-rear direction with respect to the fixed bracket, and the base guide and the bracket guide be configured to engage with each other.

Further, the fixer may include: a manipulation part to be pushed by a user; and an engagement part connected to the manipulation part to be moved in conjunction with the manipulation part to be attached to and detached from the fixer holder.

Further, the engagement part may include a hook, and wherein the hook may include: a hook rod extending in the front-rear direction; and a hook projection formed to protrude from an end of the hook rod to be fixed to the fixer holder.

Further, the hook may be provided as a plurality of hooks, wherein hook projections may be formed on the plurality of hooks, respectively, and wherein the hook projections may protrude in a same direction.

Further, the hook rod may be formed to extend in the front-rear direction with a length longer than or equal to an arrangement length of a plurality of locking portions arranged in the front-rear direction.

Effect of Invention

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, with the configuration in which the position of the base relative to the toilet bowl can be adjusted in the front-rear direction of the toilet bowl, the position of the bidet relative to the toilet bowl can be easily changed and the installation time of the bidet to the toilet bowl can be reduced.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, since the fixer holder is provided with a plurality of locking portions that can be selectively engaged with the fixer, fine positional adjustment in the front-rear direction of the toilet bowl is possible, and the coupling of the fixer and the fixer holder can be easily implemented.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, since the fixer is elastically supported by the elastic member, the fixer can automatically return to its original position even without an additional user operation by the user.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the base guide for guiding the movement of the base in the front-rear direction relative to the fixed bracket is provided on the base, thereby enabling smooth movement of the base on the fixed bracket and improving the movement efficiency of the base.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the fixed bracket installation work for properly positioning the bidet can be minimized through the structure in which the base guide and the bracket guide engage with each other, and the bidet can be installed on the toilet bowl more easily.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is easy to install the bidet on the toilet bowl, enabling general consumers to install the bidet on the toilet bowl by themselves.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the bidet is implemented through the simple structure in which the base is engaged with the fixed bracket, so that the occurrence of a failure due to a complex structure can be prevented in advance, and the cost of the product can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a bidet according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view illustrating an assembly module of the bidet according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the assembly module of the bidet according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view illustrating the coupled state of a fixer and an elastic member of the assembly module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a fixed bracket and a fixer holder of the assembly module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a state diagram illustrating the fixed state of a base before operation of the assembly module of a bidet according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a state diagram illustrating the moved state of the base after operation of the assembly module of a bidet according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the technical idea of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In addition, in describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that detailed descriptions of known configurations or functions may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed descriptions will be omitted.

The terms used in the present specification are only used for describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In addition, in the present specification, expressions such as upper, lower, side, etc. are described based on the drawings, and it is made clear in advance that they may be expressed differently if the direction of the object is changed. For the same reason, some components in the accompanying drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated, and the size of each component does not entirely reflect the actual size.

The meaning of “including” used in the present specification specifies specific features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, and does not exclude the presence or addition of other specific features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a bidet 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can minimize the installation work required when being installed on a toilet bowl, and can be adjusted to a correct position relative to the toilet bowl. The bidet 1 may include a main body 10, an assembly module 20, a toilet seat 30, an operation panel 40, and a cover 50.

The main body 10 can support electrical components and nozzle components of the bidet 1. The toilet seat 30, the operation panel 40, and the cover 50 may be mounted on the main body 10. In addition, the main body 10 may accommodate the electrical components and nozzle components of the bidet 1. The main body 10 may include a housing frame 11 and a base 12.

The housing frame 11 may be a case that covers the base 12. The housing frame 11 may be positioned above the base 12. The toilet seat 30 and the cover 50 may be connected to a front portion of the housing frame 11. The operation panel 40 may be installed on a side portion of the housing frame 11.

The base 12 may be a lower case that supports the electrical components and nozzle components of the bidet 1. The base 12 may be assembled with a fixed bracket 200 of the assembly module 20 when the bidet 1 is installed on a toilet bowl. The base 12 may be guided to enable relative positional movement in a front-rear direction on the fixed bracket 200 of the assembly module 20. The base 12 may include a base body 12-1, a base mounting groove 12-2, a base guide 12-3, and a guide groove portion 12-4.

