JP2000126057A - Bathtub device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathtub device capable of efficiently massaging a bather by stimulating the skin with a jet from jet nozzles while relaxing in a bathing state. SOLUTION: A bathtub device 1 is provided with a bathtub 2; jet nozzles 3-8 provided opened into the bathtub 2 to jet cold water or hot water toward the specified parts of a bather M in the bathtub 2; water supply pipes 46-51 connected to the jet nozzles 3-8 to supply cold water or hot water into the bathtub 2; a cold water supply means for supplying cold water to the water supply pipes 46-51; a hot water supply means for supplying hot water to the water supply pipes 46-51; and a control device 23 controlling the actuation of a cold water supply means or the hot water supply means to alternately jet cold water and hot water into the bathtub 2. The jet nozzles 8 is disposed in the bathtub 2 so that the jet direction of cold water or hot water points to the crotch part 22 of the bather M. The bathtub 2 is provided with a hot water drain port 9, and the water supply pipes 46-51 and the hot water drain port 9 are connected outside the bathtub 2 to form a water-hot water circulating path, and the above-mentioned cold water supply means and hot water supply means are provided at or near the water-hot water circulating path.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathtub device capable of efficiently performing a jet massage of a shoulder, a waist, a knee, or a crotch while taking a bath.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A jetting device such as a shower for switching the cold water and hot water so as to massage the neck, shoulder and kneecap is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-77223. According to this jetting device, massaging is performed by the interaction between the action of tapping the injection site by the jet flow and the action of stimulating the skin at the injection site by a change in temperature. However, in the case of the shower massage described above, the user has to take a jet in a standing posture or a sitting posture on a bath chair. These postures are relatively cramped and do not allow for slow and time-consuming massage. In addition, since the shower nozzle must be held by hand in order to eject it toward a desired portion, the hand becomes tired if the operation is performed for a long time. In particular, the elderly who are expecting a massage are more likely to be tired. Conversely, when the shower nozzle is held by a shower holder such as a wall and the like, and the shower nozzle is exposed to the jet, the jet is emitted only to a predetermined part such as a neck streak, a shoulder, or a kneecap which is the upper surface of the body.

On the other hand, JP-A-5-76576 and JP-A-5-76577 have a plurality of ejection nozzles opened in a bathtub, and massage by ejecting water or hot water from these ejection nozzles. A bathtub arrangement as described above is disclosed. In these bathtub devices, the jetting position of water or hot water can be changed by switching the jetting nozzle to be jetted, and the temperature of the jet is almost constant.

[0004]

As described above, a jet massage in which water or hot water at a constant temperature is spouted from a jet nozzle into a bath tub has a certain effect because it can be taken in a relaxed state while bathing slowly. However, since water or hot water is jetted into the hot water in the bath, the tapping action is weaker than in the case of shower jet, and only a certain massage effect can be obtained. On the other hand, men's dysfunction declines with age, but there was no suitable solution even if they wanted to resolve the decline without resorting to drugs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is a bathtub capable of stimulating the skin with a jet from a jet nozzle to efficiently massage while relaxing in a bath. The purpose is to provide the device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a bathtub apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a bathtub and an opening provided in the bathtub to blow cold or hot water toward a predetermined position in the bathtub. A jet nozzle, a water pipe connected to the jet nozzle for sending cold water or hot water to a bathtub, a cold water supply means for supplying cold water to the water pipe, a hot water supply means for supplying hot water to the water pipe, a cold water supply means or A control device is provided which controls the operation of the hot water supply means and alternately switches between cold water and hot water spouting into the bathtub.

In addition, a hot water outlet is provided in the bath tub in the above configuration, and a water supply pipe and a hot water outlet are connected outside the bath tub to form a hot water circulation path, and cold water supply means and hot water supply are provided in or near the hot water circulation path. Means are provided.

[0008] Further, the jet nozzle in each of the above-described configurations is arranged in the bathtub such that the jet direction of the cold water or hot water is directed toward the crotch part of the bather.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a bathtub apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a bathtub of the bathtub apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bathtub. In each of the drawings, a bathtub apparatus 1 includes a general-purpose bathtub 2 and a plurality of ejection nozzles 3, 4, 5, and 5 provided to open in the bathtub 2, respectively.
6, 7, 8 and the respective ejection nozzles 6, 5, 7, 8,
The water pipes 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 connected to 3, 4 (corresponding to the order of the jet nozzles) and the respective water pipes 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 are opened and closed. Open / close valves 24, 25, 26, 27, 2
8, 29.

