JPH039718Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] "Purpose of the Invention" (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an operating section of a bubble generator that is attached to the upper edge of a bathtub or the like.

(Prior Art) A bubble generator is a device that ejects small bubbles into the water in a bathtub, and generates ultrasonic waves when the bubbles burst, allowing the user to enjoy a comfortable bath through ultrasonic stimulation. be. FIG. 4 schematically shows a conventional bubble generator 1. As shown in FIG. The bubble generator 1
A hot water transfer pipe 2 that connects a hot water intake port 2a opened on the inner surface of the bathtub 5 to an injection port 2b with each other outside the bathtub 5, and a hot water transfer pipe 2 interposed in the middle of the hot water transfer pipe 2. A pump 3 and one end 4 connected to the hot water transfer pipe 2.
It consists of an intake pipe 4, to which one end 4b is connected and the other end 4b is open to a bathroom or the like. Therefore, when the pump 3 is operated, the hot water in the bathtub 5 is sucked into the hot water transfer pipe 2 from the hot water intake port 2a, and when the hot water is spouted into the bathtub 5 from the injection port 2b, the hot water is sucked into the bathtub 5. Air was drawn in from the pipe 4 to mix air bubbles into the spouted hot water.

By the way, the bubble generator 1 includes a push button operation section 6 for starting and stopping the pump 3,
Various operating parts such as a dial operating part 7 for adjusting the amount of bubbles ejected into the bathtub 5 are required. Conventionally, these operation parts have been attached to the upper edge surface 5a of the bathtub 5 in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing the internal structure of the conventional push button operation section 6. As shown in FIG. The push button operation section 6
When a cap-shaped button 6a is pressed, a bellows pump 6b inside the button is compressed to send compressed air to a pipe 6c below. The pipe 6c was connected to a pneumatic switch 3a provided on the pump 3, as shown in FIG. The pneumatic switch 3a utilizes a diaphragm or the like (not shown), and is configured to appropriately switch the contacts of the pump power source (not shown) by compressed air sent through the pipe 6c.
In this way, since the push-button operating section 6 does not have any direct electrical contacts, even if the push-button operating section 6 gets wet, there is no risk of electrical leakage or short circuit. On the other hand, FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing the structure of a conventional dial operating section 7. As shown in FIG. The dial operation part 7 has an air intake hole 7b that communicates with the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4 formed in the middle bottom part 7c of a hub member 7f attached to the upper edge surface 5a of the bathtub. By rotating the dial 7
A flange 7e provided on the rotating shaft 7b of the hub member 7f gradually closes or opens the air suction hole 7d of the hub member 7f. In this way, the opening of the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4 is adjusted. Note that some models of the bubble generator 1 are equipped with a plurality of spouts 2b of the hot water transfer pipe 2 to the bathtub 5, but in this type of bubble generator 1, the above-mentioned operation parts 6, 7 are provided. In addition, spout 4
In some cases, a selection switch 8 for b.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The bathtub 5 as shown in FIG. 4 has an upper edge surface 5a along its longitudinal direction that is relatively wide.
Therefore, the push button operation section 6, the dial operation section 7, the selection switch 8, etc. could be arranged in a line. However, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of a bathtub 9 having a narrow upper edge surface 9a, it is not possible to attach the various operating parts to the upper edge surface 9a along the longitudinal direction. Ta.
Therefore, it is necessary to select a corner among the four corners of the upper edge surface 9a of the bathtub that does not interfere with bathing, and to mount the push button operation section 6 and the dial operation section 7 thereon. Therefore, not only is it troublesome and confusing to use each operating section properly, but also the operation itself is inconvenient. Moreover,
In such a case, due to the installation space, the selection switch 8 and a separate operating section for the drain valve (not shown) may be required.
It was not possible to install a so-called pop-up type drain valve (operating part).

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and even when the upper edge of the bathtub is relatively narrow, various operating parts can be easily attached thereto. The object of the present invention is to provide a new operation section that can improve the operability of the operation section.

