Washroom floor

Abstract

To provide a washroom floor that is easy to use.SOLUTION: A washroom floor having a drainage slope includes an upper portion and a drainage groove recessed downward from the upper portion. The drainage groove has a downward slope portion located at the bottom of the drainage slope and an upward slope portion located above the downward slope portion. The downward slope portion has an inclination angle greater than 0 degree with respect to the horizontal line. The contact angle of an oil droplet made of oleic acid with a tangent to the downward slope portion is smaller than the contact angle of a water droplet with a tangent to the downward slope portion. The drainage groove has a sum of the inclination angle and the contact angle of the oil droplet made of oleic acid with a tangent to the downward slope portion that is less than 90 degrees.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a washroom floor.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a washroom floor provided with a drain groove for guiding hot and cold water toward a drain outlet (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The washroom floor provides drainage performance to the drain outlet by providing a drainage gradient generally toward the drain outlet as a whole. Among the drain grooves, the inclined portion located on the drain outlet side causes hot and cold water to flow to the side opposite to the drain outlet due to the inclination. In such a case, if sebum dirt of the human body accumulates at the bottom of the drain groove, there is a risk that the sebum dirt becomes difficult to peel off.

[0005] The present invention has been made based on the recognition of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a washroom floor that is easy to use.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The first invention is a washroom floor having a drainage gradient, comprising an upper part and a drainage groove recessed downward from the upper part. The drainage groove has a lower inclined part which is an inclined part located downward in the drainage gradient, and an upper inclined part which is an inclined part located above the lower inclined part. The lower inclined part has an inclination angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to the horizontal line, and the contact angle of an oil droplet composed of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line in the lower inclined part is smaller than the contact angle of a water droplet with respect to the tangent line in the lower inclined part. The drainage groove is characterized in that the sum of the inclination angle and the contact angle of the oil droplet composed of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line in the lower inclined part is smaller than 90 degrees.

[0007] If the sebum dirt (oil droplets) of the human body adheres to the bottom of the drainage groove, it becomes difficult to peel off due to the influence of less water flowing strongly into the bottom. According to this washroom floor, the sebum dirt can be temporarily held on the inclined part so as not to enter the bottom, and can be discharged by riding on the water flowing toward the bottom. That is, this washroom floor can make the sebum dirt flow easily toward the bottom together with the water.

[0008] The second invention is a washroom floor having a drainage gradient, comprising an upper part and a drainage groove recessed downward from the upper part. The drainage groove has a lower inclined part which is an inclined part located downward in the drainage gradient, and an upper inclined part which is an inclined part located above the lower inclined part. The contact angle of an oil droplet composed of oleic acid on the lower inclined part is smaller than the contact angle of a water droplet on the lower inclined part. The lower inclined part has an inclination angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to the horizontal line, and the sum of the inclination angle and the contact angle of the oil droplet composed of oleic acid on the lower inclined part is smaller than 90 degrees.

[0009] When sebum dirt (oil droplets) on the human body adheres to the bottom of the drain, it becomes difficult to peel off due to the influence of less water vigorously entering the bottom. According to this washroom floor, the sebum dirt can be temporarily held on the inclined part so that it does not enter the bottom, and can be discharged by riding on the water flowing toward the bottom. That is, this washroom floor can make the sebum dirt flow easily toward the bottom together with the water.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, a washroom floor that is easy to use can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bathroom unit including a washroom floor according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the bathroom unit 1 includes a washroom floor 10, a bathtub 90, and wall panels 96a to 96f.

[0013] In the space beside the bathtub 90, the washroom floor 10 is installed. The surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 has waterproofness that does not allow water to leak to the outside of the bathroom. In the present specification, the term "water" includes not only cold water but also heated hot water.

[0014] On the back side (lower side) of the washroom floor 10, a drain pipe 92 is provided near the boundary with the bathtub 90. In the washroom floor 10, for example, near the boundary with the bathtub 90, a drain port 10h communicating with the drain pipe 92 is formed. The portion where the drain port 10h is provided is recessed downward, and the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 has a drainage gradient inclined downward toward the drain port 10h. Also, a drain port (not shown) provided at the bottom of the bathtub 90 is connected to the drain pipe 92. The inclination angle of the drainage gradient with respect to the horizontal is, for example, 1.1 degrees.

