JP2589971Y2 - Bathtub combined waterbed - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combined use of a bathtub and a waterbed, and more particularly to a bedridden sick person or a bedridden elderly person so that they can take a bath by themselves while minimizing the assistance of a caregiver. This is a waterbed that also serves as a bathtub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of beds have been proposed as bathtubs for bathing bedridden or bedridden elderly people. However, most of them are constructed by folding the periphery of the bed into a box shape, laying a water-impermeable sheet, for example, a plastic sheet, into a bathtub, and putting hot and cold water into the bathtub. is there.

[0003]

In the conventional bath / bed combination, it is extremely difficult for a bedridden sick person or an elderly person to convert a bed lying on their own into a bathtub by themselves. It is an object of the present invention to reduce the labor of a caregiver by omitting the work of transporting a bedridden sick person or an elderly person from a bed to a bath, and carrying the bed again from the bath to the bed after bathing. For this reason, the conventional bathtub / bed combination has a complicated mechanism, but has only one effect, and has not yet been widely used in hospitals and homes.

[0004] However, due to a shortage of labor and an increase in bedridden elderly people accompanying the aging society, it is becoming difficult to seek desired help from a helper at a desired time. In particular, bathing is the most demanding and heavy labor for caregivers, despite being the most desired by bedridden or elderly people, and has not easily met the needs of bedridden or elderly people. Under such current circumstances, it is necessary to provide facilities such as homes or hospitals with which bedridden or elderly people can perform desired tasks on their own. In view of the above circumstances, the purpose of the present invention is to convert a bedridden user into a bathtub with almost no help from a bedridden user while lying on a bed where he was lying, with minimal assistance from a caregiver. Another object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub / bed which can be returned to a bed after bathing.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventor of the present invention has focused on converting a water bed into a bathtub while a conventional bathtub / bed converted a dry bed into a bathtub after research and experiment. did. This is because the water bed is a bed particularly suitable for bedridden or elderly people, since the bed floor is deformed according to the shape of the lying person, and handles water in the same manner as a bathtub. by the way,
A water bed is a bed in which a floating body is floated in a water tank and a person lies on it, or a bed is configured as a bag, water is put in the bag, and a person sleeps on the bag. It is a bed of style.

In order to achieve the above object, based on this viewpoint, the bathtub / waterbed according to the present invention has a lowermost portion near a central portion, and at least two longitudinally opposite sides toward the lowermost portion. It consists of a liquid-tight container formed by fixing the bottom plate inclined from the bottom and the flexible sheet-like bed floor arranged on the bottom plate at the respective peripheral edges,
By supplying liquid to the inside of the container, the bed floor is tensioned, and by discharging the liquid, the bed floor is relaxed so as to be placed on the bottom plate, and the liquid is supplied and discharged. A supply / drainage pipe connected to the bathtub / bed body, and a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water to the relaxed bed floor, the bottom of the bottom plate and the portion of the bed floor facing the bottom of the bottom plate, The connecting pipe is connected such that the connecting pipe forms an opening at both ends where the connecting pipe is joined to the bottom plate and the bed floor, and the opening at the bed floor side end is smaller in diameter than the opening at the bottom plate side end, The connecting pipe extends upward from the bottom plate to reach the bed floor when the bed floor is tensed, extends downward from the floor plate when the bed floor is relaxed, and then turns upward. Extends upward to reach the bed floor Is characterized in that variations are freely as.

[0007] The bottom plate used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it forms a liquid-tight container together with the bed floor, accommodates the liquid therein, and has a strength capable of supporting the accommodated liquid. For example, a hard plastic plate, a metal plate, or a wooden plate may be used. If the bottom plate is inclined toward the lowermost portion from at least both sides facing each other in the longitudinal direction, there is no problem in performing the function of the bathtub, but it is desirably inclined from four directions for drainage. The bed floor used in the present invention is
It is a water-impermeable and flexible sheet, for example, a sheet made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or the like. The liquid to be fed into the bathtub / bed body composed of the above-mentioned container is not particularly limited, but is generally water at an appropriate temperature.

