KR20210116011A - Bath and Method for Controlling the Same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bath which comprises: a tub; a drain hole provided in the tub; an inlet provided in the tub and into which water flows; an outlet provided in the tub and discharging microbubbles; a water pump and a mixer provided between the inlet and the outlet; a water tank communicating with the drain hole and the water pump; and a drain hose communicating with the water tank.

Description

Bath and Method for Controlling the Same

The present invention relates to a bathtub and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a bathtub and a method for controlling the same, which can efficiently bathe, dry, etc. pets.

Recently, pets (hereinafter referred to as 'pets') are continuously increasing. Pets mainly live in homes with people. Therefore, it is necessary to bathe your pet regularly. In addition, it is desirable to remove bacteria, etc. attached to the pet when bathing the pet. In addition, it is desirable to be able to dry the pet effectively and conveniently after bathing the pet.

Therefore, it is required to develop a bathtub that can conveniently and efficiently bathe, dry, and the like for each or a combination of pets.

In addition, it is required to be able to clean the bathtub conveniently and efficiently after using the bathtub.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems.

It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a bathtub and a control method thereof that can efficiently bathe, dry, etc. a pet.

Another object of the embodiment of the present invention is to provide a bathtub that can be conveniently and efficiently cleaned after using the bathtub and a method for controlling the same.

The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned can be understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Bathtub according to an embodiment of the present invention, a tub; a drain hole provided in the tub; an inlet provided in the tub and into which water is introduced; an outlet provided in the tub and through which microbubbles are discharged; a water pump and a mixer provided between the inlet and the outlet; a water tank communicating with the drain hole and the water pump; It may include a drain hose communicating with the water tank.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a first valve for selectively blocking the flow path is provided between the inlet and the water pump, and a second valve for selectively opening and closing the flow path is provided between the water tank and the water pump. can be

In an exemplary embodiment, a portion where the drain hose is connected to the water tank may be located below a portion where the drain hole communicates with the water tank.

In an exemplary embodiment, the drain hole may communicate with an upper surface of the water tank, and the drain hose may communicate with a side surface of the water tank.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a separate drain hose for discharging the water of the water tank to the outside may be connected to the lower side of the water tank.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the tub is cleaned, the first valve may be closed and the second valve may be opened.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the drain hole may be provided with a selectively openable cap.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an air pump for supplying air to the tub may be further provided, and the water tank may be disposed between the water pump and the air pump.

A method for controlling a bathtub according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first step of storing a portion of water in a water tank when draining water from a tub; The cleaning of the bathtub may include a second step of making microbubbles in a microbubble generator using water from the water tank and supplying the microbubbles to the tub.

According to an exemplary embodiment, in the second step, the water in the tub may not be supplied to the microbubble generator.

Each feature of the above-described embodiments may be implemented in combination in other embodiments as long as they are not contradictory or exclusive to other embodiments.

The bathtub of the embodiment of the present invention has the following effects.

First, according to an embodiment of the present invention, using microbubbles and air, there is an advantage that the pet can be efficiently bathed and dried.

Second, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that the bathtub can be effectively cleaned using microbubbles.

Third, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that the bathtub can be cleaned using water stored in a predetermined position of the bathtub.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a bathtub according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main component of FIG. 1 ; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a water tank installation part of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of FIG. 1 .

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, the components of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and examples specifically specifying them, but these are only used to help the understanding of the present invention.

In addition, specific components in the following embodiments may be shown or described exaggerated or reduced for convenience of description, but this is also for helping understanding of the present invention.

Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the form drawn in the embodiments or drawings to be described below, and various modifications and variations are possible from these descriptions by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, such modifications and variations is the scope of the present invention.

1, the overall structure of the embodiment of the bathtub according to the present invention will be described. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the tub 2 cut away.

The bathtub 1 may include a tub 2 for accommodating the pet in order to bathe and dry the pet. The tub 2 may contain water when bathing the pet.

The shape of the tub 2 is not limited, and may be any shape capable of accommodating a pet and accommodating water. For example, the upper portion of the tub 2 may be provided in a structure that is open and the remaining portion is blocked. The cross section of the tub 2 is preferably approximately elliptical.

The tub 2 may be provided with a holder 6 . A shower (not shown) through which water comes out may be detachably fixed to the holder 6 .

Meanwhile, an air outlet 42 through which air is discharged may be provided inside the tub 2 . The pet may be dried by the air discharged from the air outlet 42 .