[0015] At the boundary between the bathtub 90 and the washroom floor 10, a bath apron 94 is provided to cover the side surface of the bathtub 90 on the washroom floor 10 side. Note that depending on the structure of the bathtub 90, there are cases where the bath apron 94 may not be provided.

[0016] As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, wall panels 96a to 96c are installed on the rim of the bathtub 90. Also, wall panels 96d to 96f are installed on the peripheral edge of the washroom floor 10. Further, a door is attached to the wall panel 96f via a door attachment frame (not shown).

[0017] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the washroom floor as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the washroom floor as viewed from the direction of arrow A-A in FIG. 2. The surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 is formed in an uneven shape. In FIG. 2, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the unevenness formed on the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 is omitted. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, a drainage gradient is formed on the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 toward the drain 10h. Thereby, the water adhering to the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 flows toward the drain 10h.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the washroom floor 10 includes an upper part 20 and a drainage groove 30 that is recessed downward from the upper part 20. The washroom floor 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a drain 10h provided on the left side of the drawing sheet and a wall panel 96e provided on the right side of the drawing sheet. Therefore, the washroom floor 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a drainage gradient formed from the right side to the left side of the drawing sheet. The upper part 20 is at the highest position between adjacent drainage grooves 30.

[0019] For example, a grid-like drainage groove is formed on the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10. The drainage groove 30 shown in FIG. 3 extends, for example, in a direction parallel to the bathtub 90. The water flowing into the drainage groove 30 is guided to the drain 10h through a drainage groove (not shown) connected to the drain 10h.

[0020] The drainage groove 30 has a downward inclined part 40 and an upward inclined part 50. The downward inclined part 40 and the upward inclined part 50 face each other. The downward inclined part 40 is an inclined part located downward in the drainage gradient. That is, the downward inclined part 40 is the inclined part of the drainage groove 30 that is close to the drain 10h. The upward inclined part 50 is an inclined part located above the downward inclined part 40. That is, the upward inclined part 50 is the inclined part of the drainage groove 30 that is farther from the drain 10h than the downward inclined part 40. In this example, the downward inclined part 40 and the upward inclined part 50 are formed in a gentle curved shape and are connected at the bottom 31 of the drainage groove 30. Note that the bottom 31 of the drainage groove 30 refers to, for example, the lowest position of the drainage groove 30 when the washroom floor 10 is installed horizontally.

[0021] The water on the upper inclined portion 50 flows toward the bottom 31 due to the inclination of the upper inclined portion 50 and the drainage gradient. On the other hand, the inclination of the lower inclined portion 40 will approach a horizontal state due to the drainage gradient. Therefore, the water on the lower inclined portion 40 may be less likely to flow toward the bottom 31. In such a case, it is conceivable to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 to make the water flow easily toward the bottom 31. However, if the hydrophilicity is increased, the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 may become slippery, and the usability of the washroom floor 10 may deteriorate.

[0022] Therefore, the washroom floor 10 makes the water droplets W and oil droplets O adhering to the lower inclined portion 40 flow easily toward the bottom 31 without increasing the hydrophilicity more than necessary. The oil droplet O is made of, for example, oleic acid and is designed to deal with sebum dirt washed away from the body of the bathroom user. Hereinafter, the lower inclined portion 40 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the first portion 41 is at an arbitrary position of the lower inclined portion 40. That is, the first portion 41 is an arbitrary portion between the upper portion 20 and the bottom 31. The first portion 41 has a first point 41a. The first point 41a is the tip position on the bottom 31 side of the 2 mL water droplet W and the tip position on the bottom 31 side of the 2 mL oil droplet O adhering to the first portion 41.

