JPH0326221A - Bathtub and hot water feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute the bathtub so that the aged and physically handicapped persons can taken a bath without the help of a person by forming an opening part through which the person can go in and out to the inside and the outside of a bathtub on the side part of the bathtub, and providing a closing means for closing this opening part so as to be freely openable and closeable. CONSTITUTION:As for a bathtub 1, when a door 3 is opened, only a small projection is left between the bottom face of the inside of the bathtub 1 and the floor surface of an external bathroom, and by a roughly usual walking action, a person can go in and out to and from the bathtub 1, therefore, an action for striding over an edge of the bathtub 1 can be made unnecessary. Also, when the door 3 is closed and locking metallic fixtures 6, 7 are locked, an opening part 2 is sealed up tightly, therefore, the inside can be filled with hot water in the same way as a regular bathtub.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a bathtub and a hot water supply device used in the bathtub, and particularly to a bathtub and a hot water supply device used in the bathtub, and in particular, to enable elderly people and disabled people with reduced walking ability to take a bath without needing assistance. Regarding the bathtub and water heater that made this possible. <<Background of the Invention>> Bathtubs installed in bathrooms can be roughly divided into floor-standing types and recessed types. In floor-standing bathtubs, when a bather tries to enter the bathtub,
It is necessary to straddle the edge of the bathtub.

In the case of a built-in type, the movement of stepping over the bathtub is small when entering the bathtub, but conversely, when exiting the bathtub, a large movement of straddling the edge of the bathtub is required. These movements during bathing are not trivial for a healthy person, but they are difficult for elderly people who can barely walk or people with lower limb disabilities, and may be accompanied by pain or danger. Therefore, these elderly and disabled people require assistance when bathing. Usually, this assistance is performed manually by family members, helpers, etc., and sometimes assistive devices such as lifts are used. In any case, the reality is that requiring assistance every time they bathe places an economic or psychological burden on the elderly and disabled, and limits the number of times they can take a bath. In addition, special bathing devices have been developed for severely disabled people and bedridden elderly people, but these devices are large-scale, require large installation space, and are expensive, so they cannot be installed in ordinary homes. Therefore, this invention was made in view of the current situation, and its purpose is to enable elderly people and disabled people whose walking function has declined to be able to use the bathroom at home on their own without the need for special assistance. The object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub and a water heater that allow easy bathing. (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the bathtub according to the present invention has the following features:
It is characterized by having an opening on the side of the bathtub that allows entry and exit into and out of the bathtub, as well as providing a closing means to freely open and close this opening. Further, the hot water supply device according to the present invention includes the bathtub, another bathtub having at least the same capacity as this bathtub, a hot water pipe communicating between the two bathtubs, and a hot water pipe disposed on the hot water pipe. It is characterized by having a pump that allows hot water to be moved freely between both bathtubs. <<Function>> In the invention related to the bathtub configured as described above, by providing the closing means in the opening formed in the side part, the side part of the bathtub can be opened and closed freely, and when the closing means is closed, the bathtub closes. Hot water can be supplied inside. In addition, in an invention related to a hot water supply device, when the pump is operated, hot water can be freely transferred between two bathtubs via a hot water pipe, and even after hot water is transferred from a bathtub equipped with a closing means to another bathtub, For example, the side of the bathtub can be opened by opening and closing the closing means without causing hot water to flow away. <<Example>> Next, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a bathtub used in the present invention. As shown in the figure, a bathtub 1 made of Hewei resin or the like has a rectangular opening 2 on one side that is wide enough for a person to pass through and deep enough to cut close to the bottom of the bathtub. The hinges 4, 4 arranged on the outside of this opening 2 close the door 3.
is installed so that it can be opened and closed freely. A step is formed around the opening 2 of the bathtub 1, which the door 3 comes into contact with when the door 3 is closed, and a packing 5 is pasted thereon.
Clamps 6 and 7 are attached to the outside right side of the opening 2 to keep the door 3 closed, and the clasps 6 and 7 are connected by a link 8, so only the upper clasp 6 is attached. The locking fitting 7 can be locked and released at the same time by the operation of . Furthermore, a step 1a formed inside the bathtub 1 is for a bather to sit on. In the bathtub 1 configured in this way, when the door 3 is opened, only a slight protrusion remains between the bottom surface inside the bathtub l and the floor surface of the external bathroom, and it is possible to walk into the bathtub l with an almost normal walking motion. Since it is possible to go in and out, it is possible to eliminate the need to step over the edge of the bathtub 1. Also, close the door 3 and close the fasteners 6 and 7.
When locked, the opening 2 is sealed, allowing hot water to be filled inside like a regular bathtub. Although not shown, as another embodiment of the bathtub 1, if the door is attached to the inside of the bathtub and opened and closed from inside, the door can be more reliably sealed by the water pressure inside. Furthermore, the door can be of a sliding type rather than an opening/closing type, and the shape of the door and opening can also be made into any shape other than a rectangle, such as a circle. FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a water heater used in the present invention. As shown in the figure, this hot water supply system includes a bathtub 1 equipped with a door 3 that can be opened and closed, and a normal bathtub 9 having approximately the same capacity as the bathtub 1, which are arranged in close proximity to each other. The lower part of the side wall of 9 is connected by a hot water pipe 10, and in the middle of this hot water pipe 10, a pump 11 whose pumping direction can be reversed, filters 12, 13, and check valves 14 to 17 are arranged. These bombs 11, filters l2, l3, check valves 14~
17 etc. are stored under the step 1a formed in the bathtub 1. The figure shows a state in which the door 3 of the bathtub 1 is closed and hot water W is supplied to the bathtub 1 from a hot water supply facility (not shown). When a bather wants to enter the bathtub 1, the pump 11 is first activated to move the hot water W to the bathtub 9, and when the movement of the hot water W is completed, the door 3 is opened. After the bather enters the bathtub, the door 3 is closed again, the pump 11 is turned over, and the hot water W is returned from the bathtub 9 into the bathtub 1. After that, when the bather wants to go out from the bathtub l, he moves the hot water W to the bathtub 9 in the same way and then opens the door 3. In this way, when using the bathtub 1 with the door 3 that opens and closes, the bathtub! Since the yR3 is opened and closed after the hot water W inside is moved to another bathtub 9, the hot water W can be reused without being thrown away, making it economical. In addition, hot water W is always kept clean because it passes through filters 12 and 13 during transportation. In addition, in the bathtub 9 where the hot water in the bathtub 1 is transferred,
A healthy person can take a bath by removing the lid 18. In other words, by providing a bathtub 1 with a door 3 that opens and closes in the bathroom and a regular bathtub 9, the bathtubs 1 and 9 can be used by the elderly, disabled, and able-bodied people. In addition, while the hot water W is being moved in the figure, it is also possible to monitor the water level in the bathtub 1 according to the body size of the bather, that is, the volume, and stop the pump 11 at an appropriate water level. This prevents the wastage of hot water and allows you to take a bath at the optimal water level. Note that it is possible to take a bath in the bathtub 1 shown in FIG. 1 without using the hot water supply device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
In other words, when supplying hot water to the bathtub 1, hot water is supplied from a hot water tap connected to a hot water boiler, etc. When the door 3 is opened and closed, the hot water inside is flushed away, and when the bathtub 1 is filled with hot water, a new hot water supply is supplied. It can also be used to supply from a tap.

