Bathtub device

Abstract

To provide a bathtub device capable of applying clear vibration stimulation to a body of a bather in a bathtub device in which a vibration unit is provided on the outside of a bathtub.SOLUTION: A bathtub device includes: a bathtub having a tub part; a communication pipe that extends toward the outside from the tub part, is opened inside the tub part, and can be filled with water inside; a vibration unit installed on the outside of the communication pipe; and a vibration transmission member that extends from the vibration unit, and extends so as to pass through at least part of the communication pipe toward the inside of the tub part. Vibration is applied to the water in the tub part by the oscillation of the vibration transmission member inside 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, if the device (vibration unit) is placed on the outside of the bathtub (particularly outside the connecting edge between the wall of the tub and the rim), it may be difficult to provide a clear vibration stimulus to the bather's body.

[0005] The present invention was invented based on this knowledge. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bathtub apparatus in which the vibration unit is installed on the outside of the bathtub, and which can provide a clear vibration stimulus to the bather's body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a bathtub device 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, which can be filled with water; a vibration unit installed on the outer side of the connecting pipe; and a vibration transmission member extending from the vibration unit and passing through at least a portion of the connecting pipe toward the interior of the tub portion, wherein the vibration transmission member oscillates inside the connecting pipe to impart vibrations to the water in the tub portion.

[0007] According to the present invention, vibrations can be imparted to the water stored in the tub section (and in some cases via the water stored in the connecting pipe) by a vibration transmission member that extends from the vibration unit and passes through at least a portion of the connecting pipe toward the inside of the tub section, thereby providing a clear vibrational stimulus to the bather's body.

[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] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the vibration transmission member extends to the vicinity of the opening of the communicating pipe into the tub portion, the end of the vibration transmission member on the opening side is formed as a blade member, and a gap is formed between the blade member and the opening.

[0013] This makes it easier to push the vibrations (and thus the water) into the inside of the tub portion.

[0014] In this case, it is further preferable that the vibration transmitting member does not reach the opening.

[0015] This creates directionality in the pushing vibrations (and thus the water), allowing a clearer vibration stimulus to be given to the bather's body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [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 enlarged view of the vibration transmission member of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of a vibration unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] (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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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).

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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).

[0024] 2 and 3, vibration unit 20 has vibrator 7, which vibrates the water stored in tub portion 32 by vibrating itself (and possibly by vibrating the water stored in connecting pipe 50), 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 to an attachment opening provided at the back (outside) of tub portion 32 via U-packing 14 and fixing nut 15, and vibrator 7 abuts against / moves away from the back side (approximately circular) of fixed flange 9 via disk-shaped buffer material 8.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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).

[0028] A diaphragm 4 is attached to the front side of the vibrator 7 with double-sided tape 6, and a diaphragm 3 is fixed to the diaphragm 4 with a washer head pan head screw 5. These elements 3 to 6 vibrate in conjunction with the vibration of the vibrator 7.

[0029] 1 and 4, one end side disk portion 61 of a vibration transmission member 60 having an overall "bobbin shape" is connected to the diaphragm 3 of this embodiment, and the other end side disk portion 63 of the vibration transmission member 60 constitutes a blade member. An extension portion 62 between the one end side disk portion 61 and the other end side disk portion 63 is cylindrical or columnar in shape with a narrow diameter.

[0030] The vibration transmission member 60 extends to the vicinity of the opening of the communicating pipe 50 leading to the inside of the tub portion 32, but does not reach the opening itself, and the distance between the opening (the position of the opening on the inner surface of the tub portion 32) and the other-end disk portion 63 (the position of the end face on the opening side) is 10 mm in the extension direction of the communicating pipe 50. There is also a gap in the radial direction between the communicating pipe 50 and the other-end disk portion 63; for example, the two are arranged concentrically, and there is a uniform gap of 10 mm in the radial direction (see FIG. 4).

[0031] On the other hand, a pair of upper and lower cylindrical pipes are provided on the rear side surface of the fixed flange 9, extending 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 reference numeral 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 (such as a connector). The connection part 18 is detachably connected to the power cord 17, which extends from the back of the wall of the tub part 32. 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] 5 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 apparatus 100 of this embodiment, vibrations can be imparted to the water stored in the tub section 32 by the vibration transmission member 60, which extends from the vibration unit 20 and passes through at least a portion of the connecting pipe 50 toward the inside of the tub section 32. This provides a clear vibration stimulus to the bather's body.

[0036] Furthermore, in the bathtub apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the vibration transmission member 60 extends to the vicinity of the opening of the connecting pipe 50 into the tub section 32, and the end of the vibration transmission member 60 on the opening side (the other end side disc section 63) is formed as a blade member, with a gap formed between the blade member and the opening. This makes it easier to push the vibrations (and thus the water) into the tub section 32.

[0037] Furthermore, in the bathtub apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the vibration transmission member 60 does not reach the opening. This creates directionality in the pushing vibration (and thus the water), allowing for a clearer vibration stimulus to be imparted to the bather's body.

[0038] (Variation) A vibration dispersion mechanism may be provided inside the communicating pipe 50 (however, closer to the opening than the other end side disc portion 63) or near the opening of the communicating pipe 50 leading to the inside of the tub portion 32.

[0039] In this case, the vibration generated by the vibration unit 20 (the other end side disc portion 63) 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.

[0040] The vibration dispersion mechanism is preferably a disk-shaped cover member 19 having holes (for example, a plurality of small holes).

[0041] 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]

[0042] 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 19 Lid member 20 vibration unit 30 Bathtub 31 Floor 32 Okebe 34 Rim section 40 Wall 50 Communication pipe 60 Vibration transmission member 61 One end side extension part 62 Extension part 63 Other end side extension part 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, the communication pipe being capable of being filled with water; a vibration unit installed on the outer side of the communicating pipe; a vibration transmission member extending from the vibration unit and extending toward the inside of the tub portion so as to pass through at least a portion of the communication pipe; Equipped with The vibration transmission member vibrates inside the communicating pipe, thereby vibrating the water in the tub. A bathtub device characterized by:

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 vibration transmission member extends to a vicinity of an opening of the communicating pipe leading to the inside of the tub portion, an end portion of the vibration transmission member on the opening side is formed as a blade member, A gap is formed between the blade member and the opening.

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

5. The vibration transmission member does not reach the opening.

5. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 4.

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