JPH0224132B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a bathtub, and more particularly to a bathtub made of wood material.

(Description of Prior Art) Bathtubs of the type in which hot water is stored and people enter the bathtubs have been known for some time now. Such bathtubs were made of wood. Recently, bathtubs made of stainless steel and plastic have come into practical use. However, demand for wooden bathtubs is still high as the unique scent and texture of wood are popular. On the other hand, wooden bathtubs have drawbacks such as difficulty in mass production.

(Object of the Invention) Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wooden bathtub that can be mass-produced.

(Summary of the Invention) To put it simply, the present invention involves joining a plurality of unit members to form a hollow cylindrical side wall portion, forming a stepped portion on the inner periphery of one end of the side wall, and forming a bottom plate on the stepped portion. between the inner circumference of the side wall and the outer circumference of the bottom plate,
This is a bathtub in which a sealing material made of, for example, synthetic resin is inserted to lock and seal the bottom plate to the side wall.

The above objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings.

(Description of Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 1. The bathtub 10 includes a side wall 12 formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape and a bottom plate 1 attached to the side wall 12.
Contains 4. The side wall 12 is formed using a plurality of unit members 16 as shown in FIG. The unit material 16 is made of wood such as Japanese cypress or Japanese cypress, and is formed into a columnar shape whose cross section is approximately trapezoidal. Projections 18 and grooves 20 extending in the longitudinal direction are formed alternately in the width direction on both end faces of the unit member 16. and,
A plurality of unit members 16, 16, . . . are joined at their end faces. That is, so that the protrusions on the end face of one unit material engage with the grooves on the other unit material,
The end faces of two adjacent unit members are butted against each other, and an adhesive is applied between the end faces. Therefore, adjacent unit members are bonded to each other with an adhesive, thereby forming a hollow cylindrical side wall 12. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the unit material 16
Line A connecting the tops of the protrusions 18, 18, . . . (or the bottoms of the grooves 20, 20, .
The angle (θ) formed by the line B connecting the tops of the grooves 20, 20, . . . is determined depending on the number of unit materials forming the side wall 12. For example, when forming one side wall 12 with 24 unit materials 16, the angle (θ) is approximately 15° (=360°/24)
Will. Note that the cross-sectional shapes of the protrusions 18 and grooves 20 formed on the end faces of the unit members 16 are V-shaped in this embodiment. However, it may be possible to modify the cross-sectional shape to some extent. Furthermore, in some cases, the above-mentioned protrusions 18 and grooves 20 may be omitted, and the butted end surfaces of each unit member 16 may be flat surfaces that are inclined to form the same angle (θ). good.

As shown in FIG. 3, a stepped portion 36 and a groove 37 having a substantially U-shaped cross section are formed at a certain position in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of unit members 16, 16, . . . .
The step portion 36 and the groove 37 are used to attach the bottom plate 14 to the side wall 12, and for this purpose the step portion 36 and the groove 37 are directed inward of the side wall 12. Note that such a step portion 36 and groove 37
may be formed in advance on the unit material 16 as in this embodiment, or may be formed continuously on the inner wall of the side wall 12 after forming the side wall 12 using a plurality of unit materials, as will be explained later. It's okay. In this embodiment, the width C (FIG. 3) of the groove 37 is selected to be smaller than the thickness of the bottom plate 14.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottom plate 14 has a substantially trapezoidal cross section and is disk-shaped when viewed from above. A groove 24 corresponding to the groove 37 provided in the step portion 36 described above is formed on the outer periphery. In principle, a drainage hole (not shown) for drainage is formed at a suitable position slightly inward from the outer edge of the bottom plate 14. Note that this drain hole is, for example, shown in Figures 1 and 2.
It is also formed on the bottom plate 14 shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10. This bottom plate 14 is also made of wood such as Japanese cypress or bamboo. In this embodiment, the bottom plate 14 has a three-layer structure. The joint between the plates in the middle layer is located at a different position from that in the upper and lower layers, thereby preventing water leakage. Like this 3
If a layered bottom plate is used, for example, there is an advantage that the bottom plate is less likely to warp or crack compared to a single-piece bottom plate. In addition, the bottom plate 14 may be formed as follows.

11 and 12 are views showing other examples of the bottom plate 14, and FIG. 11 is a plan view thereof, and the first
FIG. 2 is a sectional view thereof.

