JP2003236014A - Stepping device in bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stepping device in a bathtub which enables a bathing person in a sitting posture to exercise stepping in the bathtub. <P>SOLUTION: A pair of left and right stepping blocks is arranged and the spring constant of a spring 5 is set to a specified value so that the person taking a bath in the sitting posture in the bathtub 1 generates a stepping load enough to let him step by a stepping force with one leg alone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stepping device in a bathtub for performing a stepping motion in a bathtub while taking a bath.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device related to the stepping device in a bathtub, a stepper that performs a stepping motion without moving in a room such as an athletic gym or a house is commercially available.
This stepper is provided with a pair of left and right steps on which a person standing upright can put his / her left and right feet, and the total weight (eg, 50 kg to 100 kg) is alternately applied to the left and right feet in 1 second to 2 seconds.
By moving the weight so as to apply a step value, the left and right steps are stepped in a stroke range of, for example, 15 to 20 cm to perform a stepping motion.

[0003]

By the way, when the stepping exercise is performed in the bathtub, the effect of the exercise and the heating effect by being immersed in the hot water can be expected. However, the conventional stepper can be used while bathing for the following reasons. It was inconvenient to use for stepping exercise. (1) The conventional stepper has a structure that is installed in a room or the like to perform a stepping motion in an upright posture, and is not used by being installed in a bathtub. In particular, because the structure is such that the weight is stepped on the platform in a standing posture, the stepping load is set to a value corresponding to that weight, and even if a conventional stepper could be installed in the bathtub, It is impossible for a person taking a bath in a sitting position to step on the platform with one foot while exerting weight and perform a stepping exercise. (2) As an incidental reason, in order to support the weight of the person who rides on the step, it is made of metal and is heavy and sturdy, and parts such as cylinders that absorb the impact when stepping on are also used underwater. Not not.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a bathtub footstepping device that allows a bather in a sitting posture to perform a stepping motion in the bathtub. .

[0005]

To achieve this object, the first characteristic structure of the footstep device in the bathtub according to the present invention is as follows.
As described in claim 1, the bather having a sitting posture in the bathtub has a stepping pedestal which can be stepped on by the stepping force of only one foot.

According to the second characteristic constitution, as described in claim 2, in addition to the first characteristic constitution, the stepping load of the step is 19.6 to 147 Newton (19.
6 to 147 Newton corresponds to a value in the unit of gravity of 2 to 15 kg. ) Is set in the range.

The third characteristic constitution is, as described in claim 3, in that in addition to the first or second characteristic constitution, a load adjusting means for adjusting the stepping load of the step is provided. .

As described in claim 4, the fourth characteristic structure is provided with a stroke adjusting means for adjusting a stepping stroke of the step in addition to any one of the first to third characteristic structures. In point.

As described in claim 5, the fifth characteristic structure has, in addition to any one of the first to fourth characteristic structures, a protrusion for pushing a foot pot on the surface of the step. It is in the point of forming.

In the sixth characteristic constitution, as described in claim 6, in addition to the characteristic constitution of any one of the first to fifth constitution, a seat body for receiving and holding the buttocks of a bather in a sitting posture is provided. There is a point.

The seventh characteristic construction is, in addition to the characteristic construction of any one of the first to sixth constructions, as described in claim 7, a gripping position and a storage position located on the front side of the bather. The point is that a handle whose position can be changed is provided.

The eighth characteristic configuration is, in addition to the characteristic configuration according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, as described in claim 8, the number of steps, the energy consumption of the stepping motion, and the progress of the stepping motion. There is a stepping motion display means for displaying at least one of the times.

As for the ninth characteristic construction, as described in claim 9, in addition to the characteristic construction of any one of the first to eighth constructions, a timing instructing means for instructing a bathing person on the timing of stepping is provided. There is a point.

The tenth characteristic construction is, in addition to the first to ninth characteristic construction, as described in claim 10, a heart rate measuring means for measuring a heart rate of a bather, and A heart rate display means for displaying the heart rate measured by the heart rate measuring means is provided.

