Shower device

Abstract

To provide a shower device capable of discharging water more appropriately toward a user's body.SOLUTION: A shower device 1 includes a plurality of body showers 3 provided in a height direction so as to discharge water toward a user's body from a support column 2, a water discharge control unit 5, and an overhead shower 4. The water discharge control unit 5 includes a plurality of sensors 5A that detect that the user is positioned at a use position in front of the support column 2 based on a change in the light reception amount of reflected light from light projected from the support column 2 in the height direction. The water discharge control unit 5 selects one of the plurality of body showers 3 to be used for water discharge and switches the selected one to a water discharge state on the basis of user height information based on the detection results of the plurality of sensors 5A. The overhead shower 4 is switched to a water discharge state for discharging water onto the user from above the head by the water discharge control unit 5 in coordination with the switching of the selected one used to discharge water among the plurality of body showers 3 to the water discharge state by the water discharge control unit 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower apparatus, and more particularly to a shower apparatus having a plurality of body showers arranged vertically, each of which sprays water from a vertical wall toward the user's body. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a shower system with multiple body showers arranged vertically, each spraying water toward the user's body. This shower system is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor that can detect the user's height from above. Based on the user's height detected by the ultrasonic sensor, the shower system selects one of the body showers at a height appropriate for the user's height and switches it to a water-spouting state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-103494 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, water is only discharged from the body shower located at a height appropriate for the user's height, so depending on the user's height, it is possible that the user may not be able to receive enough water. Therefore, the present invention provides a shower device that can more appropriately discharge water toward the user's body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the shower device of the present invention takes the following measures.

[0006] In other words, the first invention of the present invention is a shower device having a plurality of body showers in a vertical direction that spray water from a vertical wall portion toward the user's body, and having a plurality of sensors in a vertical direction that detect whether the user is in a usage position in front of the vertical wall portion by changes in the amount of reflected light received from the vertical wall portion, a water discharge control unit that selects one of the plurality of body showers to use and switches it to a water discharge state based on user height information derived from the detection results of the plurality of sensors, and an overhead shower that is switched to a water discharge state by the water discharge control unit so that water is sprayed from above toward the user's head at the same time as the water discharge control unit switches one of the plurality of body showers to use to a water discharge state.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the height of the user in the use position can be properly detected by a plurality of sensors arranged in the vertical direction on the vertical wall portion. Then, according to the detected height of the user, one of the body showers arranged in the vertical direction is selected to be used for water discharge and switched to the water discharge state. Furthermore, in conjunction with this water discharge, water is also discharged from the overhead shower toward the user's head. Therefore, sufficient water can be discharged regardless of the user's height. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a general configuration of a shower device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing the water discharge state when a short user uses the shower device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] First Embodiment (Schematic configuration of shower device 1) First, the configuration of a shower apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In the following description, directions such as front, back, top, bottom, left, and right refer to the directions shown in each figure. The directions shown in each figure are those seen from a user standing in front of the shower apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.

[0011] The shower device 1 of this embodiment is configured as a water discharge unit installed in a shower room. The shower device 1 has a support pillar 2 that extends vertically along the wall of the shower room (not shown), and body showers 3 that are installed at three positions vertically on the front side of the support pillar 2. Here, the support pillar 2 corresponds to the "standing wall" of this invention.

[0012] Each body shower 3 is installed so that the nozzles for spraying water are exposed on the front side of the support pillar 2. The body showers 3 are installed spaced apart in the vertical direction. Each body shower 3 is configured to spray hot and cold water supplied through the inside of the support pillar 2 from each nozzle as a wide shower spray toward the user's body.

[0013] Shower device 1 also has an overhead shower 4 that protrudes from the upper end of the front side of support pillar 2. Overhead shower 4 has a shower pipe 4A that extends from the front side of support pillar 2, and a shower head 4B that is attached to the end of shower pipe 4A so that the spray surface faces downward.

[0014] The overhead shower 4 is configured to spray hot and cold water supplied through the inside of the support column 2 from the spray surface of the shower head 4B toward the user's head in a wide, expansive shower spray that envelops the entire body. The spray surface of the shower head 4B is rectangular. The shower head 4B may be configured so that its attachment angle relative to the shower pipe 4A can be adjusted forward, backward, left, or right.

[0015] Shower device 1 also has a water discharge control unit 5 that detects when a user is in the usage position in front of support pillar 2 and controls the discharge of water toward the user from multiple body showers 3 and overhead showers 4. Water discharge control unit 5 is equipped with reflective sensors 5A installed at six positions along the height of support pillar 2. Each sensor 5A is a known reflective photoelectric sensor that detects when a user is in the usage position in front of support pillar 2 by detecting changes in the amount of light reflected from support pillar 2.

[0016] The shower device 1 also has a rotatable temperature control handle 6 mounted on the front side of the support pillar 2. The temperature control handle 6 adjusts the temperature of the hot and cold water discharged from the multiple body showers 3 and overhead shower 4. The temperature control handle 6 is positioned higher on the front side of the support pillar 2 than the uppermost body shower 3.

[0017] The water discharge control unit 5 selects one of the body showers 3 to discharge water from and switches it to the water discharge state based on the height information of the user that is based on the detection results sent from each sensor 5A. When switching the selected body shower 3 to the water discharge state, the water discharge control unit 5 also switches the overhead shower 4 to the water discharge state.

[0018] Specifically, in the initial state when no user is detected by the sensors 5A, the water discharge control unit 5 keeps each body shower 3 and overhead shower 4 in a water-stopped state. More specifically, the water discharge control unit 5 closes each solenoid valve connected to the individual water supply pipes (not shown) that supply water to each body shower 3 and overhead shower 4, thereby individually stopping the water flow for each shower.

