Shower booth

Abstract

To provide a shower booth which is available also for applications other than taking shower.SOLUTION: A shower booth B1 includes: an inner case 2 which has a peripheral wall portion 22 for surrounding a space to be used when a user U uses a shower, and in which the peripheral wall portion 22 is opened when the user U enters the space, and the space is opened; an outer case 1 housing the inner case 2 in the inside, and having an openable / closable door 14 in a lateral portion 12; and a drive mechanism 6 rotating the inner case 2 in the outer case 1 centering on a rotary shaft along a vertical direction during the time that the door 14 is closed and the space is surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 22. The inner case 2 can be rotated while water is stored in the space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower booth, and more particularly to a shower booth having multiple functions. [Background technology]

[0002] In buildings such as residences, shower booths are sometimes provided instead of bathrooms (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In general, when using a shower booth, it is possible to reduce the amount of space required in a building compared to when a bathroom is provided. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Publication No. 04-008661 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, typical shower booths only have the function of taking a shower, and cannot be used for any other purpose. On the other hand, from the perspective of reducing the space required for various facilities in a home, there is a demand for shower booths to have more functions and be able to be used more effectively.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to solve the above-mentioned problems. Specifically, the present invention has an object to provide a shower booth that can be used for purposes other than taking a shower. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the shower booth of the present invention comprises an inner case having a peripheral wall portion surrounding a space utilized by a user when taking a shower, the peripheral wall portion opening to open the space when the user enters the space, an outer case that houses the inner case internally and has an openable and closable door on the side, and a drive mechanism that rotates the inner case within the outer case about a vertical axis of rotation while the door is closed and the space is enclosed by the peripheral wall portion, and is characterized in that the inner case is rotatable while water is stored in the space. With this configuration, the present invention provides a shower booth that has a washing function and can be used for purposes other than taking a shower, thereby reducing the space required for placing the shower booth and washing machine within a building.

[0007] In the shower booth of the present invention, the peripheral wall may be formed of a device that is extendable and contractable in the direction of rotation of the inner case. In the above configuration, when a user uses the shower booth, the space in which the user is present can be enclosed by the peripheral wall portion of the inner case, and when the user leaves the shower booth, the peripheral wall portion of the inner case can be retracted to open up the above space.

[0008] In the shower booth of the present invention, it is preferable that the height of each of the inner case and the outer case is 2 m or more. In the above configuration, when the shower booth is used for laundry, the shower booth can be used as a large-capacity washing machine, making it possible to wash relatively large laundry items such as blankets.

[0009] In addition, the shower booth of the present invention may further include a lighting device that irradiates light into the space, and an exhaust device that exhausts air within the space to the outside. With the above configuration, when a user takes a shower in the shower booth, the inside of the shower booth can be set to an appropriate environment (brightness and humidity).

[0010] In addition, the shower booth of the present invention further comprises a rotating body that is arranged at the bottom of the inner case and is rotatable around a rotation axis along the vertical direction, and a lid member that is arranged on top of the rotating body within the space to cover the rotating body while a user is present in the space, and the lid member is arranged within the space in a removable state. With the above configuration, when the user takes a shower in the shower booth, the user can be appropriately prevented from coming into contact with (interference with) the rotating body.

[0011] In addition, the shower booth of the present invention is equipped with a control device that controls the drive mechanism, and the control device stops rotation of the inner case by the drive mechanism when any of the following stop conditions is satisfied: a first stop condition that a user is present in the space; a second stop condition that the lighting equipment is on; a third stop condition that a user is taking a shower in the space; and a fourth stop condition that the space is surrounded by the peripheral wall portion and the peripheral wall portion is locked from within the space. In the above configuration, by controlling the drive mechanism to stop rotation of the inner case when any one or more of the first to fourth stop conditions are satisfied, it is possible to avoid the inner case rotating while the user is taking a shower in the shower booth.

[0012] In addition, the shower booth of the present invention may further include a rotation restricting member that is removably attached to the rotating body and that restricts rotation of the rotating body by being attached to the rotating body. In the above configuration, when a user takes a shower in the shower booth, the rotation of the rotating body is restricted by attaching a rotation restricting member to the rotating body, thereby preventing the rotating body from rotating while the user is taking a shower in the shower booth.

