WO2004109021A1

WO2004109021A1 - A washstand for multi purpose

Info

Publication number: WO2004109021A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/001295
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dae Pyo Park
Original assignee: Dae Pyo Park
Priority date: 2003-06-04
Filing date: 2004-06-01
Publication date: 2004-12-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose washstand in which a laundry plate for doing washing is disposed at the top of the washstand in a detachable type or a receiving type, and washing of the foot, the finger pressure and removal of keratosis are automatically easily performed under the washstand. To this end, the multi-purpose washstand comprises an adjustment unit including a body having a washstand and taps each for supplying water for doing washing and water for washing the foot through respective supply pipes, wherein the taps are disposed at an upper portion of the washstand; a laundry unit having a laundry plate coupled to the center of the adjustment unit, for doing washing; a washing unit having a washstand for washing one' s face or hands; and a foot-washing unit having brushes that are rotated by a driving motor to wash the foot, and a finger pressure rod having finger pressure projections, wherein the brushes and the finger pressure rod are disposed under the washstand.

Description

A WASHSTAND FOR MULTI PURPOSE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose washstand in

which a user can wash his face, laundry and his foot at one place.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-purpose

washstand in which a laundry plate for doing washing is disposed at

the top of the washstand in a detachable type or a receiving type, and

washing of the foot, the finger pressure and removal of keratosis are

automatically easily performed under the washstand.

Background Art

Generally, a modern bathroom is provided with washing facilities.

These washing facilities include a washstand for containing water,

which is disposed at a given height from the ground of a bathroom, a

tap for supplying water, which is disposed at the top of the washstand,

and a drainpipe for exhausting the water of the washstand disposed,

which is disposed at a lower portion of the washstand. A user washes

his face or hair using water of a given level contained in the

washstand.

This conventional bathroom, however, has been used for multi-

purposes such as washing the face, doing washing or washing the foot. l In case of washing, the washstand is not used. Thus the washstand

becomes an obstacle that makes the bathroom narrow. In case of simple

washing such as towel or floorcloth, a user usually uses the washstand,

but has to crouch down on the ground of the bathroom because an

additional tool for rubbing and doing washing is not provided.

Therefore, housewives have her waist troubles generated and the

laundry is not cleanly washed. Also, when washing the foot, a user

has to wash the foot on the ground under the washstand not in the

washstand. Thus the washstand makes the user feel cumbersome. In

particular, in case of a person who cannot bend his waist due to the

waist disk or the handicapped such as old and feeble people, there is

a problem it is very difficult to wash their feet.

In addition, healthy people have to wash their feet with their

waists bending and their feet put on the washstand. There is a

problem in sanitation since the feet are not cleanly washed or are

sprayed only with water.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the

above problems, and it is a main object of the present invention to

provide a multi-purpose washstand in which a laundry unit having a

detachable type or receiving type structure is disposed at the top of

the washstand, thus making washing of the laundry possible as well as washing one' s face, and washing of the foot^', the finger pressure and

removal of keratosis can be simultaneously automatically performed

through a plurality of brushes, a finger pressure means and a

keratosis removal means disposed at the bottom of the washstand.

In order to accomplish the above objects, there is provided a

multi-purpose washstand, comprising-^' an adjustment unit including a

body having a washstand and taps each for supplying water for doing

washing and water for washing the foot through respective supply pipes,

wherein the taps are disposed at an upper portion of the washstand; a

laundry unit having a laundry plate coupled to the center of the

adjustment unit, for doing washing; a washing unit having a washstand

for washing one' s face or hands; and a foot-washing unit having

brushes that are rotated by a driving motor to wash the foot, and a

finger pressure rod having finger pressure projections, wherein the

brushes and the finger pressure rod are disposed under the washstand.

In the above, the foot-washing unit further comprises a medium

brush having a plurality of brushes radially attached to its center,

wherein the medium brush is rotated against an upper brush; a first

right-sided lateral brush rotatably disposed between the upper brush

and the medium brush; first and second lateral brushes rotatably

disposed against the medium brush; a keratosis removal roll having a

keratosis removal plate attached to its center, wherein the keratosis

removal roll is rotated in cooperation with the medium brush; a second right-sided lateral brush rotatably disposed against the keratosis

removal roll, wherein the second right-sided lateral brush is rotated

in cooperation with the lower brush; and a .second spray nozzle unit

connected to the adjustment unit and the washing unit, for spraying

soapy water.

Furthermore, in the above, the second spray nozzle unit includes

a branch pipe connected to the pipe, a plurality of spray nozzles

disposed in the branch pipe in equal distance, and a solenoid valve

connected to the liquid soap pipe of the washing unit, for controlling

the use of liquid soap.

