JPH06217897A - Foot cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of supplying hot water and to automatically supply hot water in a cleaning bathtub by providing the device with a hot water tank and to freely adjust the water level to be supplied in the cleaning bathtub. CONSTITUTION:A dry-type massage stand 3 is arranged on upper the surface of a device main body 2 of the foot cleaning device 1. A cleaning bathtub 4 is attachably and detachably arranged on the stand 3. The cleaning bathtub 4 is vibrated along with the dry-type massage stand 3 by a motor 41. The cleaning water is supplied from a hot water tank 13 through a water supply pipe 11 to the cleaning bathtub 4. Further, a cleaning instructing section and water addition instructing section are provided on a control section. When the control means accopts an ON signal from the cleaning instructing section, a water supply valve is opened for a prescribed time. When receiving the ON signal from the water addition instructing section, the water supply valve remains open until an OFF signal from the water addition instructing section, is accepted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foot washing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, foot baths have been put on the market in which warm water can be put in a container to warm the feet. For example, a foot bath made by Lofte Co., Ltd. is composed of a bathtub that stores hot water and a vibration part in which this bathtub is installed. When hot water is put in the bathtub and the switch is turned on, the vibration part is vibrated by a motor. The bathtub is then vibrated to massage and warm the feet placed in the bathtub.

[0003]

However, in the foot bath described above, it is necessary to bring hot water from the faucet or the like in order to wash the feet, and it is troublesome that the hot water has to be discarded even after use. There were many.

In view of this, the present invention provides a foot washing device with a warm water tank so that hot water can be automatically supplied to the washing bath without the need to carry hot water, and the level of water supplied in the washing bath can be set freely. Making it adjustable is a technical challenge.

[0005]

[Constitution of the invention]

[0006]

To solve the above-mentioned problems, a technical solution provided in the present invention is to provide a device body, a washing bath provided in the device body, and a water supply communicating with a tap water pressure source. A pipe, a hot water tank connected to the water supply pipe, a water supply passage having one end connected to the hot water tank and the other end opening to the cleaning bath, and a water supply valve arranged in the water supply pipe or the water supply passage. A drainage channel having one end opened to the cleaning bath and the other end communicating with sewage, a drainage valve disposed in the drainage channel, a control means for controlling the operation of the water supply valve and the drainage valve, and the control In a foot cleaning device including an operation unit that outputs an instruction to the means, the operation unit includes:
At least a cleaning command section and a water supply command section are provided, and the control means opens the water supply valve for a predetermined time when receiving an ON signal from the cleaning command section, and receives the ON signal from the water supply command section. The foot washing apparatus is characterized in that the water supply valve is continuously opened until an off signal from the water addition command section is received.

[0007]

According to the above means, when the control means receives the ON signal from the water supply command section of the operation section, the water supply valve is kept open until the OFF signal from the water supply command section is received. When it becomes, the water level can be adjusted to a desired level by outputting an OFF signal from the water addition command section.

As described above, since the water level can be adjusted to a desired level, it is possible to cope with the water level that changes depending on the size of the foot.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The foot washing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a massage function by vibration of a motor, a foot washing function by washing water and a detergent solution, and a blower (drying) for drying, warming, and cooling the feet.
It has three major functions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foot cleaning device 1 has a box shape, and a water supply pipe 10 and a drain pipe 17, which will be described later, project from the rear end surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the external appearance of the foot cleaning device 1 is such that a device body 2 having an L-shaped cross section, a dry massage table 3 fixed to the upper surface of the device body 2, and a removable massage table 3 can be attached and detached above the dry massage table 3. It is composed of a trough-shaped cleaning bath 4 arranged and a cover 5 detachably mounted on the upper surface of the cleaning bath 4. The cover 5 covers the washing bath 4 in order to prevent the foot washing device 1 from being dusted, and is removed and used when the foot washing device 1 is used. Further, each functional part of the present device is housed in the main body 2 of the device, and a leg portion 6 on which a rubber cap is arranged projects from the lower surface.