In addition, an outlet 31 through which bubbles, preferably microbubbles, is discharged may be provided inside the tub 2 . It is possible to decompose organic substances and sterilize bacteria by the microbubbles discharged from the outlet 31 when the pet is bathed.

The tub 2 may include an inner tub 22 and an outer tub 24 . A bottom plate 26 may be provided under the tub 2 . The bottom plate 26 may be equipped with various electronic components. The outer tub 24 may be provided with a handle 7 .

The inner tub 22 may have a smaller diameter and height than the outer tub 24 . Accordingly, a space may be formed between the inner tub 22 and the outer tub 24 . Also, a space may be formed between the lower portion 222 of the inner tub 22 and the upper portion of the bottom plate 26 . Various parts of the space may be arranged. A grill 262 having a plurality of holes may be provided on the bottom plate 26 , and external air may be introduced through the grill 262 .

For example, a dryer 4 and a microbubble controller 3 may be disposed in the space. The dryer 4 can make air that can dry the pet after the pet's bath. The microbubble controller 3 can make microbubbles.

Meanwhile, a drain hole 92a may be provided in the lower portion 222 of the inner tub 22 . A cap 92 for selectively opening and closing the drain hole 92a may be provided in the drain hole 92a. Through the drain hole 92a, the water of the inner tub 22 may be drained to the outside.

An embodiment of the dryer 4 will be described.

The dryer may include an air pump 41 . An air hose 422 may be provided between the air pump 41 and the air outlet 42 . Air sucked in from the inlet 41a of the air pump 41 may be discharged to the air outlet 42 via the air hose 422 .

In order to heat the air coming out of the air pump 41 to a predetermined temperature, a heater may be provided. For example, a heating wire may be provided on the outlet side of the air pump 41 .

A control panel 10 may be provided at a predetermined position of the tub 2 . The control panel 10 may be provided on the tub 2 . The control panel 10 may include various input units, output units, and control units. For example, the control panel 10 may include a power button, an input unit 114 for operating the microbubble generator 3 , the dryer 4 , and the like. The input unit 114 may be provided in the form of a button.

An example of the microbubble generator 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 .

By using the microbubble generator (3), it is possible to increase the efficiency of bathing when bathing the pet. The microbubbles produced by the microbubble generator 3 can sterilize the bacteria on the skin of the pet or the bacteria separated from the skin of the pet. It can also decompose organic substances such as contaminants.

The diameter of microbubbles is smaller than the diameter of normal bubbles. The diameter of the microbubbles is 50 micrometers or less. Therefore, normal bubbles rise rapidly from water to the surface, but microbubbles have low buoyancy and rise by about 3 mm per minute and can stay in water for a long time.

In addition, microbubbles are reduced and converted into nano-sized nano-bubbles in water and disappear, thereby generating free radicals having an oxidizing power 2000 times or more compared to ozone. Since free radicals have excellent sterilization and decomposition ability of hard-to-decompose chemicals, they can be used as a water quality improvement and purification technology.

Microbubbles adsorb organic substances such as positively charged bacteria and viruses. When microbubbles are converted into nanobubbles and finally disappear, free radicals and high pressure are generated to decompose organic materials. Therefore, it is possible to decompose contaminants and sterilize bacteria by using microbubbles.

The microbubble generator 3 may include a water pump 34 and a mixer 36 . The water inside the tub 2 is sucked by the water pump 34 . In the mixer 36, water and air may be mixed to form microbubbles. The microbubble generator 3 may include a pressure reducer. The pressure reducer may serve to reduce the water pressure.

If the capacity of the water pump 34 is small, water and air may not be mixed in the mixer 36 . On the other hand, if the capacity of the water pump 34 is large, mixing of water and air is easy, but the microbubbles produced may not be soft. Therefore, a water pump 34 that is easy to mix water and air is used, but the microbubbles can be made soft by using a pressure reducer.

When a pressure reducer is used, the mixer and the pressure reducer may be configured as one module. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it will be described that the mixer and the pressure reducer are composed of one module, and when it is not necessary to distinguish the mixer and the pressure reducer, the module is expressed as a mixer. 2 shows the mixer/reducer 36 in which the mixer and the pressure reducer are modules for convenience.

Meanwhile, the inlet 32 through which water is introduced may communicate with the water pump 34 , and the water pump 34 may communicate with the mixer 36 . The mixer 36 communicates with the outlet 31 , and microbubbles may be discharged through the outlet 31 . An air inlet (not shown) through which air is introduced may be connected to the mixer 36 . A plurality of through-holes 32a and 31a may be provided in the inlet 32 and the outlet 31, respectively.

