JP2010284183A - Foot-bath device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set desired temperature of hot water in a short time while saving power when a next user uses a foot bath device in the case that it takes long time until the next user starts using the device after a first user uses it. <P>SOLUTION: The foot-bath device includes: a heater for heating the water inside a foot-bathtub; a hot water temperature detection device for detecting the temperature of hot water inside the foot-bath; a use temperature setting circuit for setting the temperature of hot water inside the foot-bathtub; a temperature adjustment circuit for operating an electric current applying rate to the heater by information obtained by the hot water temperature detection device and information from the use temperature setting circuit; and a heater current control circuit for controlling the current of the heater according to the information from the temperature adjustment circuit. The foot-bath device is provided with a heat-retention temperature setting circuit for automatically setting to the temperature lower than that set by the use temperature setting circuit, wherein after a preset time has passed since operation starts, the electric current applying rate to the heater is operated according to the information from the hot water detection device and the information from the heat-retention temperature setting circuit, and the current of the heater is controlled by the heater current control circuit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a foot bath that warms feet with hot water stored in a foot tub.

  As described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, this type of conventional foot bath device allows the user to arbitrarily set the temperature of hot water put in the foot tub with a temperature controller. However, during operation, unless the user intentionally changes the setting of the temperature controller, the temperature is controlled to be kept at the same set temperature from start to finish.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-116221 JP-A-9-28756

  In the above conventional foot bath, when a plurality of users use the foot bath in turn, if the foot bath is turned off after the first user uses it, Therefore, it is often the case that the foot bath device is kept on and is energized after use.

  At that time, unless the set temperature is changed, energization is continued while maintaining the hot water temperature at the temperature set by the first user.

  In this state, there is no problem if the next user uses it immediately, but for example, the next user does not use it immediately, or the next user is able to do other things. When the operation switch is forgotten without being used, the footbath device is left in an energized state as it is, resulting in a waste of electricity.

  The present invention seeks to eliminate the above disadvantages.

  In claim 1 of the present invention, a foot tub, a heater for heating water accumulated in the foot tub, a hot water temperature detecting device for detecting the hot water temperature in the foot tub, and the hot water temperature in the foot tub are provided. A temperature setting circuit for setting, a temperature adjusting circuit for calculating a power supply rate to the heater based on information obtained from the hot water temperature detecting device and information from the operating temperature setting circuit, and information from the temperature adjusting circuit In the footbath having a heater current control circuit for controlling the heater current, a warming temperature setting circuit for automatically setting a temperature lower than the temperature set by the use temperature setting circuit is provided, and is set in advance after the operation is started. After a lapse of time, the temperature control circuit calculates the power supply rate to the heater from the information obtained from the hot water temperature detection device and the information from the heat insulation temperature setting circuit, and the calculation information The Ta current control circuit controls the current of the heater.

  In Claim 2, the said hot water temperature detection apparatus, the said use temperature setting circuit, and the said heat retention temperature setting circuit are connected to a display apparatus control circuit, and the temperature detected with the said hot water temperature detection apparatus is displayed on a display apparatus control circuit. Displayed on the device A, the set temperature set by the user from the operating temperature setting circuit is displayed on the display B of the display control circuit, and set by the heat insulation temperature setting circuit after a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of operation. When operating at the set temperature, the heat retention state is displayed on the display C of the display control circuit.

  According to claim 1 of the present invention, when there are a plurality of users who use at the same time and the time until the next user starts using after the first user is long, it is automatically set when a certain time elapses. Since the operation is performed at a low temperature keeping temperature, when the next user uses the foot bath, the hot water temperature can be set to a desired temperature in a short time while saving power.

  Further, even if the user forgets to turn off the operation switch after use, since the operation is automatically performed at a heat retention temperature having a low set temperature after a certain time has elapsed, power is saved and wasteful use of electricity can be eliminated.

  According to claim 2, after the first user uses, when the next user starts to use, it can be seen that the hot water temperature in the foot tub is in a warm state, and the user can easily set the temperature to the desired temperature. The hot water temperature can be set so that

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the foot bath device which shows one Example of this invention. It is a system block diagram of the main-body control part of the foot bath device which shows one Example of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure of the display apparatus control circuit which shows one Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the foot bath device of this invention.

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

  The body 1 has a built-in foot tub 2, and a heater 3 is attached to the outer bottom surface and the outer side surface of the foot tub 2.

  Further, a main body control unit 5 for controlling the operation of the foot bath is incorporated in the main body 1, and a heater current control circuit 11 for controlling energization to the heater 3 is incorporated in the main body control unit 5. 3 is connected to the heater current control circuit 11.

  A hot water temperature detecting device 4 for detecting the hot water temperature in the foot bath 2 is attached to the outer bottom surface of the foot bath 2, and the hot water temperature detecting device 4 includes a temperature adjustment circuit 10 provided in the main body control unit 5. The display control circuit 12 is connected.

