Bathtub and bathroom

Abstract

To form a desired shape easily in a bathtub having a bathtub body made of a sheet.SOLUTION: A bathtub 10 includes a bathtub body 30 made of a sheet used by storing hot water in a suspended state. The bathtub body 30 includes a joined part 31. The joined part 31 is configured by joining sheets S1 together. The joined part 31 is provided on side wall parts 30C and 30D of the bathtub body 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to bathtubs and bathrooms. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional bathtub. This bathtub has a bathtub body made of a sheet. The sheet is a waterproof sheet made of synthetic fiber or the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-260180 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The bathtub body in Patent Document 1 is configured so that the bottom of the waterproof sheet is formed into a generally arc-shaped shape in side view, with the center of the long side lower than both ends, allowing the bathtub to be used to store hot and cold water. Patent Document 1 does not propose any specific method for forming this shape from the sheet material.

[0005] The problem to be solved by this disclosure is to easily form a desired shape in a bathtub having a bathtub body made of sheet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The bathtub disclosed herein is a bathtub having a bathtub body made of a sheet that is used by filling it with hot and cold water while hanging, and the sheet that forms the bathtub body has a joint on the side wall where the sheets are joined together.

[0007] The bathroom according to the present disclosure is provided with a hanging part for suspending the bathtub. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic view of a bathroom according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which a bathtub is suspended. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic view of a bathroom according to the first embodiment, with the bathtub removed. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing a bathtub according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a development view of a sheet according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a sheet according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a joint according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a folded portion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a loop portion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a joint according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a joint (part 1) according to another embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a joint (part 2) according to another embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a bathtub (part 1) according to another embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a bathtub (part 2) according to another embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a sheet (part 1) according to another embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a sheet (part 2) according to another embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a sheet (third) according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. Any combination of the following multiple embodiments within a range that does not cause contradictions is also included in the description of the present invention.

[0010] The bathtub according to the present disclosure comprises: [1] A bathtub having a bathtub body made of a sheet that is used by filling it with hot water while hanging, and the sheet that forms the bathtub body has a joint that joins the sheets together on the side wall. [2] In the bathtub of [1] above, when viewed from above in use when the bathtub body is filled with hot water, the bathtub body is rectangular, and the joint extends in the vertical direction in the center of the direction in which a specific side extends in the side wall portion that forms a specific side in the planar view. [3] In either of the bathtubs [1] and [2] above, when viewed from above in the state of use when the bathtub body is filled with hot water and water, the bathtub body is rectangular, and the joint extends in the vertical direction in the side wall portion that forms the short side in the plan view, in the center of the direction in which the short side extends. [4] In any of the bathtubs [1] to [3] above, the joint has a molten heat-sealing material sandwiched between the overlapping sheets. [5] In the bathtub of [4] above, the joint is formed by sewing the overlapping sheets together so as to penetrate the heat-sealing material. [6] In any of the bathtubs [1] to [5] above, the bathtub body is formed from a single sheet. [7] In any of the bathtubs [1] to [6] above, the sheet has a fabric and a layer of impermeable material superimposed on the fabric. [8] In any of the bathtubs described in [1] to [7] above, when the bathtub body is filled with hot water and used, the upper edge of the bathtub body has a folded portion that is folded outward, and the overlapping sheets at the folded portion are sewn together. [9] The bathroom according to the present disclosure is provided with a hanging part for hanging any of the bathtubs described above in [1] to [8].

[0011] <Embodiment 1> A bathtub 10 and bathroom 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, which embody the bathtub and bathroom, will be described with reference to the drawings. The bathtub 10 is placed in bathroom 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Bathroom 1 is rectangular. Bathroom 1 has walls W1, W2, and W3 and a floor F. Bathroom 1 is surrounded by walls W1, W2, and W3 on three of the four sides of floor F when viewed from above. A wall with an entrance (not shown) is located on the other side of floor F.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, bathroom 1 is equipped with a shower system 2. The shower system 2 is located on wall W1, one of walls W1, W2, and W3. The shower system 2 is located on wall W1 closer to wall W3. The shower system 2 includes a faucet 3, an overhead shower 4, and a hand shower 5. The faucet 3 is formed in a long cylindrical shape extending horizontally along the surface of wall W1. The faucet 3 is connected to a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe (not shown) inside wall W1. The faucet 3 is a mixer faucet. The faucet 3 can adjust the water volume, adjust the temperature by mixing hot and cold water, stop the water supply, and switch the flow path. In this specification, hot and cold water supplied from faucets installed in the bathroom will be referred to as hot and cold water, regardless of the temperature, mixing ratio, etc. The faucet 3 has a water outlet pipe 3A that forms a water spout. The faucet 3 can discharge hot and cold water by selecting from the water outlet pipe 3A, the overhead shower 4, or the hand shower 5.

[0013] A bathtub 10 is installed in the bathroom 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bathtub 10 is attached to a pair of opposing walls W1 and W2 out of the three walls W1, W2, and W3. The bathtub 10 is removably attached to the walls W1 and W2. In other words, when the bathroom 1 is being used for a purpose other than its intended use, the bathtub 10 can be removed and used. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the bathroom 1 can be conveniently used as a shower room by removing the bathtub 10.