The leg portion 6 supports the device body 2 together with a support portion 7 extending downward from the rear (left side in FIG. 2) of the device body 2.

Next, the massage function of the foot cleaning device 1 will be described. In the device body 2 and the dry massage table 3,
Bosses 20 and 30 (FIG. 6) that project toward each other are formed, and the boss 20 and the boss 30 are cylindrical rubber members 1.
By connecting with screws 21 and 31 via 9,
A dry massage table 3 is connected to the apparatus body 2. Since the dry massage table 3 is connected via the rubber member 19 in this way, it can vibrate separately from the apparatus main body 2.

Further, the apparatus main body 2 and the dry massage table 3 are formed with loose fitting portions 22 and 32 (FIG. 7) which are adjacent to the bosses 20 and 30 and also project to face each other.
The loose fitting portion 32 is formed with a convex portion 33 projecting downward, and is loosely fitted into the concave portion 23 formed in the loose fitting portion 22. When the dry massage table 3 vibrates, the loose fitting portions 32 and 22 limit horizontal vibration within a predetermined range, and prevent the rubber member 19 disposed between the boss 20 and the boss 30 from being severely bent. It has the function of preventing and increasing the durability of the rubber member 19. A soundproof rubber 24 is provided in the recess 23 of the loose fitting portion 22, and a ring-shaped soundproof rubber 34 is provided around the convex portion 33 of the loose fitting portion 32. The soundproof rubber 24 is provided to reduce the vibration sound when the convex portion 33 contacts the concave portion 23, and the soundproof rubber 34 is provided to reduce the vibration sound when the tip portion of the concave portion 23 contacts the loose fitting portion 32. It is what

The locations of the boss 20 and the loose fitting portion 22 in the apparatus body 2 are as shown in FIG. 3 (the entire apparatus is seen from above with the dry massage table 3 removed), and four of each are formed. Has been done.

Next, the shapes of the dry massage table 3 and the washing bath 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. A plurality of protrusions 35 (FIG. 5) are formed on the upper surface of the dry massage table 3, and in particular, in the dry massage table 3, a wide protrusion 36 is formed at a position where the “arch” of the sole of the foot is placed. There is. Also, on the upper surface of the washing bath 4, the protrusion 3
5. A plurality of convex portions 25 are provided at positions facing the wide protrusions 36.
a and the wide convex portion 26a are formed. A concave portion 25b is formed on the back surface of the convex portion 25a, and the concave portion 25b and the protrusion portion 35 of the dry massage table 3 are engaged with each other. In addition, the wide concave portion 25b formed on the back surface of the wide convex portion 26a
Engages with the wide protrusion 35 of the dry massage table 3. Thus, the washing bath 4 is detachably arranged on the dry massage table 3 by engagement. The convex portion 25a and the wide convex portion 26a have an effect of not only giving a pleasant stimulus to the sole of the foot during massage, but also giving strength to the washing bath 4. In addition, this convex portion 25
Since the dry massage table 3 is engaged by using the a and the wide convex portion 26a, it is not necessary to newly form or attach an engaging member. Therefore, the thickness of the cleaning bath 4 can be suppressed to the necessary minimum.

A plurality of mounting bosses 37 (FIG. 4) are formed on the lower surface of the dry massage table 3. A motor bracket 40 is screwed to the mounting boss 37.

A motor 41, which is a vibration source for massage, is fixed to the lower surface of the motor bracket 40, and a rotary shaft 42 of the motor 41 projects above the upper surface of the motor bracket 40. A ginkgo-shaped unbalanced weight (eccentric weight portion) 43 is arranged on the rotary shaft 42. As shown in FIG. 3, the unbalanced weight 43 has a rotary shaft 42 attached at a position deviated from the center of gravity, and the rotation of the rotary shaft 42 causes the center of gravity to rotate in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the dry massage table 3 is vibrated in the horizontal direction via the motor 41 and the motor bracket 40. Also,
As is clear from FIG. 3, the motor 41 is arranged at a position apart from the center of gravity X of the dry massage table 3. Therefore, the dry massage table 3 is
It also vibrates vertically.