  In addition to the hot water temperature detection device 4, the temperature adjustment circuit 10 is connected to a use temperature setting circuit 9 that sets the temperature of water poured by the user into the foot bath 2 to a desired temperature. On the basis of the temperature signal detected by 4 and the signal from the use temperature setting circuit 9, the energization rate to the heater 3 is calculated so as to keep the hot water temperature in the foot tub 2 at the temperature desired by the user. Further, the information on the energization rate to the heater 3 is sent to the heater current control circuit 11, and the energization control to the heater 3 is performed based on the information.

  An operating temperature setting circuit 9 is connected to the other display control circuit 12 to which the hot water temperature detection device 4 is connected, and the temperature detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4 is connected to the display device control circuit 12. The display A6 has a function of displaying.

  The display control circuit 12 also has a function of receiving information on the set temperature set by the user from the use temperature setting circuit 9 and displaying the set temperature of the user on the display B 7 connected to the display control circuit 12.

  In addition, the main body control unit 5 has a built-in timer circuit 13. The timer circuit 13 starts the operation of the footbath and resets the timer time, and then counts the operation time of the footbath.

  Further, the main body control unit 5 is used once by the user in the footbath 2 separately from the use temperature setting circuit 9 for setting the temperature of water poured into the footbath 2 by the user to a desired hot water temperature. A heat retention temperature setting circuit 14 for automatically setting the temperature of the subsequent hot water to the heat retention temperature is built in, and the heat retention temperature setting circuit 14 is connected to the temperature adjustment circuit 10 and the display control circuit 12, respectively.

  In the heat insulation temperature setting circuit 14, a temperature that is the same as or lower than the lowest temperature that can be set by the use temperature setting circuit 9 is set in advance at the time of shipment from the factory. Displayed on twelve indicators C8. Specifically, the heat retention temperature is desirably the lowest temperature settable by the use temperature setting circuit 9 or lower.

  Although the timer circuit 13 is connected to the set temperature selection circuit 15, the set temperature selection circuit 15 has a time T counted by the timer circuit 13 that is less than a time T 1 preset in the set temperature selection circuit 15. At that time, the temperature set by the user in the use temperature setting circuit 9 is selected as the set temperature of the hot water temperature, and the hot water temperature in the footbath 2 is set to a constant temperature based on the temperature signal detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4. In order to maintain it, the temperature control circuit 10 has a function of calculating the power supply rate to the heater 3.

  On the other hand, when the time T counted by the timer circuit 13 is larger than the time T1 preset in the set temperature selection circuit 15, the temperature set by the heat insulation temperature setting circuit 14 is selected as the set temperature of the hot water temperature, Based on the temperature signal detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4, the temperature adjustment circuit 10 calculates the power supply rate to the heater 3 in order to keep the hot water temperature in the foot tub 2 at a constant temperature.

  When the set temperature selection circuit 15 selects the temperature set by the heat insulation temperature setting circuit 14 as the set temperature of the hot water temperature, the display C8 connected to the display control circuit 12 is turned on.

  Next, the operation of the foot bath will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG.

  When the footbath is operated, the timer circuit 13 resets the timer time and then starts counting the operation time.

  On the other hand, the user sets the hot water temperature with the operation unit 16 so that the hot water temperature becomes a desired temperature. By this operation, the temperature is set by the use temperature setting circuit 9, and the temperature TC <b> 1 set by the use temperature setting circuit 9 is displayed on the display B <b> 7 provided in the operation unit 16 by the display control circuit 12. The hot water temperature is preferably set in the range of 38 ° C to 42 ° C.

  The temperature TC0 detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4 is displayed on the display A6 provided in the operation unit 16 by the display control circuit 12.

  After the start of the operation of the foot bath, when the time T counted by the timer circuit 13 is less than or equal to the time T1 preset by the set temperature selection circuit 15 (T ≦ T1), the temperature set by the user using the operation unit 16; That is, the temperature adjustment circuit 10 controls energization of the heater 3 based on the information on the temperature TC1 set by the use temperature setting circuit 9 and the hot water temperature TC0 detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4.

  When the hot water temperature TC0 is lower than the set temperature TC1, a signal for energizing the heater 3 is sent from the temperature control circuit 10 to the heater current control circuit 11, and the heater current control circuit 11 energizes the heater 3 by the signal. I do.

  When the heater 3 is energized, the temperature in the foot tub 2 rises, but when the temperature TC0 detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4 rises to the set temperature TC1, the temperature adjustment circuit 10 energizes the heater 3. The heater current control circuit 11 stops energization to the heater 3 according to the signal.

  Thereafter, when the temperature TC0 detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4 becomes lower than the set temperature TC1, the temperature adjustment circuit 10 sends a signal for starting energization to the heater 3 to the heater current control circuit 11 again.

  Thus, by the function of the temperature control circuit 10, the temperature of the hot water in the foot tub 2 is maintained at an arbitrary temperature set by the user.