The jet nozzles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 respectively supply cold water or hot water to a predetermined position in the bathtub 2, for example, the waist, shoulders, knees, and feet of a bather M sitting in the bathtub 2. It is arranged in the direction of spouting on the back. The jet nozzle 8 is provided on the bottom surface of the bathtub 2 ahead of the buttocks mounting position of the bather M, and is arranged obliquely rearward so that the jet direction of the cold water or hot water is directed to the crotch portion 22. In addition, bathtub 2
A hot water outlet 9 is provided in the front of the footrest side of the vehicle. On the footrest side of the bathtub 2, hot water temperature sensors 15, 14, 17, and 16 are provided on the front, bottom, left, and right sides, and hot water temperature sensors 11, 10, 1 on the left and right sides.
3, 12 are deployed. These bath temperature sensors 1
Numbers 0 to 17 are used for controlling the temperature of hot water in the bathtub 2.

Here, the piping system of the bathtub apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. A filter 35 and a pump 36 are provided in a tapping pipe 34 connected to the tapping port 9 of the bathtub 2, and a tip of the tapping pipe 34 is connected to a heat exchanger 37. A return bypass pipe 41 is connected around the pump 36 before and after the pump 36. In the middle of the return bypass pipe 41, there is provided a pressure regulator 42 which opens when the discharge side pressure of the pump 36 reaches a predetermined pressure and returns hot water to the suction side. The heat exchanger 37 is provided with a heating device 40 for heating hot water from the pump 36. Heat exchanger 3
The tapping side of 7 is connected to one connection port of a flow path switching valve 39 which is a three-way valve via a water supply pipe 38. A temperature sensor 43 for detecting the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the heat exchanger 37 is attached to the water pipe 38. Another connection port of the flow path switching valve 39 is connected via the water supply pipe 31 to upstream ends of the water supply pipes 46 to 51 connected together.

That is, the bathtub 2, the hot water outlet 9, the hot water pipe 3
4. Filter 35, pump 36, heat exchanger 37, water pipe 38, flow path switching valve 39, water pipe 31, water pipe 46-5
1, from the on-off valves 24-29 and the jet nozzles 3-8,
A hot water circulation path 68 is formed. A configuration including the heat exchanger 37, the heating device 40, the water pipe 38, the flow path switching valve 39, and the water pipe 31 is an example of a hot water supply unit H that supplies hot water to the water pipes 46 to 51.

The remaining connection port of the flow path switching valve 39 is connected to a cold water pipe 30 having a pump 67 on the way. City water (tap water) which is an example of cold water is provided in the cold water pipe 30.
Circulates, and the temperature of the cold water is detected by a temperature sensor 44 attached to the cold water pipe 30. That is, the configuration including the cold water pipe 30, the pump 67, the flow path switching valve 39, and the water pipe 31 is an example of the cold water supply unit C that supplies the cold water to the water pipes 46 to 51. On the other hand, pump 6
The branch pipe 32 branched from the cold water pipe 30 on the suction side is connected to a general-purpose water heater 45. Hot water from the water heater 45 is supplied to the bathtub 2 via the hot water supply pipe 33 and the pouring curan 52. In addition, city water is supplied to the bathtub 2 via a water injection curran 53.

Next, a control system of the bathtub apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. The control device 23 that controls the bathtub device 1 is configured around a central processing unit CPU, and is a general-purpose input / output port I / O, a read-only memory ROM,
Read / write memory RAM, timer T, input key 60,
And a liquid crystal display 61. On the input side of the input / output port I / O, hot water temperature sensors 10-1
7, a temperature sensor 43 and a temperature sensor 44 are connected by signals. On the other hand, on the output side of the input / output port I / O, the on-off valves 24-29, the flow path switching valve 39, the pump 36, the heating device 4
0 (in the case of cooling, the cooling device 54 shown by a two-dot chain line) and a pump 67 are signal-connected so that operation can be controlled.