Next, the structure of the foot washing function will be described. In the present embodiment, the cleaning water is stored in the cleaning bath 4, and the feet are put in the cleaning bath. FIG. 8 shows a water circuit for washing water. As described above, the water supply pipe 10 that communicates with the tap water pressure source is projected to the rear of the device body 2, and the water supply pipe 10 is connected to one end of the water supply pipe 10a in the device body 2 and the other of the water supply pipe 10a. The end is a thermoelectric conversion element 6 described later.
Water supply port 64 of the first heat exchange chamber 64 formed on the upper surface side of
connected to a. The wash water drained from the drain port 64b of the first heat exchange chamber is sent to the three-way valve 12 through the water supply pipe 10b. The three-way valve 12 has a water supply pipe 10b.
(Water supply channel for three-way valve 12), water supply pipe 10c (three-way valve 1
2 first drainage channel) and three pipes of a water supply pipe 10d (second drainage channel of the three-way valve 12) are connected. Then, the cleaning water supplied from the water supply pipe 10b is selectively supplied to either the water supply pipe 10c or the water supply pipe 10d. When the washing water is sent to the water supply pipe 10c, the washing water is sent to the hot water tank 13. Then, the washing water is supplied from the warm water tank 13 to the washing bath 4 through the water supply pipe 11.

Explaining the drainage channel from the cleaning bath 4, two drainage ports 16, 16 are formed on the bottom surface of the cleaning bath 4. A drain pipe 17a is provided at the drain ports 16 and 16.
The cleaning water drained from the drainage ports 16, 16 is sent to the drainage pipe 17 communicating with the sewage through the drainage valve 14, the drainage pipe 17c, the manifold 18, and the drainage pipe 17d. An overflow pipe 15 is formed in the washing bath 4, and the wash water flowing out to the overflow pipe 15 is sent to the manifold 18 through the drain pipe 17b and is drained together with the wash water flowing through the drain pipe 17c in the manifold 18. It Also, the three-way valve 12
The water supply pipe 10d whose one end is connected to is connected to the drain pipe 17c at the other end and is also drained together with the wash water flowing through the drain pipe 17c.

The hot water tank 13 has an L-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 4, and has a bottom portion 13 a located below the cleaning bath 4.
And a standing portion 13b standing upright from the bottom portion 13a and extending in front of the dry massage table 3 and the washing bath 4. The bottom portion 13a is provided with a plate 56 having a plurality of holes 56a formed therein, and the wash water supplied from the water supply port 13c (FIG. 3) of the hot water tank 13 is provided in the holes 56a.
It spreads over the entire hot water tank 13.
The hot water tank 13 includes a heater 44 and a temperature sensor 45.
(FIG. 9) is provided and the wash water is warmed to the desired temperature. Further, a float valve 46 (FIG. 9) is provided in the hot water tank 13 for preventing dry cooking, and the heater 44 does not operate when the wash water in the hot water tank 13 has not reached a predetermined water level. It is like this.

A water supply pipe 11 (FIG. 4) is arranged on the ceiling wall 13d of the hot water tank 13. The cleaning water is first discharged from the water supply pipe 11 into the receiving portion 48 partitioned by the partition wall 47 in the cleaning container 4. 2 on the left and right on the receiving part 48
One groove portion 49 (only one is shown) is formed, and the groove 49 flows into the entire cleaning bath 4. Thus
The washing water gradually raises the water level of the washing container 4 without directly hitting the foot of the user. Further, the partition wall 47 also has a function of preventing the discharged cleaning water from splashing.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the hot water tank 1
A detergent supply unit 50 is arranged on the upper part of the unit 3. The cleaning supply unit 50 has a mounting boss 5 protruding from the hot water tank 13.
1, a detergent tank 53 having a supply port 53a which is opened and closed by the action of the solenoid 52 at the lower end, a detergent which has one end opened toward the cleaning bath 4 and the other end communicated with the supply port 53a. It comprises a pipe 54 and an atmosphere communication pipe 55 having one end communicating with the atmosphere and the other end communicating with the supply port 53a. When the solenoid 52 sucks the valve portion 52a, the detergent tank 53 and the detergent pipe 5
4. The detergent is dropped into the cleaning container 4 by communicating with the atmosphere communication pipe 55.

