JP6891735B2 - Water spouting device for bathtub - Google Patents

Description

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a water spouting device for a bathtub.

A water discharge device for a bathtub (hereinafter, referred to as a "water discharge device") used by being attached to a bathtub is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The water spouting device is attached to the upper end (rim) of the bathtub and discharges wide hot water from the spouting port provided at the front end toward the shoulder and neck of the bather. As a result, the relaxation effect at the time of bathing can be enhanced. Such a water discharge device may be called, for example, a shoulder bath device.

Further, in the water discharge device, an illumination unit is provided, and the vicinity of the water discharge port is brightly illuminated by the light emitted from the illumination unit (see Patent Document 1). The lighting unit includes a light emitting port provided at the front end portion and a light source unit that irradiates light toward the light emitting port. Thereby, for example, even when the entire bathroom is darkened to give a high-class feeling, the wide hot water discharged from the spout can be easily seen.

On the other hand, in the bathtub, in order to improve the feeling of bathing, the backrest surface (inner wall surface) of the bathtub is curved in a concave shape. In this case, since the edge of the upper end of the backrest surface is also curved in a concave shape, it is necessary to bend the front end portion of the water discharge device in a concave shape.

However, if the front end portion of the water discharge device is curved in a concave shape, the distance from the light source portion to the light emission port changes between the central portion and the left and right end portions. Therefore, at the left and right end portions where the distance from the light source portion to the light emission port is long, the illuminance may be lower than that at the central portion where the distance from the light source portion to the light emission port is short. Therefore, even if the lighting unit is provided, when the entire bathroom is darkened to give a sense of luxury, it becomes difficult to see the left and right end sides of the wide hot water discharged from the spout, which reduces usability. There was a possibility of inviting.

Therefore, in the water discharge device for bathtubs, it is desired to improve the uniformity of the illuminance of the light emitted from the illumination unit even when the front end portion is curved in a concave shape.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-8428

The present invention has been made based on the recognition of such a problem, and is a water discharge device for a bathtub in which the uniformity of the illuminance of the light emitted from the illumination unit is improved even when the front end portion is curved in a concave shape. The purpose is to provide.

According to the present invention configured to achieve the above object, a bathtub provided on the upper part of the inner wall surface side of a bathtub having a concavely curved inner wall surface in the front-rear direction and having a front end portion concavely curved in the front-rear direction. A water spouting device that has a spouting port provided at the front end and is capable of discharging wide hot water extending from the spouting port in the left-right direction, and a light emitting port provided at the front end. It is provided with a plurality of light emitting elements provided linearly in the left-right direction and irradiating a horizontally long irradiation light forward toward the light emitting port, and an illumination unit having the light emitting elements, and the distance between the light emitting elements in the left-right direction is left and right. It is characterized in that the end side in the direction is arranged so as to be denser than the center side in the left-right direction.

According to this water discharge device for bathtubs, the distance between the light emitting elements is arranged so that the end side in the left-right direction is closer than the center side. It is possible to prevent the irradiated light from becoming stronger and the vicinity of the left and right ends from becoming dark.
Therefore, even in a bathtub water spouting device whose front end is concavely curved in the front-rear direction, unevenness of light emitted from the water spouting device can be suppressed, and the hot water discharged can be uniformly illuminated on the left and right sides. For example, it becomes difficult to see the hot water discharged from the left and right end sides, and on the left and right end sides, hot water with a high flow velocity accidentally hits the bather's eyes and other unintended body parts at the start of water discharge. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the possibility of causing discomfort to the bather.
Further, in order to prevent light unevenness between the central portion side and the end portion side, an additional configuration such as a neutral density filter is not required, and the device can be made compact and can be realized with a simple configuration. And the cost is low.
In addition, even when a space with a small area of the illumination unit can be secured in the front-rear direction, it can be dealt with.

In the present invention, more preferably, the distance between the light emitting elements is arranged so as to gradually become denser from the central portion side to the end portion side.

According to this water discharge device for bathtubs, the distance between the light emitting elements is arranged so as to gradually become denser from the central portion side to the end portion side, so that the distance to the light emission port having a large curvature at the front end portion. However, on the end side, which is longer than the center side, the amount of light emitted toward the light emission port can be increased.
Therefore, the irradiation light is transmitted from the light emitting element to the light emitting port so as to correspond to the linear distance in the front-rear direction from the light emitting element that changes in a curved shape from the central portion side to the end side. Since it reaches, there is no difference in light intensity between the central portion side and the end portion side, and unevenness of light can be suppressed.