[0013] In addition, in the shower booth of the present invention, the control device may rotate the inner case using the drive mechanism when all of the following rotation conditions are satisfied: a first rotation condition that the peripheral wall portion encloses the space and the peripheral wall portion is locked from outside the space; a second rotation condition that the cover member is not positioned on the rotating body; and a third rotation condition that the rotation restricting member is removed from the rotating body. In the above configuration, the drive mechanism is controlled to permit rotation of the inner case only when all of the first to third rotation conditions are satisfied. This allows the inner case to rotate under appropriate conditions when the shower booth is used for laundry. Effect of the Invention

[0014] The shower booth of the present invention can provide a shower booth that can be used for purposes other than taking a shower. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower booth according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing an example of a user taking a shower. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower booth according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing an example of a situation in which laundry is being washed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a stop control process flow by the shower booth control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a rotation control process flow by the shower booth control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower booth and a washing machine according to a conventional example. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a shower booth according to a first modified example of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a shower booth according to a second modified example of the present invention.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, for convenience of illustration, in each drawing, even structures that are actually hidden inside and cannot be seen from the outside may be shown by solid lines. In addition, in each figure, in order to make the explanation easier to understand, various components are omitted and the illustrations are simplified and schematic, and the dimensions of each component and the spacing between components shown in the figure may differ from the actual ones. In the following description, a person who uses the shower booth to take a shower and to do laundry will be referred to as a "user."

[0017] <<About one embodiment of the present invention>> A shower booth (hereinafter, shower booth B1) according to one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, this embodiment) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0018] The shower booth B1 of this embodiment is disposed in a place where water is used (wet area), such as a sanitary room of a building. A user U can take a shower in the shower booth B1 and can also use the shower booth B1 to wash laundry C, such as clothes.

[0019] [Overall configuration of the shower booth according to this embodiment] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shower booth B1 of this embodiment is equipped with a water supply device for shower use (hereinafter referred to as shower device S1) including a water supply port dedicated to showering, a lighting device L, and an exhaust device H, which are equipment necessary for taking a shower.

[0020] 1 and 2, the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment further comprises a washing water inlet S2, an outer case 1, an inner case 2, a rotating body 3, a cover member 4, a rotation restricting member 5, a drive mechanism 6, various sensors 7, a control device 8, a shower operation panel 9, and a washing operation panel 10. The sensors 7 include a first sensor 71, a second sensor 72, a third sensor 73, a fourth sensor 74, a fifth sensor 75, and a sixth sensor 76. Below, each of the components of the shower booth B1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0021] 1 and 2, the outer case 1 is a rectangular box-shaped case capable of housing the inner case 2 therein. The outer case 1 includes a ceiling portion 11, side portions 12, and a bottom portion 13. The outer case 1 functions as a housing (booth) of the shower booth B1, separating the inside of the case (i.e., the space housing the inner case 2) from the outside of the case. Regarding the external shape of the outer case 1, the bottom portion 13 is approximately 1m square, and the side portion 12 has a height of approximately 2m, forming the external shape of a rectangular prism. The material of the outer case 1 is preferably one that has sufficient strength and heat resistance.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a lighting device L, an exhaust device H, a shower device S1, a washing water supply port S2, a first sensor 71, a second sensor 72, and a shower operation panel 9 are arranged on the ceiling portion 11 of the outer case 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shower device S1 and shower operation panel 9 are preferably located within reach of a user U inside the shower booth B1. Moreover, it is preferable that the lighting device L, the exhaust device H, the washing water supply port S2, and the first sensor 71 are disposed at locations facing the inner space of the inner case 2, as shown in FIGS.

[0023] The shower device S1 is a device that can spray hot water or the like into the shower booth B1 when the user U takes a shower. 1 and 2, shower apparatus S1 is provided with a second sensor 72 that detects that hot and cold water is being discharged from shower apparatus S1, and the detection result of second sensor 72 is sent to control apparatus 8, which recognizes the usage status of shower apparatus S1. The second sensor 72 can be a sensor that detects the flow of hot and cold water from shower apparatus S1, such as a flow rate sensor or a sensor for measuring water pressure provided in the water supply line to shower apparatus S1.

[0024] The washing water inlet S2 is a device that can supply hot and cold water to the inner space of the inner case 2 when the user U washes the laundry C. The washing water inlet S2 may be equipped with a mechanism that can supply chemicals such as detergent, bleach, and fabric softener into the inner space of the inner case 2. In addition, the first sensor 71 is a human presence sensor that detects a user U present in the inner space of the inner case 2, and the detection result of the first sensor 71 is transmitted to the control device 8 that controls the drive mechanism 6, and the presence or absence of a person in the inner space of the inner case 2 is recognized by the control device 8.