Next, the blowing (drying) function will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a duct 60 is arranged below the hot water tank 13. One end of the duct 60 extends upward along the rear side of the hot water tank 13 and its tip is bifurcated. One branch duct 60a (FIGS. 3 and 9) is on the right foot, and the other branch duct 60b is on the left foot. It is designed to ventilate the atmospheric flow. Further, a heater 69 by a heat transfer wire is arranged in the duct 60 so that the air flow passing through the duct 60 can be warmed to be warm air. The other end of the duct 60 extends to the central portion of the apparatus body 2, and a sirocco fan 61 is arranged at the tip thereof.

As shown in FIG. 5, a thermoelectric conversion element 62 is provided between the hot water tank 13 and the apparatus main body 2 to cool the air flow in the duct 60 to cool air. Thermoelectric conversion element 62
Has a first heat exchange surface 62a on the upper surface and a second heat exchange surface 62b on the lower surface, and one of them functions as a heat-generating surface and the other functions as a heat-absorbing surface depending on the direction of the current supplied. In the present embodiment, the second heat exchange surface 62b, which is the lower surface, acts as a heat absorption surface. On the second heat exchange surface 62b,
The fins 63 are arranged in thermal contact.

The fins 63 are arranged parallel to the air flow in the duct 60, and are converted into heat by absorbing heat with the second heat exchange surface 62b and further cool the air flow in the duct 60. Further, a first heat exchange chamber 64 is formed above the first heat exchange surface 62a, and wash water is supplied from the tap water pressure source through the water supply pipe 10a and the hole 65. The cleaning water that has exchanged heat with the first heat exchange surface 62a passes through the water supply pipe 10b, the three-way valve 12, and the water supply pipe 10c from the drain port 64b of the first heat exchange chamber, as shown in FIG.
It is designed to be sent to the hot water tank 13.

Next, the operation panel 71 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation panel 71 of the present apparatus is provided on the remote controller 70 which is separate from the apparatus main body 2. The remote controller 70 is provided with a light emitting unit (not shown), and a signal input from the light emitting unit to the operation panel 71 is transmitted to the apparatus main body 2
Is output to a light receiving unit (not shown). Further, the instruction received by the light receiving unit is sent to the control device 90 (FIG. 12) in the device body 2, and the control device 90 follows the instruction from the operation panel to operate the valves, motors, sirocco fans, etc. in the device body 2. It is designed to control the operation.

The operation panel 71 has a cleaning / massage /
An automatic switch 72 for instructing continuous execution of three steps of blowing air,
A washing switch 73 for instructing only the washing step, a massage switch 74 for instructing only the massage step 74, a drying switch 75 for instructing only the air blowing (drying) step, a drain switch 76 for instructing drainage of the washing water in the washing bath 4. And a start switch 7 for instructing execution of the instructed processing
7. A stop switch 78 for instructing to stop the instruction or to stop the operation halfway is provided. In addition to this, a water temperature changeover switch 79 for changing the water temperature in the warm water tank 13 to the normal temperature of the hot water, an air temperature changeover switch 80 for changing the temperature of the air flow to be blown into three stages of hot air / normal temperature air / cold air,
Massage adjustment switch 81 for switching the intensity of vibration of massage to strong or weak, and water injection switch 8 for injecting washing water
2 are provided. The instructions from the switches 79 to 81 are displayed to the user by the light emitting display by the light emitting diode.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described when the automatic switch 72 is selected. It is assumed that hot water is selected for the water temperature changeover switch 79 and cold air is selected for the air temperature changeover switch 80.