In the present invention, preferably, the illumination unit further includes a light guide plate provided in front of the plurality of light emitting elements, and the light guide plate has a rear end serving as a light incident surface of the irradiation light and the light of the irradiation light. It has a front end that serves as an exit surface, the front end of the light guide plate is curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction, and the light emitting element on the central portion side is inside the light guide plate that cannot be directly illuminated by the light emitting element on the central portion side. The non-irradiated areas, which are the areas of

According to this water discharge device for a bathtub, not only the light emitting elements are arranged so that the distance between the light emitting elements is closer to the end side than the central part side, but also a light guide plate is provided to serve as a light emitting surface of the irradiation light. By bending the front end of the light guide plate in a concave shape, it is possible to more reliably guide the light traveling from the end side of the horizontally long irradiation light emitted from the light emitting element to the end side of the light emitting surface. It is possible to more reliably prevent the end side from becoming darker than the center part.
In addition, the light emitting elements on the central portion side are spaced so that the non-irradiated region, which is a region inside the light guide plate that cannot be directly illuminated by the light emitting element on the central portion side, does not reach the front end on the central portion side of the light guide plate. Since they are arranged, the light can be diffused by the light guide plate even on the central side where the linear distance from the light emitting element to the light emitting port in the front-rear direction is short.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light emitted from the light emitting element on the central portion side from appearing as particles when viewed from the light emitting port, and it is possible to suppress unevenness of the light.

According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water discharge device for a bathtub in which the uniformity of the illuminance of the light emitted from the illumination unit is improved even when the front end portion is curved in a concave shape.

It is a perspective view which shows typically the bathtub and the water discharge device for a bathtub which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view which shows typically the bathtub and the water discharge device for a bathtub which concerns on embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view which shows typically the water discharge device for a bathtub which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the water spouting apparatus for a bathtub which concerns on embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view which shows typically the light source module of the water discharge device for a bathtub which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the bathtub and the water discharge device for a bathtub which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view which shows typically the water discharge device for a bathtub which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, similar components are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a bathtub and a water discharge device for a bathtub according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a bathtub and a water discharge device for a bathtub according to an embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bathtub water discharge device 10 (hereinafter referred to as the water discharge device 10) is used by being attached to the bathtub 100.

The bathtub 100 includes a bathtub body 102. The bathtub body 102 has an inner wall surface 104. The inner wall surface 104 has a backrest surface 106 that supports the back of the bather. The backrest surface 106 is curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the upper end 106a connected to the backrest surface 106 is also curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction.

Here, in the present specification, the upper part is referred to as "upper", the lower part is referred to as "lower", the front is referred to as "front", and the rear is referred to as "rear" when viewed from the bather whose back is in contact with the backrest surface 106. , The right side is "right side" and the left side is "left side".

The water discharge device 10 is provided on the upper part of the bathtub body 102 on the backrest surface 106 side. Therefore, the water discharge device 10 has a front end portion 12 that is curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction. The curvature of the front end 12 corresponds to the curvature of the upper end 106a of the backrest surface 106. The front end portion 12 is curved along, for example, the upper end 106a.

The bathtub body 102 has a pair of injection ports 108 provided on the backrest surface 106. Each injection port 108 injects hot water toward the waist of a bather whose back is in contact with the backrest surface 106. Each injection port 108 injects hot water, for example, aiming at the position of the erector spinae muscle, which is the anti-gravity muscle of the bather. As a result, the waist of the bather can be stimulated and the relaxation effect at the time of bathing can be further enhanced. In this example, the bathtub body 102 has two injection ports 108 arranged side by side. The number of injection ports 108 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the water discharge device for a bathtub according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the water discharge device for a bathtub according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 schematically represents the A1-A2 line cross section of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water discharge device 10 includes a water discharge unit 14 and an illumination unit 16. The water spouting portion 14 has a spouting port 14a provided at the front end portion 12. The spout 14a is a slit-shaped opening extending in the left-right direction. By being provided at the front end portion 12, the water discharge port 14a is also curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction.