{Effects of the Invention> As described above, in the bathtub according to the present invention, by forming the opening on the side of the oak, the bather can easily enter and exit the bathtub without having to step over it, and By providing a closing means at the opening, it is possible to close the opening and fill it with hot water after going in and out. Furthermore, in the hot water supply device according to the present invention, by moving the hot water in the bathtub to another bathtub when a bather enters or exits the bathtub, the side of the bathtub can be opened without the hot water being washed away. ．． As a result, elderly people and disabled people whose walking ability has declined can easily bathe on their own at home, etc., without the need for assistance.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings each show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bathtub, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of an embodiment of a water heater.
Figure 3 is a piping system diagram showing the piping in Figure 2. 1... Bathtub 2... Opening 3... Door 4... Hinge 6.7... Fastener 8... Link 9... Bathtub O... Hot water pipe 1... Pump 2.13...Filters 4-17...Check valve

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A bathtub, characterized in that an opening is formed in the side of the bathtub to allow entry and exit into and out of the bathtub, and a closing means is provided to freely open and close this opening. 2. A bathtub according to claim 1, another bathtub having at least the same capacity as this bathtub, a hot water pipe communicating between the two bathtubs, and a pump disposed on the hot water pipe. A hot water supply device for a bathtub, characterized in that the hot water can be freely moved between both bathtubs.