In the automatic process of this embodiment, a cleaning process using a detergent, a rinsing process, a massage process, and a blowing (drying) process are sequentially executed. When the user presses the automatic switch 72 and then the start switch 77, the controller 90 first closes the drain valve 14. Then, when the setting by the water temperature changeover switch 79 is hot water, the three-way valve 12 is energized by waiting for the water temperature in the hot water tank 13 to reach a predetermined temperature by the heater 44, and the water supply pipe 10b and the water supply pipe 10c are turned on. Communicate. Also,
At this time, when cold air is selected by the air temperature changeover switch 80, the thermoelectric conversion element 62 is also energized, the first heat exchange surface 62a on the upper surface side generates heat, and the second heat conversion on the lower surface side. The surface 62b is cooled. Therefore, the wash water that has exchanged heat with the first heat exchange surface 62a is sent to the hot water tank 13. Thus, hot water tank 1
3 is supplied with cleaning water, and the warm water in the warm water tank 13 is discharged from the water supply pipe 11 to the receiving portion 48 of the cleaning container 4.
At the same time, the control device 90 energizes the solenoid 52 to flow a predetermined amount of detergent liquid from the detergent tank 53 into the cleaning container. When a predetermined time has passed since the three-way valve 12 was opened,
The control device 90 closes the three-way valve 12 because hot water has accumulated in the cleaning container 4. Now you are ready to wash your feet. Then, the control device 90 opens the drain valve 14 after waiting for the predetermined time (about a minute) to elapse, and the cleaning container 4
Drain the warm water inside. Thus, the cleaning process is completed.

Next, the rinsing step will be described. The rinsing step is basically the same as the washing step except that the detergent solution is poured in. That is, the three-way valve 12 connects the water supply pipe 10b and the water supply pipe 10c to each other, whereby hot water is stored in the cleaning container 4. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the three-way valve 12 is closed, and the user rinses his / her feet in the washing container 4. At this time, the power supply to the heater 44 of the hot water tank 13 is simultaneously cut off. Then, the control device 90 waits for a predetermined time to elapse and then opens the drain valve 14 to drain the warm water in the cleaning container 4. Thus, the rinsing process is completed.

When the rinsing process is completed, the massage process is subsequently started. The controller 90 energizes the motor 41 when the predetermined time has elapsed since the drain valve 14 was opened, assuming that the hot water in the cleaning container 4 was completely drained.
The rotation speed of the motor 41 is the massage adjustment switch 81.
It is designed to be instructed according to the strength instructed in. As a result, the dry massage table 3 vibrates in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the cleaning bath 4 placed on the upper surface of the dry massage table 3 also vibrates. by this,
A comfortable vibration is transmitted to the sole of the foot, and a massage is performed. When a predetermined time has elapsed, the motor 41 stops and the massage ends.

Subsequently, a blowing (drying) step is performed. The rotation of the sirocco fan 61 causes an atmospheric flow. The large airflow exchanges heat with the fins 63 cooled by the endothermic action of the second heat exchange surface 62a of the thermoelectric conversion element 62, becomes cold air, blows through the duct 60, and is discharged toward the feet. At this time, the three-way valve 12 connects the water supply pipe 10b and the water supply pipe 10d, and the tap water supplied from the tap water pressure source is used only for cooling the heat generating surface of the thermoelectric conversion element 62, and the drainage water is discharged. It is supposed to be done. Thus, the washed and wet feet are cooled and dried. When a predetermined time elapses, the energization of the sirocco fan 61 and the thermoelectric conversion element 62 is stopped, the massage process ends, and the automatic process ends one way.

In the above operation, the automatic process has been described. However, when a switch for instructing individual operations such as the cleaning switch 73, the massage switch 74 and the drying switch 75 is pressed, the cleaning process, the massage process or the blowing process ( The drying process is performed in a single step. Further, in the case of a massage process during an automatic process or a massage process by the massage switch 74, the washing bath 4 can be removed and massage can be performed on the dry massage table 3. In particular, in the case of the massage process by the massage switch 74, the massage can be performed on the dry massage table 3 without getting the feet wet, and the massage can be performed while wearing socks or the like.

