Bathing equipment

Abstract

To facilitate attachment and detachment of a sheet for closing an opening for assistance, and improve assistance workability.SOLUTION: A bathing apparatus includes a cover for surrounding a bathing space, having an opening for assistance, and a sheet attached to the cover for closing the opening for assistance. The sheet includes a sheet body for closing the opening for assistance and an endless elastic body. The elastic body is attached to the sheet body along an edge of the sheet body. The cover includes a plurality of sheet engagement parts on an outer edge of the opening for assistance. The sheet engagement parts are provided on an outer surface opposite to an inner surface directed to the bathing space of the cover. The sheet is attached to the outer surface when the elastic body is tensed and engages with the sheet engagement parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bath apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002]

[0003] A bathing apparatus for bathing a person who needs assistance is known in the art. Such a bathing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

[0003] The bathing apparatus of Patent Document 1 is equipped with a cover that covers the bathing space. On the sides of the cover (the right and left sides of the bathing apparatus), there are openings for assistance that expose the body of the bather in the bathing space. A caregiver who is looking after the bather can reach his or her hands into the bathing space through the opening for assistance to assist the bather. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-123227 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the assistant opening is covered with a sheet to prevent splashing of droplets. The sheet is composed of an upper sheet member and a lower sheet member. The upper sheet member covers the upper part of the assistant opening, and the lower sheet member covers the lower part of the assistant opening. The upper sheet member and the lower sheet member overlap each other in the vertical center of the assistant opening. When assisting the bather, the caregiver can insert their hand into the bathing space from the vertical center of the assistant opening (the part where the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member overlap).

[0006] In Patent Document 1, a sheet that covers the care opening is attached to the inner surface of the cover. In this configuration, it is time-consuming to remove the sheet from the cover when washing the sheet. In addition, it is also time-consuming to attach the sheet to the cover after washing the sheet. For example, when attaching or detaching the sheet from the cover, it is necessary to enter the inside of the cover (i.e., the bathing space).

[0007] In addition, in Patent Document 1, the hand can be inserted into the bathing space from the center of the assistant opening in the vertical direction. However, the upper edge of the upper cover member and the lower edge of the lower cover member are located on the inner surface of the cover. Therefore, it is difficult to push down the upper edge of the upper cover member and insert the hand into the bathing space from the upper edge side of the assistant opening. Similarly, it is difficult to push up the lower edge of the lower cover member and insert the hand into the bathing space from the lower edge side of the assistant opening. Therefore, it is difficult for the assistant to work.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a bathing device that makes it easy to attach and remove the sheet that covers the assistance opening and improves the workability of assistance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a bathing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is a bathing apparatus having a bathing space accessible to a wheelchair, comprising a cover surrounding the bathing space and having an assistant opening for exposing the body of a bather in the bathing space, and a seat attached to the cover and closing the assistant opening. The seat has a seat body closing the assistant opening, and an endless elastic body. The elastic body is attached to the seat body along the edge of the seat body. The cover has a plurality of seat locking portions at the outer edge of the assistant opening. The seat locking portions are provided on the outer surface of the cover opposite to the inner surface facing the bathing space. The seat is attached to the outer surface by the elastic body becoming taut and engaging with the seat locking portions. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The configuration of the present invention makes it easy to attach and remove the sheet that covers the assistant opening, and improves the ease of assistance work. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a bath apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in use; FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a wheelchair enters the bathing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows the bath apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention with the sheet removed from the upper cover. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a bather in a bathing space of the bathing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is a top view of the upper cover (with a seat attached) of a bath apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a view of the seat alone of the bath apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1000-1000 in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a part of the sheet of the bathing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is bent (when a caregiver inserts his / her hand into the bathing space through the care opening). FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the location of an assistance opening provided in the upper cover of the bath apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a bathing apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can be used by a bather P sitting in a wheelchair C. The bathing apparatus 100 has a bathing space BS (see Fig. 4) into which the wheelchair C can enter. The bathing apparatus 100 also has an entrance ET through which the wheelchair C can enter the bathing space BS. In the bathing space BS, bathing water such as hot water and cold water is poured onto the bather P sitting in the wheelchair C.

[0013] In the following description, the direction parallel to the direction of entry into the bathing space BS is defined as the front-rear direction, and the direction of movement when entering the bathing space BS is defined as the front. The direction perpendicular to the flat floor surface on which the bathing apparatus 100 is placed is defined as the up-down direction, and the side on which the bathing apparatus 100 is placed relative to the floor surface is defined as the top. The direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction is defined as the left-right direction, and the right side from the rear to the front is defined as the right, and the left side is defined as the left.