[0024] Also, the second portion 42 is at an arbitrary position of the lower inclined portion 40. That is, the second portion 42 is an arbitrary portion between the upper portion 20 and the bottom 31. The second portion 42 has a second point 42a. The second point 42a is the tip position on the bottom 31 side of the 2 mL water droplet W and the tip position on the bottom side of the 2 mL oil droplet O adhering to the second portion 42. Note that the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 may be at the same position or different positions. In this example, the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 are at different positions.

[0025] The lower inclined portion 40 has at least one of the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 between the upper portion 20 and the bottom portion 31. Hereinafter, the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 will be described.

[0026] In the embodiment, the inclination angle of the lower inclined portion 40 may be defined as the angle formed by a virtual line connecting the bottom portion 31 of the drain groove 30 and the first point 41a of the lower inclined portion 40 located above the bottom portion 31, and the horizontal line, or for example, the angle formed by the tangent line of the second point 42a of the lower inclined portion 40 located above the bottom portion 31 and the horizontal line.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram when water droplets adhere to the first portion of the lower inclined portion. As shown in FIG. 4, the virtual line B-B is a line connecting the bottom portion 31 of the drain groove 30 and the first point 41a of the lower inclined portion 40 located above the bottom portion 31. The first point 41a may be, for example, an intermediate point (a point at a distance of 1 / 2) between the bottom portion 31 and the highest point of the upper portion 20 in the horizontal direction. Also, the first point 41a is not limited to the intermediate point, and may be a point at a distance of 1 / 3, 1 / 4, 1 / 6, or any point. The angle formed by the virtual line B-B and the horizontal line C-C is the first inclination angle θ1 greater than 0 degrees. That is, the lower inclined portion 40 has the first inclination angle θ1 greater than 0 degrees with respect to the horizontal line C-C. Also, the sum of the first inclination angle θ1 and the contact angle θ2 of the water droplet W with respect to the tangent line D-D at the first point 41a is 90 degrees or more. Thereby, even if the lower inclined portion 40 has a drainage gradient, the water droplet W can be efficiently flowed toward the bottom portion 31.

[0028] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when water droplets adhere to the second portion of the lower inclined portion. As shown in FIG. 5, the angle formed by the tangent line E-E of the second point 42a of the downward inclined portion 40 located above the bottom portion 31 and the horizontal line C-C is the second inclination angle θ3 greater than 0 degrees. That is, the downward inclined portion 40 has a second inclination angle θ3 whose angle with the horizontal line C-C is greater than 0 degrees. Further, the sum of the second inclination angle θ3 and the contact angle θ4 of the water droplet W with respect to the tangent line E-E at the second point 42a is 90 degrees or more. Thereby, even if the downward inclined portion 40 has a drainage gradient, the water droplet W can be efficiently flowed toward the bottom portion 31.

[0029] The downward inclined portion 40 has at least one of the first portion 41 and the second portion 42. Thereby, in the washing floor 10 having a drainage gradient, even if the hydrophilic performance of the washing floor 10 is not high, by making good use of the water repellent performance, the water droplet W adhering to the downward inclined portion 40 can be easily collected at the bottom portion 31 of the drain groove 30.

[0030] Next, the case where an oil droplet O adheres to the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 will be described.

[0031] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the case where an oil droplet adheres to the first portion of the downward inclined portion. As shown in FIG. 6, the apex of the oil droplet O is lower compared to the water droplet W. That is, the wettability of the oil droplet O is greater than the wettability of the water droplet W. And the contact angle θ5 of the oil droplet O made of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line D-D at the first point 41a is smaller than the contact angle θ2 of the water droplet W with respect to the tangent line D-D at the first point 41a. And in the drain groove 30, the sum of the first inclination angle θ1 at the first point 41a and the contact angle θ5 of the oil droplet O made of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line D-D at the first point 41a is smaller than 90 degrees. Thereby, the flow of the oil droplet O adhering to the first portion 41 toward the bottom portion 31 is suppressed compared to the water droplet W. Therefore, the downward inclined portion 40 can flow the oil droplet O on the first portion 41 along with the flow of the water droplet W from the bottom portion 31 to the drain port 10h.