The water discharge unit 14 discharges wide (belt-shaped) hot water extending in the left-right direction from the water discharge port 14a. The water discharge unit 14 discharges hot water toward the inside of the bathtub body 102. That is, the water discharge unit 14 discharges hot water toward the front. The water discharge unit 14 discharges hot water toward, for example, the neck and shoulders of a bather whose back is in contact with the backrest surface 106. Thereby, for example, the neck and shoulders of the bather can be warmed more, the neck and shoulders of the bather can be given a massage effect, and the relaxation effect at the time of bathing can be further enhanced.

The length of the spout 14a in the left-right direction is, for example, 20 cm or more. The lateral length of the spout 14a is, for example, longer than the average width of the human neck. As a result, hot water can be appropriately applied to the neck and shoulders of the bather whose back is in contact with the backrest surface 106. Further, the length of the spout 14a in the left-right direction is shorter than, for example, the width of the space inside the bathtub body 102 in the left-right direction. As a result, hot water can be appropriately discharged into the bathtub body 102.

The illumination unit 16 has a light emission port 16a provided at the front end portion 12. The light emission port 16a is a slit-shaped opening extending in the left-right direction. By being provided at the front end portion 12, the light emitting port 16a is also curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction. The illumination unit 16 irradiates horizontally long light from the light emission port 16a toward the front. Thereby, for example, even when the entire bathroom is darkened, the hot water discharged from the water discharge unit 14 can be easily seen. For example, the appearance of the bathtub 100 can be improved.

The water discharge unit 14 has, for example, a lower case 20 and an upper case 22. The lower case 20 has a plate-shaped case body 20a and a piping portion 20b extending downward from the case body 20a. The piping portion 20b has, for example, a cylindrical shape. The piping portion 20b penetrates the case main body 20a up and down, and communicates the lower side and the upper side of the case main body 20a.

The lower case 20 is attached to the upper part of the bathtub body 102 on the backrest surface 106 side. The piping portion 20b is inserted into a through hole 106b provided in the upper part of the bathtub body 102 on the backrest surface 106 side, and communicates with the space below the upper part of the bathtub body 102 on the backrest surface 106 side. A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piping portion 20b. A cylindrical flange 24 is inserted into the piping portion 20b from below. A female screw corresponding to a male screw of the piping portion 20b is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the flange 24. The flange 24 has a female screw provided on the inner peripheral surface screwed into a male screw of the piping portion 20b, and sandwiches a part of the bathtub body 102 together with the case body 20a of the lower case 20. As a result, the water discharge portion 14 is attached to the upper portion of the bathtub body 102 on the backrest surface 106 side.

The upper case 22 is mounted on the lower case 20 and forms a water discharge port 14a together with the lower case 20 and also forms an internal flow path 14b extending from the piping portion 20b to the water discharge port 14a. As a result, hot water is supplied from the piping portion 20b, so that hot water is discharged from the spout 14a.

The illumination unit 16 includes, for example, a light source module 30, a light guide plate 32, and a cover 34. The light source module 30 irradiates light toward the light emitting port 16a. The light guide plate 32 is provided in front of the light source module 30 and guides the light emitted from the light source module 30 to the light emission port 16a.

The cover 34 is provided on the water discharge unit 14, the light source module 30, and the light guide plate 32. The cover 34 is mounted on, for example, the water discharge portion 14 and covers the upper side, both sides, and the rear side of the light source module 30 and the light guide plate 32. The cover 34 forms a light emission port 16a together with the upper case 22 of the water discharge portion 14. As a result, the cover 34 suppresses the light emitted from the light source module 30 from leaking to the outside from a portion other than the light emission port 16a. Thereby, the appearance of the bathtub 100 can be further improved.

In this example, the illumination unit 16 is provided above the water discharge unit 14. Contrary to the above, the water discharge unit 14 may be provided on the illumination unit 16. In this case, the cover 34 may be omitted. The cover 34 is provided as needed and can be omitted. Further, in this example, the lower case 20, the upper case 22, and the cover 34 form the front end portion 12 of the water discharge device 10. The configuration of the front end portion 12 is not limited to the above, and may be any configuration that forms the front end portion of the water discharge device 10.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a light source module of the water discharge device for a bathtub according to the embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light source module 30 includes a light source unit 40, a heat radiating plate 44, and a storage case 46.