[0014] Each of the pair of walls W1 and W2 has a hanging member 20. The hanging member 20 corresponds to the hanging portion according to the present disclosure. The bathtub 10 is attached by hanging it on the hanging member 20. The hanging member 20 is a hook-shaped member that is J-shaped in a side view and opens upward. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, two hanging members 20 on the wall W1 side are arranged below the faucet 3 and spaced apart horizontally. Two hanging members 20 on the wall W2 side are provided at the same height and spaced apart as the hanging members 20 on the wall W1 side. In other words, two hanging members 20 are provided on each of the pair of walls W1 and W2, for a total of four. Each hanging member 20 hangs the bathtub 10 by hooking a loop portion 41 (described later) on the bathtub 10.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, bathroom 1 has a hanging member 21. Hanging member 21 is a member for temporarily hanging bathtub 10 after use to drain or dry, or for suspending bathtub 10 when not in use. A pair of hanging members 21 are provided on wall W2. Hanging member 21 is provided above hanging member 20, at a height that is within reach of an average adult woman, and at a height where the suspended bathtub 10 does not come into contact with floor F. Specifically, hanging member 21 is provided at a height of approximately 1700 mm above floor F.

[0016] Bathtub 10 is detachably attached to a pair of walls W1, W2. Bathtub 10 can be deformed to store hot water. Bathtub 10 can freely change its shape, such as being folded or unfolded. Bathtub 10 stores hot water when unfolded. Bathtub 10 is boat-shaped when suspended, which is the state in which it is used.

[0017] As shown in Figure 3, the bathtub 10 is composed of a bathtub body 30 and a rope 40. The bathtub body 30 stores hot and cold water. The bathtub body 30 is made of a sheet. When in use, the bathtub body 30 has a rectangular shape in a plan view. When in use, the upper edge of the bathtub body 30 opens upward. When in use, the bathtub body 30 gradually widens from the bottom end to the top end.

[0018] As shown in Figure 3, the bathtub body 30 has four side walls: first to fourth side walls 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D. The first and second side walls 30A and 30B extend downward from a pair of opposing long sides in a plan view. The third and fourth side walls 30C and 30D extend downward from a pair of opposing short sides in a plan view. Both end edges of the third and fourth side walls 30C and 30D are continuous with both end edges of the first and second side walls 30A and 30B.

[0019] The bathtub body 30 is made of sheet S1. As shown in Figure 4, sheet S1 is cut into a predetermined shape from a single sheet material. The bathtub body 30 is formed by joining the joining pieces J and folding back the folded piece T in the sheet S1 shown in Figure 4. The joining pieces J are joined to form the joining portion 31 described below. The folded piece T is folded back and sewn to form the folded portion 32 described below. The sheet material that makes up sheet S1 is flexible and deformable, yet has excellent durability against external physical and mechanical influences, especially external tensile forces, and is impermeable (waterproof). The sheet material that makes up sheet S1 has little elasticity, and retains its boat-shaped shape to a certain extent when filled with hot or cold water.

[0020] Specifically, the sheet S1 is composed of multiple overlapping layers. As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet S1 has two layers: a first layer L1 and a second layer L2. The sheet S1 is a single sheet cut out from a sheet material in which the first layer L1 and the second layer L2 are bonded together with an adhesive A. The first layer L1 ensures water impermeability. The second layer L2 ensures durability. The first layer L1 is positioned closer to the inside of the bathtub 10 than the second layer L2. Specifically, in the two-layer sheet S1, the first layer L1 is located on the innermost side, and the second layer L2 is located on the outermost side.

[0021] In the sheet S1, the first layer L1 is a film layer made of resin or the like. Specifically, the first layer L1 is made of polyurethane (PU) film. The smooth surface of this first layer L1 is exposed on the inner surface of the bathtub body 30. In the sheet S1, the second layer L2 is made of fabric such as woven fabric. The second layer L2 is made of polyester resin fiber, specifically, woven fabric made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber. PET fibers are excellent in water resistance, heat resistance, chemical resistance, etc. The weave of the woven fabric second layer L2 is a plain weave, which is considered to be excellent in strength and durability among various weaves. The fabric surface of the second layer L2 of the sheet S1 is exposed on the outer surface of the bathtub body 30. In other words, the plain weave fabric surface of the second layer L2 is exposed on the outer surface of the bathtub 10, and the PU film surface of the first layer L1 is exposed on the inner surface. In the sheet S1, the fabric surface of the second layer L2, which is the outermost surface, is rougher than the surface of the first layer L1, which is the innermost surface.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the bathtub body 30 has a joint 31 and a folded portion 32. The joint 31 joins the sheets S1 together. The joint 31 is the portion where the joining pieces J (see Figure 4) provided on the edges of the cut sheets S1 are joined together. The joint 31 is formed on the side wall of the bathtub body 30. Specifically, the joint 31 is formed on the side wall 30C, 30D that forms the shorter side of the rectangle out of the four side wall 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D of the bathtub body 30. The joint 31 extends in the vertical direction at the center of the extension direction of the sides of the side wall 30C, 30D. By providing such joint 31, the bathtub body 30 of the bathtub 10 forms a boat-shaped shape.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 6 , the joint 31 is formed by thermally welding two overlapping joint pieces J with a thermal welding material H sandwiched between them. In the joint 31, the two joint pieces J are folded into a U-shaped cross section and interlocked with each other. The joint 31 includes a first welding portion H1 where the first layer L1 of the sheet S1 is welded together, a second welding portion H2 where the second layer L2 is welded together, and a third welding portion H3 where the first layer L1 is welded to the second layer L2. The first welding portion H1 and the second welding portion H2 are made of the same material and are welded together using a thermal welding material H suitable for welding the respective materials. In this embodiment, a PU film is used for the first layer L1, and a PET woven fabric is used for the second layer L2. For this reason, for example, a PU-based or polyester-based thermal welding material is suitable for the thermal welding material H used for the first welding portion H1 and the second welding portion H2, respectively. The third welded portion H3 is formed by welding dissimilar materials together, using a welding material selected in consideration of the properties of both materials. In this embodiment, the third welded portion H3 is formed using the same heat-sealing material H as the heat-sealing material H used for the second welded portion H2. The heat-sealing material used for the third welded portion may be the same as the heat-sealing material used for the first welded portion, or may be a heat-sealing material different from the heat-sealing materials used for the first welded portion and the second welded portion.