[0025] The lighting device L is a device that irradiates light inside the shower booth B1 (particularly, the inner space of the inner case 2). The exhaust device H is a device for ventilating the inside of the shower booth B1, in particular, a device for discharging humid air trapped inside the shower booth B1 by using a fan or the like while the shower device S1 is in use. The shower operation panel 9 is a device used to receive operations by the user U for various devices such as the shower device S1, the lighting device L, and the exhaust device H, and to display the operation status of the various devices. The shower operation panel 9 can transmit and receive information regarding the operations by the user U and the operation status of the various devices to and from the control device 8.

[0026] As described above, the usage status of the shower device S1, exhaust device H, and lighting device L provided in the shower booth B1, and the presence of the user U in the shower booth B1 are detected by the various sensors 7 and the shower operation panel 9, and recognized by the control device 8. To be more specific, for example, the usage status of the lighting device L is recognized by the control device 8 by detecting whether a light switch provided on the shower operation panel 9 is on or off.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing operation panel 10 and a door 14 are disposed on a side portion 12 of the outer case 1. The laundry operation panel 10 is a device used to receive operations performed by the user U on various devices when using the shower booth B1 for laundry, and to display the operating status of the various devices during laundry. The laundry operation panel 10 can transmit and receive information regarding operations by the user U and the operating status of the various devices to the control device 8. The laundry operation panel 10 is disposed on the outside of the side portion 12 of the outer case 1 so that the user U can operate it from outside the shower booth B1 when doing laundry. The door 14 is provided to open the space within the outer case 1 and allow access to the outside space.

[0028] 1 and 2, a drive mechanism 6 is disposed on a bottom surface portion 13 of the outer case 1. Inside the outer case 1, above the drive mechanism 6, the inner case 2 is disposed. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the control device 8 is disposed on the bottom surface 13 of the outer case 1. However, the location of the control device 8 is not particularly limited as long as the information transmission and reception function of the control device 8 is properly performed. For example, the control device 8 may be disposed outside the outer case 1.

[0029] 1 and 2, the inner case 2 is disposed inside the outer case 1, and is a cylindrical body that forms a space for taking a shower and also constitutes a washing tub. That is, when taking a shower, a user U can enter the inner space of the inner case 2, and when doing the laundry, laundry C can be placed in the inner space of the inner case 2. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the inner case 2 is in the shape of a cylindrical container with an open upper end for taking a shower, and includes a peripheral wall portion 22, an upper end opening 23, and a bottom portion 21. The bottom portion 21 has a size that allows it to fit within the outer case 1, which is approximately 1 m square in a plan view, and the peripheral wall portion 22 has a height of approximately 2 m.

[0030] When the drive mechanism 6 is operated, the inner case 2 can rotate within the outer case 1 with hot and cold water stored in the inner space of the inner case 2 and laundry C placed in the inner space. The material of the inner case 2 is preferably one that has sufficient strength, low thermal conductivity, and excellent heat resistance.

[0031] The upper end opening 23 of the inner case 2 is always open. Therefore, a user U in the inner space of the inner case 2 can directly use the lighting device L, the exhaust device H, the shower device S1, the washing water supply port S2, the first sensor 71, and the shower operation panel 9 arranged on the ceiling part 11 of the outer case 1 through the upper end opening 23.

[0032] The peripheral wall portion 22 of the inner case 2 forms a side body portion of the cylindrical inner case 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. More specifically, the peripheral wall portion 22 of the inner case 2 surrounds the inner space of the inner case 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and an expandable device is disposed in at least a part of the peripheral wall portion 22 of the inner case 2 along the rotation direction (hereinafter, circumferential direction) of the inner case 2. In this embodiment, the expandable device is a so-called accordion door 24. The accordion door 24 is a folding door that opens and closes by expanding and contracting a bellows-shaped portion. The accordion door 24 opens the peripheral wall portion 22 to open the inner space of the inner case 2, allowing the user U to enter and exit the inner space of the inner case 2, and allowing laundry C to be thrown into the inner space of the inner case 2. When the accordion door 24 is closed, the inner space of the inner case 2 is surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 22.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the accordion door 24 of the inner case 2 is provided with a locking mechanism including an inner locking mechanism 25 and an outer locking mechanism 26. The inner lock mechanism 25 is a mechanism that locks the accordion door 24 from inside the inner case 2 when the inner space of the inner case 2 is surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 22 (that is, when the accordion door 24 is closed). The outer locking mechanism 26 is a mechanism that locks the accordion door 24 from the outside of the inner case 2 when the inner space of the inner case 2 is surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 22 (that is, when the accordion door 24 is closed).

