Bathtub device

Abstract

To provide a bathtub device capable of preventing heat from being kept inside a heat insulation material in a bathtub device equipped with a vibration unit.SOLUTION: A bathtub device includes: a bathtub having a tub part; a vibration unit installed in the tub part for applying vibration to water stored in the tub part; and a heat insulation material surrounding the periphery of the tub part. The vibration unit includes a vibration element for applying vibration to the water by vibrating directly or indirectly to the water on its own, and a support member fixed to the bathtub for supporting the vibration element so that it vibrates, at least part of the support member penetrating through the heat insulation member so as to be positioned outside the heat insulation member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

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] Generally, the tub portion of a bathtub is surrounded on the outside by a thermal insulator to improve heat retention. However, the inventors of this invention have found that when a device (vibration unit) that allows users to experience vibrations is installed in such a bathtub, the heat generated by the device (vibration unit) is trapped inside the thermal insulator, which can cause undesired malfunctions 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 heat from building up inside the insulation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a bathtub device comprising a bathtub having a tub portion, a vibration unit installed in the tub portion and vibrating the water stored in the tub portion, and insulating material surrounding the tub portion, wherein the vibration unit has a vibration element that vibrates the water by vibrating directly or indirectly relative to the water, and a support member fixed to the bathtub and supporting the vibration element so that it can vibrate, and wherein at least a portion of the support member penetrates the insulating material so that it is located outside the insulating material.

[0007] According to the present invention, the vibration unit penetrates the insulation material and at least a portion of the support member is located outside the insulation material, thereby effectively preventing the heat generated by the vibration unit from being trapped inside the insulation material.

[0008] In the present invention, it is preferable that the vibration element is supported so as to be vibrable by at least a portion of the support member arranged outside the insulating material, and extends to an opening in the wall surface of the tub portion.

[0009] This allows sufficient vibrations to be transmitted directly to the water stored inside the wall of the tub portion.

[0010] Alternatively, in the present invention, it is preferable that the vibration element is supported so as to be vibrable by at least a portion of the support member arranged outside the heat insulating material, and is connected to a wall surface of the tub portion.

[0011] This allows sufficient vibrations to be indirectly transmitted to the water stored inside the wall of the tub portion via the wall. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [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. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vibration unit according to a modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded view of a vibration unit according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] (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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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).

[0017] The back wall, leg wall, left wall, and right wall of the bathtub 30 all rise at an angle of 110° to the floor 31 (an angle inclined 20° from the vertical).

[0018] The tub portion 32 of the bathroom system 100 of this embodiment is provided with a vibration unit 20 that applies vibrations to the water stored in the tub portion 32.

[0019] 2 and 3, vibration unit 20 has vibrator 7, which is the main part of the vibration element that vibrates the water stored in tub portion 32 by vibrating itself directly against the water, and fixed flange 9, which is a support member that is fixed to bathtub 30 and supports vibrator 7 so that it can vibrate. Fixed flange 9 is approximately cylindrical and is fixed to an opening provided in the wall of tub portion 32 via U-packing 14 and fixing nut 15, and vibrator 7 comes into contact with and moves away from the inner side surface (approximately circular) of fixed flange 9 via disk-shaped buffer material 8.

[0020] 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).

[0021] A diaphragm 4 is bonded to the front side of the vibrator 7 via a cylindrical extension member 6e, and a diaphragm 3 is fixed to the diaphragm 4 with a washer head pan head screw 5. These elements 3 to 6e vibrate in conjunction with the vibration of the vibrator 7. In other words, the vibrator 7 and elements 3 to 6e function as vibration elements.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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 surface of the tub part 32. Meanwhile, the lower braided hose 13 is connected to a drain pipe.

[0024] Additionally, the presser plate 2 is screwed onto the fixed flange 9 with screws, and the mounting member 1 is fitted onto the fixed flange 9 so as to conceal the presser plate 2 .