The read-only memory ROM stores in advance program data for calculating the hot water jetting time data and the calorific value of each calorific value calculation area of the hot water B in the tank, which will be described later. The readable / writable memory RAM stores alternate switching mode data, hot water target temperature data, hot water jetting time data, selected jet nozzle data, and detected temperature data from each temperature sensor, which are input from the input keys 60. It has become.

Next, the jet massage of the bathtub apparatus 1 by alternately switching between cold water and hot water will be described. First, the pouring curan 52 and the pouring curan 53 are opened, the bath tub 2 is filled with the bath water B, and the bathing set temperature (for example, 41)
° C). Then, the bather M enters the bathtub 2 and soaks up to the shoulder. Subsequently, the bather M uses the input key 60 of the control device 23 to enter the “cold water / hot water alternate switching mode”, “spray nozzle selection”, “target temperature of hot water (predetermined temperature)”,
"Blow-out time t (minutes)" is input, and "Blow-out start key" is pressed.

Then, the controller 23 controls the flow path switching valve 39
Is driven to secure a flow path that connects the water pipe 38 and the water pipe 31. Next, the heating device 40 is operated to open any of the on-off valves 24 to 29 corresponding to the selected ejection nozzle. Subsequently, by starting the pump 36, the bathtub 2
The hot and cold water is sucked out of the hot water outlet 9 and sent to the heat exchanger 37. The hot and cold water flowing through the heat exchanger 37 is heated by the heating device 40 and becomes hot water at a predetermined temperature (to the extent that the injected human body part does not burn, for example, 45 ° C.).
Through the flow path switching valve 39 and the water pipe 31, it reaches the branch of the water pipes 46 to 51. The hot water temperature control is performed by adjusting the heat capacity of the heating device 40 so that the hot water temperature detected by the temperature sensor 43 becomes the above-mentioned predetermined temperature.

When, for example, the jet nozzle 4 and the jet nozzle 8 are selected as the nozzles to be jetted, the hot water flows through the on-off valve 29 and the water pipe 51, and the on-off valve 27 and the water pipe 49, and From the jet nozzle 8 toward the shoulder of the bather M and the crotch portion 22.
When the hot water has been ejected for t minutes, the control device 24 stops the operation of the pump 36 and the heating device 40, and the flow path switching valve 3
By driving the pump 9, the flow path connecting the cold water pipe 30 and the water supply pipe 31 is secured, and the pump 67 is started. Then, city water (cold water) of approximately 25 ° C. is supplied to the cold water pipe 30 and the flow path switching valve 3
9. The water flows through the water pipe 31 and is jetted from the jet nozzles 4 and 8 into the bathtub 2 via the water pipes 49 and 51. Thus, the ejection from the ejection nozzles 4 and 8 is switched from hot water to cold water. Thereafter, similarly, cold water and hot water are alternately switched.

The timing for alternately switching between cold water and hot water as described above is calculated and executed by the controller 23. For example, when hot water B at 45 ° C. is blown out for t minutes when bath water B in the bath is maintained at the bathing set temperature of 41 ° C., the spray time of the next 25 ° C. cold water to be switched is almost t × (1/1).
4) It is calculated by the controller 23 as minutes (= t × (45−41) / (41−25)) and is counted by the timer T. Thereby, even when performing jet massage by alternately switching between cold water and hot water, the temperature of the hot water B in the bath does not decrease on average, so that hot water is not hit during the massage or the hot water is cooled after the massage. However, when there is no concern about overheating or undercooling of the hot water temperature, cold water and hot water may be switched at an arbitrary switching cycle.

Therefore, according to the bathtub apparatus 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to easily receive a cold water / hot water alternating switching type massage while taking a bath. As a result, the skin at the injection site is also stimulated by the sudden change in temperature, so that the massage effect by the tapping action is markedly enhanced. In addition, since cold or hot water from the jet nozzle 8 is jetted alternately to the crotch portion 22 of the bather M, when the bather M is a male, the bather M works on its genitals to eliminate the decline and contribute to the recovery of energy. I do. Furthermore, it is not only effective in relieving pain in the shoulders, hips, knees and the like, but also effective in beauty and health.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a calorie calculation area 1 divided by a two-dot chain line as an area of a known capacity for the bath water B on the footrest side of the bathtub 2.
8, 19, 20, and 21 can be set in advance. The calorie calculation area 18 is based on the bath temperature sensors 10 and 14, the calorie calculation area 19 is based on the bath temperature sensors 11 and 15, and the calorie calculation area 20 is based on the bath temperature sensors 12 and 16.
Is calculated from the bath temperature sensors 13 and 17 as the temperature average value for each calorific value calculation region, and the product of the temperature average value in each calorie calculation region and a previously known capacity value is calculated. Is calculated as the calorific value for each calorific value calculation area.