[0008] Preferably, the bathtub / bed body is in communication with a floor tank open to the atmosphere, which is installed at an appropriate height above the body, so that the liquid in the body when the body is turned into a water bed is provided. The pressure is adjusted autonomously. The connecting tube is made of the same material as the bed floor but with a somewhat harder material. A supply / drain pipe for supplying / discharging the liquid to / from the container and a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water on the bed floor are known equipment.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a bed for a bathtub is constituted by a rigid bottom plate and a flexible bed, and a liquid can be filled in the body to be used as a bed. The body can be used as a bathtub by extracting liquid from the bathtub / bed body while the person is lying on the bed floor and placing the bed floor on the bottom plate. As a result, the person changes from the bed to the bathtub while the person is lying on the bed floor, and enters a bathing state when hot water is poured into the bathtub. The connecting pipe configured as described above, when converting the bathtub / bed body from the bed to the bathtub, extends upward from the bottom plate to reach the bed floor. It naturally extends under the user's weight into the relaxed configuration of the bed, extending downward, then turning upwards and then reaching the bed floor. Conversely, when converting the bathtub / bed body from the bathtub to the bed, the connecting pipe is tensioned by the liquid pressure of the liquid inserted into the bathtub / waterbed body from the relaxed shape of the bed floor. Naturally returns to the shape of time. Therefore, the bathtub / waterbed according to the present invention configured as described above supplies / discharges the liquid to / from the bathtub / bed body, so that even a bedridden sick person or an elderly person can move from the bed to the bathtub by himself / herself. Can be easily converted to a bed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram of an embodiment of a bathtub / waterbed according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bathtub / waterbed body, and FIG. 3 (a) shows a case where the bathtub / waterbed body is used as a waterbed. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the bathtub / bed body taken along the line XX of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the bathtub / waterbed body taken along the line XX of FIG. 1 when the bathtub / bed is used as the bathtub. It is sectional drawing of a bed main body. As shown in FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention is a combined use of a bathtub and a waterbed.
Numeral 0 denotes a water bath body 12 that also serves as a bathtub, a water supply device 14 that supplies water when the water bed body 12 that also serves as a bathtub is used as a water bed for simplicity, and the body 12 is used as a bathtub. A hot water supply device 16 that supplies hot water to the main body 12 when used, and a pressure adjusting device 18 that autonomously adjusts the water pressure of the water bed when the main body 12 is used as a water bed. The main body 12 is supported on a floor such as a hospital room by a suitable support stand (not shown).

The water supply device 14 is a device capable of supplying water heated to a desired temperature, and is connected to the main body 12 through a water supply pipe 22 having an automatic control water supply valve 20. The hot water supply device 16 is a device that can supply hot water for bathing to a desired temperature. In order to supply hot water from the hot water supply device 16 to the main body 12, the hot water supply pipe 2 having an automatically controlled hot water supply valve 24 is provided.
6 is piped to a position facing the upper part of the main body 12. Further, the hot water supply device 16 includes a water tank in which an electric heater is inserted. After the water for the water bed flowing through the water bed drain pipe 28 is heated to a desired temperature, the hot water is supplied to the main body 12 through the overflow pipe 25. You can also supply hot water.

Further, the main body 12 has a water bed drain pipe 28 and a bathtub drain pipe 40 for draining water from the main body 12 when used as a water bed, and when the main body 12 is used as a bathtub. It is provided to drain hot and cold water. Further, the water bed drain pipe 28 is connected to the hot water supply device 16, and transfers the water used for the water bed to the main body 12 as hot water for bathing through the overflow pipe 25 provided in the hot water supply device 16.
The water bed drain pipe 28 is provided with an automatically controlled water bed drain valve 32 on the way. These automatic control valves can be controlled by operating a handy operation panel (not shown) held by a person lying on the bathtub / waterbed 10. The body 12 is further provided with an overflow pipe 31 for draining excess hot water from the hot water supply device 16. still,
The above-described water supply valve 20, hot water supply valve 24, and drainage valve 32 do not necessarily need to be remote controllable automatic control valves, and may be manual valves that are operated at that location. In that case, these manual valves may be arranged beside the main body 12 so that a person sleeping on the main body 12 can operate.

The pressure adjusting device 18 comprises a pressure adjusting tank 36 whose upper part is open to the atmosphere, and a pressure adjusting pipe 38 connecting the main body 12 and the pressure adjusting tank 36. The pressure regulating tank 36 is provided in the main body 1.
It is placed on a platform located at an appropriate height from 2,
The water stuck in the main body 12 flows into the pressure adjusting tank 36 via the pressure adjusting pipe 38 and autonomously adjusts the water pressure of the main body 12 to a desired pressure. Further, the water supply to the main body 12 may be automatically stopped according to the water level of the pressure regulating tank 36.