The operation and effect will be described below.
According to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, when a bather bathing in a sitting posture in the bathtub steps on the step with one foot, the step is stepped on, and when the bather pulls the stepped on, the step is stepped on. The springboard returns to its original position. That is, since the step can be stepped on by the stepping force of only one foot, the bather in a sitting posture can perform the stepping motion by repeating the step of stepping on the step with one foot and the step of pulling the stepped foot. Therefore, there is provided an in-tub foot pedal device that allows a bather in a sitting posture to perform a stepping motion in the bathtub. Then, by the stepping motion during bathing, various health promotion effects as described below can be obtained.
First, the muscle (muscle) pump works effectively by the movement of the legs (lower limbs) at the time of bathing, and body fluid and blood accumulated in the calf and the like are pumped up, and the swelling is eliminated. In addition, the warming effect is increased by promoting blood circulation by the warming effect of bathing and generating metabolic heat by exercise. Furthermore, because of the warming effect of bathing and the stepping motion while receiving water resistance,
It has a large metabolic rate and is effective for dieting.

According to the second characteristic configuration, when the bather in the sitting posture steps on the step with the stepping force in the range of 19.6 to 147 Newton, the stepper can step on the step. That is, the stepping load on the stepping plate is set to a value of about 10% of the stepping force when the maximum muscle force is exerted by one foot of a normal person,
It is set to a value in the range of 19.6 to 147 Newton. If the stepping load is about 10% of the stepping force when the maximum muscular strength is exerted, the stepping exercise can be continued for a long time without being tired. Therefore, by setting the stepping load of the step to an appropriate value, a preferred embodiment of the footstep device in the bathtub capable of continuing the stepping motion for a long time is provided.

According to the third characteristic configuration, the stepping load of the step can be adjusted by the load adjusting means. That is, the stepping load of the step is adjusted according to the muscle strength of the foot of the user. For example, by adjusting the value to be about 10% of the stepping force when the maximum muscular strength is exerted, it is possible to perform the stepping motion without the user receiving an excessive load. Therefore, the stepping load of the step can be set to an appropriate value that suits the muscle strength of each individual.
Provided is a preferred embodiment of a footstep device in a bathtub which is easy to use for elderly people, women, children and the like.

According to the fourth characteristic configuration, the stepping stroke of the step can be adjusted by the stroke adjusting means. That is, the stepping stroke of the step is adjusted according to the length of the user's foot or the like. For example,
For people with long legs, adjust the stroke to be long, and for people with short legs, adjust the stroke to be short, so that the user can flex and extend the legs appropriately without contracting or stretching the legs. Can perform stepping exercises. Therefore, since the stepping stroke of the step can be set to an appropriate length suitable for each individual, a preferred embodiment of the footstep device in the bathtub is provided which is easy to use even for elderly people, women, children and the like.

According to the fifth characteristic configuration, when the bather steps on the step, the protrusion formed on the surface of the step pushes the foot pot of the bather. Therefore, when the bather performs the stepping exercise, the pots on the soles of the feet are pushed at the same time, so that a preferable embodiment of the footstep device in the bathtub is provided, which is comfortable and has good health effects.

According to the sixth characteristic configuration, the seat body receives and holds the buttocks of the bather who is stepping in the sitting posture in the bathtub. Therefore, since the buttocks are received and held when the bather performs the stepping motion, the preferred embodiment of the footstep device in the bathtub is provided, which can maintain the stable posture and smoothly perform the stepping motion.

According to the seventh characteristic configuration, when the stepping motion is performed in the bathtub, the stepping motion is carried out with the handle whose position is changed to the gripping position on the front side of the bather, and the stepping motion is not performed. Repositions the handle to the stowed position. Therefore, when performing the stepping motion, the stepping device in the bathtub can be grasped by the handle located on the front side and can perform the stepping motion in a stable posture, and can be stored in a position where it does not interfere when the handle is not used. Preferred embodiments of are provided.