[0025] 1 again, the vibration unit 20 penetrates the heat insulating material rising from the heat insulating pan 70, and at least a part of the fixing flange 9 is located outside the heat insulating material.

[0026] 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.

[0027] The (central axis of) the fixed flange 9 of the vibration unit 20 is located, for example, on the wall surface of the tub portion 32 at a height of 200 mm from the floor surface 31.

[0028] 1, reference numeral 60 denotes another insulating material that is appropriately provided inside the insulating material rising from the insulating pan 70. The vibrator 7 is also disposed directly below the bathroom wall (not shown) that is provided on the rim portion 34.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of vibration unit 20. In the format shown in FIG. 4, the magnitude of the vibration force is expressed as the 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. With the arrangement and configuration of vibration unit 20 as described above, vibrating plate 3, which is part of the wall surface of bathtub 30, is directly vibrated, and vibrations are effectively imparted to the water contained in bathtub 30.

[0030] (Action and effect) According to the bathtub apparatus 100 of this embodiment as described above, the vibration unit 20 penetrates the insulation material, and at least a portion of the fixing flange 9 (an example of a support member) is located outside the insulation material, thereby effectively preventing the heat generated by the vibration unit 20 from being trapped inside the insulation material.

[0031] Furthermore, according to the bathtub device 100 of this embodiment, the vibration elements 3 to 6e are supported so as to be vibrable by at least a portion of the fixed flange 9 arranged outside the insulating material, and extend to the opening in the wall of the corresponding tub section 32, thereby allowing sufficient vibrations to be transmitted directly to the water stored inside the wall of the tub section 32.

[0032] (Variation 1) In the above-described embodiment, the diaphragm 3, which is exposed at the opening in the wall of the bathtub 30 and functions as part of the wall of the bathtub 30, is directly vibrated, effectively vibrating the water contained in the bathtub 30. The distance between the diaphragm 3 and the vibrator 7 is extended by the extension member 6e (the length of the fixing flange 9 is also long). However, this is not limited to this embodiment, and an embodiment in which the diaphragm itself is extended, for example, by fixing a solid cylindrical extension member 3e made of a lightweight material to the diaphragm 3, may also be adopted. In this case, for example, the extension member 6e in the above-described embodiment may be replaced with double-sided tape 6 (the length of the fixing flange 9 may also be shortened), and the mounting member 1 may be extended as a cover member 1e having a cylindrical portion. Such a modified example is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0033] 5 and 6, vibration unit 20 in this modified example also has vibrator 7, which is the main part of the vibration element that vibrates the water stored in tub portion 32 by vibrating itself directly against the water, and fixed flange 9, which is a support member that is fixed to bathtub 30 and supports vibrator 7 so that it can vibrate. Fixed flange 9 is approximately cylindrical, and vibrator 7 abuts against / moves away from the inner side (approximately circular) of fixed flange 9 via disk-shaped cushioning material 8. However, fixed flange 9 in this modified example is fixed via U-packing 14 and fixing nut 15 to an attachment opening provided at the inner (outer) side of tub portion 32, on the outside of the insulation rising from insulation pan 70.

[0034] Even in the above-described arrangement, the vibration unit 20 penetrates the heat insulating material rising from the heat insulating pan 70, and at least a portion of the fixing flange 9 is located outside the heat insulating material.

[0035] Furthermore, with the above-described variant example 1, the vibration unit 20 penetrates the insulation material, and at least a portion of the fixing flange 9 (an example of a support member) is located outside the insulation material, thereby effectively preventing the heat generated by the vibration unit 20 from being trapped inside the insulation material.

[0036] Furthermore, even with the above-described variant example 1, the vibration elements 3 to 7 (including 6e) are supported so as to be vibrable by at least a portion of the fixed flange 9 arranged outside the insulation material, and extend to the opening in the wall of the corresponding tub portion 32, so that sufficient vibrations can be transmitted directly to the water stored inside the wall of the tub portion 32.

