Bathtub device

Abstract

To provide a bathtub device equipped with a vibration unit capable of inhibiting a vibration function from being blocked by the contact with a bather.SOLUTION: A bathtub device includes: a bathtub having a tub part; a communication pipe that extends toward the outside from the tub part, and is opened inside the tub part; and a vibration unit installed in the communication pipe for applying vibration to water stored in the tub part through the application of vibration to the water stored in the communication pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathtub apparatus equipped with a vibration unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a bathtub acoustic device that allows bathers to experience music and vibrations. More specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses a water area sound generator that emits vibrations into the water area in the bathtub, and a spatial area sound generator that emits sound into a spatial area above the water area. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-128970 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors of this invention have found that when installing a device (vibration unit) in a bathtub that allows bathers to experience vibrations, depending on the placement of the device (vibration unit), bathers may come into contact with the device (vibration unit), which may impede the desired vibration function of the device (vibration unit).

[0005] The present invention was invented based on this knowledge. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bathtub apparatus equipped with a vibration unit that can prevent the vibration function from being impaired by the bather's contact with the unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a bathtub device characterized by comprising a bathtub having a tub portion, a connecting pipe extending outward from the tub portion and opening into the interior of the tub portion, and a vibration unit installed in the connecting pipe that imparts vibrations to the water stored in the tub portion by imparting vibrations to the water stored in the connecting pipe.

[0007] According to the present invention, the vibration unit is installed in a connecting pipe extending outward from the tub portion, thereby effectively preventing the vibration unit from coming into contact with the bather, and as a result, effectively preventing the vibration function of the vibration unit from being impaired.

[0008] In the present invention, it is preferable that a vibration dispersion mechanism be provided inside the communicating pipe or in the vicinity of the opening of the communicating pipe leading to the inside of the tub portion.

[0009] This allows the vibrations generated by the vibration unit to be dispersed effectively, creating a vibration propagation state that is more suitable for the bather's vibration sensation (physical sensation).

[0010] In this case, for example, the vibration dispersion mechanism is a plate-like member having holes.

[0011] With this, the vibrations passing through the holes directly vibrate the water in the tub, so that the bather can get a strong sense of vibration (physical sensation).

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the tub portion and the communication pipe are integrally formed.

[0013] This allows vibrations to be transmitted from the vibration unit to the inside of the tub portion more smoothly and efficiently.

[0014] In addition, in the present invention, the vibration unit has a vibrator that vibrates the water by vibrating itself, and a support member that is fixed to the communicating pipe and supports the vibrator so that it can vibrate, and it is preferable that the vibrator is positioned above and away from the bottom of the bathtub pan.

[0015] This effectively prevents the vibrator from coming into contact with the water in the bathtub pan, thereby reducing the occurrence of malfunctions in the vibration unit.

[0016] In addition, in the present invention, the vibration unit has a vibrator that vibrates the water by vibrating itself, and a support member that is fixed to the communicating pipe and supports the vibrator so that it can vibrate, and it is preferable that the vibrator is positioned above the bottom surface of the tub portion.

[0017] This allows vibrations to be applied effectively to the entire body of the bather. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a bathtub apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vibration unit of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the vibration unit of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of a vibration unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] (composition) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a bathtub apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vibration unit 20 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded view of the vibration unit 20 of Fig. 1.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, a bathtub apparatus 100 of this embodiment includes a bathtub 30 having a tub portion 32 and a rim portion 34 formed above the tub portion 32.

[0021] The bathtub 30 has a back wall surface to which the bather is expected to turn his / her back, a leg wall surface to which the bather is expected to turn his / her legs, a left wall surface to which the bather is expected to turn his / her left side, and a right wall surface to which the bather is expected to turn his / her right side.

[0022] The size of the bathtub 30 is, for example, a roughly rectangular (approximately oval) shape of 450 mm x 1,100 mm at the floor surface 31, a roughly rectangular (approximately oval) shape of 600 mm x 1,140 mm at the standard height when filling with hot or cold water (for example, 350 mm above the floor surface 31), and a roughly rectangular (approximately oval) shape of 650 mm x 1,350 mm at the upper opening surface (for example, 500 mm above the floor surface).