[0032] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the case where an oil droplet adheres to the second portion of the downward inclined portion. As shown in FIG. 7, the contact angle θ6 of the oil droplet O composed of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line E-E at the second point 42a is smaller than the contact angle θ4 of the water droplet W with respect to the tangent line E-E at the second point 42a. And the sum value of the second inclination angle θ3 at the second point 42a and the contact angle θ6 of the oil droplet O composed of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line E-E at the second point 42a is smaller than 90 degrees. Thereby, the flow of the oil droplet O adhering to the second portion 42 toward the bottom 31 is suppressed more than that of the water droplet W. Therefore, the downward inclined portion 40 can let the oil droplet O on the second portion 42 ride on the flow of the water droplet W and flow from the bottom 31 to the drain port 10h.

[0033] In the case of sebum dirt on the human body, if it enters the bottom 31 of the drain groove 30, there is a risk of becoming difficult to peel off. Therefore, the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 preferably has hydrophilicity and oil repellency. Since the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 has hydrophilicity, water spreads easily and the surface 10a dries easily. Further, since the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 has oil repellency, sebum dirt on the human body can be discharged together with water.

[0034] However, if the hydrophilicity is increased, the surface 10a of the washroom floor 10 becomes slippery, and there is a risk that the usability of the washroom floor 10 deteriorates. Therefore, the washroom floor 10 has at least one of the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 in the downward inclined portion 40, so that water and sebum dirt can be efficiently discharged to the drain port 10h without increasing the hydrophilicity more than necessary. As a result, a washroom floor 10 with good usability can be obtained.

[0035] Next, the washroom floor according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. The washroom floor 60 according to the second embodiment has a linear downward inclined portion 83. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the washroom floor according to the second embodiment. The washroom floor 60 includes an upper portion 70 and a drain groove 80 that is recessed downward from the upper portion 70. The upper portion 70 is at the highest position between adjacent drain grooves 80. The washroom floor 60 shown in FIG. 8 has a drain port 10h provided on the left side of the paper surface and a wall panel 96e provided on the right side of the paper surface. Therefore, the washroom floor 60 shown in FIG. 8 has a drainage gradient formed from the right side to the left side of the paper surface. The drain groove 80 has a downward inclined portion 83 and an upward inclined portion 85. The downward inclined portion 83 and the upward inclined portion 85 are inclined linearly from the upper portion 70 toward the bottom 81.

[0037] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the case where water droplets adhere to the downward inclined portion. In FIG. 9, for example, the case where 2 mL of water droplets W adhere to the downward inclined portion 83 is shown. As shown in FIG. 9, the downward inclined portion 83 has a third inclination angle θ7 whose angle formed with the horizontal line C-C is greater than 0 degrees. Also, the sum of the third inclination angle θ7 and the contact angle θ8 of the water droplet W is 90 degrees or more. Thereby, even though the downward inclined portion 83 has a drainage gradient, the water droplet W can be efficiently flowed toward the bottom 81.

[0038] Therefore, the washroom floor 60 having a drainage gradient can easily collect the water droplets W adhering to the downward inclined portion 83 at the bottom 81 of the drain groove 80 by making good use of the water-repellent performance even if the hydrophilic performance of the washroom floor 60 is not high.

[0039] Next, the case where an oil droplet O made of 2 mL of oleic acid adheres to the downward inclined portion 83 will be described.

[0040] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the case where an oil droplet adheres to the downward inclined portion. As shown in FIG. 10, the contact angle θ9 of the oil droplet O composed of oleic acid on the downward inclined portion 83 is smaller than the contact angle θ8 of the water droplet W on the downward inclined portion 83. Further, the sum of the third inclination angle θ7 and the contact angle θ9 of the oil droplet O composed of oleic acid on the downward inclined portion 83 is smaller than 90 degrees. As a result, the flow of the oil droplet O adhering to the downward inclined portion 83 toward the bottom 81 is suppressed more than that of the water droplet W. Therefore, the downward inclined portion 83 can cause the oil droplet O to ride on the flow of the water droplet W and flow from the bottom 81 to the drain port 10h.

