JP2010099216A - Bathtub apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathtub apparatus capable of making a bather exercise continuously. <P>SOLUTION: By one embodiment, the bathtub apparatus includes a bathtub, a first bathtub wall surface which is provided in the bathtub and against which the back is leaned, a second bathtub wall surface provided to face it, a water discharge part provided on the second bathtub wall surface and provided with a discharge opening for discharging a jet to the sole, and a control part for controlling the jet to be discharged from the discharge part. The control part is capable of bending the foot by discharging the jet to the sole. The water discharge part is configured such that the water is jet at a thenar size and a prescribed flow speed or more in a direction vertical to a jetting direction in an area separated from the water discharge opening in the jetting direction for a prescribed distance, the water discharge opening has a size for jetting a flow rate sufficient for bending the foot in an area equal to or larger than the thenar size when placing the sole to the area, and the discharge water from the water discharge part is discharged roughly horizontally to the sole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

An aspect of the present invention generally relates to a bathtub apparatus, and more particularly, to a bathtub apparatus that causes a bather to exercise.

In recent years, interest in health and relaxation has been increasing. In general household bathtubs, products having a water bath function are widely deployed. The main purpose of the water bath products is to massage the bather with water, recover from fatigue, and heal.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for generating a uniform flow that directly and continuously hits in one direction and applying a uniform flow to a bather in a state where it can be completely weakened to stimulate the body surface. Yes. Among them, a technique is disclosed in which water discharge openings are formed in a lattice shape in order to maintain a flow rate sufficient to stimulate the body surface.

Moreover, as a partial massage, Patent Document 2 discloses a circulating bathtub in which a footrest portion is provided inside the bathtub and a discharge port for ejecting a jet is provided in the footrest portion.

On the other hand, there is also a proposal to exercise in the bathtub. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for providing a step that can be stepped into a bathtub. A stepping load is applied to the step board by a spring, and the bather can exercise by stepping on the step board with one foot while sitting.
JP-A-2-1272 JP 2005-287541 A JP 2003-236014 A

As described above, in the water bathing in a general household bathtub, massages for bathers by the water flow are mainstream, and few are aimed at strengthening muscle strength. In addition, a technique for providing a stepping platform that can be stepped into a bathtub requires considerable willingness to exercise for a person who does not have exercise habits. In particular, when taking a bath, it is difficult to exert the power of the will because it is in a relaxed mental state. For this reason, even if exercise equipment is installed in the bathtub, it is expected that the exercise will not last long. In addition, there is a problem that it is troublesome to attach / remove exercise equipment.
The objective of this invention is providing the bathtub apparatus which can make a bather exercise continuously.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a bathtub, a first bathtub wall surface provided in the bathtub and capable of being backrested, a second bathtub wall surface provided facing the first bathtub wall surface, and the second A water discharge portion having a water discharge opening for discharging the jet on the sole, and a control unit for controlling the jet discharged from the water discharge portion, the control unit having the jet on the sole It is possible to bend the foot by discharging water, and the water discharging portion is jetted at a finger ball size at a predetermined flow velocity or more in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction in a region separated from the water discharge opening by a predetermined distance in the discharge direction. The water discharge opening devised to have a size at which a flow rate sufficient to bend the foot in an area larger than the size of the thumb ball when the sole is placed in the region is jetted, and water discharged from the water discharge portion is The water is discharged almost horizontally to the sole. Bath apparatus is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the bathtub apparatus which can make a bather exercise continuously can be implement | achieved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a bathtub device according to this embodiment.

  The bathtub device 1 is provided with a bathtub 2. The shape of the bathtub 2 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. And the inner surface of the one end part of a longitudinal direction becomes the 1st bathtub wall surface 2a which the bather M hold | maintains a bathing posture and can be backrested by the bather's back m1. Moreover, in the bathtub longitudinal direction, the 2nd bathtub wall surface 2b is provided facing the 1st bathtub wall surface 2a, and is a wall surface which the bather's M sole m2 contacts. The first bathtub wall surface 2a and the second bathtub wall surface 2b are in contact with the bottom surface 2c.