According to the eighth characteristic configuration, the stepping motion display means displays at least one of the number of steps, the energy consumed by the stepping motion, and the elapsed time of the stepping motion. Therefore, the bather can confirm whether or not the stepping motion is the target moderate motion from the display information of at least one of the number of steps, the energy consumption of the stepping motion, and the elapsed time of the stepping motion. it can. And based on the above confirmation,
There is provided a preferred embodiment of a footstep device in a bathtub capable of performing an appropriate stepping motion by adjusting the pace of the stepping motion or ending the stepping motion.

According to the ninth characteristic construction, when the stepping motion is carried out in the bathtub, the timing instructing means instructs the bather on the stepping timing. Therefore, since the timing of stepping is instructed when performing the stepping motion,
The bather can step on at the instructed timing,
A preferred embodiment of a footstep device in a bathtub capable of performing a stepping motion with a stable pace at an appropriate timing is provided.

According to the tenth characteristic configuration, the heart rate measuring means measures the heart rate of the bather, and the heart rate display means displays the measured heart rate of the bather. Therefore, the bather
From the display information of the measured heart rate, it is possible to confirm whether or not the stepping motion is in a target moderate load state. Then, based on the above confirmation, there is provided a preferred embodiment of the footstep device in the bathtub, which makes it possible to perform the stepping motion in an appropriate load state by, for example, determining whether the stepping motion is stopped or hot water is discharged.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of a footstep device in a bathtub (hereinafter referred to as "bus stepper") according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The bus stepper of the first embodiment is a simple attachment type that can be removed from the bathtub.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bath stepper has a step 2 on which a bather bathing in a sitting position in the bathtub 1 can step on with the stepping force of only one foot. A pair of left and right stools 2 are provided on the inner surface of the bathtub so that the bather can step on each stool 2 by alternately moving the knees and using the muscles of the lower legs with the left and right feet. .

Each of the left and right stools 2 is rotatably supported by a substrate 3 at one end side (upper side) via a hinge 6, and at the other end side (lower side), the pedestal 2 and the substrate 3 are coil springs 5. Are linked by. Then, the spring constant of the coil spring 5 is set so that the stepping load of each step 2 is set to a value at which the bather can step on the stepping force with only one foot, specifically, a value in the range of 19.6 to 147 Newtons. Also, the stepping stroke is 3 cm to 15 c
The length of the coil spring 5 is set so as to be set to a value in the range of m. Further, the two substrates 3 supporting the left and right steps 2 are connected by the connecting body 3A, and the substrates 3 are attached and fixed to the inner side surface of the bath 1 on the upper and lower bottom sides of each substrate 3 (FIG. 1). (State of)) is attached.

In the bathtub 1, there is provided a seat 7 for receiving and holding the buttocks of a bather in a sitting posture. This seat 7
Is composed of a moving base 7A formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section along the shape of the buttocks of a bather, and a base 7B supporting the moving base 7A slidably in the front-rear direction. The table 7B is fixed to the bottom surface of the bathtub 1 with a sheet fastener or the like. Further, a handle 8 is provided which can be repositioned between a gripping position and a storage position located on the front side of the bather. That is, between the gripping position in which the base end of the handle 8 is tilted toward the front side to be in a substantially horizontal state by the rotation mechanism 9 provided at the front edge of the bathtub 1 and the storage position in a vertically standing state. It is rotatably supported by. It should be noted that the handle 8 has an annular grip portion 8 at the tip thereof so that a bather can easily grip it.
is equipped with a.

As shown in FIG. 1, a bath remote controller 10 is installed on the lateral wall of the bathroom. This bath remote control 10
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the control unit 11 and the display unit 12 that displays various kinds of information in a state of being connected to the control unit 11, the speaker 13, and the up and down for setting the hot water supply temperature and the like. Formula setting key 14, Run / stop switch 1
5, a water filling switch 16, an additional cooking switch 17 and the like are provided. The control unit 11 is communicably connected to a hot water supply device and a reheating device (not shown), and transmits a command from each switch to each device.