"Structure of the invention" (Means for solving the problem) The gist of the operating section of the present invention is that the hub member is attached to the upper edge surface of the bathtub or in the vicinity of the operating section of the bubble generator provided for the bathtub. and an operating body held so as to be able to move up and down and rotate with respect to the hub member, and a pipe is connected between the hub member and the operating body to a pneumatic switch for starting the bubble generator. A compressed air generating body connected to the air bubble generator, and a valve body connected to an appropriate position of the bubble generating device via an intake pipe are housed inside the operating body, and the operating body abuts against the upward surface of the compressed air generating body. The present invention is characterized in that a pressing end portion is provided, and a valve driving portion is provided which is mechanically or integrally connected to the circumferential surface of the valve body.

(Function) When the operating body is pushed down, the pressing end inside the operating body presses a compressed air generator such as a bellows pump. Therefore, compressed air is sent to the pneumatic switch of the pump in the bubble generator, and the pump is started or stopped. Moreover, if the operating body is rotated,
The valve drive unit provided inside the valve drive unit also rotates in the same direction. Therefore, the valve body provided at the open end of the intake pipe in the bubble generator is driven by the valve driving section and operates to open and close the open end.
That is, since the opening of the open end of the intake pipe is adjusted, the amount of ejection cannon is adjusted. In this way, the operating section of the present invention is capable of operations equivalent to both the conventional push button operating section and the dial operating section using a single operating body. Therefore,
Even if the upper edge surface of the bathtub is relatively narrow, it is possible to attach various operating parts.

(Example) The present invention will be described below based on drawings showing examples thereof.

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the operating section of the present invention. The operating section of the present invention mainly consists of an operating body 10 that is attached to the upper edge surface 5a of the bathtub, etc., and this single operating body 10 allows the push button operating section 6 and the dial Operation corresponding to both of the operation parts 7 is possible. In other words, during bathing, etc., the bathtub 5
When attempting to spout hot water containing bubbles from the spout 2b (see FIG. 4), the operating body 10
If you want to adjust the amount of bubbles in the hot water, you can just rotate the operating body 10.

The operating body 10 is shaped like an upside-down cylindrical container with a shallow bottom, and can be moved up and down and rotated by a hub member 15 with respect to the upper edge surface 5a of the bathtub. It is maintained like this. The operating body 10 has an internal ceiling surface 10a.
A serration shaft 11 is integrally provided vertically at the center of the serration shaft 11 . The serration shaft 11 has a downward facing surface at the lower end thereof as a pressing end 11a, and serration teeth carved on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft serve as a valve drive portion 11b.

The pressing end 11a of the serration shaft 11 is
It is in contact with the upper surface of a compressed air generator 12 which is housed in the hub member 15 and is comprised of a bellows pump or the like. The compressed air generator 12 has a pipe 6 below it.
The pipe 6c is connected to the pneumatic switch 3a of the pump 3 in the bubble generator 1, similar to the conventional one shown in FIG. Therefore, when the operating body 10 is pushed down, the compressed air generator 12 is compressed, and control compressed air is sent to the pneumatic switch 3a of the pump 3. Although not shown, a coil spring or the like is housed inside the compressed air generating body 12 to assist the compressed air generator 12 in returning to its elongated state after being compressed.

The valve driving portion 11b of the serration shaft 11 has a sleeve 13 that meshes with its serration teeth.
is inserted. Therefore, the sleeve 13 is
It is joined to the serration shaft 11 so that it can slide along the axial direction, but cannot rotate around the axis. The sleeve 13
is provided with a tongue-shaped or flange-shaped valve body 14 that integrally projects in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, an air suction hole 16 is formed in the upper surface 15a of the hub member 15 in a region corresponding to the valve body 14. Therefore, when the operating body 10 is rotated, the valve body 14 opens into the air suction hole 1 of the hub member 15.
6 gradually opens or closes. The air intake hole 16 communicates with the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4 via an air chamber 15b provided inside the hub member 15, and also has a microscopic opening in which the operating body 10 moves up and down with respect to the hub member 15. It communicates with the atmosphere through a circumferential gap. Therefore, the opening degree of the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4 is indirectly adjusted by opening and closing the air intake hole 16 by the valve body 14 as the operating body 10 rotates.