  The length in the longitudinal direction of the bathtub 2, that is, the length between the second bathtub wall surface 2 b and the first bathtub wall surface 2 a in the bathtub 2 is when the bather M having a standard physique takes a bathing posture. When the back m1 is applied to the first bathtub wall surface 2a of the bathtub 2 and the sole m2 is opposed to the second bathtub wall surface 2b, the length is such that the water discharger 3 can be covered with the sole m2. It is. Moreover, in a collar part, it is made to contact the bottom face 2c of the bathtub 2. FIG.

  On the second bathtub wall surface 2b of the bathtub 2, a water discharge part 3L for the left leg that discharges a jet toward the left foot of the bather M and a water discharge part 3R for the right leg that discharges the jet toward the right sole. (Hereinafter collectively referred to as “water discharge part 3”).

  Since the water discharge part 3 attached to the 2nd bathtub wall surface 2b of the bathtub 2 discharges a jet flow actively to the thumb ball of the sole M2 of the bather M, the injection force maintenance means 3a and the water discharge opening 3b and a running water inlet 3c. Moreover, the water discharge part 3 and the injection force maintenance means 3a are arrange | positioned.

  The water discharger 3 is connected to a drive unit 4 that enables water to be alternately discharged to both legs centered on the sole m2 of the bather M. The direction of the jet is a direction from the second bathtub wall surface 2b toward the first bathtub wall surface 2a. The pair of water dischargers 3 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and are disposed at a target position with respect to a center line extending in the vertical direction on the second bathtub wall surface 2b, for example.

  In FIG. 1, for convenience of illustration, the water dischargers 3L and 3R are drawn while being shifted from each other, but actually the water dischargers 3L and 3R are arranged at the same height. The same applies to other cross-sectional views described later.

  The bathtub device 1 is provided with a drive unit 4 that generates a water flow. The drive unit 4 is a device that includes a pump and a switching valve (not shown). The suction port 4 s of the drive unit 4 is communicated with the inside of the bathtub 2. Thereby, the drive part 4 draws water out of the bathtub 2, and produces | generates a water flow.

  Furthermore, the drive unit 4 provided in the bathtub device 1 can adjust the amount of water flow from the “first jet state” in which the foot is not bent than the water discharge unit 3 to the “second jet state” in which the foot is bent. At that time, the water amount adjustment of the water flow by the drive unit 4 is performed by control from the control unit 5 connected to the drive unit 4.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a state where water (hot water) W is put in the bathtub 2, the bather M enters the bathtub 2 and takes a bathing posture. That is, the bather M brings the buttocks into contact with the bottom surface 2c of the bathtub 2, brings the back m1 into contact with the first bathtub wall surface 2a of the bathtub 2, and makes the sole m2 face the second bathtub wall surface 2b. And the bather M makes the sole m2 contact so that the water discharge parts 3L and 3R may be covered with both soles m2. At that time, an initial posture is taken in which the water flow discharged from the water discharger 3 is captured by the sole m2.

  FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view and a cross-sectional view of the water discharger 3. FIG. 3 shows the state of the water flow flowing through the water discharger 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when a water flow flows into the water discharge unit 3, the water flow is contracted by the jet maintaining means 3 a provided in the water discharge unit 3. The jet stream contracted by the jet maintenance means 3a is ejected more smoothly than the water discharge part opening 3b. At that time, the jet flow ejected from the water discharge opening 3b entrains the hot water stored in the bathtub, and causes a jet pump effect that creates a state in which the flow rate is increased. Further, the water discharge opening 3b in this jet state is ejected in the area of the ball m3 of the sole m2 of the bather M and gives a pressing force to bend the foot in the area of the ball m3.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, after the jet stream contracted by the jet maintenance means 3a is ejected from the water discharge opening 3b, hot water staying in the bathtub is entrained. In that case, the jet pump effect which draws in hot water will increase more by sending hot water into the inside of a jet along the introduction part 3c. The outputted jet stimulates the water discharge area of the thumb ball m3 on the sole m2 of the bather M with a pressing force that causes the foot to turn nine times.

4 (A), 4 (B), and 4 (C), the water discharger 3 discharges the area of the thumb ball m3 of the sole m2 of the bather M in the “second jet state” where the foot is bent. The state which is present is illustrated. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the flow rate Q flows in and water is discharged at a flow velocity v1. And it has shown that the water discharge area becomes an area area of the thumb ball m3 of the sole m2 of the bather M. Then, the jet shows that the force of F1 Newton is applied to the sole m2 of the bather M.

