Bathing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a bathing apparatus which uses water pressure of water supply without using an electric device and is capable of safely and reliably bathing a person in need of care such as the elderly and the handicapped by simple operation.SOLUTION: A bathing apparatus which is attached to a bathtub 100 and moves a bather between inside and outside the bathtub 100 has: a change-over valve 10 which controls supply of water from a water supply adjacently attached to the bathtub 100; a hydraulic cylinder 20 capable of moving up and down by pressure of the water supplied by the change-over valve 10; an arm 30 which is fitted to an upper part of the hydraulic cylinder 20 and is horizontally rotatable; a chair 40 fitted to the arm 30; and a first piping 201 connecting the change-over valve 10 and the hydraulic cylinder 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathing apparatus for use in nursing facilities, hospitals, homes, etc., for allowing elderly people or physically disabled people to take a bath. [Background technology]

[0002] Various bathing devices have been developed to assist elderly people and physically disabled people in bathing (for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a bathing device having a mast section attached to a bathtub and capable of rising and lowering, a rotatable arm attached to the upper part of the mast section, and a chair section attached to the arm. When a person requiring care such as an elderly person or a physically disabled person is allowed to take a bath using this bathing device, the person requiring care is first seated in the chair section, and the mast section is extended to raise the chair section on which the person is seated. Then, the arm is horizontally rotated, and the mast section is contracted to lower the chair section, allowing the person requiring care to take a bath while still seated in the chair section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-75167 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a large driving force such as an actuator is required to allow elderly or physically disabled people to take a bath, and a hydraulic device or an electric device using a 100V or 200V power source is used as the driving source.

[0005] However, the use of electrically powered devices requires electricity, which incurs running costs and places a financial burden on users.

[0006] In addition, when using electrically powered equipment, splashes of water or steam can easily cause electrical leakage, which can lead to serious accidents for elderly people or people with disabilities.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a bathing device that uses water pressure from the mains water supply without using any electrically powered device, is economical with simple operation, and allows elderly people, physically disabled people, and other people in need of care to bathe safely and securely. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, one form of bathing equipment according to the present invention is a bathing equipment that is attached to a bathtub and moves a bather between inside and outside the bathtub, and includes a switching valve that controls the supply of water from a water supply system attached adjacent to the bathtub, a hydraulic cylinder that can be raised and lowered by the pressure of water supplied by the switching valve, an arm that is attached to the top of the hydraulic cylinder and can rotate horizontally, a chair attached to the arm, and a first piping that connects the switching valve to the hydraulic cylinder.

[0009] In addition, according to one form of the bathing equipment of the present invention, the switching valve has an inlet, an outlet, a water passage provided between the inlet and the outlet, a drain outlet for draining water on the secondary side to the outside, a valve mechanism that allows water to pass by opening the water passage or stops water by closing it, and after closing the water passage, opens the closed drain outlet to drain the secondary side water to the outside, a lever for operating the valve mechanism, a guide bush having a helicoid portion for converting the rotational operation of the lever into linear displacement, and a spindle having a follower portion at its upper end with a follower pin that is inserted into the helicoid portion and follows the helicoid portion, and having the valve mechanism at its lower end.

[0010] In addition, according to one form of the bathing apparatus of the present invention, the water pressure cylinder has a connecting joint having a supply port that supplies the pressure of water supplied from the switching valve into the water pressure cylinder, a cylindrical body that is screwed to the connecting joint and maintained watertight by a sealing material, a bonnet that is screwed to the cylindrical body and maintained watertight by the sealing material, a piston pipe that maintains watertightness between the bonnet and the sealing material and rises and falls due to the pressure of the supplied water, and a stopper that is screwed to the piston pipe and maintained watertight by a sealing material.

[0011] In addition, according to one form of the bathing device of the present invention, the bonnet has a communication port that communicates with the outside, and an intake and exhaust valve that is connected to the communication port and exhausts air in the water pressure cylinder to the outside when the water is allowed to flow or the water is stopped, and introduces air from the outside into the water pressure cylinder when the switching valve drains the water, and a second piping that connects the communication port to the intake and exhaust valve. Effect of the Invention

[0012] As described above, the bathing device of the present invention has the effect of enabling people in need of care, such as the elderly or physically disabled, to take a bath in peace of mind by utilizing the water pressure from the mains water supply.

[0013] In addition, since no electric device that uses a 100V or 200V power source is used, there is no need to worry about electrical leakage caused by splashes of water or steam, allowing for safe bathing.

[0014] In addition, there is an effect that a bathing device that does not require large-scale equipment such as a power supply device and that allows bathing with economical and simple operations can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a bathing apparatus according to the present invention when a hydraulic cylinder is raised. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the bathing apparatus of the present invention when the hydraulic cylinder is lowered. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bathing apparatus of the present invention from the outside and inside of the bathtub. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the switching valve according to the present invention with the water passage open. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the switching valve according to the present invention in a state where the water passage is blocked. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the switching valve according to the present invention with the water passage blocked and the drain outlet open. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an external development view of a guide bush of a switching valve according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The bathing apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic side view of the bathing apparatus 1 of the present invention when the hydraulic cylinder 20 is raised. A switching valve 10 is connected to a water supply pipe 200 installed adjacent to a bathtub 100, and a first pipe 201 is connected to a supply port 22 provided on a connection joint 21 of the hydraulic cylinder 20. A horizontally rotatable arm 30 is connected to the top of the hydraulic cylinder 20, and a chair 40 is attached to the tip of the arm 30.