Brief Description of Drawings

Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more

fully understood from the following detailed description taken in

conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a multi¬

purpose washstand according to an embodiment of the present

invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the multi-purpose washstand shown in

Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a foot-

washing unit in a multi-purpose washstand according to the present

invention; Fig. 4 shows how the foot-washing unit shown in Fig. 3

operates;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the laundry unit in a

multi-purpose washstand according to the present invention!

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing the laundry unit

shown in Fig. 5 according to another embodiment of the present

invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a multi¬

purpose washstand according to another embodiment of the present

invention;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the multi-purpose washstand shown in

Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a partially cut perspective view of the foot-washing

unit in the multi-purpose washstand shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a partially cut perspective view of the foot-

washing unit in the multi-purpose washstand shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a plane view of the foot-washing unit shown in Fig.

9 and Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the multi-purpose washstand shown in

Fig. 7; and

Fig. 13 shows how the foot-washing unit operates in the multi¬

purpose washstand shown in Fig. 7. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The present invention will now be described in detail in

connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the

accompanying drawings .

Fig. 1 to Fig. 6 show multi-purpose washstands according to an

embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the multi-purpose washstand

includes an adjustment unit 1, wherein the adjustment unit includes

a body 50 having a washstand and taps 10 and 11 each for supplying

water for doing washing and water for washing the foot through

respective supply pipes and the taps are disposed at an upper

portion of the washstand; a laundry unit 2 having a laundry plate 21

coupled to the center of the adjustment unit 1, for doing washing; a

washing unit 3 having a washstand 31 for washing the face or hands;

and a foot-washing unit 4 including brushes 42 that is rotated by a

driving motor 40 to wash the foot 5, and a finger pressure rod 44

having finger pressure projections 45, wherein the brushes 42 and

the finger pressure rod 44 are disposed under the washstand 31.

Each of the components will now be described in detail. In the

tap 10 for supplying water for doing washing in the adjustment unit

1, a water exhaust valve 13 is connected to a handle 12. The water

is thus supplied or the supply of the water is shut off, through the

handle 12. In the tap 11 for supplying the water to the foot-washing unit 4 for washing the foot, an exhaust valve is not integrally

formed with a handle 14 but is connected to the foot-washing unit 4

disposed at the bottom of the washstand through an additional supply

pipe 15. A water exhaust valve 16 is thus disposed at the top of the

brushes 42.

As shown in Fig. 5, in the laundry unit 2, a number of

coupling holes 20 are formed at the center of the adjustment unit 1.

The laundry plate 21 for rubbing and doing washing is detachably

coupled to the coupling holes 20. Coupling rods 22 connected to the

coupling holes 20 are formed at one side of the laundry plate 21.

At this time, the number of the coupling rods 22 is the same as that

of the coupling holes 20. If the laundry plate 21 is fixed, the

other side of the laundry plate 21 is inserted into the washstand 31

of the washing unit 3. Thus, the water supplied from the tap 10 of

the adjustment unit 1 is drained through the washstand 31.

Furthermore, as another embodiment of the laundry unit 2, as

shown in Fig. 6, if the coupling holes 20 for fixing the laundry

plate 21 are not disposed at an upper portion of the washing unit 3

but formed within the washstand 31 of the washing unit 3, the other

end of the laundry plate 21 is extended over the washstand 31. This

corresponds to a state, which is reverse to the state where the

laundry plate 21 in the laundry unit 2 is disposed.

The washing unit 3 usually has the same structure as a common washing unit. A tap 30 for washing the hands or face is disposed at

the upper portion of the washstand 31. An overflow 32 for draining

water is formed in the washstand 31.

The foot-washing unit 4 includes a driving motor 40 at its

rear side, and a connection unit 41 for transferring the rotary

power of the driving motor 40 such as a chain, a gear or a belt at

its lateral portion, as shown in Fig. 3. The brushes 42 that are

rotated by the rotary power of the driving motor 40 through the

connection unit 41 are disposed at the upper and lower portions of

the foot-washing unit 4. If the foot 5 is inserted between the

brushes 42, the brushes 42 serve to wash the foot 5.

At this time, a moisture-shielding wall 56 and a cover 43 for

preventing moisture from being introduced into the driving unit such

as the driving motor and the chain are disposed at both sides of a

brush installation portion. The cover 4 may be made of a transparent

material. It is preferred that an upper portion of the brushes 42 is

made of a soft material and a lower portion of the brushes 42 is

made of a hard material since the skin of a sole of a foot and the

skin of the instep are different.