[0041] The washroom floor 60 according to the second embodiment also has the same functions and effects as the washroom floor 10 according to the first embodiment. By having the downward inclined portion 83, the washroom floor 60 can efficiently discharge water and sebum dirt without making the hydrophilicity higher than necessary. As a result, a washroom floor 60 that is easy to use can be obtained.

[0042] The embodiment may include the following configurations. (Configuration 1) A washroom floor having a drainage gradient, an upper part, a drainage groove that is recessed downward from the upper part, and the drainage groove has a downward inclined portion that is an inclined portion located downward in the drainage gradient, and an upward inclined portion that is an inclined portion located above the downward inclined portion, and the downward inclined portion has an inclination angle whose angle with the horizontal line is greater than 0 degrees, the contact angle of an oil droplet composed of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line in the downward inclined portion is smaller than the contact angle of a water droplet with respect to the tangent line in the downward inclined portion, the drainage groove is characterized in that the sum of the inclination angle and the contact angle of the oil droplet composed of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line in the downward inclined portion is smaller than 90 degrees. (Configuration 2) A washroom floor having a drainage gradient, an upper part, A drain groove that is recessed downward from the upper part, is provided, The drain groove, is a lower inclined part that is an inclined part located below in the drainage gradient, and an upper inclined part that is an inclined part located above the lower inclined part, has, The contact angle of the oil droplet composed of oleic acid on the lower inclined part is smaller than the contact angle of the water droplet on the lower inclined part, The lower inclined part, has an inclination angle with the horizontal line that is greater than 0 degrees, and a sum value of the inclination angle and the contact angle of the oil droplet composed of oleic acid on the lower inclined part is smaller than 90 degrees. A washing floor is characterized by this.

[0043] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. Regarding the above-described embodiments, those in which those skilled in the art appropriately make design changes are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the features of the present invention. For example, the shape, dimensions, material, arrangement, etc. of each element provided in the washing floor, etc. are not limited to those illustrated and can be appropriately changed. Also, each element provided in each of the above-described embodiments can be combined as long as it is technically possible, and those obtained by combining these are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they include the features of the present invention.

Explanation of Signs

[0044] 1 Bathroom unit 10 Washing floor 10a Surface 10h Drain outlet 20 Upper part 30 Drain groove 31 Bottom 40 Lower inclined part 41 First part 41a First point 42 Second part 42a Second point 50 Upper inclined part 60 Washing floor 70 Upper part 80 Drainage ditch 81 Bottom 83 Lower inclined part 85 Upper inclined part 90 Bathtub 92 Drain pipe 94 Bath apron 96a - 96f Wall panels O Oil droplet W Water droplet

Claims

1. A washroom floor having a drainage gradient, comprising: an upper part, a drainage groove recessed downward from the upper part; The drainage groove has: a lower inclined part which is an inclined part located downward in the drainage gradient, an upper inclined part which is an inclined part located above the lower inclined part; The lower inclined part has an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal line that is greater than 0 degrees, and the contact angle of an oil droplet composed of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line in the lower inclined part is smaller than the contact angle of a water droplet with respect to the tangent line in the lower inclined part. The washroom floor is characterized in that the sum of the inclination angle and the contact angle of the oil droplet composed of oleic acid with respect to the tangent line in the lower inclined part is smaller than 90 degrees.

2. A washroom floor having a drainage gradient, comprising: an upper part, a drainage groove recessed downward from the upper part; The drainage groove has: a lower inclined part which is an inclined part located downward in the drainage gradient, an upper inclined part which is an inclined part located above the lower inclined part; The contact angle of an oil droplet composed of oleic acid on the lower inclined part is smaller than the contact angle of a water droplet on the lower inclined part. The lower inclined part has: an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal line that is greater than 0 degrees, and the washroom floor is characterized in that the sum of the inclination angle and the contact angle of the oil droplet composed of oleic acid on the lower inclined part is smaller than 90 degrees. ​ ​ ​ ​

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