[0017] The lifting action of the bathing apparatus 1 according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] According to the schematic side view of the bathing apparatus 1 of the present invention when the hydraulic cylinder 20 is raised as shown in Figure 1, pressurized water from the water supply piping 200 installed adjacent to the bathtub 100 is supplied from the inlet 11 of the switching valve 10, and when the water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 shown in Figure 4 is opened, water passes through the water passage 13, from the outlet 12, through the first piping 201, and is supplied from the supply port 22 into the hydraulic cylinder 20.

[0019] The joint 21 and the cylinder 23, the cylinder 23 and the bonnet 24, and the piston pipe 25 and the stopper 26 are fixed by threaded connections, and a seal material 50 keeps them watertight.

[0020] Further, the bonnet 24 and the piston pipe 25 are kept watertight by the seal material 50, but since they are not connected by threads, the piston pipe 25 slides within the cylindrical body 23 while maintaining a watertight seal.

[0021] In addition, when water is supplied into the hydraulic cylinder 20, the water pressure is applied, pushing up the piston pipe 25 and the stopper 26, and the arm 30 and the chair 40 attached to the upper part of the piston pipe 25 of the hydraulic cylinder 20 rise until the stopper 26 hits the bonnet 24.

[0022] In addition, when water is supplied into the hydraulic cylinder 20, the air that was in the hydraulic cylinder 20 is discharged to the outside from the intake and exhaust valve 28 connected through the second piping 202 that is connected to the communication port 27 that communicates with the outside of the bonnet 24.

[0023] Also, by closing the water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 shown in FIG. 5, the rise of the arm 30 and the chair 40 attached to the upper part of the piston pipe 25 of the water pressure cylinder 20 is stopped.

[0024] According to a schematic side view of the bathing apparatus 1 of the present invention when the hydraulic cylinder 20 is raised, a chair 40 carrying an elderly person or a physically disabled person can be raised using only pressured water from the water supply pipes 200 installed adjacent to the bathtub 100.

[0025] According to a schematic side view of the bathing apparatus 1 of the present invention when the hydraulic cylinder 20 is rising, when water is supplied into the hydraulic cylinder 20, the air inside the hydraulic cylinder 20 is discharged to the outside from the intake / exhaust valve 28 connected through the second piping 202 which is connected to the communication port 27 which communicates with the outside of the bonnet 24, thereby eliminating the poor response of the rise caused by the compression of the air inside the hydraulic cylinder 20.

[0026] According to a schematic side view of the bathing apparatus 1 of the present invention when the water pressure cylinder 20 is rising and a cross-sectional view of the state in which the water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 is blocked, the rise of the water pressure cylinder 20 can be stopped simply by operating the switching valve 10.

[0027] The descending action of the bathing apparatus 1 according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0028] According to the side schematic diagram of bathing apparatus 1 of the present invention when hydraulic cylinder 20 is lowered as shown in Figure 2, from the time when hydraulic cylinder 20 is raised as shown in Figure 1, by blocking water passage 13 of switching valve 10 as shown in Figure 5, the rise of arm 30 attached to the upper part of piston pipe 25 of hydraulic cylinder 20 and chair 40 is stopped, and by operating switching valve 10 to block water passage 13 of switching valve 10 as shown in Figure 6 and open drain outlet 15, the water in hydraulic cylinder 20 is discharged from drain outlet 15 of switching valve 10.

[0029] In addition, the weight of the piston pipe 25, stopper 26, arm 30 and chair 40 pushes the water in the hydraulic cylinder 20 out through the drain outlet 15 of the switching valve 10, causing the piston pipe 25, stopper 26, arm 30 and chair 40 to descend.

[0030] A schematic side view of the bathing device 1 of the present invention when the hydraulic cylinder 20 is lowered. The water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 is blocked and the drain outlet 15 is open, and by simply operating the switching valve 10, a chair 40 carrying an elderly or physically disabled person can be lowered.

[0031] The positions of bathing apparatus 1 according to the present invention outside and inside bathtub 100 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0032] According to the plan view of the bathing apparatus 1 of the present invention shown in Figure 3 at the outside and inside of the bathtub 100, the piston pipe 25 of the water pressure cylinder 20 becomes cylindrical when the water pressure cylinder 20 is raised as shown in Figure 1, and therefore the piston pipe 20 is attached so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the piston pipe 20 as the vertical axis.

[0033] According to the plan views of the bathing apparatus 1 of the present invention outside and inside the bathtub 100, by rotating the central axis of the piston pipe 20 of the water pressure cylinder 20 attached adjacent to the bathtub 100 around the vertical axis, the chair 40 carrying the elderly or physically disabled person can be moved outside the bathtub 100, allowing the elderly or physically disabled person to get in and out outside the bathtub 100.