(Study of another aspect) FIG.
1b and a valve body 14 provided for the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4. FIG. The valve body 14 of this embodiment includes, from the lower side, a packing 14a, a screw portion 14b, a spindle 14c, and a pinion gear 14d.
are integrally connected to each other in a non-rotatable manner. The threaded portion 14 of the valve body 14
b is screwed into the middle bottom 15c of the hub member 15, and the gasket 14a is positioned so as to face the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4 connected to the bottom of the hub member 15. In this embodiment, the air intake hole 1 is connected to the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4.
6 is bored into the surrounding wall for the valve body 14 in the hub member 15. On the inner peripheral surface of one operating body 10,
The valve body 14 is provided with a lock tooth that meshes with the pinion gear 14d, and the lock tooth serves as a valve driving portion 11b. In this embodiment, such a structure is adopted, so that when the operating body 10 is rotated, the valve body 14 itself is raised or processed while being rotated in the same direction. The opening of the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4 is adjusted by the degree of elevation. Note that in this embodiment, the air intake hole 1
Since the air suction hole 16 is located on the back side of the upper edge surface 5a of the bathtub, it is possible to prevent the air suction hole 16 from being clogged with dirt, limescale, or the like.

FIG. 3 shows a valve driving section 1 provided in an operating body 10.
1b and a valve body 14 provided for the open end 4b of the intake pipe 4. FIG. In this example,
A skirt portion 10c surrounding the central support base 15d of the hub member 15 is provided at the lower part of the operating body 10. The skirt portion 10c is adapted to slide around the central support base 15d of the hub member 15 to adjust the opening degree of the air suction hole 16 as the operating body 10 rotates. That is, in this embodiment, in the operation body 10, the skirt portion 10c is formed on the lower side of the operation body 10.
The inner flange part provided to hold the valve drive unit 1
1b, and the skirt portion 10c is used as the valve body 14. In this way, the configuration and shape of the operating section of the present invention can be changed as appropriate depending on the mode of implementation.

"Effects of the invention" As is clear from the above explanation, according to the operation section provided in the bubble generator according to the present invention, one operation body can operate both the conventional dial operation section and push button operation section. It has both. That is, even in the case of a conventional bathtub with a relatively narrow upper edge surface, for example, where there is only space for attaching a dial operating section, the same function can be obtained as if both operating sections were attached. Further, since the operation parts corresponding to the dial operation part and the push button operation part can be gathered in one place, not only the operability is improved but also the appearance of the bathtub does not deteriorate. Furthermore, since the space previously required to install a push-button operation unit is freed up, it is possible to install a selection switch or separate operation for a drain plug in this area, which was previously impossible to install. It has many excellent advantages, such as being able to attach parts etc.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of the operating section of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing another embodiment of the operating section of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing an embodiment of still another embodiment of the operating section of the present invention. , Figures 4 to 7 show conventional operating units, where Figure 4 is a perspective view of one installed in a bathtub with a wide upper edge surface, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of one with a narrow upper edge surface. FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing a dial operating section for adjusting the amount of bubbles, and FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing a push button operating section for starting the pump. 1...Bubble generator, 2...Hot water transfer pipe, 2a...
...Hot water inlet, 2b...Injection port, 3...Pump, 3
a... Pneumatic switch, 4... Intake pipe, 4b... Open end, 5... Bathtub, 5a... Upper edge surface, 10... Operating body, 11a... Pressing end, 11b... Valve drive unit , 12... Pressurized air generator, 14... Valve body.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The operating section of the bubble generator provided for the bathtub includes a hub member attached to or near the upper edge of the bathtub, and an operating body held so as to be vertically movable and rotatable with respect to the hub member. Between these hub members and the operating body, a compressed air generator is connected to a pneumatic switch for starting the bubble generator via a pipe, and a compressed air generator is connected to an appropriate position of the bubble generator via an intake pipe. A valve body is housed inside the operating body, and a pressing end portion that comes into contact with the upward surface of the compressed air generating body is provided inside the operating body. An operating unit provided in a bubble generator, characterized in that the operating unit is provided with a valve drive unit connected to the air bubble generator.