[0024] The folded portion 32 is formed by folding back and overlapping the outer edge of the sheet S1 that forms the bathtub body 30. The folded portion 32 is maintained in an overlapped state by sewing the folded sheets S1 together. As shown in FIG. 3, the folded portion 32 is formed around almost the entire outer edge located at the upper edge of the bathtub body 30 when in use. Because the folded portion 32 has a double-layered structure, it also functions as a reinforcing portion at the upper edge of the bathtub body 30.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, the folded portion 32 has a wide portion 32A and an insertion portion 32B. The wide portion 32A is located in the portion of the bathtub body 30 that corresponds to the four corners of the rectangular shape in a plan view. The wide portion 32A is wider than the other portions by setting a large folding margin. The insertion portion 32B is the folded portion 32 of the folded portion 32 that corresponds to the long sides of the rectangular shape in a plan view of the bathtub body 30. As shown in FIG. 7, the insertion portion 32B is cylindrical, and a rope 40 is inserted inside. The insertion portion 32B, together with the wide portions 32A on both ends, is formed by a series of folding pieces T. The cylindrical space inside the insertion portion 32B is connected to the space inside the wide portions 32A at both ends. The rope 40 inside the insertion portion 32B extends to the wide portions 32A at both ends.

[0026] The rope 40 suspends the bathtub body 30 when the bathtub 10 is in use. As shown in FIG. 3, the rope 40 is arranged on the upper edges of the side walls 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D of the bathtub body 30, which are rectangular in plan view. In other words, when the bathtub 10 is installed, the bathtub body 30 is suspended from the rope 40 at the upper edges of the two opposing side walls 30A and 30B. The rope 40 is inserted into the wide portion 32A and the insertion portion 32B of the folded portion 32 of the bathtub body 30. The rope 40 extends continuously from the wide portion 32A at one end to the wide portion 32A at the other end. This allows the rope 40 to function as a reinforcing member that reinforces the upper edge of the bathtub body 30 when suspended. As shown in FIG. 8, the rope 40 has a loop portion 41. The loop portions 41 are provided on both ends of the rope 40. The loop portions 41 expose the rope 40 in a loop shape to the outside from the wide portion 32A, and return the ends to the inside of the wide portion 32A to secure them to the wide portion 32A.

[0027] When in use, suspended from the rope 40, the bathtub body 30 has a boat-like shape with a downward recess in the center. When in use, the upper edge of the bathtub body 30 opens upward. When in use, the bathtub body 30 has a boat-like shape that gradually widens from the bottom to the top. When filled with hot water, the underside of the center of the bathtub body 30 comes into contact with the floor F of the bathroom 1. This allows the floor F to support most of the weight of the bathtub 10 when it is filled with hot water. Therefore, the reinforcing structure of the walls W1 and W2 can be simplified compared to when the bathtub 10 is supported only by the walls.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the loop portion 41 is hooked onto a hanging member 20 provided on the walls W1 and W2. The loop portion 41 is provided on the upper edge of the bathtub 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the loop portion 41 is provided on the four corners of the bathtub main body 30, which is rectangular in plan view. The bathtub main body 30 is hung from the hanging member 20 via a rope 40 with the loop portion 41 hooked onto the hanging member 20. The bathtub 10 is detachably attached to the walls W1 and W2 by hooking the loop portion 41 onto the hanging member 20.

[0029] The function and effect of the bathtub 10 and bathroom 1 configured as described above will now be explained. The bathtub 10 can be attached and detached freely to the walls W1 and W2 of the bathroom 1. This makes it extremely easy to install and store the bathtub 10. When installing, the bathtub 10 can be installed simply by hooking the four loop portions 41 onto the hanging members 20 on the walls W1 and W2. The bathtub 10 is hung from the hanging members 20, and in this state, hot and cold water is filled in the bathtub body 30 and used.

[0030] The bathtub 10 has a rope 40 inserted into the insertion section 32B in the folded section 32 at the upper edge of the bathtub body 30. The rope 40 has a loop section 41. The rope 40 is hung between the hanging members 20 of each wall W1, W2 at the loop sections 41 at both ends. The bathtub body 30 is hung while distributing the load over approximately the entire length of the rope 40 in the extension direction. Therefore, the bathtub 10 can suppress localized load imbalance when hung on the sheet S1 that forms the bathtub body 30.

[0031] The folded portion 32 is maintained in its folded state by sewing. The folded portion 32 is located at the upper end of the bathtub body 30 when in use. The water level of the bathtub body 30 when in use is usually located below the upper end of the bathtub body 30. For this reason, the folded portion 32 does not require strict water impermeability like the joint portion 31; it is sufficient if it can maintain its folded state. For this reason, using sewing to maintain the folded portion 32 is useful as it allows the folded state to be maintained in a simple manner. The sewn folded portion 32 can add a design such as a stitch to the upper edge of the bathtub body 30.