Therefore, the controller 23 sums the calorific value and the capacity value of all the calorific value calculation areas 18, 19, 20, and 21, respectively, and divides the total caloric value by the total calorific value to thereby calculate all the caloric values. The overall average hot water temperature in the regions 18, 19, 20, 21 is calculated. If there is a difference between the total average hot water temperature calculated in this way and the set bathing temperature (41 ° C.), the control device 23 adjusts the cold water spouting time or the hot water spouting time, the hot water circulation mode and the city water injection mode. The temperature of the hot water B in the bath is brought close to the set bathing temperature by various modes such as switching the bath temperature.

In addition, instead of the above-described heating device 40, a flow path switching valve 56 is provided in the middle of the hot water supply pipe 33 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. A configuration in which one of them is connected to the connection port of the flow path switching valve 39 via the hot water pipe 55 may be adopted. In that case, water heater 45
If the temperature of the hot water generated in the above is set to about 41 ° C., which is lower than usual, the water heater 45, the flow path switching valve 56, the hot water pipe 55,
Another example of the hot water supply means can be provided from the flow path switching valve 39 and the water supply pipe 31. According to the hot water supply means using such a general-purpose water heater 45, there is no need to provide a separate new heating device or heat exchanger, and an inexpensive bathtub device can be realized with a simple configuration.

As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, a bypass pipe is connected from the discharge side of the pump 36 to the suction side of the tapping pipe 34, and a stock tank 58 is provided in the bypass pipe. Before and after opening and closing valve 57,
59 may be provided respectively. Incidentally, when the bathtub 2 is filled with hot spring water, medicinal water, or the like, when cold water or hot water is newly injected into the bathtub 2 from outside, the hot spring water or medicinal water is diluted. Therefore, if hot spring water or medicinal water previously stored in the stock tank 58 is cooled in the heat exchanger 37 by the cooling device 57 or heated by the heating device 40 and jetted into the bathtub 2, the hot spring water or medicinal water can be obtained. Is fully exhibited without impairing its efficacy. Alternatively, cold water is stored in the stock tank 58 in advance, and when the temperature of the hot water B in the tub becomes too high due to the spouting of the hot water, the cold water in the stock tank 58 is jetted into the bath tub 2 to thereby increase the temperature of the hot water B in the tub. Reduction and water saving can be achieved.

As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, if a cooling device 54 using a refrigerant circuit (both not shown) of the refrigeration cycle device is attached to the heat exchanger 37, the hot water from the pump 36 Can be used as another example of the cold water supply means for cooling the water. The cooling device 54 is connected to the heat exchanger 3
When the cold water supply means attached to 7 and the hot water circulation path 68 are used, the hot water extracted from the hot water outlet 9 is cooled to a predetermined temperature (about 25 ° C.) by the heat exchanger 37 and the cooling device 54 to obtain cold water. Thereafter, it can be jetted into the bathtub 2 and circulated. Further, the cooling device 54 and the heating device 40 may be provided in the heat exchanger 37 of the hot water circulation path 68 in parallel, and the cooling device 54 and the heating device 40 may be alternately operated. In such a case, since the hot water in the bath is circulated to obtain both cold water and hot water, the hot water B in the bath tub 2 is used for performing massage by alternately switching between cold water and hot water.
It is possible to eliminate wasteful consumption of hot water without overflowing from the water.

As a bathtub used in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, a bathtub 2a for a large public bath may be applied. The bathtub 2a stores bath water B deeply detected by the bath temperature sensor 63, and a seat 62 is installed in the bath. The bather M sits on the stool 62, and alternately switches between cold water and hot water, with the waist by the jet from the jet nozzle 3, the shoulder by the jet from the jet nozzle 4, and the sole by the jet from the jet nozzle 7. Massaged with. Further, another bather M is standing upright, and the knee is moved by the jet from the jet nozzle 6 to the jet nozzle 8.
The crotch portion 22 is massaged by alternately switching between cold water and hot water.