The base body 12-1 may be a bracket to be assembled with the fixed bracket 200. A fixer 100 may be mounted on an upper surface of the base body 12-1 to be movable in a left-right direction. A manipulation part 120 of the fixer 100, which will be described later, may be exposed on a side portion of the base body 12-1. In addition, the base mounting groove 12-2 to which the fixed bracket 200 can be detachably mounted may be formed on a lower surface of the base body 12-1.

The base mounting groove 12-2 may be formed to match a groove shape of the fixed bracket 200. The base mounting groove 12-2 may have a height corresponding to a thickness of the fixed bracket 200. In order for the fixed bracket 200 to be mounted in the base mounting groove 12-2, a lower surface of the fixed bracket 200 may be positioned on the same plane as the lower surface of the base body 12-1.

The base guide 12-3 may have a bar shape that protrudes from the lower portion of the base 12. The guide groove portion 12-4 into which a bracket guide 230 can be inserted may be formed on a side portion of the base guide 12-3. The base guide 12-3 may be provided as a plurality of base guides 12-3. The plurality of base guides 12-3 may protrude in a direction opposite to that of the corresponding bracket guide 230 to be engaged therewith in the left-right direction. For example, the base guide 12-3 may have a shape that protrudes to the right from the lower end portion, and the bracket guide 230 that is engaged with the base guide 12-3 may have a shape that protrudes to the left from the upper end portion.

The guide groove portion 12-4 may be a rail groove shape that extends in the front-rear direction on both sides of the bracket guide 230. In a state where the bracket guide 230 is inserted into the guide groove portion 12-4, the base 12 moves relative to the fixed bracket 200 in the front-rear direction, the guide groove portion 12-4 can move relative to the bracket guide 230 in the front-rear direction while being supported by the bracket guide 230.

The assembly module 20 may be an installation assembly for securing the main body 10 to the toilet bowl. The assembly module 20 may include a fixer 100, a fixed bracket 200, a fixer holder 300, and an elastic member 400. The fixer 100, the fixed bracket 200, the fixer holder 300, and the elastic member 400 will be described later.

The toilet seat 30 may be formed to allow a user to sit thereon. The toilet seat 30 may be rotatably connected to the front portion of the main body 10. The cover 50 may be positioned on the upper side of the toilet seat 30. The toilet seat 30 can be covered and hidden by the cover 50.

The operation panel 40 may be an operation control unit for controlling the operation of the bidet 1. The operation panel 40 may be provided with a plurality of buttons for receiving an operation input from the user. For example, the user may input a necessary operation signal to the bidet 1 through the operation panel 40. The operation panel 40 may be installed on one side of the main body 10.

The cover 50 can optionally cover the toilet seat 30. The cover 50 may be rotatably connected to the front portion of the main body 10. The cover 50 can open and close the inside of the toilet bowl with respect to the outside.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the fixer 100 can fix the relative position between the main body 10 and the assembly module 20. The fixer 100 may be disposed on either the base 12 or the fixed bracket 200. In a state where the fixer 100 is supported by the base 12, the fixer 100 can be secured to the fixer holder 300 in a way that allows the position of the base 12 relative to the toilet bowl to be adjustable in the front-back direction. For example, the fixer 100 may be configured so that it is secured to the fixer holder 300 by moving to one side in the left-right direction, and is released from the fixer holder 300 by moving to the other side in the left-right direction.

The fixer 100 may be movably disposed on the base 12 in the left-right direction relative to the base 12. The manipulation part 120 may be formed at one end of the fixer 100. The other end of the fixer 100 may be elastically supported on the base 12 through the elastic member 400. The fixer 100 may include the manipulation part 120 and an engagement part 130.

The manipulation part 120 may provide the function of a switch that can be operated by a user. For example, the user's operation may involve pushing the manipulation part 120 in a direction in which the manipulation part 120 is inserted into the base 12. When the manipulation part 120 is moved by the user's operation, the fixer 100 can be moved while pressing against the elastic member 400 by the user's operation in the direction opposite to the elastic force of the elastic member 400 (to the left of the base 12 in FIG. 2). When the user's operation for the manipulation part 120 is released, the fixer 100 can be moved by the elastic member 400 to the initial position before the operation.