[0032] The folded portion 32 is formed by folding the upper edge of the bathtub body 30 outward when the bathtub 10 is in use. With this folded portion 32, the inner surface of the bathtub body 30 is composed only of the surface of the first layer L1. This first layer L1 is made of PU film, and is the layer that ensures the impermeability of the bathtub body 30. Therefore, the folded portion 32 is advantageous from the standpoint of waterproofing.

[0033] For example, in the case of a folded portion that is folded inward toward the bathtub body, the surface of the layer that constitutes the outer surface of the bathtub body is exposed to the inside of the bathtub body. In this case, if the outer surface of the bathtub body is composed of the surface of a fabric such as a woven or knitted fabric like the second layer L2 of this embodiment, water is likely to seep into the gaps in the woven or knitted fabric due to splashes of hot or cold water. In contrast, in the case of the folded portion 32 that is folded outward, the surface of the second layer L2 is not exposed to the inside of the bathtub body 30, which prevents hot or cold water from coming into contact with the second layer L2, making such a situation less likely to occur.

[0034] The folded portion 32 has excellent design properties because the upper edge of the bathtub body 30 is folded outward when the bathtub 10 is in use. In other words, because the folded portion 32 is folded outward, there is no step on the inner surface of the bathtub body 30 that would occur if it were folded inward.

[0035] To fill the bathtub 10 with hot water, the faucet 3 in the shower device 2 is used. The faucet 3 can discharge hot water from either the outlet pipe 3A, the overhead shower 4, or the hand shower 5. A bather in the bathtub 10 can fill the bath with hot water from the outlet pipe 3A, or from either the overhead shower 4 or the hand shower 5. The bathtub 10 is deformable, so it can be shaped to fit the bather's body. Therefore, the bathtub 10 requires less hot water than a non-deformable bathtub. In the bathtub 10, the inner surface of the bathtub body 30 is the surface of a first layer L1 made of PU film. The surface of this PU film is smooth, making it comfortable to the touch and easy to clean.

[0036] In the bathtub 10, the sheet S1 forming the bathtub body 30 has multiple layers: a first layer L1 and a second layer L2. The first layer L1 is formed of a PU film, which is a water-impermeable material. The second layer L2 is formed of a woven fabric made of PET fiber, which is a durable material. This makes it easy for the bathtub 10 to achieve both hanging strength and waterproofness. For example, if the bathtub were made of a single-layer sheet, the material forming this single layer would need to be both water-impermeable and durable, limiting the materials that can be selected. In contrast, in the bathtub 10, the sheet S1 forming the bathtub body 30 is selected as a PU film to ensure water impermeability and a woven fabric made of PET fiber to ensure durability. In this way, by configuring the sheet S1 forming the bathtub body 30 as a multiple-layer structure, the bathtub 10 allows different materials to be selected separately for water impermeability and durability, and both can be used.

[0037] When filled with hot water, the water pressure of the water acts on each part of the bathtub 10. This water pressure causes each part of the bathtub 10 to deform, and the bathtub body 30 and rope 40 become taut. In particular, the rope 40, which is stretched between the walls W1 and W2 at the upper edge, becomes taut enough that it does not shake significantly even when you place your hand on it. Therefore, while the bathtub 10 is freely deformable, deformation is suppressed by filling it with hot water, and a stable shape is maintained even when bathers enter and exit the bathtub 10.

[0038] The bathtub 10 has joints 31 where sheets S1 are joined together. The joints 31 are joined at heat-sealed sections H1, H2, and H3, where sheets S1 are heat-sealed together using a heat-sealing material H. The joints 31 are joined at three heat-sealed sections H1, H2, and H3 by engaging joint pieces J, which are bent into a U-shaped cross section. This ensures that the bathtub body 30 has sufficient strength and waterproofness at the joints 31.

[0039] The joint 31 extends vertically at the center of the side walls 30C, 30D of the bathtub body 30, which is rectangular in plan view. The bathtub body 30 has a well-defined symmetrical shape on both sides of the joint 31. By positioning the joint 31 so that it extends vertically at the center of the side walls 30C, 30D, the bathtub body 30 can achieve good material yield. In other words, by positioning the joint 31 in this way relative to the bathtub body 30, the bathtub 10 can reduce the unfolded size of the sheet S1 that forms the bathtub body 30 when forming the symmetrical boat-shaped bathtub body 30.

[0040] For example, consider a bathtub body with a shape roughly similar to that of bathtub body 30. If the joints in this bathtub body are positioned off-center on the side walls of the bathtub body, the shape of the sheet forming the bathtub body when unfolded will be asymmetrical. In contrast, in the case of bathtub body 30, by positioning joints 31 in the center of side walls 30C and 30D, the shape of sheet S1 in the unfolded state can be made symmetrical (see Figure 4). Therefore, compared to when a symmetrical bathtub body is formed from an asymmetrical sheet material, the size of bathtub body 30 when unfolded is reduced, achieving good material yield.