  FIG. 4B shows a state in which the flow rate Q flows in and the jet flow is discharged from the water discharge opening 3b at the flow velocity v2 by the injection force maintaining means 3a. And it has shown that the water discharge area becomes an area area of the thumb ball m3 of the sole m2 of the bather M. Further, it is shown that the force of F2 Newton is applied to the sole m2 of the bather M by the jet in the “second jet state” in which the foot is bent.

  FIG. 4C shows a state where water discharge is performed in a “second jet state” in which the water discharge opening 3 b of the water discharge portion 3 is narrowed to bend the foot in response to the flow rate Q. At this time, the “second jet state” is the flow rate Q and the flow velocity V2, but the force that the bather M receives on the sole m2 is the same F2 Newton as in FIG. 4B.

  The bather M is in a relaxed state when the bather M receives the jet at the sole m2, so that the bather M is in a relaxed state, but the legs (sole) In order to resist buoyancy at the buttocks and trunk (back), the muscle groups around each support point perform micromuscular activity. However, since the activities of these muscle groups are minute and performed unconsciously, the bather can easily hold the above-described bathing posture as in the case of normal bathing. Furthermore, the bather M is disturbed by the buoyancy action applied to the bather himself, and the bather performs a compensation operation to unconsciously work the muscles of the whole body to stabilize the posture. Muscles are active when doing.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating the operation of the bathtub device 1 according to this embodiment, and shows a case where water flows alternately from the left leg water discharger 3L and the right leg water discharger 3R.
First, the drive part 4 and the control part 5 are operated. Thereby, the drive part 4 draws up the water in the bathtub 2 from the inlet 4s, and produces | generates a water flow. The amount of water in the jet generated by the drive unit 4 is adjusted by the drive unit 4 in response to a command from the control unit 5. The control unit 5 controls the water amount from the drive unit 4 by controlling the water discharge unit 3 from the “first jet state in which the foot is not bent” to the “second jet state in which the foot is bent”. .

  And the control part 5 controls the drive part 4 to discharge a jet from the water discharging parts 3L and 3R right and left. The left and right alternating water discharge is discharged in a second jet state from the water discharge portion 3L at a certain time t1, and at time t2, the water discharge portion 3L discharges in the first jet state, and at time t3, the same as the time t1. Water is discharged in the state of two jets. On the other hand, the water discharger 3R discharges water in the first jet state at time t1, and enters the second jet state at time t2.

  Then, when the water discharger 3L enters the second jet state at time t1, the ankle joint, knee joint and hip joint of the bather M are bent, and the left foot part is the second bathtub wall surface 2b. It moves away toward the 1st bathtub wall surface 2a.

  For example, the water discharge time t1 to t4 of the jet is set to about 2 seconds. However, when training the balance ability, t1 to t4 are preferably set to about 3 to 6 seconds. Moreover, when making it closer to walking operation, it is good to make t1-t4 into about 1-2 second.

  Further, at the time t2 shown in FIG. 4, the water volume of the water discharger 3L is decreased, while the water volume of the water discharger 3R is increased. The change in the amount of water will be described below using a switching valve included in the drive unit 4 as an example. The flow path opening area of the switching valve connected to the water discharger 3L closes and the amount of water discharged decreases, while the flow path opening area of the switching valve connected to the water discharger 3R opens and the water volume increases. By switching the switching valve in response to a switching command from the control unit to the driving unit, alternate water discharge can be performed by the water discharge units 3L and 3R. However, it can also be realized by arranging a pump in the drive unit 4 and by a control command from the control unit 5.

  At time t4 shown in FIG. 6, the drive unit 4 that has received a command from the control unit 5 discharges a jet from the right foot water discharger 3R, so that the bather's leg is bent and the right foot is It moves away from the second bathtub wall surface 2b and moves toward the first bathtub wall surface 2a. As described above, by repeating the above-described water discharge state in the left and right water discharge units 3L and 3R, the bather performs bending and stretching exercises on the left and right legs alternately by the jet state in which water is alternately discharged from the water discharge units 3L and 3R.