As shown in FIG. 7, a shallow bathtub 2b which has been frequently used in recent years can be applied. The bathtub 2b stores the bath water B, which is detected by the bath temperature sensor 64, in a shallow depth, so that the bather M can relax while lying down in the bath. Also in this case, the ejection nozzles 3, 4,
Needless to say, the thighs and the calves are massaged by the jet nozzle 65 and the calf, respectively, by alternately switching between cold water and hot water.

In each of the above embodiments, the cold water pipe 30
A pump 67 and a flow path switching valve 39 are provided in the water supply pipe 38. However, the pump 67 and the flow path switching valve 39 are omitted, and the suction side of the pump 36, preferably the input side of the filter 35 is provided. If a configuration is adopted in which a flow path switching valve (not shown) is attached to and the chilled water pipe 30 is directly connected to one of the connection ports of the flow path switching valve, the pump 67 can be omitted.

A bubble jet system may be employed in which jets with air bubbles are jetted from the jet nozzles 3 to 8 by merging and connecting general-purpose bubble nozzles to the water pipes 46 to 51 respectively.

Further, an ejection nozzle (not shown) having a ratchet cam with a turbine in the nozzle casing for rotating the tip of the nozzle in one direction by the pressure of the hot water to be ejected.
Can also be adopted. According to this jet nozzle, cold water or hot water can be jetted while drawing small circles up, down, left, and right. Alternatively, an ejection nozzle configured to be movable in the bathtub may be adopted for a large area such as a shoulder or a waist.

[0031]

As described above, according to the bathtub apparatus of the present invention, cold water and hot water are alternately sprayed onto predetermined positions such as the shoulder, back, waist, and knees of a bather. Therefore, it is possible to receive a jet massage of alternately switching between cold water and hot water while bathing. In addition, since the skin at the injection site is stimulated by a drastic change in temperature, the massage effect can be remarkably enhanced as compared with a simple jet massage using hot water in the bath as it is. Therefore, the device of the present invention improves blood circulation, promotes metabolism, maintains autonomic nerves in a well-balanced manner, and contributes to promoting health and eliminating stress.

Further, the hot water in the bath is extracted from the bath, cooled or heated to make cold water or hot water, and then spouted back into the bath. Therefore, when performing the massage by alternately switching between the cold water and hot water, the hot water in the bath is used. It does not overflow from the bathtub, and wasteful consumption of hot water can be omitted.

Then, since cold water or hot water is alternately spouted from the spout nozzle to the crotch part of the bather, it acts on the genitals of the male bather to eliminate the decline and contribute to the recovery of energy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a bathtub apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a bathtub of the bathtub apparatus described above.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bathtub.

FIG. 4 is a piping system diagram of the bathtub apparatus described above.

FIG. 5 is a control system diagram of the bathtub apparatus described above.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing another bathtub applied to the bathtub apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing still another bathtub applied to the bathtub apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathtub apparatus 2,2a, 2b Bathtub 3,4,5,6,7,8 Spout nozzle 9 Hot water outlet 22 Crotch part 23 Control device 37 Heat exchanger 40 Heating device 46,47,48,49,50,51 Sending Water pipe 54 Cooling device 55 Hot water pipe 56 Flow path switching valve 67 Pump 68 Hot water circulation path C Cold water supply means H Hot water supply means M Bather

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A bathtub, a jet nozzle provided in the bathtub and opened to jet cold water or hot water toward a predetermined position in the bathtub, and a water pipe connected to the jet nozzle for sending cold water or hot water to the bathtub. Cold water supply means for supplying cold water to the water supply pipe, hot water supply means for supplying hot water to the water supply pipe, and cold water and hot water which are controlled to operate the cold water supply means or hot water supply means and which are jetted into the bath tub alternately. A bathtub device comprising a switching device. 2. A hot water outlet is provided in a bathtub, a hot water circulation path is formed by connecting a water pipe and a hot water outlet outside the bathtub, and a cold water supply means and a hot water supply means are provided in or near the hot water circulation path. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jet nozzle is arranged in the bathtub such that a jet direction of cold water or hot water is directed toward a crotch part of a bather.