[0041] When filled with hot water, the underside of the center of the bathtub 10 contacts the floor F. By having the underside of the bathtub 10 contact the floor F in this way, the weight of the hot water and the weight of the bather are properly supported by the floor F. This prevents excessive load from being placed on the parts of the bathtub 10 involved in suspending the bathtub 10, such as the hanging member 20, loop portion 41, rope 40, and insertion portion 32B. The bathroom 1 can simplify the strength of its suspension support structure compared to a structure in which the bathtub is suspended only by its upper edge. Specifically, the strength of the bathroom 1's configuration, such as the hanging member 20 and wall structure W1 and W2, and the bathtub 10's configuration, such as the bathtub body 30 and rope structure 40, can be simplified.

[0042] When bathing is finished, the water stored in the bathtub 10 is drained and removed from the walls W1, W2. When removing the bathtub 10 from the walls W1, W2, it can be removed with the simple action of removing the loop portion 41 from the hanging member 20. Once removed, the bathtub 10 is washed, dried, folded, and stored. Because the bathtub 10 is detachable, the entire interior and exterior surfaces of the bathtub 10 can be cleaned, unlike conventional freestanding bathtubs. Once the water and water have been drained from the bathtub 10, it can be removed from the walls W1, W2 and freely transformed into a folded or rolled-up state. The bathtub 10 can be easily transformed into a shape suitable for storage.

[0043] A hanging member 21 is used to drain and dry bathtub 10 (see Figure 1, etc.). Hanging member 21 is installed on wall W2, above hanging member 20, at a height that is within reach of an average adult woman and at a height where the hanging bathtub 10 does not come into contact with floor F. Bathroom 1 allows bathtub 10 to be easily dried without having to be taken outside.

[0044] As shown in Figure 2, bathroom 1 can be suitably used as a shower room where showers can be taken when bathtub 10 is removed. When bathtub 10 is not installed in bathroom 1, the entire floor F can be used as a washing area for showering. Showering can be done in bathroom 1 using at least one of the overhead shower 4 and hand shower 5 in shower device 2. When showering with bathtub 10 removed, neither foam nor water will adhere to bathtub 10. This makes bathroom 1 easy to clean after showering.

[0045] Because bathtub 10 is made of sheet, it is easy to manufacture inexpensively compared to conventional bathtubs made of FRP or the like. Therefore, it is relatively easy to provide a dedicated bathtub 10 for each user. In this case, the size, design, etc. of bathtub 10 can be freely set to suit each user. Compared to conventional freestanding bathtubs made of FRP or the like, bathtub 10 has advantages in terms of transportation costs and recyclability. Therefore, bathtub 10 can reduce the environmental impact. It is relatively easy for one user to own multiple bathtubs 10. In this case, the user can select the desired bathtub from multiple bathtubs 10 depending on their mood, the season, etc., just like choosing clothes.

[0046] As described above, the bathtub 10 according to embodiment 1 includes a bathtub body 30 made of sheet S1 that is used by filling it with hot water while suspended. The bathtub body 30 has a joint 31. The joint 31 is formed by joining sheets S1 together. The joint 31 is provided on the side walls 30C and 30D of the bathtub body 30. By including the joint 31, the bathtub body 30 can easily be shaped as desired.

[0047] In the bathtub 10, the bathtub body 30 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The joint 31 extends vertically in the center of the extension direction of the side wall portions 30C, 30D that form the sides corresponding to the short sides of the rectangular shape of the bathtub body 30. This joint 31 allows the bathtub 10 to have a boat-like shape that is symmetrical with respect to the joint 31. By providing the joint 31 in the center of the extension direction of the sides so that it extends vertically, the bathtub 10 can form the sheet S1 from the sheet material with a high yield.

[0048] In the bathtub 10, the joint 31 has heat-sealed sections H1, H2, and H3 formed by sandwiching a heat-sealing material H between the overlapping sheets S1. This ensures that the joint 31 in the bathtub body 30 of the bathtub 10 has sufficient strength and waterproofness.

[0049] In the bathtub 10, the sheet S1 that forms the bathtub body 30 has a second layer L2 made of PET fiber woven fabric as the cloth, and a first layer L1 made of PU film as a layer of water-impermeable material superimposed on the first layer L1. In the bathtub 10, the inner surface of the bathtub body 30 is the smooth surface of the first layer L1 made of PU film, which feels good against the skin when bathing.

[0050] In the bathtub 10, the sheet S1 that forms the bathtub body 30 is formed from a single sheet S1. Specifically, the sheet S1 is cut into a predetermined shape from a single sheet material. Therefore, compared to a bathtub body formed by joining multiple sheet-like members cut from sheet material, the bathtub 10 requires fewer joints, making it easier to obtain the bathtub body 30.

[0051] In the bathtub 10, when in use, the upper edge of the bathtub body 30 has a folded portion 32 that is folded outward. This allows the bathtub 10 to be configured so that only the surface of the first layer L1, which ensures water impermeability, is exposed to the inner surface of the bathtub body 30, which is advantageous for ensuring waterproofing. Because the folded portion 32 is folded outward, it is possible to configure the bathtub body 30 so that it does not have the level difference that would occur if it were folded inward. By providing the folded portion 32 on the upper edge, the bathtub 10 ensures the strength required for hanging the bathtub body 30 from its upper edge. The overlapping sheets S1 at the folded portion 32 are sewn together. This allows the bathtub 10 to be given a good design by sewing the folded portion 32 on the upper edge of the bathtub body 30.