  It was shown from the monitor results that the alternate bending and stretching exercises in the left and right leg portions give different feelings to the bather M according to the water discharge portion 3 shown in FIGS. 4 (A), (B), and (C). The monitoring result about the ease of doing in the alternate bending and stretching exercises in the left and right legs is shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows what is felt to be easy to exercise after experiencing the alternate bending and stretching movements of the left and right legs by the water flow using the water discharger 3 shown in FIGS. 4 (A), (B), and (C). I got a vote. The total result is shown.

  As a result of the subjective evaluation, the water discharger 3 that felt that it was easy to exercise by moving the legs was shown in FIG. The impression of the other water discharging part 3 is described. In FIG. 4A, the force pushing the foot by the jet is weak. Although the water discharge part 3 of FIG.4 (C) is the same amount as force F2 Newton transmitted to the sole m2 of the bather M, even if the flow volume and flow velocity differ from FIG.4 (B), Opinions have been extracted that the extension / bending movement was not successful.

  The result shown in FIG. 5 reflects that when the ground is kicked by walking on land, the portion “baseball” that transmits the kicking force to the ground is not pushed with an appropriate force. Only in FIG. 4 (B), the F2 Newton force is applied to the foot m2 of the bather M, that is, the "second jet state" that holds the thumb ball area and bends the foot. Is shown. The ball diameter was measured from the monitor participants. As a result, the diameter of the thumb ball was about 31.2 mm.

  FIGS. 7A and 7B show actions and states that the bather M can take depending on the water discharge state described above. As shown in FIG. 7A, the leg portion of the bather M is in a state of extending the leg portion in the first jet state. And when the water discharging part 3 becomes a 2nd jet state as shown in FIG.7 (b), the ankle joint of the bather M, a knee joint, and a hip joint bend, and a foot part is the 1st bathtub wall surface Move towards 2a.

  Furthermore, since the jet that creates the bent state generates a flow field so as to wrap the foot, force acts so that the foot does not come off the jet. The same phenomenon is a phenomenon in which the ping-pong ball stays at the center of the jet when it is placed on the fountain. As a result, the bather can bend and stretch the legs efficiently by the jet.

  Accordingly, the first water discharger 31 and the second water discharger 32 alternately change the jets discharged from each of the first jet state and the second jet state and bend the right and left leg portions of the bather M. Extend. And the foot part of the bather M will reciprocate alternately in the translation direction between the 2nd bathtub wall surface 2b and the 1st bathtub wall surface 2a. As a result, the alternate bending and stretching movements of the left and right legs are movements similar to the movements of the left and right legs, such as a walking movement. Therefore, the apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention allows a bather to perform a bathing walking exercise that simulates a walking motion in a bath.

  Here, with reference to FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), the muscle activity caused by the passive bending / extending movement will be specifically described. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating muscle groups that are activated by the passive movement caused by the water flow, and shows the positions of the muscle groups shown in FIG. 8B. FIG. 8B shows the amount of muscle activity on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis, indicating that different muscles in the leg are active depending on the water discharge state. M4 represents hamstrings and M5 represents anterior tibial muscle. When water is discharged in the second jet state at the time S1, the anterior tibial muscle M5 starts to be activated from the bending of the leg. This result means that muscle activity is occurring in a state in which the foot is separated from the second bathtub wall surface 2b and is moving toward the first bathtub wall surface 2a.

  Then, in the next S2 time, the second jet state shifts to the first jet state. Thereby, the foot part of the bather M moves to the second bathtub wall surface 2b side, and the foot part comes into contact with the water discharge part 3 and the second bathtub wall surface 2b in S3 time. FIG. 8B shows that hamstrings (biceps femoris, etc.) M4 are activated when the bather's M foot abuts against the second bathtub wall surface 2b. Thus, the bending and stretching movements of the legs that occur with the jet flow enhance the exercise effect by using different muscle groups.

  The anterior tibial muscle M5 illustrated in FIG. 8 is a muscle provided in the lower leg in a human body segment. The function of the anterior tibial muscle M5 is known as a muscle that works for clearance between the ground and the foot during walking. Therefore, the exercise that activates the anterior tibial muscle M5 means an exercise that contributes to prevention of falls.