The engagement part 130 may be selectively engaged with the fixer holder 300. In other words, when the manipulation part 120 is pushed by the user or returned to its original position by the elastic member 400, the engagement part 130 can be attached to or detached from the fixer holder 300. The engagement part 130 may be connected to the fixer 100. The engagement part 130 may be a hook that can be caught on a locking portion 320 of the fixer holder 300. The engagement part 130 may include a hook rod 131 and a hook projection 132.

The hook rod 131 may be formed to extend in the front-rear direction from a side wall of the hook rod 131. The hook rod 131 may be formed to extend in the front-rear direction with a length greater than or equal to the arrangement length of a plurality of locking portions 320 of the fixer holder 300 arranged in the front-rear direction. Since the hook rod 131 is formed to extend in the front-rear direction longer than the length at which the plurality of locking portions 320 are arranged in the front-rear direction, when the base 12 is moved, the hook projection 132 may be positioned at different positions of the plurality of locking portions 320.

The hook projection 132 may be formed to protrude from each of a plurality of hook rods 131. The plurality of hook projections 132 may be formed to protrude from each of the hook rods 131 in the same direction. The hook projections 132 may be formed to protrude from the hook rods 131 in a direction perpendicular to the hook rods 131. The hook projections 132 may be formed to protrude in a direction (the right in FIG. 2) opposite to the direction (the left in FIG. 2) in which the fixer 100 moves to release the engagement between the engagement part 130 and the locking portion 320.

Referring to FIG. 5, the fixed bracket 200 may be fixedly installed on an upper portion of the toilet bowl through a fastening bolt. When the fixed bracket 200 is installed on the toilet bowl, a plurality of rubber packing members may be interposed between the fixed bracket 200 and the toilet bowl. The rubber packing members can prevent the fixed bracket 200 from slipping on the upper portion of the toilet bowl. The upper portion of the fixed bracket 200 may be coupled to the base 12. The fixed bracket 200 may include a bracket body 210, a fastening hole 220, and a bracket guide 230.

The bracket body 210 may provide the appearance of the fixed bracket 200. The fastening hole 220 for coupling a fastening bolt may be formed in the bracket body 210.

The fastening hole 220 may be a mounting hole for coupling with a fastening member. Since the inner diameter of the fastening hole 220 is formed smaller than an outer diameter of a head of the fastening member, when the fastening member secures the fixed bracket 200 to the toilet bowl, the fastening member can secure the fixed bracket 200 to the toilet bowl without being separated from the bracket body 210.

The bracket guide 230 can guide the movement of the base 12 in the front-rear direction relative to the fixed bracket 200 while preventing the base 12 from being separated from the fixed bracket 200 in an up-down direction. The bracket guide 230 may have a length longer than the length between the frontmost and rearmost locking portions which will be described later, so that it can guide the movement of the base 12 while preventing the base 12 from being separated from the fixed bracket 200 in the up-down direction. The bracket guide 230 may be at least one guide that protrudes in the left-right direction from an upper sidewall of the bracket body 210. When the base 12 of the main body 10 is mounted onto the fixed bracket 200, the bracket guide 230 can be inserted into the guide groove portion 12-4 of the base 12. In the state where the bracket guide 230 is inserted into the guide groove portion 12-4, when the base 12 is moved relative to the fixed bracket 200 in the front-rear direction, the bracket guide 230 can relatively move along the guide groove portion 12-4.

A plurality of bracket guides 230 may be provided. Some of the plurality of bracket guides 230 may be formed to protrude to the right from the left sidewall of the bracket body 210, while others of the plurality of bracket guides 230 may be formed to protrude to the left from the right sidewall of the bracket body 210. Since the plurality of bracket guides 230 extend in opposite directions from the left and right sidewalls of the bracket body 210, arbitrary lateral movement of the guide groove portion 12-4 in the left-right direction relative to the bracket guide 230 can be restricted. In other words, since the upper end portion of the bracket guide 230 is in contact with the base guide 12-3 in the left-right direction, or the lower end portion of the base guide 12-3 is in contact with the bracket guide 230 in the left-right direction, the guide groove portion 12-4 can be restricted from moving arbitrarily in the left-right direction relative to the bracket guide 230.

The fixer holder 300 may be selectively engaged with the fixer 100. The fixer holder 300 may be disposed on either the base 12 or the fixed bracket 200. For example, the fixer holder 300 may be disposed on the fixed bracket 200. The fixer holder 300 may include a holder body 310 and a locking portion 320.