[0052] The bathroom 1 in embodiment 1 is equipped with a hanging member 20 for hanging the bathtub 10. Therefore, when taking a shower, for example, the bathroom 1 can create a larger space by removing the bathtub 10. In other words, the bathroom 1 can be fitted with the bathtub 10 only when it is needed, and can be removed when it is not needed. Therefore, by removing the bathtub 10 when the bathroom 1 is being used for a purpose other than its intended use, the space can be used more efficiently by eliminating the bathtub 10.

[0053] In the bathtub 10, the sheet S1 that forms the bathtub body 30 has multiple layers: a first layer L1 and a second layer L2. The first layer L1 is made of a PU film, which is a water-impermeable material. The second layer L2 is made of a woven fabric made of PET fibers, which is a durable material. This configuration allows the bathtub 10 to use a sheet S1 made from materials that are individually selected for excellent waterproofness and durability. As a result, the bathtub 10 can easily ensure both hanging strength and waterproofness compared to when the sheet S1 is made of a single layer, and can easily achieve a bathtub body 30 that is excellent in waterproofness and durability.

[0054] In the bathtub 10, the outermost layer of the sheet S1 that forms the bathtub body 30 is made of fabric. This allows the bathtub 10 to have an appearance with a good design. In other words, by making the outermost layer out of fabric, the bathtub body 30 can have an appearance with the texture of fabric, giving the bathtub 10 a good design.

[0055] In the bathtub 10, the sheet S1 forming the bathtub body 30 has a rougher fabric surface made of PET fiber on the outermost side than the PU film surface on the innermost side. This allows the bathtub 10 to have the texture of a rough surface compared to when the outer surface is simply smooth, improving the design of the outer surface of the bathtub body 30.

[0056] The bathtub 10 is equipped with a rope 40 that suspends the bathtub main body 30 when in use. The rope 40 is inserted into the folded portion 32 and extends from it. Therefore, when the bathtub 10 is suspended, the rope 40 can effectively support the weight of the water stored therein and the weight received from bathers who lean against the inner surface of the bathtub 10. Because the rope 40 is inserted into the folded portion 32 at the upper edge of the bathtub main body 30 and extends from it, the load received from the bathtub main body 30 can be effectively distributed in the direction in which the rope 40 extends.

[0057] The bathtub 10 has four loops 41 that hook onto the hanging member 20 on the bathroom 1 side. This allows the bathtub 10 to support the weight of the collected water and the bather by distributing it well from the four loops 41 to the walls W1 and W2. The bathtub 10 is in contact with the floor F of the bathroom 1 at the center underside of the bathtub body 30. This allows the bathtub 10 to support the weight also on the floor F of the bathroom 1, reducing the load on the walls W1 and W2.

[0058] <Embodiment 2> A bathtub of embodiment 2, which embodies the bathtub according to the present disclosure, will be described with reference to Figure 9. The bathtub of embodiment 2 comprises a bathtub body having a joint 231. The joint 231 is similar to the joint 31 of embodiment 1 in that it is formed by joining sheets together on the side wall of the bathtub body. The joint 231 differs from the joint 31 in the manner in which the sheets are joined together. In other respects, the bathtub of embodiment 2 has the same configuration as the bathtub 10 of embodiment 1. In the following description, the same components as those of embodiment 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 9, the joint 231 is a combination of thermal welding and sewing. The joint 231 is similar to the first embodiment in that joint pieces J bent to have a U-shaped cross section are interlocked with each other, and thermal welding parts H1, H2, and H3 are formed between them using thermal welding material H. In addition, the joint 231 is formed by sewing together overlapping sheets with sewing thread Th. This type of joint 231 can further improve the joining strength.

[0060] The preferred procedure for forming the joint 231 is to sandwich the heat-sealing material H between the joint pieces J, sew them together with sewing thread, and then melt the heat-sealing material H to form the heat-sealed parts H1, H2, and H3. This procedure allows the heat-sealing material H to penetrate the holes made by the needles during sewing, ensuring waterproofing.

[0061] <Other embodiments> The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present disclosure: In the present disclosure, the various features of the above-described embodiments and the embodiments to be described later may be combined in any manner as long as they are not inconsistent.

[0062] The configuration, size, spatial shape, etc. of the bathroom according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiments. In a bathroom, it is not necessary for the hanging part to be provided on the wall. The hanging part may be provided on the ceiling of the bathroom. The hanging part may be provided on a movable frame installed on the bathroom floor. In a bathroom, it is preferable to provide a reinforcing structure in a part corresponding to the hanging part, such as behind the wall, in the ceiling, or under the floor.

[0063] It is not essential that the bathroom according to the present disclosure has a hanging member for draining and drying the bathtub. If the bathroom has a hanging member for draining and drying, the wall to which it is attached is not particularly limited. That is, the hanging member for draining and drying may be provided on the wall on which the shower device is installed, as exemplified in the above embodiment, or on a wall that does not face the wall on which the shower device is installed, and is not equipped with a shower device. The hanging member for draining and drying is preferably provided on a wall other than the wall on which the shower device is installed. For example, one hanging member for draining and drying may be provided on each adjacent wall. In this case, the hanging member for draining and drying can be provided at the corner of the two walls, allowing the bathtub to be hung with a large gap between the wall surface, which is even more suitable for draining and drying.

[0064] The configuration of the bathtub according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The bathtub may be configured with a member for suspending the bathtub body, such as a rope, as in the above-described embodiments, or may be configured with only the bathtub body.