The main body 12 has a size such that a person can lie down as shown in a plan view in FIG. 2, and a connecting pipe 40 extends vertically in a substantially central portion thereof. The main body 12 is configured as a storage body including a bottom plate 42 and a bed floor 44 disposed on the bottom plate 42 as illustrated in FIG. 3, and stores therein the water supplied through the water supply pipe 22. . Bottom plate 42
Is formed of a high-strength hard plastic or the like so as to fulfill both the function as a support for supporting the water bed when the main body 12 is used as a water bed and the function of a bathtub when used as a bathtub. The bottom plate 42 is inclined from both sides in the longitudinal direction toward the center at an angle such that a person taking a bath does not become cramped when used as a bathtub for forming a bathtub and for drainage facilities, And it rises slightly upward at the peripheral edge portion 46. If the inclination of the bottom plate 42 is small, the height of the rising edge of the peripheral portion 46 needs to be increased. If the inclination is large, the height of the rising edge may be small. Further, a through hole 41 is provided at the center of the bottom plate 42, and the through hole 41 is provided.
A connecting pipe 40 extends from the periphery of the opening to the bed floor 44 as a bathtub drain pipe.

The bed floor 44 functions as a bed on which a person lays down when the main body 12 is used as a water bed, and is formed of a water-impermeable and flexible sheet made of, for example, a soft polyethylene. ing. As shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral edge of the bottom plate 42 is bent along the peripheral edge 46 of the bottom plate 42 with an adhesive 47.
And a container for storing water for a water bed is formed together with the bottom plate 42. In this bonding method, when used as a water bed, water pressure is applied to the bonding portion in a direction in which the bed floor 44 does not peel off from the bottom plate 42.

A lowermost portion of the bottom plate 42 and a portion of the bed floor 44 facing the lowermost portion of the bottom plate 42 are connected by a connecting pipe 40. The connecting pipe 40 has openings 41 and 43 formed at both ends joined to the bottom plate 42 and the bed floor 44, respectively, and has a diameter reduced from the bottom plate 42 side to the bed floor 44 side like a trumpet, and is connected to the bed floor side. The opening 43 at the end has a smaller diameter than the opening 41 at the end on the bottom plate side. The opening 43 at the end on the bed floor side can be opened and closed with a faucet 45 so that a faucet can be closed.
3A, when the bed floor 44 is tensioned as shown in FIG. 3A, the bed floor 44 extends upward from the bottom plate 42 to reach the bed floor 44.
When the bed floor is relaxed as shown in (b), it can be deformed so as to extend downward from the floor plate 42, then turn upward and then extend upward to reach the bed floor 44. There is no particular limitation on the shape and material of the plug 45 as long as it can be opened and closed.

With the above arrangement, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the main body 12 is used as a bathtub, the upper opening 43 of the connecting pipe 40 is closed with a plug 45, and after use, the plug 45 is removed and connected. Water can be drained through the pipe 40.

Next, a description will be given of a method of using the bathtub / waterbed according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention. When the bathtub / waterbed 10 is used as a bed, a bed user (hereinafter, simply referred to as a user) closes the waterbed drain valve 32 and then operates the operation panel to open the water supply valve 20. Then, water heated to a desired temperature from the water supply device 14 is supplied to the main body 12. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (a), the bed floor 44 is tense, and
Is formed as a water bed. In this state, the water supply valve 20 is automatically closed by the water level switch of the pressure regulating tank 36. The water pressure of the water bed is always kept substantially constant by the pressure regulator 18. The bathtub / waterbed 10 according to the present embodiment has a first configuration in which the peripheral edge of the bed floor 44 is fixed to the peripheral edge of the bottom plate 42 as shown in FIG. Thirdly, since the pressure of the water contained in the main body 12 is always kept substantially constant by the pressure adjusting device 18, the water is not biased to one side, and according to the appearance of the user. It has a stable shape and is extremely comfortable for people who lie down for a long time without rubbing on the floor.

Next, the case of using as a bath will be described. First, the user operates the operation panel while lying on the bed floor to raise the water temperature in the main body 12 to a temperature suitable for bathing, and then opens the water bed drain valve 32. The water contained in the main body 12 and the water of the pressure regulating device 18 communicating with the main body 12 are pressed by the weight of the person A on the bed floor 44 and gradually drained. As the water in the main body 12 is drained, the connecting pipe 40 is pushed by the weight of the user and naturally extends downward from the floor plate 42 as shown in FIG. 3 (b), and then turns upward. The shape extends to the bed floor 44. The bed floor 44 is placed on the bottom plate 42 and FIG.
The state of the bathtub shown in FIG. During this time, the hot water that has been heated to a desired temperature gradually overflows onto the bed 44 via the hot water supply device 16 and the overflow pipe 25. When the water has been poured to the desired water level, the user who has been lying on the bed 44 until now enters the bathing state. At this time, if all the water in the main body 12 is circulated to the bed floor 44, the amount of water in the pressure regulating device 18 and the amount of drainage of the human body become excessive, so
It is discharged through the flow tube 31.

After bathing, the stopper 45 is opened and the water in the bathtub is drained. Next, by supplying water again to the main body 12 to form a water bed as described above, the user lying on the bathtub can lie on the bed floor 44 as it is.