Further, a finger pressure rod 44 having finger pressure

projections 45 for pressing the sole of the foot is disposed at the

opposite side of the connection unit 41. A keratosis removal plate

46 for removing keratosis at the heel is disposed under the place where the finger pressure rod 44 is located. At this time, the

exhaust valve 16 for supplying water through the tap 11 of the

adjustment unit 1, and a liquid soap pipe 47 for supplying liquid

soap from a liquid soap cask 48 through a switch (not shown) are

disposed above the brushes 42. Thus, the foot 5 is washed by soapy

water.

A part of the body 50 for containing these components is

buried into the wall. When seen from the front, the body 50 has

approximately a T shape. A valve 18a of a cold water supply pipe 18,

a valve 19a of a hot water supply pipe 19 and a liquid soap cask 38

are located within a receiving space formed at the lower side of the

body 50. At this time, it is preferred that a door 53 for opening

and shutting the receiving space is installed. In Fig. 1,

unexplained reference numeral 17 indicates a shower tap connected to

the cold and hot water supply pipes 18 and 19.

Meanwhile, Fig. 7 to Fig. 13 show multi-purpose washstands

according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown

in Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 12, a mirror 130 of a given size is

disposed at an upper center of a body 600 in a washing unit 300. A

hose of a shower tap 140 is built in a through hole 610 formed in

one side of an upper portion of the body 600. The hose is a flexible

type. One end of the hose is connected to the shower tap 140 and the

other end of the hose is connected to a tap 110 through the through hole 610.

As shown in Fig. , Fig. 8 and Fig. 12, a receiving unit 220

of a square shape is formed in the body 600 at the center between

upper taps 110 and 120 and a lower tap 310. A laundry plate 210 can

be inserted/drawn into/from the receiving unit. A vertical curved

portion having handle and stopper functions is extended at one lower

side of the laundry plate 210.

Also, as shown in Fig. 7, Fig. 9 to Fig. 13, a driving motor

420 having a timer (not shown) is fixed at the upper end of a

housing 410 having receiving spaces 412 and 414 formed at its both

ends. A gear 422 is keyed to the shaft of the driving motor 420. An

upper brush 430 is connected to the gear 422 by means of a belt or

chain 424 through a gear 432 at one end of the upper brush 430.

A gear 434 at the other end of the upper brush 430 is

connected to a gear 456 at one end of a medium brush 450 through a

belt or chain 490a. A first right-sided -lateral brush 442 is

connected between the gears 434 and 456 through a gear 442b. One end

of a shaft 442a keyed to the gear 442b is connected to one wall of

the housing 410 through a bearing. A plurality of brushes 442c made

of a hard material are radially attached to the other end of the

shaft 442a.

A plurality of brushes 452 made of a soft material are

radially attached to the outer circumference of the center of a medium brush 450. Gears 440b and 460b of first and second left-sided

lateral brushes 440 and 460 are connected to a gear 454 keyed to one

end of the medium brush 450 by means of a belt or chain 490b. One

end of shafts 440a and 460a keyed to the gears 440b and 460b is

coupled to the other wall of the housing 410 through a bearing. A

plurality of brushes 440c and 460c made of a hard material are

attached to the other end of the shafts 440a and 460a.

A keratosis removal roll 470 is connected to a belt or chain

490b through a gear 474. A keratosis removal plate 472 is attached

to the outer circumference at the center of the keratosis removal

roll 470. A gear 476 is keyed to the other end of the keratosis

removal roll 470.

A gear 462b of a second right-sided lateral brush 462 is

connected to the gear 476 through a belt or chain 490c. One end of a

shaft 462a keyed to the gear 462b is coupled to the one wall of the

housing 410 by means of a bearing. A plurality of brushes 462C made

of a hard material are attached to the other end of the shaft 462a.

A lower brush 480 is rotatably connected to the belt or chain 490c

through the gear 482.

The tops of the receiving spaces 412 and 414 in the foot-

washing unit 400 are covered in order to prevent malfunction or an

electric leakage due to contact with water, as shown in Fig. 7. The

operation of the driving motor 420 can be performed through a switch. It is preferred that the electrical power is applied to operate the

driving motor 420 when the tap 120 is opened, and the power supplied

to the driving motor 420 is shut off when the tap 120 is closed.

Referring to Fig. 7, Fig. 9 to Fig. 12, a second spray nozzle

unit includes branch pipes 510 and 512 connected to pipes 120a and

324, a plurality of spray nozzles 510a to 510c and 512a to 512c (in

the present invention, three in each of right and left sides)

connected to the branch pipes, and a solenoid valve 514 connected to

the liquid soap pipe 324, for controlling the use of liquid soap.