[0065] The bathtub body according to the present disclosure is not particularly limited in shape, size, configuration, etc., as long as it is made of a sheet and used while suspended to fill with hot and cold water. The shape of the bathtub body is not limited to the shapes exemplified in the above embodiments. When viewed from above in use, the bathtub body can be a polygonal shape such as a square, triangle, or pentagon, a circle, an ellipse, etc.

[0066] In the bathtub according to the present disclosure, it is not necessary for the bathtub body to have a folded portion. If the bathtub body has a folded portion, its configuration, shape, arrangement, etc. are not limited to those of the above-described embodiments. The folded portion is not limited to being provided around the entire upper edge of the bathtub body, but may be provided partially, for example, on only two of the four sides of the upper edge of the bathtub body that is rectangular in plan view. The folded portion may be folded inward at the upper edge of the bathtub body when in use. Note that in this disclosure, "rectangle" refers to a rectangle that includes a square. In other words, the "rectangle" according to the present disclosure does not include a square.

[0067] It is not essential that the bathtub according to the present disclosure include a rope. If the bathtub includes a rope, its shape, arrangement, etc. are not limited to those of the above-described embodiments. The rope may be looped. In this case, the rope may be a looped rope that runs along the upper edge of the bathtub body, a looped rope that is passed through a through-hole formed in the bathtub body, or the like.

[0068] The bathtub according to the present disclosure may be provided with an engaging portion, such as the loop portion in each of the above embodiments. The shape, size, configuration, etc. of the engaging portion are not particularly limited as long as it can be hooked onto a hanging portion provided in the bathroom. Examples of the engaging portion include a through-hole formed in the bathtub body, or a looped rope that passes through a through-hole formed in the bathtub body. The engaging portion may simply be in the form of tying the end of the rope to the hanging portion. If the bathtub is provided with engaging portions, the number thereof may be five or more, or three or less.

[0069] The joining portion according to the present disclosure is not particularly limited in its joining form, arrangement, configuration, etc. The joining form of the sheets by the joining portion is not limited to thermal welding using a thermal adhesive material as exemplified in the above embodiments, but may be sewing using sewing thread, adhesion using an adhesive material, etc. The joining portion may be a combination of these joining forms.

[0070] The joint may be located at a position other than the center of the side wall in the direction in which the edge of the side wall extends, or may be located at a location other than the side wall, such as the bottom wall of the bathtub body. The joint is not limited to a form formed by extending in the vertical direction, and may be, for example, a form formed by extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction.

[0071] The joint according to the present disclosure may have a configuration as shown in FIG. 10, for example. The joint 331 shown in FIG. 10 is formed by heat welding without using a heat-sealing material. Specifically, the joint 331 is formed by butting together first layers L1 made of PU film at the joint piece J and heat-welding the PU together. This configuration makes it possible to realize a joint with an extremely simple configuration. Note that a modified example of the joint of this embodiment may include a configuration in which a heat-sealing material is disposed between the joint piece pieces to form a heat-sealed portion.

[0072] The joint according to the present disclosure may have a configuration as shown in Fig. 11, for example. The joint 431 shown in Fig. 11 has the same configuration as the joint 231 described above, but in addition, the joint 231 is covered with a water-impermeable seam tape TA. This configuration can further improve the waterproofness of the joint. The seam tape TA can be joined to the water-impermeable material layer (L1) of the sheet by heat welding, adhesive, or the like.

[0073] The joints according to the present disclosure allow the bathtub body to be shaped into a desired shape. For example, in the bathtub 210 shown in FIG. 12, the bathtub body 230 has a loosened portion 60. This loosened portion 60 is formed by using the joints to wrinkle the periphery of the portion of the seat that forms the loosened portion 60. Note that the loosened portion 60 in FIG. 15 is an example that also functions as an armrest. This type of armrest can achieve an unprecedented feel by fitting the bather's body due to the flexibility of the seat.

[0074] Another variation of the joint is described with reference to FIG. 13. The bathtub 310 shown in FIG. 13 includes a bathtub body 330. The bathtub body 330 is formed by joining multiple sheets together at joints 31. Specifically, the bathtub body 330 is formed by joining, at joints 31, a sheet S1 similar to that in the above-described embodiments and a sheet S5 cut separately from the sheet S1. In this embodiment, the sheet S5 is stretchable. With this configuration, the sheet S5 is placed in areas of the bathtub body where the bather's body parts with a large range of motion, such as the back, neck, head, and feet, are expected to come into contact. This allows the sheet to stretch and contract in response to movements such as stretching of the body parts and changes in posture. This allows the bather to move their body easily within the bathtub body 330, further enhancing the relaxing effect of bathing. In this way, when the bathtub body is formed by joining multiple sheets at joints, it is easy to create a bathtub body with excellent design, for example, by forming patterns or designs depending on the cut shape of the sheets, or by connecting them together like patchwork.

[0075] The joints according to the present disclosure may be formed for the purpose of reinforcing the bathtub body. Because the bathtub body according to the present disclosure is used while suspended and filled with hot and cold water, it is expected that the load from the suspension will act locally near the engaging portion according to the present disclosure. It is expected that friction will occur in the insertion portion according to the present disclosure due to sliding with the rope. For this reason, for example, in the folded portions of the wide portion, insertion portion, etc., a sheet may be overlapped as a reinforcing material, and a multi-layered folded portion joined by a joint may be provided.

