JP2009000394A - Foot warm bath - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foot warm bath which allows feet to be bathed in hot water and cold water by turns with a simple structure and has an effect to improve the circulation of the blood. <P>SOLUTION: The food warm bath includes: a foot bathtub 2 with its upper surface opened; a heating means 6 for heating water stored in the foot bathtub 2; a temperature detecting means 7 for detecting water temperature in the foot bathtub 2; and a control means 17 for controlling an amount of heat of the heating means 6 according to an output of the temperature detecting means 7. In the foot bath, a low temperature tub 4 is formed by forming a partition 3 which prevents stored water in the foot bathtub 2 from flowing is formed at a part of an almost central part of the foot bathtub 2. Also, a link port 14 and a valve 16 for opening/closing the link port 14 are provided between a bottom part of the foot bathtub 2 and the low temperature tub 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a foot bath that warms or cools a foot using warm water or cold water.

  As shown in FIG. 8, this type of conventional foot warmer is provided with a heating element (not shown) such as a cord-like heater outside an inner container (foot tub) 81 whose upper surface is open. And a heating means which is formed of an electrically insulating material and is covered with an outer container (outer shell) 82 constituting the outer shell, and further adjusts the output of the heating member, and hot water for setting the heating value of the heating member. A temperature setting means (not shown) is provided. The usage of this is to pour an appropriate amount of hot water warmed to an appropriate temperature (38 ° C. to 45 ° C.) into the inner container 81 at the time of use, hold the set temperature by heating the heating element, dissolve the bath chemical, and chair 83 etc. The human body is warmed through the skin of the foot by the action of the energy of the hot water and the bath chemical, and the heat of the hot water is transmitted to the whole body by the flow of blood. By improving blood circulation, it is possible to recover fatigue, maintain health, and improve (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, a bathtub for storing water and inserting a foot, a tank a and a tank b for storing water of different temperatures for discharging into the bathtub, a centrifugal pump for circulating water between the bathtub, the tank a and the tank b, and a tank There is also a control unit that switches the tank to be used from a and tank b, and has the effect of improving blood circulation by repeatedly immersing feet alternately in water of different temperatures such as hot water and cold water (for example, patents) Reference 2).

JP 2001-29424 A JP 2002-191520 A

  However, in the above prior art, the former one not only warms the feet but also repeats warming and cooling to improve blood circulation, the hot water temperature in the inner container can be adjusted. Since only one temperature can be selected, if you do a foot bath that is heated or cooled at the same time with water of different temperatures, you need to replace about 10 liters of hot or cold water in the inner container, There was a problem that the inner container containing water was very heavy and the water spilled out, which took time and labor.

  Moreover, the latter has a problem that the structure is complicated and it takes time to switch between hot water and cold water.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a foot bath device that does not require labor and can repeatedly immerse feet in warm water and cold water with a simple configuration. There is to do.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and has a footbath with an open upper surface, heating means for heating water stored in the footbath, and a temperature for detecting the water temperature of the footbath. In a foot bath provided with a detecting means and a control means for controlling the amount of heating of the heating means by the output of the temperature detecting means, a partition wall in which the water stored in the foot tub does not flow is part of a substantially central portion of the foot tub. It is formed and a low temperature bath is provided.

  Further, a communication port and a valve for opening and closing the communication port are provided between the bottom of the foot tub and the bottom of the low temperature bath.

  The valve is automatically opened and closed by the control means.

  Since the foot bath of the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to repeatedly immerse feet in hot water and cold water with a simple configuration, and to provide a foot bath having an effect of improving blood circulation. be able to.

  In addition, switching between hot water and cold water can be performed in a short time.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a front longitudinal sectional view of a foot bath according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the first embodiment according to the present invention with the outer lid removed, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of the control means showing the first embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the foot bath device according to the present invention.

  In the figure, the body 1 has a built-in foot tub 2 with an open top surface, is formed of an electrically insulating material such as polypropylene resin having a heat resistant temperature of about 120 ° C., and is suitable for storing both feet of the user. have. The foot tub 2 is provided with a low-temperature tank 4 having an open upper surface provided by forming a partition wall 3 in which the water 5 stored in the foot tub 2 does not flow in a part of a substantially central portion of the foot tub 2. The low-temperature tank 4 has a volume suitable for storing one leg.

  In addition, the low temperature tank 4 is good also as a volume which can accommodate both legs. In this case, both feet can be warmed or cooled simultaneously.

  Heating means 6 for heating the water 5 poured into the footbath 2 is attached to the bottom outer side and the side outer side of the footbath 2. In this embodiment, a cord-like heating element is formed by winding a heating wire around a core yarn made of glass fiber or the like and covering it with an electrically insulating material such as silicon rubber, and its saturation temperature is set to about 100 ° C. Has been.

  A temperature detecting means 7 for detecting the water temperature in the foot tub 2 is attached to the bottom outside of the foot tub 2.