The light source unit 40 is composed of one substrate 41 and a plurality of light emitting elements 42 attached to the substrate 41.
The substrate 41 has a rectangular shape and is arranged linearly in the left-right direction. In other words, it is arranged so that the irradiation light is emitted straight toward the light emission port 16a.
The light source unit 40 may have a plurality of substrates 41 electrically connected via wiring or the like, for example.

The light emitting element 42 is a light source that irradiates light according to the supply of electric power. The light emitting elements 42 are mounted side by side on the surface (front surface) 41a of the substrate. As a result, the light source unit 40 forms a linear light emitting surface LS extending in the left-right direction. In this example, the light emitting surface LS is, in other words, the surface 41a of the substrate 41. Since the light emitting surface LS is flat, each light emitting element 42 can irradiate horizontally long light toward the inside of the bathtub body 102.

For each light emitting element 42, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), an LD (Laser Diode), an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), or the like is used. The type of each light emitting element 42 is not limited to the above, and may be any element.

The heat radiating plate 44 supports the substrate 41. The heat radiating plate 44 thermally combines with the substrate 41 and each light emitting element 42, and dissipates heat generated by lighting each light emitting element 42. For the heat radiating plate 44, for example, a metal material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper is used.

The storage case 46 has a hollow shape, and stores the substrate 41, each light emitting element 42, and the heat radiating plate 44 in the internal space. The storage case 46 suppresses water exposure to the substrate 41 and each light emitting element 42 by, for example, sealing the internal space.

The storage case 46 has a light transmitting window 46a that transmits light emitted from each light emitting element 42. The light transmitting window 46a is provided at the front end portion of the storage case 46 so as to face at least a part of the light emitting surface LS. The light transmitting window 46a is, for example, a plate-shaped member having light transmission to the light emitted from each light emitting element 42. For the light transmitting window 46a, for example, a transparent resin material or the like is used. As a result, the light emitted from each light emitting element 42 provided inside the storage case 46 can be emitted to the outside of the storage case 46 while sealing the space inside the storage case 46. The portion of the storage case 46 other than the light transmitting window 46a may be light-reflecting or light-transmitting to the light emitted from each light emitting element 42.

The heat radiating plate 44 has a first plate portion 44a attached to the inner bottom surface of the storage case 46, and a second plate portion 44b extending upward from the rear end of the first plate portion 44a to support the substrate 41. .. The upper end of the second plate portion 44b is inclined forward. The second plate portion 44b supports the substrate 41 with the upper end of the substrate 41 tilted forward. Thereby, for example, even when a plurality of light emitting elements 42 are provided side by side in two rows, the thickness (length in the vertical direction) of the light source module 30 can be suppressed. For example, the thickness of the light source module 30 can be suppressed while increasing the intensity (brightness) of the light emitted from the light source unit 40.

The first plate portion 44a faces the surface 41a of the substrate 41 in a direction orthogonal to the surface 41a of the substrate 41. In other words, the first plate portion 44a faces the light emitting surface LS. As described above, a metal material is used for the heat radiating plate 44. The heat radiating plate 44 is light-reflecting to the light emitted from each light emitting element 42. The first plate portion 44a reflects the light emitted obliquely downward from each light emitting element 42 and directs it forward. As a result, even when the substrate 41 is arranged in an inclined manner, the light emitted from each light emitting element 42 can be appropriately directed forward.

The heat radiating plate 44 and the storage case 46 are provided in the light source module 30 as needed and can be omitted. The light source module 30 may have at least a light source unit 40.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing a bathtub and a water discharge device for a bathtub according to an embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, the bathtub 100 further includes, for example, an electric pump 110, a switching valve 112, a jet pump unit 114, a control unit 116, and an operation unit 118. Further, the bathtub body 102 has a suction port 120 for sucking hot water stored in the bathtub body 102.

The electric pump 110 is connected to the suction port 120 via a pipe 122. The electric pump 110 sucks hot water in the bathtub body 102 from the suction port 120 and supplies it to the downstream side. The electric pump 110 has, for example, a function of applying pressure to the sucked hot water to pump it. The electric pump 110 sucks hot water in the bathtub body 102 by rotation of an impeller (not shown) directly connected to an electrically driven electric motor (not shown), and sucks the sucked hot water on the downstream side. Pump to.