[0076] In the present disclosure, the configuration of the sheet forming the bathtub body is not limited to the configurations exemplified in the above embodiments. It is preferable that the sheet have at least two layers: one made of a water-impermeable material and one made of a durable material. Another example of a sheet according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 14. The sheet S2 shown in FIG. 14 has a third layer L3 in addition to a first layer L1 and a second layer L2. The third layer L3 has a heat-retaining function. In this embodiment, the third layer L3 is a layer of foamed resin made of a resin such as PU or polyethylene (PE). The third layer L3 is disposed between the first layer L1 and the second layer L2. A bathtub body having the sheet S2 configured as described above can prevent the temperature of the water stored in the bathtub from dropping. There is a concern that the water stored in a sheet-made bathtub body cools down more easily than in conventional bathtubs made of FRP or other materials. Therefore, by using a sheet S2 having a third layer L3 made of foamed resin as the sheet forming the bathtub body, the sheet-made bathtub body can be endowed with heat-retaining properties.

[0077] The sheet may have two or more layers made of impermeable materials. For example, the sheet S3 shown in Figure 15 has two layers L1A and L1B made of impermeable materials. A sheet having multiple layers made of impermeable materials can ensure better waterproofing than a sheet with only one impermeable material layer.

[0078] The material of the resin film as a layer formed from a water-impermeable material is not limited to the PU film exemplified in the above embodiments. The resin film material may be any water-impermeable material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyamide (PA) resin. The water-impermeable layer may also be a layer formed from a material other than a resin film, such as a woven fabric impregnated with a waterproof resin or rubber.

[0079] The sheet may have two or more layers formed of a durable material. The fabric used for the layers formed of a durable material is not limited to the woven fabric exemplified in the above embodiments, but may be a knitted fabric, a nonwoven fabric, or other fabric. When the fabric is a woven fabric, the weave may be a twill weave, a satin weave, or the like, and is not limited to a plain weave. The durable material is not limited to a PE-based resin such as PET exemplified in the above embodiments, but may be a PA-based resin, an acrylic (PMMA)-based resin, or other material.

[0080] When a seat is configured with a fabric layer, it is not essential that the fabric layer be located on the outermost side of the seat. The fabric layer may be located on the inner side of the other layers of the seat. In the case of fabric, the excellent texture of fabric can be imparted, and decoration such as dyeing and printing can also be applied. Therefore, locating the fabric layer on the outermost side is significant from the viewpoint of improving the design.

[0081] It is not essential that the outermost surface of the sheet be rougher than the innermost surface. The outermost surface of the sheet may be smoother than the innermost surface, or may have the same surface roughness as the innermost surface. If the outermost surface of the sheet is rough, it can be given a good design due to the texture of the rough surface. A rough surface can also have a difference in surface roughness that is visible to the user, compared to a simply smooth surface. In this case, various differences in texture and feel due to differences in surface roughness can be selected, thereby improving design freedom. In other words, a rough surface can broaden the range of choices for texture, function, etc., compared to a simply smooth surface.

[0082] Another example of a sheet having a heat-retaining function is shown with reference to FIG. 16. The heat-retaining function of a sheet is not limited to a form in which the sheet has a heat-retaining layer made of foamed resin, as in the case of sheet S2 described above. For example, the sheet may have a form such as sheet S4 shown in FIG. 16, which has a layer L4 in which a heating wire E that generates heat when electricity is applied is embedded. The placement of the layer having a heat-retaining function is not limited to between the layer made of a water-impermeable material and the layer made of a durable material, as exemplified in the second embodiment. For example, the layer having a heat-retaining function may be located outside the layer made of a durable material (second layer L2), as in layer L4 of sheet S4 shown in FIG. 16. A sheet having a heat-retaining function may have a form in which a heating wire is simply sandwiched between multiple layers forming the sheet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1...bathroom, 10, 210, 310...bathtub, 20...hanging member (hanging portion), 30, 230, 330, 430...bathtub body, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D...side wall portion (30A...first side wall portion, 30B...second side wall portion, 30C...third side wall portion, 30D...fourth side wall portion), 31, 231, 331, 431...joint portion, 32...folded portion, H...thermal welding material, L1, L1A, L1B...first layer (layer of non-water-permeable material), L2...second layer (cloth), S1, S2, S3, S4, S5...sheet

Claims

1. A bathtub equipped with a sheet-made bathtub body that is used by filling it with hot water while hanging, The sheets forming the bathtub body have joints on the side walls where the sheets are joined together.

2. When the bathtub body is filled with hot and cold water and used, the bathtub body is rectangular in plan view. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the joint extends vertically in the center of the side wall portion that forms a predetermined side in the plan view, in the direction in which the side extends.

3. When the bathtub body is filled with hot and cold water and used, the bathtub body is rectangular in plan view. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the joint extends vertically in the center of the side wall portion that forms the short side in the plan view, in the direction in which the short side extends.

4. The bathtub according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the joint is formed by sandwiching a molten heat-welding material between the overlapping sheets.

5. The bathtub according to claim 4, wherein the joint is formed by sewing the overlapping sheets together so as to penetrate the heat-sealing material.

6. The bathtub according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bathtub body is formed from a single sheet.

7. 4. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a fabric and a layer of impermeable material superimposed on the fabric.

8. A bathtub as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the bathtub body is filled with hot water and used, the upper edge of the bathtub body has a folded portion that is folded outward, and the overlapping sheets at the folded portion are sewn together.

9. A bathroom equipped with a hanging part for hanging the bathtub according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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