  After that, when the time T counted by the timer circuit 13 becomes larger than the time T1 preset by the set temperature selection circuit 15 (T> T1), information on the temperature TC2 preset by the heat insulation temperature setting circuit 14 and The temperature adjustment circuit 10 controls energization of the heater 3 based on the hot water temperature TC 0 detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4.

  When the temperature TC0 of the hot water is lower than the set temperature TC2, a signal for energizing the heater 3 is sent from the temperature control circuit 10 to the heater current control circuit 11, and the heater current control circuit 11 energizes the heater 3 by the signal. I do.

  When the heater 3 is energized, the temperature of the hot water in the foot tub 2 rises. When the hot water temperature TC0 detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4 rises to the set temperature TC2, the temperature adjustment circuit 10 The heater current control circuit 11 stops energizing the heater 3 according to the signal.

  Since there is a relationship of TC1> TC2 between the set temperature TC1 of the use temperature setting circuit 9 and the set temperature TC2 of the heat retention temperature setting circuit 14, the energization of electricity after the time T1 has elapsed since the start of operation. The amount is small and there is a power saving effect.

  Further, when the operation is performed at the set temperature TC2 set by the heat insulation temperature setting circuit 14 after the time T1 has elapsed since the start of the operation, the display C8 provided in the operation unit 16 by the display control circuit 12 is displayed. Light up. The display of the display C8 may be “warming”, or the set temperature TC2 set by the warming temperature setting circuit 14 may be displayed.

  Thereby, the user can recognize that the foot bath is operating at the temperature TC <b> 2 set by the heat retention temperature setting circuit 14. The set temperature TC2 of the heat retention temperature setting circuit 14 is desirably 38 ° C. or lower.

  Therefore, when there are a plurality of users who use at the same time and it takes a long time for the next user to start using after the first user's use, it is automatically set by the heat insulation temperature setting circuit 14 after a certain period of time. Since the operation is performed at the low temperature retention temperature TC2, power can be saved until the next user uses the foot bath.

  Further, even if the first user forgets to turn off the operation switch after use, the operation is automatically performed at a heat retention temperature lower than the set temperature TC2 set by the heat retention temperature setting circuit 14 after a certain period of time, thus saving power. , You can eliminate the waste of electricity.

  When the next user starts using, the operating temperature setting circuit 9 sets the temperature TC1 by setting the hot water temperature at the operation unit 16 so that the user has a desired temperature. Since energization is performed, the hot water temperature can be set to a desired temperature in a short time.

  Further, the hot water temperature detection device 4, the use temperature setting circuit 9, and the heat insulation temperature setting circuit 14 are connected to the display device control circuit 12, and the temperature TC 0 detected by the hot water temperature detection device 4 is displayed on the display device control circuit 12. Displayed on the display A6, and the set temperature TC1 set by the user from the use temperature setting circuit 9 is displayed on the display B7 of the display control circuit 12. After a certain period of time has elapsed from the start of operation, the temperature maintaining temperature setting circuit 14 When the operation is performed at the set temperature set in (1), since the heat retention state is displayed on the display C8 of the display control circuit 12, the first user uses it and the next user uses it. It turns out that the hot water temperature in a bathtub is a heat retention state, and the user can set hot water temperature easily so that it may become desired temperature.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Foot bath 3 Heater 4 Hot water temperature detection apparatus 5 Main body control part 6 Indicator A
7 Display B
8 Display C
9 Operation temperature setting circuit 10 Temperature adjustment circuit 11 Heater current control circuit 12 Display control circuit 13 Timer circuit 14 Insulation temperature setting circuit 15 Set temperature selection circuit 16 Operation unit

Claims (2)

A foot tub, a heater for heating the water accumulated in the foot tub, a hot water temperature detecting device for detecting the hot water temperature in the foot tub, a use temperature setting circuit for setting the hot water temperature in the foot tub, A temperature adjustment circuit that calculates a current supply rate to the heater based on information obtained from the hot water temperature detection device and information from the operating temperature setting circuit, and a heater that controls the current of the heater based on information from the temperature adjustment circuit In a footbath having a current control circuit,
Obtained from the hot water temperature detection device after a preset time has elapsed since the start of operation, provided with a heat insulation temperature setting circuit that automatically sets a temperature lower than the temperature set by the use temperature setting circuit A footbath characterized in that, based on the information and the information from the heat retention temperature setting circuit, the temperature adjustment circuit calculates a power supply rate to the heater, and the heater current control circuit controls the heater current based on the calculation information. vessel.   The hot water temperature detection device, the operating temperature setting circuit, and the heat insulation temperature setting circuit are connected to a display control circuit, and the temperature detected by the hot water temperature detection device is displayed on the display A of the display control circuit. The set temperature set by the user from the use temperature setting circuit is displayed on the display B of the display control circuit, and after a certain time has elapsed since the start of operation, the set temperature set by the insulation temperature setting circuit is used. 2. The footbath according to claim 1, wherein the warming state is displayed on the display C of the display control circuit during operation.

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