The holder body 310 may be a bracket for providing the locking portion 320. In the present embodiment, the holder body 310 is formed integrally with the fixed bracket 200, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the holder body 310 may also be formed integrally with the base 12. When the holder body 310 and the base 12 are formed integrally, the fixer 100 may be disposed on the fixed bracket 200.

A plurality of locking portions 320 may be provided on the holder body 310 so as to be selectively engaged with the engagement part 130 of the fixer 100. The engagement part 130 of the fixer 100 is selectively positioned between the plurality of locking portions 320, so that the locking portion 320 and the engagement part 130 can be engaged with each other.

For example, the plurality of locking portions 320 may include a first locking portion 321, a second locking portion 322, a third locking portion 323, and a fourth locking portion 324 that are arranged spaced apart from each other in the front-back direction on the holder body 310. The first locking portion 321, the second locking portion 322, the third locking portion 323, and the fourth locking portion 324 may be provided in the form of protrusions that protrude in the left-right direction. The first locking portion 321, the second locking portion 322, the third locking portion 323, and the fourth locking portion 324 may be provided in the same shape and may be arranged in a continuous sequence in the front-back direction.

The elastic member 400 can elastically support the fixer 100. The elastic member 400 may be a coil spring. When the fixer 100 is moved by the user's manipulation in a direction that releases the engagement between the locking portion 320 and the engagement part 130 is released, the elastic member 400 can apply an elastic force to the fixer 100 to move the fixer 100 in a direction that restores the fixer 100 to a position where the locking portion 320 and the engagement part 130 are engaged with each other. The elastic member 400 may be disposed at an end of the fixer 100 opposite to the manipulation part 120. In other words, when the manipulation part 120 is formed at the right end of the fixer 100, the elastic member 400 is disposed at the left end of the fixer 100 to elastically support the fixer 100 to move the fixer 100 toward the right.

Hereinafter, the operation and effects of the bidet having the configuration described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

First, the user fixes the fixed bracket 200 to the upper portion of the toilet bowl using a fastening bolt. The fastening bolt can be fixed to the toilet bowl through the fastening hole of the fixed bracket 200. A plurality of rubber packing members may be interposed between the fixed bracket 200 and the toilet bowl to prevent slipping.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, when the fixed bracket 200 is fixedly installed on the upper portion of the toilet bowl, the user can mount the fixing groove 12-2 of the base 12 onto the fixed bracket 200. When mounting the fixing groove 12-2 of the base 12 onto the fixed bracket 200, the bracket guide 230 of the fixed bracket 200 is inserted into the guide groove portion 12-4 of the base 12, so that the base 12 can be prevented from moving in the up-down direction relative to the fixed bracket 200 in advance. The hook of the fixer 100 can be engaged with one of the plurality of locking portions 320 of the fixer holder 300.

In the state where the base 12 is mounted on the fixed bracket 200, the base 12 can be adjusted to change its position in the front-rear direction relative to the fixed bracket 200. For example, when the user moves the manipulation part 120 of the fixer 100 in one direction, the engagement of the hook with the locking portion 320 of the fixer holder 300 can be temporarily released.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, in the state where the engagement between the hook and the locking portion 320 is released, the user can move the base 12 to the correct installation position of the base 12 relative to the fixed bracket 200.

When the base 12 is moved to the installation position intended by the user, the user can release the push operation for the manipulation part 120 of the fixer 100. When the push operation for the manipulation part 120 of the fixer 100 is released, the fixer 100 can be moved to its original position by the elastic force of the elastic member 400, and the hook of the fixer 100 can be caught and engaged with another one of the plurality of locking portions 320 of the fixer holder 300.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the base 12 can be moved to and fixed at the correct position of the fixed bracket 200 by simply operating the manipulation part 120 of the fixer 100. In addition, according to the present disclosure, since the installation work of the fixed bracket 200 for properly positioning the bidet is minimized, the installation time of the bidet onto the toilet bowl can be shortened, and since the configuration for engaging the base 12 with the fixed bracket 200 is implemented with a simple structure, the occurrence of a failure due to a complex structure can be prevented in advance, and the cost of the product can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, such embodiments are merely exemplary and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but should be construed in accordance with the appended claims. Those skilled in the art should also understand that various modifications and alterations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.