[0034] A member for preventing water leakage, such as a waterproof mechanism or a packing member, is disposed in the gap between the accordion door 24 and the other portions of the peripheral wall portion 22. This prevents hot and cold water in the inner space of the inner case 2 from leaking out of the inner case 2 when the accordion door 24 is locked by the locking mechanism (particularly, the outer locking mechanism 26).

[0035] 1 and 2, the inside locking mechanism 25 is provided with a third sensor 73 that detects whether the inside locking mechanism 25 is locked. The detection result of the third sensor 73 is transmitted to the control device 8, and the control device 8 recognizes the usage status of the inside locking mechanism 25, i.e., whether the inner case 2 is locked from the inside. 1 and 2, the outer locking mechanism 26 is provided with a fourth sensor 74 that detects whether the outer locking mechanism 26 is locked. The detection result of the fourth sensor 74 is transmitted to the control device 8, and the control device 8 recognizes the usage status of the outer locking mechanism 26, i.e., whether the inner case 2 is locked from the outside.

[0036] As the third sensor 73 and the fourth sensor 74, a sensor for detecting locking and unlocking, for example, a proximity sensor that detects the approach of a detection target part in the locking mechanism for locking or unlocking, can be used.

[0037] A drain outlet (not shown) is provided at the bottom 21 of the inner case 2. The drain outlet is configured so that its open / closed state can be switched by a solenoid valve (not shown). When the drain outlet is open, wastewater generated inside the inner case 2 by washing and taking a shower can be discharged outside the inner case 2.

[0038] 1 and 2, a rotating body 3 is placed in a rotatable state on the bottom 21 of the inner case 2. In addition, a cover member 4 shown in Fig. 1 is placed on the rotating body 3 while the user U is taking a shower. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, a rotation restricting member 5 is attached to the rotating body 3 while the user U is taking a shower.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rotating body 3 is a disk-shaped rotating blade, more specifically an agitating blade (pulsator), and can rotate about a vertical axis independently of the inner case 2 by the rotational force transmitted from the drive mechanism 6. The material of the rotor 3 is preferably a material having a strength suitable for rotor blades.

[0040] The lid member 4 is a disk-shaped flat member that covers the rotor 3 by being attached to the peripheral wall portion 22 of the inner case 2 below the inner space of the inner case 2 and above the rotor 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The lid member 4 can be easily attached to the inner case 2 and can be detached from the inner case 2, making it freely attachable and detachable. When the user U takes a shower, the lid member 4 is placed at the bottom of the inner space of the inner case 2 and forms a floor on which the user U's feet rest. On the other hand, when the user U uses the shower booth B1 to do laundry, the lid member 4 is detached from the inner case 2. The material of the cover member 4 is preferably one that has sufficient strength, low thermal conductivity, and excellent heat resistance.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the rotation restricting member 5 is a member that can be freely attached to and detached from the rotating body 3 and restricts the rotation of the rotating body 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the rotation restricting member 5 is a rod- or bolt-shaped fastener, and when inserted into a designated hole provided in the rotating body 3, the rotating body 3 is fixed to the outer case 1 or the inner case 2, thereby restricting the rotation of the rotating body 3.

[0042] However, there is no particular limitation on the configuration, shape, and mechanism for restricting the rotation of the rotation restricting member 5. For example, the rotation restricting member 5 may be made of a rubber packing member, and the rotation of the rotating body 3 may be restricted by fitting the packing member to the rotating body 3. Moreover, the rotating body 3 can be made removable from the inner case 2, and by removing the rotating body 3 from the inner case 2, the rotating body 3 can be prevented from rotating. Alternatively, a mating recess (or mating protrusion) provided on the rotating body 3 and a mating protrusion (or mating recess) provided on the inner case 2 may be mated to prevent the rotating body 3 from rotating. For example, the above-mentioned mated state may be formed by rotating the rotating body 3 forward or backward relative to the rotation axis to deviate from the normal mounting position. By using such a mating structure, it is possible to regulate the rotation of the rotating body 3 without providing a rotation regulating member 5 as a separate member from the rotating body 3.

[0043] When the user U takes a shower, the cover member 4 is attached to the inner case 2, and the rotation restricting member 5 is attached to the rotating body 3. On the other hand, when the user U does the laundry, the cover member 4 is removed from the inner case 2, and the rotation restricting member 5 is removed from the rotating body 3.

[0044] 1 and 2, a fifth sensor 75 that detects whether the cover member 4 is attached is provided in the inner space of the inner case 2. The detection result of the fifth sensor 75 is transmitted to the control device 8, and the use status of the cover member 4, i.e., the presence or absence of the cover member 4 in the inner space of the inner case 2, is recognized by the control device 8. As the fifth sensor 75, a camera that photographs the inner space of the inner case 2 to detect the presence or absence of the cover member 4, or a proximity sensor that detects the approach of a detection object, etc. can be used.