[0019] When several sensors 5A detect that the user is in the usage position in front of the support pillar 2, the water discharge control unit 5 selects one of the three body showers 3 to discharge water from and switches it to the water discharge state based on the height information of the user based on the detection results sent from those sensors 5A, as follows: That is, as shown in Figure 1, when the height of the user detected by several sensors 5A is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the water discharge control unit 5 switches all body showers 3 and overhead showers 4 from the water stop state to the water discharge state.

[0020] As a result, for such a tall user, the shower water is sprayed over a wide area of ​​the body from each body shower 3, and the shower water is sprayed over the entire body from the overhead shower 4. In this embodiment, the "predetermined value" for the user's height is a value that is estimated to be higher than the uppermost body shower 3.

[0021] Therefore, for such a tall user, sufficient water can be sprayed onto the user by spraying shower water from each body shower 3 and overhead shower 4. In other words, even in the area above the uppermost body shower 3, the shower water from the overhead shower 4 is sprayed to envelop the entire body, so sufficient water can be sprayed regardless of the user's height.

[0022] 2, when the height of the user detected by some sensors 5A is less than a predetermined value, the water discharge control unit 5 stops water discharge from the uppermost body shower 3 and switches the lower two body showers 3 and the overhead shower 4 from a stopped state to a discharge state. As a result, for such a short user, the lower two body showers 3 spray water over a wide area of ​​the body, and the overhead shower 4 also sprays water in a wide range that envelops the entire body.

[0023] Therefore, even for such a short user, sufficient water can be sprayed from the two lower body showers 3 and the overhead shower 4. In other words, even in the area of ​​the uppermost body shower 3 where no water is sprayed, water is sprayed from the overhead shower 4 to envelop the entire body, so sufficient water can be sprayed onto the user.

[0024] To summarize the above, the shower device 1 according to the first embodiment has the following configuration: Note that the reference numerals in parentheses below correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0025] That is, shower apparatus (1) has, in the vertical direction, a plurality of body showers (3) that spout water from standing wall portion (2) toward the user's body. Shower apparatus (1) also has a water spout control portion (5) and an overhead shower (4). Water spout control portion (5) has, in the vertical direction, a plurality of sensors (5A) that detect, based on changes in the amount of light received, that is reflected from standing wall portion (2), whether the user is in the usage position in front of standing wall portion (2).

[0026] The water discharge control unit (5) selects one of the body showers (3) to be used for discharging water based on the height information of the user obtained from the detection results of the multiple sensors (5A) and switches it to a water discharge state. As the water discharge control unit (5) switches one of the body showers (3) to be used for discharging water to a water discharge state, the overhead shower (4) is also switched to a water discharge state by the water discharge control unit (5) so that water is discharged from above toward the user.

[0027] According to the above configuration, the height of the user in the use position can be properly detected by the plurality of sensors (5A) arranged in the vertical direction on the upright wall portion (2). Then, according to the detected height of the user, one of the plurality of body showers (3) arranged in the vertical direction is selected to discharge water and switched to the water discharge state. Furthermore, in conjunction with this water discharge, water is discharged from the overhead shower (4) above the user's head. Therefore, sufficient water discharge can be achieved regardless of the height of the user.

[0028] Other Embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various forms as described below in addition to the above embodiment.

[0029] 1. The shower apparatus of the present invention can be installed outdoors as well as indoors in a shower room. Furthermore, the vertical wall on which the multiple body showers are mounted can be made up of the wall of the shower room, rather than being made up of support columns as in the above embodiment.

[0030] 2. The number of body showers installed on the vertical wall is not particularly limited, and may be two or four or more in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the combination of body showers that switch to a water discharge state according to the user's height is not limited to the combinations shown in the above embodiment, and can be set appropriately depending on the number of body showers.

[0031] The water discharge control unit may determine the user's height in two ways: above a predetermined value or below a predetermined value, or may be configured to determine the user's height from three or more different ranges of height. The water discharge patterns of each body shower do not necessarily have to be the same, and may be individually different. The water discharge pattern of each body shower may be a shower-like pattern, a mist-like pattern, or a stream-like pattern.

[0032] 3. The overhead shower may be installed on the ceiling of the shower room. The overhead shower may also have a shower head with a circular spray surface.

[0033] 4. The number of sensors installed in the vertical wall portion can be any number, as long as it is at least two. The sensors can be installed on the wall surface of the vertical wall portion where the body showers are lined up, or on the wall surface of the side wall portion adjacent to that wall portion if the vertical wall portion is made up of a shower room wall. The sensors can also be installed separately on the shower room wall portion and the side wall portion. In this case, the side wall portion is also included in the concept of the "vertical wall portion" in this invention.

[0034] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1...Shower device, 2...Support column (standing wall section), 3...Body shower, 4...Overhead shower, 4A...Shower pipe, 4B...Shower head, 5...Water discharge control section, 5A...Sensor, 6...Temperature control handle

Claims

[Claim 1] A shower device having a plurality of body showers in a vertical direction that spray water from a vertical wall portion toward the user's body, a water discharge control unit that selects one of the body showers to be used and switches it to a water discharge state based on information about the user's height, which is obtained from the detection results of the plurality of sensors; and The shower device has an overhead shower that is switched to a water discharge state by the water discharge control unit so that water is discharged from above the user's head, in conjunction with the water discharge control unit switching one of the body showers to a water discharge state.

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