[0037] (Variation 2) In the aforementioned first modification, the end face of the solid cylindrical extension member 3e, which is exposed at the opening in the wall of the bathtub 30 and functions as part of the wall of the bathtub 30, is directly vibrated, effectively imparting vibrations to the water contained in the bathtub 30. However, it is also possible to use a configuration in which a portion of the wall of the bathtub 30 (the portion facing the inside of the bathtub 30) is made of a vibration output plate 3f (which may have the same configuration as the vibration plate 3, for example), and the vibration output plate 3f and the vibration plate 3 are connected by a hollow cylindrical extension member 3e. In this case, it is easy to reduce the weight of the extension member 3e.

[0038] (Variation 3) In the second modification, the diameters of the diaphragm 3 and the vibration output plate 3f are the same as the diameter of the extension member 3e, but the extension member 3e may be in a "bobbin shape" with a narrower diameter at its middle portion. In this case, it is even easier to reduce the weight of the extension member 3e.

[0039] Furthermore, if the area of the cover member 1e corresponding to the range of motion of the narrow-diameter middle portion of the extension member 3e is also made narrow and the insulation material is penetrated at these portions, the penetration area of the insulation material becomes narrower, thereby suppressing the degree of reduction in the insulation effect of the tub portion 32.

[0040] In Modifications 2 and 3, the diameter of diaphragm 3 and the diameter of vibration output plate 3f may be different, and the material of diaphragm 3 and the material of vibration output plate 3f may be different.

[0041] (Variation 4) In the above-described embodiment and variant example 1, the end face of the vibrating plate 3 or the solid cylindrical extension member 3e, which is exposed at the opening in the wall of the bathtub 30 and functions as part of the wall of the bathtub 30, is directly vibrated, effectively imparting vibrations to the water stored in the bathtub 30. However, a configuration can also be adopted in which the end face of the vibrating plate 3 or the solid cylindrical extension member 3e is fixed (connected) to the back side of a wall member (a relatively thin, elastically deformable member) that constitutes the wall of the bathtub 30, thereby indirectly imparting vibrations to the water stored in the bathtub 30 (in this case, no opening is provided in the wall of the bathtub 30).

[0042] Even in this case, sufficient vibrations can be indirectly transmitted to the water stored inside the wall surface of the tub portion 32 via the wall surface (wall members constituting the wall surface).

[0043] Similarly, in variants 2 and 3, instead of exposing the vibration output plate 3f at an opening in the wall of the bathtub 30, the vibration output plate 3f can be fixed (connected) to the back side of the wall member that makes up the wall of the bathtub 30, thereby further modifying the configuration to indirectly impart vibrations to the water stored in the bathtub 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Mounting material 1e Cover material 2 Presser plate 3 Vibration plate 3e extension member 3f Vibration output plate 4 diaphragm 5 screws 6 double-sided tape 6e Extension member 7. Oscillators 8 Cushioning material 9 flange 11 Elbow 12 Drainage fitting 13 Hose 14 U packing 15 Nut 17 Power cord 18 Connection 20 vibration unit 30 Bathtub 31 Floor 32 Okebe 34 Rim section 60 Insulation 70 Insulated Pan 100 Bathtub equipment

Claims

1. A bathtub having a tub portion; a vibration unit that is installed in the tub portion and that applies vibrations to the water stored in the tub portion; A heat insulating material surrounding the tub portion; Equipped with The vibration unit has a vibration element that vibrates the water by vibrating itself directly or indirectly relative to the water, and a support member that is fixed to the bathtub and supports the vibration element so that it can vibrate, and at least a part of the support member penetrates the heat insulating material so as to be located outside the heat insulating material. A bathtub device characterized by:

2. The vibration element is supported by at least a portion of the support member disposed outside the thermal insulation material so as to be capable of vibrating, and extends to an opening in the wall surface of the tub portion. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The vibration element is supported by at least a portion of the support member disposed outside the heat insulating material so as to be able to vibrate, and is connected to a wall surface of the tub portion. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1 .

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