[0045] 1 and 2, a sixth sensor 76 is provided in the inner space of the inner case 2 to detect whether the rotation restricting member 5 is attached to the rotating body 3. The detection result of the sixth sensor 76 is transmitted to the control device 8, and the usage status of the rotation restricting member 5, i.e., the attachment state of the rotation restricting member 5 to the rotating body 3, is recognized by the control device 8. As the sixth sensor 76, a camera that photographs the rotating body 3 and its surroundings to detect the presence or absence of the rotation restricting member 5, or a proximity sensor that detects the approach of a detection object, etc. may be used.

[0046] The drive mechanism 6 is a device that applies a driving force for rotation to each of the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3, and is disposed near the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The drive mechanism 6 rotates the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 within the outer case 1 about a rotation axis along the vertical direction while the door 14 of the outer case 1 is closed and the accordion door 24 of the inner case 2 is closed.

[0047] More specifically, the drive mechanism 6 is a device that rotates the inner case 2 and the rotor 3 around an axis (not shown) connected to the inner case 2 and the rotor 3, and is composed of a motor and a mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the inner case 2 and the rotor 3. The mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the inner case 2 and the rotor 3 is not particularly limited, and may utilize, for example, a gear train, a pulley, or a cam link mechanism.

[0048] The drive mechanism 6 is configured to be capable of adjusting the number of rotations at which the inner case 2 and the rotor 3 are rotated, and may be capable of rotating them in both the forward and reverse directions. In addition, the drive mechanism 6 can send and receive information regarding the rotation of the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 to and from the control device 8, and the application of power such as for rotation of the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 is controlled by the control device 8. The drive mechanism 6 according to this embodiment has a rotating body drive mechanism that rotates the rotating body 3, and an inner case drive mechanism that rotates the inner case 2, separately. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotating body 3 and the inner case 2 can be rotated independently of each other.

[0049] [How to use the shower booth according to this embodiment] As a method of using the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment, a method of taking a shower and a method of doing laundry using the shower booth B1 will be described.

[0050] When a user U takes a shower in the shower booth B1, first, the rotation restricting member 5 is attached to the rotating body 3, and the cover member 4 is placed at the bottom of the inner space of the inner case 2 and attached to the inner case 2. As a result, the rotating body 3 is covered with the cover member 4, and the rotation of the rotating body 3 is restricted. After that, the user U enters the inner space of the inner case 2, closes the accordion door 24, and locks the closed state of the inner case 2 inside the inner case 2 by the inner lock mechanism 25. Then, when the user U operates a predetermined button or switch on the shower operation panel 9, hot and cold water is supplied (sprayed) into the inner case 2 from the shower device S1 arranged on the ceiling part 11 of the outer case 1. By following the above procedure, the user U can take a shower inside the inner case 2 of the shower booth B1, as shown in FIG.

[0051] When washing laundry C using the shower booth B1, first, the cover member 4 is removed from the inner case 2, and the rotation restricting member 5 is removed from the rotating body 3. After that, the user U puts the laundry C into the inner space of the inner case 2, closes the accordion door 24, and the closed state of the inner case 2 is locked from the outside of the inner case 2 by the outer lock mechanism 26. Then, the user U goes outside the outer case 1, closes the door 14 of the outer case 1, and operates a predetermined button or switch on the washing operation panel 10, whereby hot water, detergent, etc. supplied from the shower device S1 are put into the inner space of the inner case 2. Furthermore, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the washing operation panel 10, the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 rotate, thereby starting washing.

[0052] By the above procedure, the laundry C can be washed using the shower booth B1 as shown in FIG. In addition, the mechanism for adding detergent and for rotating the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 to wash the laundry C uses technology that applies technology from known washing machines (more specifically, drum-type washing machines).

[0053] [Control process flow of the shower booth according to this embodiment] The first to fourth stop conditions, the first to third rotation conditions, the rotation control process flow, and the stop control process flow for the control device 8 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0054] The control process flow according to this embodiment proceeds according to the flow shown in Figures 3 and 4. Note that the control process flow described below is merely an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, and the order of steps may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0055] In the control processing flow, the control device 8 can transmit and receive information input and output between various sensors 7, such as the first sensor 71, the second sensor 72, the third sensor 73, the fourth sensor 74, the fifth sensor 75, and the sixth sensor 76. In addition, the control device 8 executes a control process flow based on information received from the various sensors 7, as well as information received from the shower operation panel 9 and the laundry operation panel 10, and proceeds with each step. In particular, as described above, the shower operation panel 9 transmits information about whether the lighting device L is on or off to the control device 8, whereby the usage status of the lighting device L is detected. Furthermore, the control device 8 can set the drive mechanism 6 in a rotatable or non-rotatable state, and can control the drive mechanism 6 to execute rotation of the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3.