  Similarly, the hamstring M4 illustrated in FIG. 8 is a muscle group provided in a thigh in a human body segment. The hamstring M4 is a muscle group composed of the biceps femoris, the semimembranous muscle, the half tendon-like muscle, and the greater adductor muscle. The function of the biceps femoris is known mainly as a muscle that generates kicking force and propulsive force during walking. Therefore, the exercise | movement which stimulates the hamstring M4 means the exercise | movement which can contribute to the maintenance of a walking speed and the improvement of a walking function.

  The amount of water discharged from the water discharger 3 in order to bend the foot of the bather M is when the bather M brings the back m1 into contact with the first bathtub wall surface 2a and the sole m2 faces the water discharger 3. Furthermore, it is the quantity which can bend | curve the bather's M ankle joint, a knee joint, and a hip joint simultaneously, for example, is 80-300 liter / min. In addition, when the magnitude | size of a water flow is less than 80 liter / min, a bather's sole m2 may not leave | separate from the water discharge part 3, and when it exceeds 300 liter / min, water may overflow from the bathtub 2. is there.

  The amount of water discharged from the water discharger 3 in order to bend the foot of the bather M is when the bather M brings the back m1 into contact with the first bathtub wall surface 2a and the sole m2 faces the water discharger 3. Furthermore, it is the quantity which can bend | curve the bather's M ankle joint, a knee joint, and a hip joint simultaneously, for example, is 80-300 liter / min. In addition, when the magnitude | size of a water flow is less than 80 liter / min, a bather's sole m2 may not leave | separate from the water discharge part 3, and when it exceeds 300 liter / min, water may overflow from the bathtub 2. is there.

    When the amount of water discharged exceeds 110 liters / minute, the leg movement distance becomes 140 mm or more due to the pressure of the jet of water discharged, and it is confirmed that the user feels a sense of movement by bending and stretching movements due to the water flow. Has been. In addition, it has been confirmed that, when the number of monitor people exceeds 35 and 110 liters / minute is exceeded, the feet move 140 mm or more due to water discharge and feel a sense of movement.

  Furthermore, in order to obtain a high exercise effect that is effective in bending and stretching exercises, it is better to exercise with a water flow of about 150 liters / minute. More preferably, exercise by a water flow of about 180 liters / minute is effective. In addition, the magnitude | size of this water flow is considerably larger than the magnitude | size of the water flow ejected for massages in the circulation type bathtub intended for general household bathtubs. In a general massage blow, the amount of water discharged from one water outlet is about 20 liters / minute. Even in the strong strength of the massage blow, the amount of water is at most about 40 liters / minute.

As described above, by increasing the flow rate of the jet, the force for pressing the sole is increased and the movable range of the bending / extending motion is widened. As the jet increases, the sensory organs provided on the soles and the tendon organs provided on the legs are more effectively stimulated, and the function that works for walking can be effectively promoted.

  Moreover, it is preferable to use the hot water temperature discharged in a 36-41 degreeC band. For example, at 36 to 38 ° C. when the temperature is close to body temperature and the heat load is low, the amount of water bending is increased by increasing the amount of water discharged and increasing the amount of rotation of bending and stretching, or by increasing the period of water discharge. By increasing the exercise intensity, it becomes possible to provide an effective exercise to the bather.

  On the other hand, when seeking sufficient exercise in a relatively short time, set the hot water temperature higher (for example, 39-41 ° C.), and the synergistic effect of the heat and the exercise effect, compared to when the hot water temperature is set lower, Energy is consumed in a short time, and effective exercise can be performed in a short time.

The effects of heat and exercise will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 9 shows the respiratory quotient indicating the fat combustion efficiency on the vertical axis, the elapsed time on the horizontal axis, and a value comparing the respiratory quotients when performing a passive movement with walking and water flow. .
The conditions were compared from the breathing quotient in the case of walking walking on land at a speed of about 4.3 km / h and bathing walking according to the present invention in which the water flow was 39 degrees and the water flow was about 180 liters / minute. As a result, it is shown that bathing walking using the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has entered a region where a high fat burning effect is obtained in a time zone faster than walking on land. The above results show that this device produces a high exercise effect by the synergistic effect of heat and exercise.

The effect of this embodiment will be described.
Thus, according to this embodiment, the bather M can be exercised. This movement is a passive movement that is given externally. When taking a bathing posture in a general bathtub, in fact, the bathing posture that the user can take unconsciously causes micromuscular activity to keep the posture against buoyancy. The bather receives the jet flow alternately from the first water discharge section 31 and the second water discharge section 32 in a state where the minute muscle activity is induced. As a result, the bather M performs a bathing walking exercise by a jet. And the muscle with which the trunk part which supports a leg muscle group and a leg part is equipped can be activated.