A control device for the bath stepper is constructed by using the bath remote controller 10. The details will be described below. A pressure sensor 20 for detecting the water level in the bathtub 1 and a heart rate measuring means 21 for measuring the heart rate of the bather are connected to the bath remote controller 10.
Then, when the bather makes a stepping motion, the water level in the bathtub 1 changes in accordance with the stepping motion, so that the control unit 11 of the bath remote controller 10 operates based on the detection signal (pressure change waveform) of the pressure sensor 20. The bathing person's stepping motion and the number of times of the stepping are detected. The heart rate measuring means 21
For example, it is composed of a portable heart rate monitor that is attached to the bather's ear with a clip.

Using the display unit 12 of the bath remote controller 10, the stepping motion display means 100 for displaying at least one of the number of steps, the energy consumed by the stepping motion, and the elapsed time of the stepping motion, and the heartbeat. A heart rate display means 101 for displaying the bather's heart rate measured by the number measuring means 21 is configured. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the stepping motion display means 100 displays all of the number of steps, the energy consumption of the stepping motion, and the elapsed time of the stepping motion. At least one of the consumed energy of the stepping motion and the elapsed time of the stepping motion may be displayed.

When the control unit 11 detects the stop of the stepping action of the bather, it resets the number of steps, the energy consumption of the stepping motion and the stepping time to zero, and detects the start of the stepping motion. Then, the display unit 12 is operated so as to display a predetermined numerical value.
Regarding the energy consumption of the stepping motion, the control unit 1
1 is calculated by using a predetermined arithmetic expression based on the values of the stepping load and the stepping stroke of the tread 2 and the number of steps.

Further, using the speaker 13 of the bath remote controller 10, a timing instructing means 102 for instructing a bathing person on the timing of stepping is constructed. Specifically, this timing instruction is realized by the metronome function provided in the bath remote controller 10. That is, the control unit 11 issues a sounding command to the speaker 13 at the timing of depression, and the speaker 13 emits sound based on this command.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the bus stepper according to the present invention will be described. This second
In the embodiment, the bus stepper is formed as an embedded type fixedly installed in the bathtub, and except that the step load and step stroke of the step 2 can be adjusted,
The configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of hydraulic cylinder units 30 are installed at the lateral positions of the bathtub 1. Each cylinder unit 30 includes a cylindrical cylinder body 31 and this cylinder. A piston 32 that is movable in the cylinder axis direction within the main body 31, a coil spring 33 that biases the piston 32 toward the center, and a stopper 34 that receives the piston 32 biased by the coil spring 33 and restricts movement thereof.
The base end is connected to the piston 32, and the tip side is composed of the shaft 37 and the like inserted into the bath 1. The shaft 37 is held by a tubular seal portion 38 so that water in the bathtub 1 does not leak outside. Then, the lower end portions of the left and right footsteps 2 are connected to the respective cylinder units 30.
Is pivotally connected to the tip of each shaft 37.

In each cylinder unit 30, the installation side (right side in FIG. 5) of the coil spring 33 from the piston 32 is formed in an oil chamber 35 filled with oil, and the opposite side (left side in FIG. 5) is formed by an air hole 36. It is formed in an air chamber that allows air to flow in and out. Both cylinder units 30
The oil chambers 35 are communicated with each other by a communication passage 39 so that oil can flow therethrough. A throttle valve 40 for adjusting the passage resistance when the oil passes is installed in the middle of the communication passage 39.

In the above structure, when one of the steps 2 is stepped on, the shaft 37 connected to the step 2 pushes and moves the piston 32, and the movement of the piston 32 causes the oil in the oil chamber 35 to move to the other cylinder unit 30. The piston 32 is pushed and moved by the oil that has flowed into the oil chamber 35, and the movement of the piston 32 causes the other step 2 to return to the opposite direction to the stepping direction via the shaft 37. At this time,
If the passage resistance of the communication passage 39 is increased by the throttle valve 40, the stepping load is increased. Conversely, if the passage resistance of the communication passage 39 is decreased by the throttle valve 40, the depression load is decreased. Load adjusting means for adjusting the stepping load of is configured.