The bottom plate 14 shown in FIG. 11 has a three-layer structure like the bottom plate shown in FIG. 5, but unlike the bottom plate shown in FIG. The direction of the grain of each veneer forming the intermediate layer sandwiched between the upper and lower layers is perpendicular to the direction of the grain of the veneer forming the upper and lower layers. Laminated and glued.

In addition, the seams of each veneer forming the upper layer and the seams of each veneer forming the lower layer are located at different positions, so that the veneer forming the lower layer is placed approximately in the center of the veneer forming the upper layer. Seams are located and laminated.

In this way, the direction of the wood grain is different in the upper and lower layers and the middle layer, and the joints of the upper and lower veneers are placed in different positions, thereby increasing the effectiveness of preventing water leakage. ing.

That is, by adopting such a structure, the rate of expansion and contraction of the plate in the radial direction is made smaller than that of the bottom plate shown in FIG.

Groove 24 having an arcuate cross section in the illustrated example in FIG.
is formed on the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the bottom plate 14. Then, a synthetic resin 38 such as silicone resin is injected into the groove 24 and filled.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams showing still another modification of the bottom plate 14. FIG.

FIG. 13 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view thereof.

The bottom plate 14 shown in FIG. 13 has a three-layer structure similar to the bottom plate shown in FIG. The direction of the grain of the veneer forming the intermediate layer is perpendicular to the direction of the grain of the veneer forming the upper and lower layers. The groove 24 having a U-shaped cross section in the example illustrated in FIG.
This groove 24 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bottom plate 14, and a synthetic resin 38 such as silicone resin is injected and filled. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the lower veneer has a surface diagonally placed on the outer circumference. This has a rounded surface so that the synthetic resin 38 can be easily injected. Moreover, by taking this surface, more synthetic resin can be filled, so that the adhesive strength can be increased.

In addition, the width of the edge veneer that forms the lower layer is made wider by cutting the edge into a circular shape. The area has been enlarged.

The bottom plate 14 is engaged with a stepped portion 36 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the side wall 12 . A groove 37 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the stepped portion 36.
A space is formed in cooperation with the groove 24 of No. 4. In addition,
Since the cross section of the bottom plate 14 is formed into a substantially trapezoidal shape, there is an advantage that the injection amount of the synthetic resin 38 can be easily seen. Then, a synthetic resin 38 such as silicone is injected and filled into the space. The synthetic resin 38 is preferably a viscous liquid when injected and elastic when hardened. This is because the bottom plate 14 may expand and contract when water is absorbed by the bottom plate 14 or evaporates, and the synthetic resin 38 is designed to prevent this expansion and contraction of the bottom plate 14 from being hindered. It is. When the injected synthetic resin hardens, the side wall 12 and the bottom plate 14 are bonded together. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the synthetic resin 38 is poured into the above-mentioned space from the bottom side of the side wall 12. In this case, the bottom plate 14 is covered with the side wall 12 from below at the stepped portion 36, and the synthetic resin 38 is filled from below.
This is because it does not protrude above the bottom plate 14. However, in some cases, it may be possible to turn the stepped portion 36 formed on the side wall 12 upside down, lock the bottom plate 14 from above, and pour the synthetic resin 38 into the space from above.

Circular grooves 3 are formed on the upper and lower end surfaces of the side wall 12.
0 and 44 are formed, and these grooves 30 and 44
Rings 32 and 46 made of, for example, copper wire or stainless steel wire are fitted into the holes. The rings 32 and 46 have a side wall 12 that includes a plurality of unit members 1.
6, 16, . . . by gluing them together, this is to reinforce their strength so that they do not fall apart. That is, when hot water is stored in the bathtub 12 and a person enters it, the side wall 12 is reinforced with reinforcing materials or rings 32 and 46 to prevent it from cracking due to the pressure of the hot water or the person's own weight.
Furthermore, if sufficient strength can be obtained, these rings made of copper wire, stainless steel wire, etc. can be replaced with synthetic resin materials.
Examples of such synthetic resins include stretchable ones such as nylon and urethane rubber. Further, the grooves 30 and 44 on the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the side wall 12 may be formed in advance on the upper end surface and the lower end surface of each unit member 16,
2 may be formed continuously.
Furthermore, only one of the grooves 30 and 44 may be formed if necessary.

Note that if the strength of the side wall 12 is sufficient, the ring 3
It is also possible to not use 2 and 46 at all.