For example, the first hose 340 may be connected between the water pump 34 and the inlet 32 . A second hose 360 may be connected between the water pump 34 and the mixer 36 . A third hose 310 may be connected between the mixer 36 and the outlet 31 .

Accordingly, water in the inner tub 22 may be sucked into the water pump 34 through the inlet 32 . Air and water may be mixed in the mixer 36 to produce microbubbles. The microbubbles generated in the mixer 36 may be discharged to the outlet 31 . At the outlet 31 , microbubbles and water may be discharged together.

On the other hand, if the water pump 34 is operated even in the absence of water, the water pump 34 may be damaged. Accordingly, the inlet 32 may be provided on the bottom surface 222 of the tub, particularly the inner tub 22 (see FIG. 1 ).

With this configuration, since the inlet 32 is located on the bottom surface 222 of the inner tub 22 , it is possible to minimize the operation of the water pump 34 when there is no water. In addition, as soon as the inner tub 22 is filled with water, the water pump 34 may be operated immediately.

In addition, it is preferable to operate the microbubble generator 3 intermittently rather than continuously operate it. For example, it is desirable to operate for 30 minutes, then stop operation for a period of time and then restart operation.

The outlet 31 may also be provided on the bottom surface 222 of the inner tub 22 . The outlet 31 may be located opposite the inlet 32 .

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, a water tank 96 may be provided between the drain hole 92a of the inner tub 22 and the drain hose 94 . That is, the drain hole 92a of the inner tub 22 may communicate with the water tank 96 , and the water tank 96 and the drain hose 94 may communicate with each other.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the water of the inner tub 22 is drained to the outside, all of the water in the inner tub 22 is not drained to the outside, and some water may be stored in the water tank 96 . have. The water stored in the water tank 96 can be used when cleaning the tub 2 in the future. (Details will be described later.)

2 and 3, the water tank 96 will be described in detail.

The water tank 96 may be installed between the bottom surface 222 of the inner tub 22 and the bottom plate 262 . Also, the water tank 96 may be located between the water pump 34 and the air pump 41 (see FIG. 1 ).

A fourth hose 922 may be connected between the water tank 96 and the drain hole 92a. The lower end of the fourth hose 922 may be connected to the upper portion of the water tank 96 , preferably the upper surface. A drain hose 94 may be connected to the water tank 96 . The upper end of the drain hose 96 may be connected to the side of the water tank 96 .

Meanwhile, the water tank 96 and the water pump 34 may communicate with each other. For example, a fifth hose 314 may be provided between the water tank 96 and the water pump 34 . The fifth hose 314 may be provided with a second valve 314a for selectively opening and closing the flow path. On the other hand, the first hose 340 connecting the inlet 32 and the water pump 34 may be provided with a first valve 340a for selectively opening and closing the flow path.

3 , when the drain cap 92 is opened, water discharged from the inner tub 22 through the drain hole 92a may flow into the upper surface 922a of the water tank 96 . Water introduced into the water tank 96 may be stored in the water tank 96 . When water fills up to the inlet 942 of the drain hose 94 connected to the water tank 96 , the water may be discharged to the outside through the drain hose 94 . Accordingly, the water level 962 of the water stored in the water tank 96 may be below the inlet 942 of the drain hose 94 .

Meanwhile, in order to completely discharge the water of the water tank 96 to the outside, a separate drain hose (not shown) near the bottom of the water tank 96 may be provided.

An embodiment of the control configuration of the bathtub according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4 .

The controller 110 may have a predetermined algorithm. Various sensors 112 may be connected to the controller 110 . Various input units 114 for receiving a user's instruction may be connected to the controller 100 .

The sensor 112 may include a sensor for detecting whether there is a pet in the tub, a sensor for detecting whether there is water in the tub, and the like. The input unit 114 may include a power button, a microbubble controller operation button, a dryer operation button, a tub cleaning button, and the like.

A water pump 34 , an air pump 41 , a first valve 340a , a second valve 314a and the like may be connected to the controller 110 . In addition, various output units 120 may be connected to the controller 110 . The output unit 120 may be an LED, LCD, or the like.

The controller 110 receives the signals from the sensor 112 and the input unit 114 and passes through a determination process using a predetermined algorithm, and the water pump 34, the air pump 41, the first valve 340a, and the second valve 314a. ) can be controlled.

The input unit 114 , the control unit 110 , and the output unit 120 may be provided in the control panel 10 .

An example of the operation of the bathtub according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 .