The switching valve 112 is connected to the electric pump 110 via the pipe 124. The switching valve 112 switches between a path for sending the hot water supplied from the electric pump 110 to the water discharge unit 14 side of the water discharge device 10 and a path for sending the hot water to each injection port 108 side.

Each injection port 108 is connected to the switching valve 112 via a pipe 126. For example, the pipe 126 is bifurcated in the middle and is connected to each of the injection ports 108. As a result, in the bathtub 100, hot water is injected from each injection port 108 by driving the electric pump 110 and switching the switching valve 112 to each injection port 108 side.

The jet pump unit 114 is provided on the path between the water discharge unit 14 of the water discharge device 10 and the switching valve 112. The jet pump unit 114 is provided, for example, directly below the water discharge unit 14.

The jet pump unit 114 has a water storage unit 130 and a nozzle unit 132. The water storage unit 130 has a container shape and can store hot water in the internal space. The water storage unit 130 is connected to the suction port 120 via a pipe 134. As a result, hot water is supplied to the water storage unit 130 from the bathtub main body 102 via the suction port 120. That is, by storing hot water in the bathtub main body 102, hot water is also stored in the water storage unit 130. The water storage unit 130 stores the hot water supplied from the bathtub main body 102 through the suction port 120 and the pipe 134 inside. The hot water may be supplied to the water storage unit 130 from a suction port different from the suction port 120 of the electric pump 110. Further, the hot water supplied to the water storage unit 130 is not limited to the hot water stored in the bathtub main body 102, and may be hot water supplied from another water supply source.

Further, the water storage unit 130 is connected to the switching valve 112 via the pipe 136 and is connected to the water discharge unit 14 via the pipe 138. The pipe 136 is connected to, for example, the lower part of the water storage unit 130. The pipe 138 is connected to the upper part of the water storage unit 130 so as to face the pipe 136, for example. The pipe 136 extends upward from the water storage portion 130 and is connected to the pipe portion 20b of the water discharge portion 14.

The nozzle portion 132 is provided at the connection portion between the water storage portion 130 and the pipe 136. The nozzle portion 132 injects hot water supplied from the electric pump 110 into the pipe 138 via the switching valve 112 and the pipe 136. As a result, the hot water supplied from the electric pump 110 is supplied to the water discharge unit 14, and the hot water stored in the water storage unit 130 is drawn into the pipe 138 by the action of the jet pump and stored in the water storage unit 130. Hot water is also supplied to the spouting unit 14. As a result, even when the electric pump 110 is made relatively small, a large flow rate of hot water can be supplied to the water discharge unit 14. For example, hot water having a flow rate equal to or higher than the maximum flow rate of the electric pump 110 can be supplied to the water discharge unit 14.

In this way, in the bathtub 100, hot water is discharged from the water discharge unit 14 by driving the electric pump 110 and switching the switching valve 112 to the path on the water discharge unit 14 side. Further, in the bathtub 100, by communicating both the water discharge unit 14 side and each injection port 108 side with the electric pump 110 by the switching valve 112, hot water is discharged from the water discharge unit 14 and hot water is injected from each injection port 108. Can be done at the same time.

The control unit 116 is connected to the electric pump 110, the switching valve 112, and the operation unit 118. The operation unit 118 is used by being attached to, for example, a bathtub body 102 or a wall surface of a bathroom. The operation unit 118 has a switch, a sensor, and the like, and can input various operation instructions to the control unit 116 in response to an operation by a bather or the like. The operation unit 118 is a so-called remote controller. The electrical communication between the control unit 116 and the operation unit 118 may be wired or wireless.

The control unit 116 controls the operation of the electric pump 110 and the switching valve 112 in response to an operation instruction input from the operation unit 118. When the operation unit 118 instructs the control unit 116 to inject hot water from each injection port 108, the control unit 116 starts driving the electric pump 110 and switches the switching valve 112 to each injection port 108 side to each injection port. Hot water is sprayed from 108.

When the operation unit 118 instructs the control unit 116 to discharge hot water from the water discharge unit 14, the control unit 116 starts driving the electric pump 110 and switches the switching valve 112 to the water discharge unit 14 side, so that the hot water is discharged from the water discharge unit 14. To spit water.