Furthermore, the balance of the bathing posture of the bather M is disturbed by the jet of water discharged from the water discharger 3 and the action of buoyancy applied to the bather himself. On the other hand, the bather performs a compensation operation to unconsciously work the muscles of the whole body to stabilize the posture. This also makes it possible to exercise the whole body. For this reason, there are few parts which depend on the willpower of a bather, and it becomes possible to provide the exercise | movement which is easy to last long by the apparatus in a present Example. In addition, since this exercise can be performed while taking a bathing posture, it is easy to shift from normal bathing to exercise, and it is an exercise that can be performed without difficulty in lifestyle habits. As a result, it is easy to continue exercise.

  35 people experienced the above movement. As a result, bathing during bathing should be performed without difficulty by the water flow from the bathing posture. And if you continue bathing and walking, you will feel a feeling of exercise and a feeling of muscle use. After getting out of the bath, my feet are warm. It has been confirmed that the experience is experiencing the effects of exercise, such as feeling more exercise than jogging. Furthermore, I felt that the sweating action was promoted in less than 5 minutes, and I also felt that it was suitable for the diet effect and would be a metabolic measure.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the jet of water flows from the left leg water discharger 3L and the right leg water discharger 3R to the bather's sole alternately left and right, the bather adds to the flexion and extension of the leg. It will cause a swivel movement around the pelvis. As a result, it has been confirmed that in addition to the exercise effect on the muscle groups around the legs, the exercise effect on the rectus abdominis, abdominal oblique muscles, the back muscle group, and the like can be obtained. In this way, by performing the above-described exercise in the bathtub, it becomes an exercise not only for the legs but also for a wide range of the body, and the bather can obtain an effective exercise.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the bather has a different feeling of exercise from bending and stretching exercises according to the amount of water discharged from the water discharge portions 3L and 3R of both feet. The solid line L shown in FIG. 10 represents the relationship between the distance at which the legs move away from the second bathtub wall surface by the jet when the bather has bent and stretched by the jet from the spout 3 and the flow rate of the discharged water. ing.

  As shown by the solid line L, there is a correlation between the movement distance of the foot and the flow rate of the water discharge, and the leg movement amount increases as the water discharge amount increases. The movement distance of the foot part moves away from the wall surface of the second bathtub, and the movement of the foot part starts and the bending and stretching movement can be performed from about 80 liters / minute. In order for the bather to perform more effective exercise, the amount of water discharged should be about 110 liters / minute.

  In this embodiment, the moving distance of the foot is about 140 mm. In order to obtain a more effective exercise, the bather selects a water discharge amount of about 180 liters / minute, and in order to obtain a more effective exercise, the amount of water is about 200 liters / minute. May be adjusted. Experiments have shown that the distance of movement of the leg at that time is about 250 mm to 300 mm.

  In addition, the water discharge opening 3b of the water discharge part 3 is, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the water discharge part 3 actively discharges a jet to the thumb ball of the sole m2 of the bather M, so that the injection force is maintained. Means 3a, water discharge opening 3b, and running water introduction part 3c are provided. Moreover, the water discharge part 3 and the injection force maintenance means 3a are arrange | positioned concentrically. The outer diameter of the water discharge opening 3b is about Φ31 mm in order to capture the area of the ball of the bather M, and the inner diameter of the water discharge opening 3b determined by the diameter of the injection force maintaining means 3a is preferably about 20 mm. More preferably, the diameter of the injection force maintaining means 3a is about 23 mm. More preferably, it is about 24 mm. For example, when the water discharge part 3 is configured with an outer diameter of the water discharge opening 3b of 31 mm and an inner diameter of 23 mm, the jet discharged from the water discharge part 3 has a flow rate of 8.0 meters / second and a flow rate of 160 liters / minute. .