Unexplained reference numeral 90 designates a wall, 142 designates a

bracket for supporting the shower tap, 312 indicates a cold water

supply pipe, 316 designates a hot water supply pipe, 314 and 318

indicate valves, and 620 indicates a door having built a washing

unit 300 in.

A remote infrared ray sterilization unit (not shown) can be

attached to one wall or both walls at the top of the upper brush 430

disposed in the housing 410.

The operation of the multi-purpose washstand constructed above

will now be described.

If a user wants to wash his face or hands, the user can

usually wash his face or hands using water in the washstand 31,

which is supplied through the tap 30 provided in the washing unit 3.

If the user wants to do washing in the washstand 31, the coupling rods 22 of the laundry plate 21 is coupled to the coupling holes 20

of the laundry unit 2 so that the end of the laundry plate 21 is

inserted into the washstand 31, and water is then supplied to the

laundry plate 21 through the tap 10 of the adjustment unit 1, as

shown in Fig. 4.

Meanwhile, if the user wants to wash the foot 5, the foot 5 is

inserted between the brushes 42 through the cover 43 and the power

is then applied to the driving motor 40, as shown in Fig. 4. The

brushes 42 are rotated by the rotary power of the driving motor 40

through the connection unit 41 consisting of the chain, gear or belt.

At this time, the user can open the tap 11 of the adjustment unit 1

to supply water to the exhaust valve 16 provided at the top of the

brushes 42 and then supply soapy water through the liquid soap pipe

47, so that the user can wash the foot 5.

In the above, in the driving motor 40 and the connection unit

41, if water is introduced into them, malfunction or an electric

leakage is generated to shorten the lifespan of the driving motor 40

and the connection unit 41. It is thus required that waterproof

treatment for the driving motor 40 and the connection unit 41 be

needed. It is preferred that the internal structure of an electric

leakage-shu ting device, that is, a portion where the skin contacts

is made of a synthetic resin material. The liquid soap supplied

through the liquid soap pipe 47 is supplied through a switch different from water supplied through the tap 11.

Moreover, the driving motor 40 can be operated by a switched

and is powdered when the tap 11 of the adjustment unit 1 is operated.

When the driving motor 40 is operated to rotate the brushes 42, it

is an operation for washing the foot. Thus, water has to be always

supplied. When the tap 11 is opened, the switch for applying the

power to the driving motor 40 is contacted. When the tap 11 is

closed, the power applied to the driving motor 40 is shut off.

It is preferred that the driving motor 40 has a timer (not

shown) so that the driving motor is automatically stopped after a

given time elapses. Also, in the finger pressure rod 44 and

keratosis removal plate 46 of the foot-washing unit 4, if the foot

is laid on the finger pressure rod 44 and is then moved, unlike from

washing of the foot 5, the finger pressure projections 45 of the

finger pressure rod 44 stimulates the sole of the foot, producing a

finger pressure effect. The keratosis removal plate 46 located on

the ground provided with the finger pressure rod 44 has a rough

surface. Thus, keratosis is removed by rubbing the heel.

Meanwhile, if the user wants to wash his face, the user closes

the overflow 330 and opens the tap 310 so that water is contained in

the washstand 320, as shown in Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 12. The user

then uses the mirror 130, if necessary, and pulls the shower tap 140

from the bracket 142 when the shower tap 140 is used, whereby the shower tap 140 having a flexile structure is drawn from the body 600.

Meanwhile, if the user wants to do washing, the user can use

the laundry plate 210 with it drawn from the receiving unit 220, or

do washing with it inserted into the washstand 320. After the

washing, the laundry plate 210 is built in the receiving unit 220.

The receiving unit 220 may be a cylindrical shaped casing (not

shown) having a shaft formed at its center. Therefore, the

cylindrical shaped casing may have built a known foldable laundry

\ plate (not shown) in. The laundry plate has one end connected to the

shaft formed at the center of the cylindrical shaped casing. Thus,

the laundry plate can be wound while being foldable and can be

inserted or drawn.

Meanwhile, if the user wants to wash his foot, give the finger

pressure and remove keratosis, the power generated as the driving

motor 420 operates is transferred through the gear 422 and the belt

or chain 424 to rotate the upper brush 430, as shown in Fig. 9 to

Fig. 13. As the first right-sided lateral brush 442 is rotated by

the belt or chain 490a, the user' s foot is washed by the brush 442c.

In the above process, as the medium brush 450 is rotated, the

lower center of the foot is washed by the brush 452. As the first

and second left-sided lateral brushes 440 and 460 are rotated by the

belt or chain 490b, both ends at the left side of the foot are

washed by the brushes 440c and 460c. It is possible to remove keratosis of the heel through the keratosis removal plate 472 of the

keratosis removal roll 470 that is rotated together with the medium

brush 450.