Further, when the control unit 116 is instructed by the operation unit 118 to simultaneously discharge water from the water discharge unit 14 and each injection port 108, the control unit 116 starts driving the electric pump 110, and both the water discharge unit 14 side and each injection port 108 side. By switching the switching valve 112 so as to communicate with the electric pump 110, hot water is discharged from the water discharge unit 14 and hot water is injected from each injection port 108.

Then, the control unit 116 stops the driving of the electric pump 110 when instructed to stop the discharge of hot water from the water discharge unit 14 or stop the injection of hot water from each injection port 108.

Further, the control unit 116 is connected to the lighting unit 16 (light source unit 40) of the water discharge device 10. The control unit 116 switches the lighting unit 16 on and off according to the operation instruction input from the operation unit 118.

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing the water discharge device for a bathtub according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 schematically shows a state in which the cover 34 is removed in the water discharge device 10.
As shown in FIG. 7, the light guide plate 32 has a rear end 32a which is a light incident surface of the irradiation light emitted from the light source unit 40 and a front end 32b which is a light emitting surface of the irradiation light. The front end 32b of the light guide plate 32 is curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction.
The curvature at the front end 32b is curved corresponding to the front end 12. In other words, the front end 32b is curved corresponding to the light emitting port 16a. The outer shape of the front end 32b is substantially the same as the outer shape of the light emitting port 16a. Substantially the same means that the range including manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations is included. The light emission port 16a exposes only the front end 32b of the light guide plate 32. The front end 32b closes, for example, the light emitting port 16a and suppresses the intrusion of hot water from the light emitting port 16a into the inside.

The rear end 32a has, for example, fine irregularities. The rear end 32a is provided with, for example, a prism cut. As a result, the reflection of the irradiation light at the rear end 32a can be suppressed, and the irradiation light can be efficiently incident on the light guide plate 32. The front end 32b has, for example, fine irregularities. The front end 32b is, for example, textured. As a result, the reflection of the irradiation light at the front end 32b can be suppressed, and the irradiation light can be efficiently emitted from the light guide plate 32.

The light emitting element 42 attached to the substrate 41 is arranged so that the distance to the adjacent light emitting element 42 decreases from the center side to the end side in the left-right direction. In other words, the light emitting elements 42 are arranged so that the distance between the light emitting elements 42 becomes closer toward the end side from the center side.

Specifically, as the light emitting element 42 moves from the center side to the end side in the left-right direction, the distance between the light emitting elements 42 in the left-right direction changes from S1, S2, and S3 with respect to the adjacent light emitting element 42. It is arranged so as to go.
At that time, the relationship of the lengths between the adjacent light emitting elements 42 is arranged so that S1>S2> S3.

Further, in the region from the light emitting element 42 to the light emitting port 16a, it is located between the irradiation region E illuminated by the irradiation light emitted from the light emitting element 42 toward the light emitting port 16a and the light emitting elements 42. There is a non-irradiation region N that cannot be directly illuminated by the irradiation light emitted from the light emitting element 42 toward the light emission port 16a.

Here, since the front end 32b of the light guide plate 32 is curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction, the linear distance from the light-emitting element 42 to the light emission port 16a in the front-rear direction is the shortest in the left-right direction, and the light-emitting elements 42 are close to each other. In the light emitting element 42 attached to the center side of the substrate 41 arranged so that the distance in the left-right direction is the longest, the distance between the light emitting elements 42 is such that the non-irradiation region N is on the central side of the light guide plate 32. They are arranged so that they do not reach the front end.

As described above, according to the water discharge device 10 according to the present embodiment, the distance between the light emitting elements 42 is arranged so that the end side in the left-right direction is closer than the center side, so that the light emitting element 42 At the end where the distance from the light emitting port 16a is long, the emitted light becomes strong, and it is possible to suppress that the vicinity of the left and right ends becomes dark.
Therefore, even if the water discharge device 10 has the front end portion 12 curved in the front-rear direction, the unevenness of the light emitted from the water discharge device 10 can be suppressed, and the hot water discharged can be uniformly illuminated on the left and right sides. For example, it becomes difficult to see the hot water discharged from the left and right end sides, and on the left and right end sides, hot water with a high flow velocity accidentally hits the bather's eyes and other unintended body parts at the start of water discharge. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the possibility of causing discomfort to the bather.
Further, in order to prevent light unevenness between the central portion side and the end portion side, an additional configuration such as a neutral density filter is not required, and the water discharge device 10 can be made compact and has a simple configuration. It is feasible and the cost is low.
In addition, even when the area of the illumination unit 16 can be secured only in a small space in the front-rear direction, it can be dealt with.