When the room temperature is selected by the air temperature changeover switch 80, the thermoelectric conversion element 62 is not energized. When warm air is selected, the thermoelectric conversion element 62 is not energized, but the heater 69 arranged in the duct 60 is energized so that the air flow becomes warm air. ing. Further, if it is desired to interrupt the above-mentioned operation on the way, it can be interrupted by pressing the stop switch 78. When the stop switch 78 is turned on, the control device 90 returns all the driving devices to the initial state. For example, when water is being supplied, the water supply is stopped, the drain valve 14 is opened, and the cleaning water in the cleaning container 4 is drained. The motor 41 is stopped when the massage is being performed.

Further, although not described in the automatic process,
In this embodiment, water can be injected in the washing process and the rinsing process. Water injection can be instructed by pressing the water injection switch 82 of the operation panel 71, and when the water injection switch 82 is pressed, the three-way valve 12 causes the water supply pipe 10b and the water supply pipe 10c.
And the washing water are injected into the washing container 4 through the water supply pipe 11. When the water injection switch 82 is pressed again, the three-way valve 12 is closed to stop the injection of washing water.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a foot washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the foot washing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of the foot washing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of a connecting portion between the dry massage table 3 and the apparatus main body 2.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of an engaging portion between the dry massage table 3 and the apparatus main body 2.

FIG. 8 shows a water circuit of the foot washing apparatus of this embodiment.

9 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of the detergent tank.

FIG. 11 shows an operation panel of the foot washing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of control means in the foot washing apparatus of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ・ ・ Foot washing device, 2 ・ ・ Device body, 3 ・ ・ Dry massage table, 4 ・ ・ Washing bath, 5 ・ ・ Cover, 10 ・ ・ Water supply pipe, 10a-d ・ ・ Water supply pipe, 11 ・ ・ Water supply pipe ,
12-three-way valve (water supply valve), 13-hot water tank,
13a ... bottom part, 13b ... upstanding part, 14 ... drainage valve, 17 ... drainage pipe, 25a ... convex part, 25b ... recessed part, 26a ... wide convex part, 26b ... wide recessed part, 35 ..
・ Projection part, 36 ・ ・ Wide projection part, 40 ・ ・ Motor bracket, 41 ・ ・ Motor, 42 ・ ・ Rotating shaft, 43 ・ ・ Unbalance weight (eccentric weight part), 44 ・ ・ Heater, 5
0 ·· Detergent tank, 52 · · Solenoid, 52a · · Valve part, 54 · · Detergent pipe, 60 · · Duct, 61 · · Sirocco fan (fan), 62 · · Thermoelectric conversion element, 62
a ... First heat exchange surface, 62b ... Second heat exchange surface, 63.
・ Fin (second heat exchange means), 64 ・ ・ First heat exchange chamber (first heat exchange means), 69 ・ ・ Heater, 71 ・ ・ Operation panel, 72 ・ ・ Automatic switch, 73 ・ ・ Cleaning switch,
82 ... Water switch, 90 ... Control device (control means).

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masami Inada 2-1-1 Asahi-cho, Kariya city, Aichi Prefecture Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device main body, a washing bath arranged in the device main body, a water supply pipe communicating with a tap water pressure source, a hot water tank connected to the water supply pipe, and one end connected to the hot water tank. A water supply passage having the other end opened to the cleaning bath, a water supply valve arranged in the water supply pipe or the water supply passage, and a drainage passage having one end opened to the cleaning bath and the other end communicating with sewer,
In a foot cleaning device comprising a drainage valve disposed in the drainage channel, control means for controlling the operation of the water supply valve and the drainage valve, and an operation section for outputting an instruction to the control means, Is provided with at least a cleaning command section and a water command section, and the control means opens the water supply valve for a predetermined time when receiving an ON signal from the cleaning command section,
The foot washing apparatus, wherein when the ON signal from the water addition instruction unit is received, the water supply valve is continuously opened until the OFF signal from the water addition instruction unit is received.