[0023] The back wall, leg wall, left wall, and right wall of the bathtub 30 all rise at an angle of approximately 90° to the floor surface 31, and on the back wall, as shown in Figure 1, the area above 250 mm in height is inclined at 20° to the vertical direction.

[0024] Further, one vibration unit 20 that applies vibrations to the water stored in the tub portion 32 is provided on the back wall surface of the tub portion 32 of the bathroom system 100 of this embodiment.

[0025] 1, in this embodiment, a communicating pipe 50 is provided that extends outward (to the left in FIG. 1) from the tub portion 32 and opens into the interior of the tub portion 32, and the vibration unit 20 is installed at the outer end of the communicating pipe 50. The communicating pipe 50 has a diameter of, for example, 100 mm, and the opening (center) of the communicating pipe 50 is provided at a position 200 mm above the floor surface 31. In this embodiment, the tub portion 32 and the communicating pipe 50 are integrally molded (however, at least at the time of filing this application, an embodiment in which the tub portion 32 and the communicating pipe 50 are separate also falls within the scope of the present invention).

[0026] 2 and 3, vibration unit 20 has vibrator 7, which vibrates the water stored in connecting pipe 40 by vibrating itself, thereby vibrating the water stored in tub portion 32, and fixed flange 9, which is a support member fixed to bathtub 30 and supports vibrator 7 so that it can vibrate. Fixed flange 9 is approximately cylindrical and is fixed via U-packing 14 and fixing nut 15 to an attachment opening provided at the rear (outside) of tub portion 32 and outside heat insulating material 70, and vibrator 7 abuts against / moves away from the rear side surface (approximately circular) of fixed flange 9 via disk-shaped buffer material 8.

[0027] The fixed flanges 9 are fixed so that their axial directions are perpendicular to the wall surfaces of the corresponding tub sections 32. As a result, the vibration direction of each vibrator 7 (defined by the axial direction of the fixed flanges 9), i.e., the propagation direction of the vibrations imparted to the water by the vibrator 7, is perpendicular to the wall surfaces of the tub sections 32 on which the vibration units 20 are installed.

[0028] 1, reference numeral 40 denotes a wall that divides the bathroom, and reference numeral 70 denotes a bathtub pan. As shown in FIG. 1, vibrator 7 is positioned above and spaced from the bottom of bathtub pan 70, and is positioned above bottom surface 31 of tub section 32. Vibrator 7 is also positioned directly below wall 40.

[0029] 2 and 3, the vibration unit 20 is further described in detail. A substantially cylindrical vibrator 7, which can vibrate under the action of electromagnetic force, is supported so as to be able to vibrate within a substantially cylindrical fixed flange 9. The vibrator 7 comes into contact with and separates from the inner side surface (substantially circular) of the fixed flange 9 via a disk-shaped cushioning material 8. In addition, cushioning material 8 is also placed below the vibrator 7 so that the vibrator 7 can vibrate smoothly within the fixed flange 9 (see FIG. 2).

[0030] A diaphragm 4 is adhered to the front side of the vibrator 7 with double-sided tape 6, and a vibration plate 3 is fixed to the diaphragm 4 with a washer-head pan head screw 5. These elements 3 to 6 vibrate in accordance with the vibration of the vibrator 7. With a fixing flange 9 fixed to the wall surface of the tub portion 32, the vibrator 7 and elements 3 to 6 (vibration portion) can be attached and detached to an opening provided in the wall surface of the tub portion 32.

[0031] A pair of upper and lower cylindrical pipes are provided on the rear side of the fixed flange 9 and extend further rearward, and an elbow 11 is connected to each cylindrical pipe, and a braided hose 13 is further connected to each cylindrical pipe via a drainage joint 12. In Figures 2 and 3, the symbol 10 denotes a clamp.

[0032] A power cord 17 is routed through the upper braided hose 13, and the power cord 17 is connected to the vibrator 7 via a connection part 18 (connector, etc.). The connection part 18 is detachably connected to the power cord 17 extending from the back of the wall of the tub part 32, and while connected to the power cord 17, it can be pulled out from an opening in the wall of the tub part 32 to the inside of the tub part 32, along with a portion of the power cord 17. Meanwhile, the lower braided hose 13 is connected to a drain pipe.