At the same time, while the second right-sided lateral brush

462 is rotated by the belt or chain 490c, the right rear end of the

foot is washed by the brush 462c. While the lower brush 480 is

rotated by the belt or chain 490c, the sold of the foot is washed.

Meanwhile, in the above process, soapy water supplied from the

liquid soap cask 320 through the liquid soap pipe 324, the pipe 326,

and the branch pipes 510 and 512, and soapy water sprayed toward the

upper portion of the foot through the spray nozzles 510a to 510c and

512a to 512c are sprayed around the user' s -foot as the switch 322

is operated, whereby the foot is effectively washed.

Industrial Applicability

According to the present invention as described above, a

washstand does not perform a limited function of simply washing the

hands or face, but performs a function of doing washing or the foot.

Therefore, the present invention has an advantage that the handicapped

can easily use a washstand since they do not need to do washing or the

foot by bending their waist.

Further, a laundry plate that is not used is received in a

receiving unit of a body, if necessary, and an additional keeping place is not needed. Therefore, there is an affect that appearances

are improved since a tap is not interfered with the laundry plate and

a shower tap is built in the body.

Incidentally, it is possible to use a mirror additionally

provided in an adjustment unit. The foot can be washed and keratosis

can be removed at the same time at one place through a plurality of

brushes and a keratosis removal roll. Therefore, there is an advantage

that a user' s convenience is significantly improved.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A multi-purpose washstand, comprising:

an adjustment unit including a body having a washstand and

taps each for supplying water for doing washing and water for

washing the foot through respective supply pipes, wherein the taps

are disposed at an upper portion of the washstand;

a laundry unit having a laundry plate coupled to the center of

the adjustment unit, for doing washing^',

a washing unit having a washstand for washing one' s face or

hands; and

a foot-washing unit having brushes that are rotated by a

driving motor to wash the foot, and a finger pressure rod having

finger pressure projections, wherein the brushes and the finger

pressure rod are disposed under the washstand.

2. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a number of coupling holes are formed at the center of the

adjustment unit and the laundry plate for rubbing and doing washing

is detachably coupled to the coupling holes.

3. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the foot-washing unit comprises a driving motor for generating the rotary power backwardly, a connection unit for transferring the

rotary power of the driving motor through a chain, gear or belt,

brushes that are rotated by the rotary power of the driving motor

through the connection unit, a finger pressure rod having a finger

pressure projection laterally from the brush, and a keratosis

removal plate for removing keratosis of the heel at the ground where

the finger pressure rod is located.

4. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 1 or 3,

wherein the brushes of the foot-washing unit. are provided in plural

up and down, and as the upper and lower brushes are spaced before

and behind, the foot is inserted into the upper and lower brushes

wherein the upper brush washes the foot and the lower brush washes

the sold of the foot .

5. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 1 or 2,

wherein a coupling hole for fixing the laundry plate is formed in an

inner lower portion of the washstand, and the other end of the

laundry plate is extended over the washstand.

6. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a part of the body is buried into a wall wherein the body has a

"T" shape when seen from the front, a receiving space is formed at a lower portion of the body, a valve of a cold water supply pipe, a

valve of a hot water supply pipe and a liquid soap cask are located

within a receiving space, and a door for opening and shutting the

receiving space is disposed.

7. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the foot-washing unit further comprises-^'

a medium brush having a plurality of brushes radially attached

to its center, wherein the medium brush is rotated against an upper

brush;

a first right-sided lateral brush rotatably disposed between

the upper brush and the medium brush;

first and second lateral brushes rotatably disposed against

the medium brush;

a keratosis removal roll having a keratosis removal plate

attached to its center, wherein the keratosis removal roll is

rotated in cooperation with the medium brush;

a second right-sided lateral brush rotatably disposed against

the keratosis removal roll, wherein the second right-sided lateral

brush is rotated in cooperation with the lower brush; and

a second spray nozzle unit connected to the adjustment unit

and the washing unit, for spraying soapy water.

8. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the second spray nozzle unit includes a branch pipe connected to the

pipe, a plurality of spray nozzles disposed in the branch pipe in

equal distance, and a solenoid valve connected to the liquid soap

pipe of the washing unit, for controlling the use of liquid soap.

9. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the adjustment unit further comprises a mirror disposed above the

body, and a shower tap of a flexible type built in the body.

10. The multi-purpose washstand as claimed in claim 1 or 2,

wherein the laundry plate of the laundry unit is built in the

receiving unit formed within the body.