[0056] In the following, the processing by the control device 8 will be mainly explained. The stop control process flow and the rotation control process flow will be described below.

[0057] [Stop control process flow] First, the stop control process flow will be described with reference to FIG. The stop control processing flow is a flow in which the control device 8 controls the drive mechanism 6 so as to render the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 non-rotatable (to prevent rotation) when any one of the first to fourth stop conditions described above is satisfied, as shown in FIG. 3. When the first to fourth stop conditions are met, there is a high possibility that the user U is in the shower booth B1 (inside the inner case 2). Therefore, as described below, by setting a plurality of control conditions for stopping the rotation of the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3, it is possible to reliably prevent the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 from rotating while the user U is in the shower booth B1.

[0058] When a user U of the shower booth B1 uses the shower booth B1, the stop control process flow starts when a predetermined button or switch is operated on the shower operation panel 9 and the laundry operation panel 10. The control device 8 accepts a predetermined button or switch operation on the shower operation panel 9 and the laundry operation panel 10 (S001).

[0059] Thereafter, when controller 8 receives a button operation on either shower operation panel 9 or laundry operation panel 10, controller 8 determines whether or not a first stop condition is satisfied (S002). The first stop condition is a condition that is set for the detection result of the first sensor 71. The first stop condition is satisfied when the first sensor 71 detects the presence of a user U in the inner space of the shower booth B1.

[0060] If the first stop condition is not satisfied (S002: No), the control device 8 determines whether the second stop condition is satisfied (S003). The second stop condition is a condition that is set for the usage state of the lighting device L provided in the shower booth B1. The second stop condition is satisfied when the lighting device L provided in the shower booth B1 is turned on.

[0061] Thereafter, if the second stop condition is not satisfied (S003: No), the control device 8 determines whether the third stop condition is satisfied (S004). The third stop condition is a condition that is set for the detection result of the second sensor 72 that detects that hot and cold water is being discharged from the shower device S1 provided in the shower booth B1. The third stop condition is satisfied when the second sensor 72 detects that hot and cold water is being discharged from the shower device S1 provided in the shower booth B1.

[0062] Thereafter, if the third stop condition is not satisfied (S004: No), the control device 8 determines whether the fourth stop condition is satisfied (S005). The fourth stop condition is a condition that is set for the detection result of the third sensor 73 that detects that the inside locking mechanism 25 of the inner case 2 is locked. The fourth stop condition is satisfied when the third sensor 73 detects that the inside locking mechanism 25 of the inner case 2 is locked.

[0063] Thereafter, if the fourth stop condition is not satisfied (S005: No), the control device 8 sets the drive mechanism 6 in a rotatable state (S006).

[0064] Furthermore, if any of the first stop condition, the second stop condition, the third stop condition, or the fourth stop condition is satisfied (Yes in any of S002, S003, S004, or S005), the control device 8 renders the drive mechanism 6 non-rotatable (S007).

[0065] The above-described series of steps are repeatedly performed while the user U is using the shower booth B1 for the purpose of taking a shower. Then, when the user U finishes taking a shower and leaves the shower booth B1 (more specifically, the outer case 1), the stop control process flow ends.

[0066] [Rotation control process flow] Next, the rotation control process flow will be described with reference to FIG. The rotation control process flow is a flow in which the control device 8 controls the drive mechanism 6 to rotate the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 when all of the above-mentioned first to third rotation conditions are satisfied, as shown in Figure 4. When the first to third rotation conditions are satisfied, it is unlikely that the user U is in the shower booth B1 (inside the inner case 2). Therefore, as described below, by setting a plurality of control conditions for rotating the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3, it is possible to rotate the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 under appropriate circumstances when the user U does laundry.

[0067] When a user U uses the shower booth B1, a rotation control process flow is started when a specific button is pressed. The control device 8 receives a signal that a specific button for rotating the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 has been pressed (S011).

[0068] Thereafter, when the control device 8 receives a notification that a predetermined button has been pressed on the laundry operation panel 10, the control device 8 determines whether the first rotation condition is satisfied (S012). The first rotation condition is a condition that is set for the detection result of the fourth sensor 74 that detects that the outer locking mechanism 26 of the inner case 2 is locked. The first rotation condition is satisfied when the fourth sensor 74 detects that the outer locking mechanism 26 of the outer case 1 is locked.