[0033] Additionally, a presser plate 2 is screwed onto a fixed flange 9 with screws, and a cover 1 is fitted onto the fixed flange 9 so as to conceal the presser plate 2 .

[0034] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of vibration unit 20. In the format shown in FIG. 4, the magnitude of the vibration force is expressed as Lorentz force (F=IBL). F is the magnitude of the vibration force, I is the value of the current flowing through the coil, B is the magnetic flux density generated at this time, and L is the length of the iron core.

[0035] (Action and effect) According to the bathtub device 100 of this embodiment as described above, the vibration unit 20 is installed in the connecting pipe 50 extending outward from the tub portion 32, thereby effectively preventing the vibration unit 20 (especially its vibration element) from coming into contact with the bather, and as a result, effectively preventing the vibration function of the vibration unit 20 from being impaired.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the bathtub device 100 of this embodiment, the tub portion 32 and the connecting pipe 50 are integrally molded, so that vibrations can be transmitted from the vibration unit 20 to the inside of the tub portion 32 more smoothly and efficiently.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the bathtub device 100 of this embodiment, the vibrator 7 is positioned above and away from the bottom of the bathtub pan 70, thereby effectively preventing the vibrator 7 from coming into contact with the water in the bathtub pan 70 and suppressing the occurrence of malfunctions in the vibration unit 20.

[0038] Furthermore, according to bathtub apparatus 100 of this embodiment, vibrator 7 is disposed above bottom surface 31 of tub section 32, so vibrations can be applied effectively to the entire body of the bather.

[0039] (Variation) In the above-described embodiment, only water is present continuously from the inside of the communicating pipe 50 to the inside of the tub portion 32, but a vibration dispersion mechanism may be provided inside the communicating pipe 50 or near the opening of the communicating pipe 50 into the inside of the tub portion 32.

[0040] In this case, the vibration generated by the vibration unit 20 is effectively dispersed by the vibration dispersion mechanism, and a vibration propagation state that is more suitable for the vibration sensation (physical sensation) of the bather can be achieved.

[0041] The vibration dispersion mechanism is preferably a disk-shaped cover member 19 having holes (for example, a plurality of small holes).

[0042] In this case, the vibrations passing through the holes in the lid member 19 directly vibrate the water in the tub portion 32, so that the bather can get a strong sense of vibration (physical sensation), while the vibrations are effectively dispersed by the lid member 19. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 cover 2 Presser plate 3 Vibration plate 4 diaphragm 5 washer head pan head screws 6 double-sided tape 7. Oscillators 8 Cushioning material 9 Fixed flange 11 Elbow 12 Drainage fitting 13 Braided Hose 14 U packing 15 Fixing nut 17 Power cord 18 Connection 20 vibration unit 30 Bathtub 31 Floor 32 Okebe 34 Rim section 40 Wall 70 Insulated Pan 100 Bathtub equipment

Claims

1. a bathtub having a tub portion; a communication pipe extending outward from the tub portion and opening into the interior of the tub portion; a vibration unit that is installed in the communicating pipe and that vibrates the water stored in the tub portion by vibrating the water stored in the communicating pipe; A bathtub device comprising:

2. A vibration dispersion mechanism is provided in the communicating pipe or in the vicinity of the opening of the communicating pipe into the inside of the tub portion. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The vibration dispersion mechanism is a plate-like member having holes.

3. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The tub portion and the communication pipe are integrally formed.

3. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the vibration unit has a vibrator that vibrates the water by vibrating itself, and a support member that is fixed to the communication pipe and supports the vibrator so that it can vibrate, The vibrator is positioned above and spaced from the bottom of the bathtub pan.

3. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

6. the vibration unit has a vibrator that vibrates the water by vibrating itself, and a support member that is fixed to the communication pipe and supports the vibrator so that it can vibrate, The vibrator is disposed above the bottom surface of the tub portion.

3. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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