Next, a method of manufacturing the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be explained. First, a necessary number of unit members 16 as shown in FIG. 3 are prepared. That is, a prismatic material having substantially the same shape and size is prepared, and a protrusion 18 and a groove 20 as shown in FIG. 3 are formed on the end surface of the material using a tool such as a cutter. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a predetermined number of unit members 16 are arranged so that their end faces face each other. On one surface of each of the arranged unit members 16, 16, . . . , a plurality of flexible sheets 34 such as paper tape or cloth tape are pasted in the length direction of the unit members 16. Note that this flexible sheet 34
may be attached so as to cover the entire outer surface of the unit material 16, that is, the side surface of the side wall 12, and the unit material may be attached along the joining line for each joining line 35, 35, . . . of the adjacent unit material 16. 16 may be attached in the length direction.

After that, an adhesive is applied to each end face of each unit member 16, and the protrusions 18 and grooves 20 on the adjacent end faces are
The unit members are joined or bonded at their respective adjacent end faces so that the unit members interlock with each other. At this time, since the unit members 16 have a cross section that approximates a trapezoid, by joining the end faces of adjacent unit members, these unit members 16 become hollow polygonal cylinders. Then, the outer side (outer wall) and the inner side (inner wall) of the side wall 12 are shaved with a cutter to form a substantially hollow cylindrical side wall 1 as shown in FIG.
2 is formed.

Thereafter, on the inside (inner wall) of this side wall 12, there is a stepped portion 36 formed at an appropriate position on one side of the unit member 16 shown in FIG.
A groove 37 having a diameter is continuously formed using a cutter or the like. Grooves 3 having a substantially U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG.
0 and 44 are formed by a cutter (end mill). Rings 32 and 46 made of stainless steel wire, copper wire, urethane rubber, or the like are fitted into the grooves 30 and 44, for example. Then, a synthetic resin of an appropriate color, such as silicone resin, is poured into the grooves 30 and 44, and the ring 3 is inserted into the grooves 30 and 44, that is, the side wall 12.
2 and 46 are fixed. Further, in some cases, an epoxy resin is used instead of a silicon resin. Then, the inner periphery of the side wall formed in this manner is polished with, for example, sandpaper or an abrasive material to finish the surface. Then the fourth
A bottom plate 14 as shown in the figures and FIG. 5 is fitted from one end of the side wall 12 as shown in FIG.
The bottom plate 14 is locked to the stepped portion 36 of the side wall 12.
A synthetic resin 38 is injected into the space defined by the stepped portion 36 and groove 37 of the side wall 12 and the groove 24 of the bottom plate 14 through an injection hole (not shown) and is filled. Then, when the synthetic resin 38 hardens, the side wall 12 and the bottom plate 14 are bonded together.

Thereafter, the flexible sheet 34 (FIG. 6) is removed at an appropriate stage of operation, and the externally exposed surface portions of the side wall 12, namely the circumferential surface, upper end surface, and lower end surface, are removed with sandpaper or an abrasive material. Polished and finished. Note that the order of the above-mentioned steps may be changed as necessary. In this way, the bathtub 10 is completed.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, compared to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, parts related to attachment of the bottom plate 14 are changed. That is, while the cross section of the bottom plate 14 was approximately trapezoidal in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross section of the bottom plate 14 is approximately rectangular.
Further, the groove 24 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the bottom plate 14 and the groove 42 of the stepped portion 36 are each substantially rectangular.