Further, since the distance between the light emitting elements 42 is arranged so as to gradually become denser from the central portion side to the end portion side, the distance to the light emitting port 16a having a large curvature in the outer shape of the front end portion 12 is large. On the end side, which is longer than the center side, the amount of light emitted toward the light emission port 16a can be increased.
Therefore, the light is emitted from the light emitting element 42 so as to correspond to the linear distance in the front-rear direction from the light emitting element 42 that changes in a curved shape from the central portion side to the end portion side to the light emitting port 16a. Since it reaches the mouth 16a, there is no difference in light intensity between the central portion side and the end portion side, and unevenness of light can be suppressed.

Further, according to the water discharge device 10, not only the light emitting elements 42 are arranged so that the distance between the light emitting elements 42 is closer to the end side than the central portion side, but also the light guide plate 32 is provided to provide the light of the irradiation light. By bending the front end of the light guide plate 32, which is the emission surface, in a concave shape, the light traveling from the end side of the horizontally long irradiation light emitted from the light source unit 40 can be more reliably transmitted to the end side of the light emission surface. It is possible to more reliably prevent the end side from becoming darker than the central part.
In addition, in the light emitting element 42 on the central portion side, the non-irradiated region N, which is a region in the light guide plate 32 that cannot be directly illuminated by the light emitting element 42 on the central portion side, does not reach the front end on the central portion side of the light guide plate 32. Since they are arranged at such intervals, the light guide plate 32 can diffuse the light even on the central portion side where the linear distance from the light emitting element 42 to the light emitting port 16a in the front-rear direction is short.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light emitted from the light emitting element 42 on the central portion side from appearing as particles when viewed from the light emitting port 16a, and it is possible to suppress unevenness of the light.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. With respect to the above-described embodiment, those skilled in the art with appropriate design changes are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the features of the present invention. For example, the shape, dimensions, material, arrangement, and the like of each element included in the light emitting element 42 and the like are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate.
In addition, the elements included in each of the above-described embodiments can be combined as much as technically possible, and the combination thereof is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as the features of the present invention are included.

10, 10a-10d Water spouting device, 12 Front end, 14 Water spouting part, 16 Lighting part, 20 Lower case, 22 Upper case, 30 Light source module, 32 Light guide plate, 34 Cover, 40 Light source part, 41 Board, 41a Board Surface (front) 42 light source, 44 heat dissipation plate, 46 storage case, 50, 54, 55 voids, 52 side, 60 reflective member, 62 side 100 bathtub, 102 bathtub body, 104 inner wall surface, 106 backrest surface, 108 injection port , 110 Electric pump, 112 Switching valve, 114 Jet pump unit, 116 Control unit, 118 Operation unit, 120 Suction port, 122, 124, 126, 134, 136, 138 Piping, 130 Water storage unit, 132 Nozzle unit

Claims (3)

A water discharge device for a bathtub, which is provided on the upper part of a bathtub having an inner wall surface curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction and has a front end portion curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction.
A spouting portion having a spouting port provided at the front end portion and capable of discharging wide hot water extending from the spouting port in the left-right direction.
An illumination unit having a light emitting port provided at the front end portion and a plurality of light emitting elements provided linearly in the left-right direction and irradiating a horizontally long irradiation light forward toward the light emitting port.
With
A water discharge device for a bathtub, wherein the distance between the light emitting elements in the left-right direction is arranged so that the end side in the left-right direction is closer than the center side in the left-right direction.
The water discharge device for a bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the light emitting elements is arranged so as to gradually become denser from the central portion side to the end portion side.
The lighting unit further includes a light guide plate provided in front of the plurality of light emitting elements.
The light guide plate has a rear end that serves as a light incident surface of the irradiation light and a front end that serves as a light emitting surface of the irradiation light.
The front end of the light guide plate is curved in a concave shape in the front-rear direction.
The light emitting element on the central portion side is spaced so that the non-irradiated region, which is a region in the light guide plate that cannot be directly illuminated by the light emitting element on the central portion side, does not reach the front end on the central portion side of the light guide plate. The water discharge device for a bathtub according to claim 1 or 2, which is arranged in.

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