  A temperature setting means 8 is provided on the upper part of the main body 1 so that the user can set the temperature of the water 5 in the footbath 2 to a desired temperature and at the same time the water 5 in the current footbath 2. Temperature can be displayed.

  An outer shell 9 of the main body 1 is formed of an electrically insulating material such as polypropylene resin and covers the outside of the heating means 6 provided in the foot tub 2, the low temperature bath 4 and the foot tub 2.

  The upper surface of the foot tub 2 is covered with a removable outer lid 10 made of heat-resistant resin. The outer lid 10 is open at the upper part of the low-temperature tank 4 and the portion where the foot is inserted into the foot tub 2, so that the outer lid 10 can be covered with the foot placed in the foot tub 2.

  A drainage port (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the foot tub 2, a flexible drainage hose 11 is connected to the drainage port, passes through the outer shell 9, and is led out to the outside. Is provided with water outlet opening / closing means 12 such as a water stop cock. This drain hose 11 can hang down the water outlet opening / closing means 12 side when draining to drain the water 5 in the foot tub 2, and the water outlet opening / closing means 12 at the tip of the drain hose 12 can be connected to the main body 1 during a foot warm bath. It is detachably hooked and held on a holding portion 13 provided in the upper shell 9.

  In addition, a communication port 14 through which the water 5 of the foot tub 2 circulates in the low temperature bath 4 is provided at the bottom of the foot bath 2, and is connected to the bottom of the low temperature bath 4.

  A valve 16 is provided in an opening 15 provided with a communication port 14 at the bottom of the low-temperature tank 4, and this valve 16 can be operated from the top of the low-temperature tank 4 so that the user can operate without getting his hands wet. It can be operated.

  When the valve 16 is opened, the water in the foot tub 2 can be put into the low temperature tank 4 through the communication port 14.

  If the valve 16 is opened, the water in the low temperature tank 4 can be drained by the drainage hose 11 together with the water 5 in the foot tub 2 through the communication port 14.

  In addition, if the cross-sectional area of the communication port 14 is set to an appropriate size, the water 5 in the foot tub 2 can be put into the low temperature tank 4 in a short time.

  A control means 17 for controlling the operation of the foot bath is incorporated in the main body 1. The control means 17 is provided with heater energization control means 18 for controlling energization to the heating means 6, and the heating means 6 is connected to the heater energization control means 18. The temperature detecting means 7 is connected to the temperature adjusting means 19 of the control means 17.

  In addition to the temperature detection means 7, a temperature setting means 8 is connected to the temperature adjustment means 19. Based on the temperature signal detected by the temperature detection means 7 and the signal from the temperature setting means 8, In order to keep the temperature of the water 5 at a desired temperature, the energization rate to the heating means 6 is determined. Information on the determined energization rate is sent to the heater energization control means 18, and energization control is performed on the heating means 6 based on the information to control the water 5 in the footbath 2 so as to keep it at about 38 ° C. to 45 ° C. ing.

  Next, the effect | action by the above structure is demonstrated.

  For use only to warm the foot, the valve 16 is closed and the outer lid 10 is first removed, water is put into the foot tub 2, and then the outer lid 10 is attached and the power supply is connected to the temperature setting means. Operate 8 to set the desired temperature. As a result, energization of the heating means 6 is started, and when the temperature set by the temperature detection means 7 provided in the foot tub 2 is reached, the operation of stopping energization is repeated to keep the water temperature in the foot tub 2 constant.

  The user removes the outer lid 10, puts a prescribed amount of bath chemical into the hot water in the foot tub 2, sits on a chair, puts his feet in the hot water in the foot tub 2, and holds it for an appropriate time. Heats the human body through the skin of the foot with the action of energy and bath chemicals, and the blood flow conveys the heat of the hot water and the action of the drugs to the whole body to improve blood circulation, thereby improving fatigue and maintaining health.

  When the water 5 in the foot tub 2 is drained after use, the main body 1 is moved to a bathroom or the like, the drain hose 11 is removed from the holding portion 13 and hung down to open the water outlet opening / closing means 12, and the foot tub 2 Drain the water 5 inside.

  Next, when not only warming the feet but also repeatedly using warming and cooling, the valve 16 is closed and the outer lid 10 is removed first, water is put into the foot bath 2 and then The outer lid 10 is attached and a power source is connected, and the temperature setting means 8 is operated to set the desired temperature. If the current hot water temperature display of the temperature setting means 8 is viewed before reaching the set hot water temperature, the outer lid 10 is opened when the water 5 in the footbath 2 reaches the desired low temperature, and the valve 16 is operated to open it. Since water in the middle of the temperature rise in the foot tub 2 flows into the low temperature tank 4 side, the water is stored and then the valve 16 is operated to close. It should be noted that a sufficient amount of water to be put into the foot tub 2 in advance is added in anticipation of the low temperature tank 4.