[0069] Thereafter, if the first rotation condition is satisfied (S012: Yes), the control device 8 determines whether the second rotation condition is satisfied (S013). The second rotation condition is a condition that is set for the detection result of the fifth sensor 75 that detects that the cover member 4 is placed in the inner space of the inner case 2. The second rotation condition is satisfied when the fifth sensor 75 does not detect that the cover member 4 is placed in the inner space of the inner case 2.

[0070] Thereafter, if the second rotation condition is satisfied (S013: Yes), the control device 8 determines whether the third rotation condition is satisfied (S014). The third rotation condition is a condition that is set for the detection result of the sixth sensor 76 that detects that the rotation restricting member 5 is attached to the rotating body 3. The third rotation condition is satisfied when the sixth sensor 76 does not detect that the rotation restricting member 5 is attached to the rotating body 3.

[0071] Thereafter, if the third rotation condition is satisfied (S014: Yes), the control device 8 causes the drive mechanism 6 to rotate the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 (S015).

[0072] Furthermore, if any of the first rotation condition, the second rotation condition, or the third rotation condition is not satisfied (No in S012, S013, or S014), the control device 8 controls the drive mechanism 6 not to rotate the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 (S016).

[0073] The above-described series of steps are repeatedly performed during the washing period in which the shower booth B1 is used. When the washing in the shower booth B1 is finished, the stop control process flow ends accordingly.

[0074] [Effects of the shower booth according to this embodiment] The effects obtained by using the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0075] In a building such as a residence, when a washing machine X1 and a shower booth X2 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 5, these devices may be arranged near a place where water is used (a wet area).

[0076] However, in a typical residence (i.e., a conventional residence), the washing machine X1 and the shower booth X2 are arranged as separate devices, as shown in Fig. 5. As a result, in a building such as a residence, it is necessary to secure a space for each of the washing machine X1 and the shower booth X2, and the space for these devices is large.

[0077] In contrast, the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, has a function for washing laundry C. Therefore, in the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment, the arrangement space for the washing machine X1 and the shower booth X2 can be reduced compared to the general example described above.

[0078] Moreover, in the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment, the height of each of the outer case 1 and the inner case 2 is 2 m or more. As a result, when using the shower booth B1 to take a shower, the user U can take a shower appropriately within the shower booth B1, taking advantage of the 2m height of the shower booth B1. When using the shower booth B1 for doing laundry, the 2m height of the shower booth B1 can be used to wash laundry C, such as bedding (blankets, etc.), which is larger than clothes, and the shower booth B1 can be used as a large-capacity washing machine.

[0079] Moreover, the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment further comprises a cover member 4 and a rotation restricting member 5. As a result, when the shower booth B1 is used for taking a shower, the cover member 4 separates the user U from the rotating body 3 so that they do not come into contact with each other, and the rotation restricting member 5 restricts the rotation of the rotating body 3. This alleviates problems such as the user U coming into contact with the rotating rotating body 3, allowing the shower booth B1 to be used appropriately.

[0080] Furthermore, in the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment, the driving mechanism 6 causes the rotating body 3 and the inner case 2 to rotate independently. As a result, when the shower booth B1 is used for washing, the rotation of the rotating body 3 is added to the rotation of the inner case 2, so that the laundry C inside the inner case 2 can be rotated more effectively and washed more efficiently.

[0081] Moreover, the shower booth B1 according to this embodiment further includes an accordion door 24, on which an inner locking mechanism 25 and an outer locking mechanism 26 are arranged. As a result, when the user U takes a shower, the accordion door 24 can be locked in a closed state from the inside, thereby preventing the accordion door 24 from being opened from the outside. Also, when the user U does laundry, the accordion door 24 can be locked from the outside in a securely closed state, so that hot and cold water in the inner space of the inner case 2 can be prevented from being discharged to the outside due to rotation of the inner case 2. Therefore, when the user U takes a shower or does laundry, the inner space of the inner case 2 can be more appropriately enclosed by the inner case 2.

[0082] The shower booth B1 according to this embodiment also includes various sensors 7, a control device 8, a shower operation panel 9, and a laundry operation panel 10. Controller 8 appropriately recognizes the usage status of shower booth B1 from information received from various sensors 7, shower operation panel 9, and laundry operation panel 10. Furthermore, the control device 8 controls the drive mechanism 6 to a non-rotatable state when any one or more of the first stop condition to the third stop condition are satisfied, and controls the drive mechanism 6 to rotate the inner case 2 and the rotating body 3 when all of the first rotation condition to the third rotation condition are satisfied.