Further, a stroke adjusting screw 41 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the shaft 37 near the step 2. That is, the stroke adjusting screw 41 projects outward from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 37, and
7 is screwed in so as to change its position along the axial direction of the shaft 37 when rotated around the axis of 7. Therefore, when the step board 2 is stepped on, the stroke adjusting screw 41 contacts the seal portion 38, and the stepping operation is stopped at that position. That is, the position of the stroke adjusting screw 41 is
For example, as the piston 32 is moved closer to the piston 32 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 5, the stepping stroke becomes shorter. Therefore, the stroke adjusting screw 41 constitutes a stroke adjusting means for adjusting the stepping stroke of the stepped foot 2.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the bus stepper according to the present invention will be described. This third
The embodiment is configured in the same manner as the first and second embodiments, except that a protrusion 2A for pushing a foot pot is formed on the surface of the step 2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the left and right foot molds are drawn on the bases 2B of the left and right footsteps 2, and the projections 2A are formed corresponding to the positions of the plurality of pots on the foot mold. The member to be formed is supported by the base 2B.

[Other Embodiment] Another embodiment will be described below. The load adjusting means 40 and the stroke adjusting means 41 are
The present invention is not limited to the one shown in the above embodiment, and various types can be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the seat body 7 for receiving and holding the buttocks of the bather in the sitting posture is configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction, but a fixed seat body may be used.

In the above embodiment, the stepping motion display means 100 is constructed by using the display section 12 provided in the bath remote controller 10, but it may be constructed by a dedicated display device.

In the above embodiment, the timing instruction means 1
02 is configured to use the speaker 13 provided in the bath remote controller 10 and to instruct timing with sound, but is configured with a dedicated instructing device, and by a method other than sound,
For example, the timing may be instructed by blinking light.

In the above embodiment, the heart rate measuring means 21
In the above, the portable heart rate monitor is attached to the bather's ear, but a fixed electrocardiographic measuring device installed in the bathtub may be used instead.

In the above embodiment, the control device for the bath stepper is constructed by using the bath remote controller 10, but
A control device dedicated to the bus stepper may be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a bathtub equipped with a footstep device in a bathtub according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view and a side view showing a step of the footstep device in the bathtub according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a footstep device in a bathtub.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a bath remote controller showing a display example during a stepping exercise.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a main part of a footstep device in a bath according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view, a side view, and a perspective view showing a step of the footstep device in a bathtub according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 bathtub 2 step 2A protrusion 7 seat 8 handles 21 Heart rate measuring means 40 Load adjustment means 41 Stroke adjusting means 100 stepping motion display means 101 Heart rate display means 102 timing instruction means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazumi Michihiro             Kyoto Lisa, 17 Chudo-jinamimachi, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture             -Inside the park, Kansai Institute of New Technology F-term (reference) 4C094 AA01 BA21 BB10 BB14 BC27                       BC30 DD14 GG20                 4C101 BA01 BB02 BC18 BD08 BD17                       BE02 EB04

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A footstep device in a bathtub, which has a step on which a bather who is bathing in a sitting position in the bathtub can step on with a stepping force of only one foot. 2. The stepping load of the step is 19.6.
The footstep device in the bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the footstep device is set in a range from ˜147 Newtons. 3. The footstep device in a bathtub according to claim 1, further comprising load adjusting means for adjusting a stepping load of the step. 4. The footstep device in a bathtub according to claim 1, further comprising stroke adjusting means for adjusting a stepping stroke of the step. 5. The footstep device in a bathtub according to claim 1, wherein a projection for pushing a foot pot is formed on the surface of the step. 6. The footstep device in a bathtub according to claim 1, further comprising a seat body that receives and holds the buttocks of a bather in a sitting position. 7. The footstep device in a bathtub according to claim 1, further comprising a handle whose position can be changed between a holding position and a storage position located on the front side of the bather. 8. The stepping motion display means for displaying at least one of the number of steps, the energy consumed by the stepping motion, and the elapsed time of the stepping motion is provided. Footbath device in bathtub. 9. The footstep device in a bathtub according to claim 1, further comprising a timing instruction means for instructing a bather on the timing of stepping. 10. A heart rate measuring means for measuring a heart rate of a bather, and a heart rate displaying means for displaying a heart rate measured by the heart rate measuring means are provided.
The footstep device in the bathtub according to any one of 1.