In the above embodiment, the water used for the water bed is heated to a temperature suitable for bathing and used. However, as another embodiment, the water is supplied from the hot water supply device 16 through the hot water supply pipe 25. Hot water for bathing can also be supplied. In this case, the water bed drain pipe 28 is directly drained without being connected to the hot water supply device 16.

As still another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a small rising bath tank 48 having an open upper portion is provided beside the main body 12, and the main body 12 is connected to the main body 12 through a water bed drain pipe 28.
It is also possible to temporarily put the water inside the rising hot water tank 48 and then send it as water for bathing onto the bed floor 44 with a submersible pump or the like. Excess water remaining in the rising water tank can be used for rising water and further for hair washing. In addition, a heater is provided in the rising water tank 48, and the heater heats the water in the rising water tank.
Further, instead of providing the opening 43 in the bed floor 44, as shown in FIG. 5, the flexible bathtub drainage pipe 30 having the bathtub drainage valve 34 of automatic control is directed upward from inside the connecting pipe 40 into the bed floor 44. It is also possible to drain the hot water from the bathtub by opening and closing the bathtub drain valve 34.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the water that has once entered the main body 12 is left undischarged. Therefore, for example, when used in a cold region, the temperature of the water in the main body 12 may drop to a temperature that is too cold to continue using as a water bed. In some cases, the temperature of the water may rise to a temperature that is unpleasant to continue to lie down. In such a case, a circulation path is formed through the water supply pipe 22 and the water bed drain pipe 28, and a circulation pump and a heating / cooling device are installed in the middle of the circulation path to circulate water in the main body 12 while desired. It is also possible to warm or cool to a temperature.

[0024]

According to the present invention, a bathtub / bed body composed of a liquid-tight container formed by fixing a bottom plate and a flexible sheet-like bed floor to each other at their peripheral portions, and a necessary supply A drainage pipe and a hot water supply pipe are provided, and the bottom of the bottom plate and a portion of the bed floor facing the bottom of the bottom plate are connected by a deformable connection pipe, so that a user lying on the bed floor can assist the user. A bathtub / waterbed that can take a bath almost by itself with little assistance from a person and be able to lie on the bed floor again after bathing is realized.
By using the bathtub / waterbed according to the present invention, the user can always lie on a comfortable waterbed and can take a bath when he or she wants. On the other hand, also for the caregiver, the labor for carrying the bedridden sick person or the elderly from the bed to the bath from the bath to the bed is greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an embodiment of a water bath combined with a bathtub according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bathtub / waterbed body of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view for explaining a bathtub / waterbed body used as a waterbed, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a bathtub / waterbed body used as a bathtub. It is sectional drawing for description.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a fixing portion between a bed floor and a bottom plate.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram of another embodiment of a bathtub / waterbed according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMBOLS 10 Bathtub / waterbed according to the present invention 12 Bathtub / waterbed body 14 Water supply device 16 Hot water supply device 18 Pressure regulator 20 Automatic control water supply valve 22 Water supply pipe 24 Automatic control hot water supply valve 25 Overflow pipe 26 Hot water supply pipe 28 Water bed drain pipe 30 Bath drain pipe 32 Automatic control water bed drain valve 34 Automatic control bath drain valve 36 Pressure regulator tank 38 Pressure regulator pipe 40 Connecting pipe 41 Floor plate opening 42 Bottom plate 43 Bed floor opening 44 Bed floor 45 Plug 46 Perimeter 47 Adhesive 48 Up bath

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A61H 33/00 310

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A bottom plate having a lowermost portion in the vicinity of a central portion and inclined toward the lowermost portion from at least opposite sides in a longitudinal direction, and a flexible sheet-like bed disposed on the bottom plate. A liquid-tight container having a floor and a peripheral portion fixed to each other, and the bed is tensioned by supplying a liquid into the container, and the bed is discharged by discharging the liquid. A bathtub / bed body which is adapted to be relaxed and placed on the bottom plate, a liquid supply / drain pipe connected to the bathtub / bed body for supplying and discharging the liquid, and on the relaxed bed floor. A hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water, wherein a lowermost portion of the bottom plate and a portion of the bed floor opposed to a lowermost portion of the bottom plate are connected to each other at both ends where the connecting tube is joined to the bottom plate and the bed floor, respectively. To form an opening, And the opening at the bed floor end is smaller in diameter than the opening at the bottom plate side end, and is openably closed. The connection pipe is above the bottom plate when the bed floor is tensioned. To extend to the bed floor, extend downward from the floor plate when the bed floor is relaxed, and then turn upward and then extend upward to reach the bed floor. A water bath combined with a bathtub.