  For example, using the water discharge opening illustrated in FIGS. 11A, 11 </ b> B, 11 </ b> C, and 11 </ b> D, the bather M can discharge water in the area of the sole of the foot thumb. The shape used for the water discharge opening is not limited to that shown in FIG. 11, but the “second jet state” in which the jet discharged by the water discharge opening bends the foot, that is, the force transmitted to the sole of the foot. What is necessary is just about 24 Newton and the width | variety of a jet becomes a ball ball area area.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b), by using two running water introduction portions 3c, it becomes possible to widen the water discharge opening 3b and to increase the amount of water ejected from the water discharge portion 3. The jet pump effect is increased, and an effective jet can be discharged to the area of the thumb ball area of the sole m2 of the bather M. Furthermore, it can also be realized by providing a plurality of water discharge openings so as to be a thumb ball area as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, it is possible to make the stretching / bending operation more comfortable by discharging water in the area of the sole of the foot of the bather M.

  In this specific example, in a state where water (hot water) W is stored in the bathtub 2, the bather M enters the bathtub 2 and takes a bathing posture. And by operating the operation button of the control part 4, the execution time of the exercise | movement of the bathtub apparatus 1 and the period of bending / extending exercise | movement are set arbitrarily. Note that a plurality of types of exercise modes may be set in the control unit 5 in advance, and the bather may select a favorite exercise mode.

  For example, when the bather selects a mode with a high exercise load, the control unit 5 outputs to the drive unit 4 a control for switching the amount of water so that the timer discharges water in a relatively short cycle and does not discharge water. Alternatively, the exercise time and the exercise cycle may be automatically set by a timer. For example, when the set temperature of hot water is 39 ° C., the timer sets one set of exercise time to 10 minutes. Thus, according to this example, the exercise load can be arbitrarily set according to the preference of the bather.

It is typical sectional drawing which illustrates the bathtub apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In the bathtub apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, it is a typical sectional view and front view which expand a water discharge part and illustrate a water discharge opening, a flowing water introduction part, and an injection force maintenance means. It is a typical top view which illustrates the flow of the jet discharged from the water discharging part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a jet spouted from a spout unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, a spout unit having a different spout opening is jetted to the bather's sole thumb ball area and transmitting force It is. It is a figure which shows the sensitivity test result according to the flow of the jet discharged from the water discharging part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a typical top view which illustrates operation of a bathtub device concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which illustrates the state which has extended and bent the leg part of the user concerning this embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the activity of the muscle raised by this bathtub apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the exercise effect raised by the bathtub apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the relationship between the flow volume of the jet generated by the bathtub apparatus of this invention, and the moving amount | distance of a leg part. It is a front view which shows the various examples in the water discharging part which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 11 21 31 Bathtub apparatus, 2 bathtubs, 2a first bathtub wall surface, 2b second bathtub wall surface, 2c bottom surface, 3 3L 3R water discharge unit, 3a jetting force maintaining means, 3b water discharge opening, 3c running water introduction unit, 4 drive Part, 4s suction port, 5 control part, 60 bathroom unit, 61 waterproof pan, 62 wall panel, M bather, m1 back, m2 foot, m3 thumb ball W water

Claims (5)

A bathtub,
A first bathtub wall provided in the bathtub and capable of being backrested;
A second bathtub wall provided opposite the first bathtub wall;
A water discharge portion provided on the second bathtub wall surface and having a water discharge opening for discharging a jet on the sole;
A control unit for controlling a jet discharged from the water discharge unit,
The control unit allows the foot to bend by discharging water to the sole of the jet,
The water spouting portion is devised to be jetted at a finger ball size at a predetermined flow velocity or more in a direction perpendicular to the ejection direction in a region separated in the ejection direction by a predetermined distance from the water ejection opening,
The water discharge opening has a size at which a flow rate sufficient to bend the foot in an area larger than the size of the thumb ball when the sole is placed in the region is jetted,
The bathtub device is characterized in that water discharged from the water discharge portion is discharged substantially horizontally with respect to the sole. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water discharge section has a plurality of water discharge openings. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water discharge section includes an injection force maintaining means for discharging a jet with a size of a thumb ball inside the water discharge opening. The bathtub apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water discharge section is provided with a concentric concentric shape inside the water discharge opening for spray force maintaining means for discharging a jet with a size of a thumb ball. The bathtub apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an introduction section that connects the water discharge opening of the water discharge section and the jet force maintaining means, and introduces running water toward the jet force maintaining means. .

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