A user may receive water from the tub 2 . The user may put the pet into the tub 2 and bathe the pet. The user may bathe the pet using the shower of the holder 6 .

The user may operate the microbubble generator 3 by using the control panel 10 at the same time or during the bath of the pet. At this time, by the sensor that detects the water level, if the water in the tub 2 is not filled with a predetermined water level, an alarm may be issued.

When the microbubble generator 3 is operated, the water pump 34 is driven to supply microbubbles to the inside of the tub 2 through the outlet 31 . The water pump 34 may operate for a predetermined predetermined time. Alternatively, the user may stop the operation of the water pump 34 at any point.

When the pet bath is completed, the user can drain the water from the tub 2 by opening the drain cap 92 provided at the bottom of the tub 2 . Water from the tub 2 may be discharged to the water tank 96 .

A portion of the water introduced into the water tank 96 may be stored in the water tank 96 . When water fills up to the height of the drain hose 94 connected to the water tank 96 , the water may be discharged to the outside through the drain hose 94 . Accordingly, a predetermined amount of water can be stored in the water tank 96 (refer to FIG. 3).

When the discharge of water from the tub 2 is completed, the pet can be dried. The user operates the dryer 4 through the control panel 10 . Then, the air pump 41 operates, and air is supplied into the tub 2 through the air outlet 42 . The air pump 41 may operate for a predetermined predetermined time. Alternatively, the user may stop the operation of the air pump 41 at any time. When the drying of the pet is completed, the pet is taken out of the tub (2).

In this state, in order to clean the tub 2 , the user may operate the bathtub cleaning function through the control panel 10 .

With reference to FIG. 2, a bathtub cleaning function is demonstrated.

When the bathtub cleaning function is operated, the second valve 314a between the water tank 96 and the water pump 34 may be opened. At this time, the first valve 340a provided between the inlet 32 and the water pump 34 may be closed.

When the second valve 314a is opened, the water pump 34 may be operated for a predetermined time to supply water from the water tank 96 to the inside of the tub 2 . Since the water in the water tank 96 is supplied to the tub 2 through the water pump 34 and the mixer 36, microbubbles may also be supplied to the tub 2 together. By the sterilization and cleaning effect of the microbubbles, the inside of the tub 2 may be cleaned. The user may manually assist in cleaning the bathtub.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, there is no need to separately supply water to the tub 2 using a shower or the like to clean the tub 2 , and water stored in the water tank 96 may be used. In addition, since the tub 2 can be sterilized and washed by microbubbles, the tub 2 can be cleaned with minimal labor.

On the other hand, unless specifically mentioned in the above-described embodiments, technical matters described in one embodiment may be substantially identically applied in other embodiments.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible from these descriptions by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, and these modifications and variations are the scope of the present invention.

For example, in this embodiment, although the description of bathing and drying the pet is not limited thereto. The bathtub of the present invention can also be used for the elderly, the disabled, infants, and the like.

1: bathtub 2: tub
34: water pump 41: air pump
96: water tank

Claims (10)

tub;
a drain hole provided in the tub;
an inlet provided in the tub and into which water is introduced;
an outlet provided in the tub and through which microbubbles are discharged;
a water pump and a mixer provided between the inlet and the outlet;
a water tank communicating with the drain hole and the water pump;
A bathtub including a drain hose communicating with the water tank. The method of claim 1, wherein a first valve for selectively blocking the flow path is provided between the inlet and the water pump, and a second valve for selectively opening and closing the flow path is provided between the water tank and the water pump. A bathtub, characterized in that. The bathtub according to claim 2, wherein a portion where the drain hose is connected to the water tank is located below a portion where the drain hole communicates with the water tank. The bathtub according to claim 3, wherein the drain hole communicates with an upper surface of the water tank, and the drain hose communicates with a side surface of the water tank. The bathtub according to claim 4, wherein a separate drain hose for discharging the water of the water tank to the outside is connected to the lower side of the water tank. The bathtub according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first valve is closed and the first valve is opened when the tub is cleaned. The bathtub according to claim 6, wherein the drain hole is provided with a selectively openable cap. The bathtub according to claim 7, further comprising an air pump for supplying air to the tub, wherein the water tank is disposed between the water pump and the air pump. a first step of storing some water in a water tank when draining the water from the tub;
and a second step of making microbubbles in a microbubble generator using water in the water tank when cleaning the bathtub, and supplying the microbubbles to the tub. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein in the second step, the water in the tub is not supplied to the microbubble generator.

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