Note that the ring to be fitted into the groove may be attached to a groove 48 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 12, as shown in FIG. In this way, as can be seen from the tightening of the belt, the side wall can be effectively tightened from the outer peripheral surface. In this case, the ring mounting groove 48 is filled with, for example, epoxy resin. However, filling may not be necessary in some cases.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that a ring or belt made of rubber or plastic, for example, may be used in place of the metal ring. In addition to the groove 48 on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 12, the groove for attaching the ring may also be formed on the lower end surface as described in FIG. 2. In this groove on the lower end surface,
Urethane rubber or the like is fitted, silicone resin is poured, and the urethane rubber is fixed. Furthermore, urethane rubber or the like may be fitted into the groove 48 on the outer peripheral surface, and a waterproof decorative ring may be fitted thereon.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show still another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in the portions below the side wall 12 and the bottom plate 14. That is, in this embodiment, disk-shaped plates 39, 39, . . . made of rubber or the like are attached to the lower end of the side wall 12. The plate 39 is attached using, for example, screws made of stainless steel or brass that have good water resistance or corrosion resistance. The screw is screwed into the plate so that it sinks into the plate. The lower surface of the bottom plate 14 is also provided with cylindrical legs 40, 40, made of rubber or the like.
... can be installed. Note that the rubber plate 39 and the legs 40 are not limited to a disk shape or a cylindrical shape, and may be made of materials other than rubber, such as wood.
Furthermore, these rubber plates 39 and legs 40
Of course, it is not necessary. However, if these parts 39 and 40 are provided, drainage under the bathtub will be improved, corrosion of the wood that constitutes the bathtub 10 will be prevented, and the stability of the installation will be improved.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, since the side wall portion is constituted by a set of a plurality of unit members, unit members having the same shape can be used. Such unit materials can be machined and therefore mass-produced. If protrusions and grooves are formed on the end faces of unit materials, the end faces of adjacent unit materials will be joined so that the protrusions and grooves engage with each other, increasing the joint area and ensuring stable joints. I can do it.
In addition, even when adhesive is applied between the joined end faces, the adhesive remains within the grooves and does not protrude from the side surfaces, so that adhesion with sufficient strength can be achieved. Furthermore, since the step portion and the gap formed on the inner wall of the side wall portion are filled with a sealing material made of, for example, synthetic resin, which locks the bottom plate, the bottom plate can be more firmly attached to the side wall. Moreover, since the sealing material is interposed in the gap between the side wall and the bottom plate, water leakage is completely eliminated. Furthermore, since the bottom plate is locked to the stepped portion formed on the inner wall of the side wall portion, the bottom plate fits easily. Furthermore, the groove formed in the stepped portion and the groove formed on the outer periphery of the bottom plate face each other at the same position, and both grooves are filled with synthetic resin, so there is no chance of the bottom plate falling out.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the unit material used. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the bottom plate. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway view of FIG. 4. 6th
The figure is a perspective view of a main part illustrating a method of joining a plurality of unit members to form a side wall portion. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a modification of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing still another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9. 11 and 12 are views showing other examples of the bottom plate, FIG. 11 is a plan view thereof, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view thereof. 13 and 14 are views showing other modified examples of the bottom plate, with FIG. 13 being a plan view thereof and FIG. 14 being a sectional view thereof. In the figure, 10 is a bathtub, 12 is a side wall, 14 is a bottom plate, 16 is a unit member, 18 is a protrusion, 20 is a groove,
24, 30, 37, and 44 are grooves, 36 is a stepped portion, and 38 is a synthetic resin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of longitudinal unit members each having opposing end surfaces; protrusions and grooves formed on the opposing end surfaces of each of the plurality of longitudinal unit members and extending in the longitudinal direction; a hollow cylindrical side wall formed by joining the unit members so that the protrusions and grooves mesh with each other; a stepped portion formed on the inner wall at one end in the length direction of the side wall; a bottom plate disposed and locked to the stepped portion, and having elasticity to fill a gap formed between the inner periphery of the side wall and the outer periphery of the bottom plate in the stepped portion to seal this gap. A bathtub equipped with a sealing material made of synthetic resin. 2. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the stepped portion includes a recess formed on the inner periphery of the side wall, and the synthetic resin is also filled in the recess. 3. A recess formed on the outer periphery of the bottom plate and facing a recess formed in the step part when the bottom plate is locked to the step part, and the synthetic resin is inserted into the recess formed on the outer periphery of the bottom plate. A bathtub according to claim 1 or 2, which is filled with water. 4. The bathtub according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, including a groove formed on the outer periphery of the bottom plate, and wherein the synthetic resin is also filled in the groove on the outer periphery of the bottom plate. . 5. The bathtub according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, including a reinforcing member that is attached to the side wall and holds the plurality of unit members in a linked manner. . 6. The bathtub according to claim 5, wherein the reinforcing member includes a ring. 7. The bathtub according to claim 6, including a retaining groove formed in the side wall, and the ring is accommodated in the retaining groove. 8. The bathtub according to claim 7, wherein the holding groove is formed in at least one of an upper end and a lower end of the side wall. 9. The bathtub according to claim 7, wherein the groove is formed on the outer periphery of the side wall. 10. The bathtub according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a synthetic resin filled in the holding groove to firmly hold the ring therein.