[0034] A switching valve 10 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0035] According to the cross-sectional view of the switching valve of the present invention shown in Figure 4 with the water passage open, the switching valve 10 comprises an inlet 11, an outlet 12, a water passage 13 provided between the inlet 11 and the outlet 12, a drain port 15 for draining water on the secondary side to the outside, a valve mechanism 14 that allows water to pass by opening the water passage 13 or stops water by closing it, and after closing the water passage 13, opens the blocked drain port 15 and drains the secondary water after the outlet 12 to the outside, a lever 19 for operating the valve mechanism 14, a guide bush 16 having a helicoid portion 17 for converting the rotation of the lever 19 into a linear displacement, and a spindle 29 having a follower portion at its upper end with a follower pin 18 inserted into the helicoid portion 17 and following the helicoid portion 17, and having the valve mechanism 14 at its lower end.

[0036] In addition, by rotating the lever 19 from a state in which the water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 of the present invention shown in Figure 4 is open, the spindle is displaced in a straight line, closing the water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 shown in Figure 5.

[0037] In addition, when the lever 19 is rotated from the state in which the water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 according to the present invention is opened as shown in FIG. 4, the open spatial area of ​​the water passage 13 changes.

[0038] In addition, by further rotating the lever 19 from the state in which the water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 shown in Figure 5 is blocked, the spindle 29 is displaced vertically, blocking the water passage 13 of the switching valve 10 shown in Figure 6 and opening the previously blocked drain outlet 15.

[0039] 7 shows the shape of the helicoid portion 17 in the external development view of the guide bush 16 of the switching valve.

[0040] According to the cross-sectional view of the switching valve 10 of the present invention with the water passage 13 open, water from the tap water flowing in from the inlet 11 can be sent to the outlet 12 simply by rotating the lever 19.

[0041] According to the cross-sectional view of the switching valve 10 of the present invention with the water passage 13 open, water delivered to the outlet 12 can be discharged from the drain port 15 communicating with the outside by simply rotating the lever 19.

[0042] In addition, although the drain port 15 of the switching valve 10 according to the present invention is open to the outside, the discharged water can also be sent into the bathtub 100.

[0043] In addition, according to the cross-sectional view of the switching valve 10 of the present invention with the water passage 13 open, the open space area of ​​the water passage 13 is displaced by simply rotating the lever 19, thereby changing the amount of water passing through, thereby adjusting the lifting and lowering speed of the water pressure cylinder 20.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10. Switching valve 11 Inlet 12 Outlet 13 Waterway 14 Valve mechanism 15 Drain 16 Guide bush 17 Helicoid section 18 Follower pin 19 Lever 20 Hydraulic Cylinder 21 Connection fittings 22 Supply port 23 Cylinder 24 Bonnet 25 Piston pipe 26 Stopper 27 Connecting port 28 Intake and exhaust valves 29 Spindle 30 Arm 40 Chair 50 Sealing material (ring packing) 100 Bathtub 200 Waterworks Piping 201 First Pipe 202 Second Pipe

Claims

1. A bathing device that is attached to a bathtub and moves a bather between inside and outside the bathtub, comprising: a switching valve that controls the supply of water from a water supply system attached adjacent to the bathtub; a hydraulic cylinder that can be raised and lowered by the pressure of the water supplied by the switching valve; an arm that is attached to the top of the hydraulic cylinder and can rotate horizontally; a chair attached to the arm; and a first piping that connects the switching valve to the hydraulic cylinder.

2. The bathing device described in claim 1, wherein the switching valve comprises an inlet, an outlet, a water passage provided between the inlet and the outlet, a drain outlet for draining secondary water to the outside, a valve mechanism for allowing water to pass by opening the water passage or stopping water by closing the water passage, and for opening the closed drain outlet after closing the water passage to drain secondary water to the outside, a lever for operating the valve mechanism, a guide bush having a helicoid portion for converting the rotational operation of the lever into linear displacement, and a spindle having a follower portion at its upper end with a follower pin inserted into the helicoid portion and following the helicoid portion, and having the valve mechanism at its lower end.

3. The bathing device described in claim 1, wherein the hydraulic cylinder comprises a connecting joint having a supply port for supplying water pressure into the hydraulic cylinder, a cylindrical body that is screwed to the connecting joint and maintained watertight by a sealing material, a bonnet that is screwed to the cylindrical body and maintained watertight by the sealing material, a piston pipe that is maintained watertight by the bonnet and the sealing material and rises and falls due to the pressure of the supplied water, and a stopper that is screwed to the piston pipe and maintained watertight by a sealing material.

4. The bathing device as described in claim 3, wherein the bonnet has a communication port communicating with the outside, an intake and exhaust valve connected to the communication port for exhausting air in the water pressure cylinder to the outside when water is allowed to flow or is stopped, and for introducing air from the outside into the water pressure cylinder when the switching valve is operated to drain water, and a second piping connecting the communication port and the intake and exhaust valve.

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