  Thereafter, when the set hot water temperature is reached, the user removes the outer lid 10, puts a prescribed amount of bath chemical into the hot water, sits on a chair, and puts it in the hot water in the foot tub 2. Put your feet and hold for an appropriate time. After the foot is warmed, the foot is moved to the low temperature bath 4 and immersed, and the foot is returned to the hot water in the foot bath 2 and immersed, and this is repeated.

  When draining after use, the valve 16 is opened, the main body 1 is moved to the bathroom or the like, the drain hose 11 is detached from the holding portion 13 of the main body 1 and the outer shell 9, and the water outlet opening / closing means 12 is opened by hanging down, When the water 5 in the foot tub 2 is drained, the water in the low temperature tank 4 is drained together with the hot water in the foot tub 2.

  In this way, switching between hot water and cold water can be done in a short time, labor is not required, and with a simple configuration, you can repeatedly immerse your feet in hot water and cold water alternately, improve blood circulation and recover from fatigue, health Maintenance and promotion can be achieved.

  A second embodiment of the foot warmer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted. In this embodiment, the valve 16 provided in the opening 15 of the communication port 14 at the bottom of the low-temperature tank 4 is constituted by an electromagnetic valve, and this electromagnetic valve 16 is automatically controlled to be opened and closed by the control means 17. It is.

  FIG. 6 is a system block diagram of a control means showing a second embodiment according to the present invention. In the figure, the control means 17 is provided with an electromagnetic valve control means 20, and a temperature setting means 8 and a temperature detection means 7 are connected to the electromagnetic valve control means 20. Moreover, the electromagnetic valve 16 provided in the low temperature tank 4 is connected.

  FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the control means showing the second embodiment according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 7, similarly to the first embodiment, first, the outer lid 10 is removed, water is put into the foot tub 2, and then the outer lid 10 is attached and the power source is connected. To set the temperature T0 of the hot water in the foot bath 2 and the temperature (low temperature) T1 of the water to be poured into the low temperature tank 4. In step 702, the electromagnetic valve control means 20 determines whether the temperature T detected by the temperature detection means 7 is equal to or higher than the low temperature T1. If YES, the electromagnetic valve 16 is energized in step 703 and the electromagnetic valve 16 is turned on. open. If it does so, the water 5 in the middle of the temperature rise in the footbath 2 will flow in the low temperature tank 4 through the communication port 14. In steps 704 and 705, the electromagnetic valve 16 is closed in step 706 after waiting for a predetermined time (time t) to elapse. In this way, water is automatically injected into the low temperature tank 4.

  Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, when the set temperature T0 is reached, the user removes the outer lid 10, puts a prescribed amount of bath chemical into the hot water, sits down on the chair and sits on the hot water in the footbath 2. And hold for an appropriate time. After the foot is warmed, the foot is moved to the low temperature bath 4 and immersed, and the foot is returned to the hot water in the foot bath 2 and immersed, and this is repeated.

  When draining after use, the electromagnetic valve 16 is opened by the electromagnetic valve control means 20, the main body 1 is moved to a bathroom or the like, the drain hose 11 is detached from the holding portion 13 of the main body 1 and the outer shell 9, and hung down. When the water outlet opening / closing means 12 is opened and the water 5 in the foot tub 2 is drained, the water in the low temperature tank 4 is drained together with the hot water in the foot tub 2.

  In this way, when the water 5 in the foot tub 2 reaches the set low temperature hot water temperature, the electromagnetic valve 16 is automatically opened so that the water 5 in the middle of the temperature rise in the foot tub 2 can flow into the low temperature bath 4 side. It is very convenient to use because it does not take much time.

It is a front longitudinal cross-sectional view of the foot warm bath concerning this invention. It is the top view which removed the outer cover which shows 1st Example concerning this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. It is a system block diagram of the control means which shows the 1st Example concerning the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the foot bath based on this invention. It is a system block diagram of the control means which shows the 2nd Example concerning this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure of the control means which shows the 2nd Example concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the use condition of the conventional common foot bath.

Explanation of symbols

2 Foot bath 3 Bulkhead 4 Low temperature bath 6 Heating means 7 Temperature detecting means 14 Communication port 16 Valve 17 Control means

Claims (3)

  A foot tub with an open upper surface, a heating means for heating the water stored in the foot tub, a temperature detection means for detecting the water temperature of the foot tub, and the heating amount of the heating means by the output of the temperature detection means A footbath bath provided with a control means for controlling the footbath, wherein a low temperature bath is provided by forming a partition wall in which the water stored in the footbath does not flow in a part of a substantially central portion of the footbath.   The foot warm bath according to claim 1, wherein a communication port and a valve for opening and closing the communication port are provided between the bottom of the foot tub and the bottom of the low temperature bath.   The footbath bath according to claim 2, wherein the valve is automatically controlled to open and close by the control means.

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