[0083] By the above control, it is possible to prevent the inner case 2 from rotating while the user U is taking a shower in the shower booth B1, and when the user U uses the shower booth B1 for doing laundry, the inner case 2 can be rotated under appropriate circumstances.

[0084] <<Other embodiments>> While the shower booth of the present invention has been described above using specific embodiments as examples, the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples for the purpose of making the present invention easier to understand, and are not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention naturally includes equivalents thereof.

[0085] Other embodiments of the present invention include shower booths B2 and B3 shown in Figures 6 and 7. The basic configuration of these shower booths B2 and B3 is substantially the same as the basic configuration of the shower booth B1 according to the embodiment described above.

[0086] In the shower booth B2 shown in Figure 6, a peripheral wall water supply port (hereinafter referred to as the peripheral wall shower device S3) that discharges hot and cold water into the inner space of the inner case 2 may be provided at one or more locations in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 22 of the inner case 2. According to the shower booth B2 configured as described above, when the user U takes a shower, the hot and cold water discharged from the peripheral wall shower device S3 allows the user U to take a shower from various directions. Also, when the shower booth B2 is used for washing, the hot and cold water discharged from the peripheral wall shower device S3 can be used to wash the laundry C.

[0087] 7, the height of the inner case 2 may be approximately the same as that of a known washing machine, or may be up to the abdomen of an adult male when inside the inner case 2. Also, in the shower booth B3, as long as the user U can easily straddle the peripheral wall portion 22 of the inner case 2, the accordion door 24 does not need to be provided. According to the shower booth B3 configured as described above, the upper inner portion of the side 12 of the outer case 1 is not covered by the inner case 2, so that equipment such as the shower device S1 and faucet F can be placed in the upper inner portion of the side 12 of the outer case 1, as shown in FIG. 7. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] B1, B2, B3 Shower booths C Laundry F Faucet H Exhaust system L Lighting equipment S1 shower unit S2 Washing water inlet S3 Peripheral shower unit U User X1 Washing machine X2 Shower Booth 1 Outer case 2 Inner case 3 Rotating body 4 Cover member 5 Rotation restriction member 6 Drive mechanism 7 Sensors 8 Control device 9 Shower control panel 10 Washing operation panel 11 Ceiling 12 Side 13 Bottom part 14 Doors 21 Bottom 22 Peripheral wall section 23 Top opening 24 Accordion Door 25 Inner locking mechanism 26 Outer locking mechanism 71 First Sensor 72 Second Sensor 73 3rd Sensor 74 4th Sensor 75 5th Sensor 76 6th Sensor

Claims

1. an inner case having a peripheral wall portion surrounding a space used by a user when using the shower, the peripheral wall portion opening when the user enters the space to expose the space; an outer case that houses the inner case therein and has an openable and closable door on one side; a drive mechanism that rotates the inner case within the outer case about a rotation axis along a vertical direction while the door is closed and the space is enclosed by the peripheral wall portion, The shower booth wherein the inner case is rotatable with water stored in the space.

2. The shower booth according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall portion is formed by a device that is extendable and contractable along a rotational direction of the inner case.

3. 2. The shower booth according to claim 1, wherein the height of each of the inner case and the outer case is 2 m or more.

4. A lighting device that irradiates light into the space; The shower booth according to claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust device that exhausts air from within the space to the outside of the space.

5. a rotor that is disposed at a bottom of the inner case and is rotatable about a rotation axis along a vertical direction; a cover member disposed on the rotating body in the space to cover the rotating body while a user is present in the space; The shower booth according to claim 4 , wherein the cover member is disposed within the space in a detachable state.

6. A control device for controlling the drive mechanism, The control device includes: A first precondition is that a user is present in the space; a second stop condition being that the lighting device is on; A third stop condition is that a user is taking a shower in the space; and 6. The shower booth of claim 5, wherein when a fourth stop condition is satisfied, that is, when the peripheral wall portion encloses the space and the peripheral wall portion is locked from within the space, rotation of the inner case by the drive mechanism is stopped.

7. 7. The shower booth according to claim 6, further comprising a rotation restricting member removably attached to said rotating body, said rotation restricting member being attached to said rotating body to restrict rotation of said rotating body.

8. The control device includes: a first rotation condition in which the peripheral wall portion is locked from outside the space in a state in which the space is surrounded by the peripheral wall portion; A second rotation condition in which the cover member is not disposed on the rotating body; and 8. The shower booth according to claim 7, wherein the inner case is rotated by the drive mechanism when a third rotation condition is satisfied, the third rotation condition being that the rotation restricting member is detached from the rotating body.

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