[0014] When using the bathing apparatus 100, an attendant (not shown) assisting the bather P moves the wheelchair C to a predetermined bathing position in the bathing space BS. Then, the bathing apparatus 100 is used with the wheelchair C in the bathing position. The state in which the wheelchair C has reached the bathing position is shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

[0015] When the wheelchair C has advanced to the bathing position, a part (upper part) of the backrest part BR of the wheelchair C, which is inclined diagonally upward toward the rear, protrudes outward from the bathing space BS. The head of the person P to be bathed is placed on the upper part of the backrest part BR. Therefore, while the bathing apparatus 100 is in use, the head of the person P to be bathed protrudes outward from the bathing space BS (see Figs. 1 and 4).

[0016] Although not shown, a stopper is installed in the bathing space BS. When using the bathing apparatus 100, the caregiver moves the wheelchair C into the bathing space BS until the front wheels of the wheelchair C hit the stopper. The position of the wheelchair C when the front wheels of the wheelchair C hit the stopper is the normal bathing position. Note that when using the bathing apparatus 100, it is not necessary to keep the position of the wheelchair C in the normal bathing position. For example, the position of the wheelchair C can be shifted backward from the normal bathing position to suit the body shape of the bather P.

[0017] The bathing apparatus 100 is equipped with a dome-shaped cover 1. The cover 1 has a main cover 11 and an upper cover 12. The main cover 11 is a resin molded product made of thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene. The main cover 11 can be formed by resin molding such as blow molding. The upper cover 12 is made of thermoplastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride and can be formed by resin molding such as vacuum molding.

[0018] The body cover 11 has a rear cover 101, a right cover 102, a left cover 103, and a front cover 104. The rear cover 101, the right cover 102, the left cover 103, and the front cover 104 are connected to one another. The body cover 11 does not have an upper portion. In other words, the body cover 11 has an opening on the upper side. The upper cover 12 is attached to the upper opening of the body cover 11. The upper opening of the body cover 11 is closed by the upper cover 12.

[0019] The cover 11 may be made of a single member. The cover 11 may also be made of five or more members. The upper cover 12 may also be made of two or more members.

[0020] The cover 1 surrounds the bathing space BS. In other words, the bathing space BS is a space surrounded by the cover 1. Note that the cover 1 does not have a floor. In other words, the bathing space BS is a space without a floor, and is not a bathtub for storing hot water or cold water.

[0021] The cover 1 has an entrance ET at the rear through which the wheelchair C enters the bathing space BS. Specifically, the cover 1 has an arch-shaped frame portion 10 at the rear without a bottom frame. The frame portion 10 is the portion of the cover 1 that follows the edge of the entrance ET. Because the frame portion 10 is arch-shaped without a bottom frame, there is no need to lift the wheelchair C when entering the bathing space BS from the entrance ET. When entering the bathing space BS, it is only necessary to push the wheelchair C.

[0022] The cover 1 also has an assistant opening 12A that exposes the body of the bather P in the bathing space BS. The opening shape of the assistant opening 12A is an oval shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction. The opening shape of the assistant opening 12A is not particularly limited. For example, the opening shape of the assistant opening 12A may be rectangular or elliptical. When assisting the bather P, the assistant inserts his / her hand into the bathing space BS from the outside through the assistant opening 12A. The assistant can also observe the bather P in the bathing space BS through the assistant opening 12A.

[0023] Two openings for assistance 12A are provided in the upper part of the cover 1. Specifically, a part of the upper cover 12 is opened, and the opened part becomes the opening for assistance 12A. That is, two openings for assistance 12A are provided in the upper cover 12. Here, the bathing apparatus 100 is intended for a person sitting in a wheelchair C. For this reason, the height of the bathing apparatus 100 from the floor surface on which the bathing apparatus 100 is placed is lower than the standard height of an adult. Therefore, by providing the openings for assistance 12A in the upper cover 12, the caregiver (adult) looks down on the openings for assistance 12A. As a result, the caregiver can provide care in a comfortable position without bending over, which is convenient for the caregiver.

[0024] In addition, the upper cover 12 is transparent. This makes it easy to assist the bather P while observing him / her. Note that the term "transparent" is a concept that includes not only colorless transparency, but also colored transparency and translucency.

[0025] A shower nozzle 2 is provided in the bathing space BS. The nozzle 2 is connected to piping (not shown). A hot water supply unit 200 (see FIG. 1) is connected to the piping. The hot water supply unit 200 supplies bathing water to the piping. The nozzle 2 sprays the bathing water supplied from the hot water supply unit 200 in the bathing space BS. In this way, the bathing water is sprayed onto a person P taking a bath.

[0026] A plurality of nozzles 2 are attached to each of the right cover 102 and the left cover 103. The number of nozzles 2 is not particularly limited.

[0027] Of the nozzles 2 on the right cover 102 and the left cover 103, the nozzle 2 designated by the reference symbol 21 sprays bath water onto the back (such as the back and waist) of the bather P. The nozzle 21 is located further back than the other nozzles 2. Specifically, the nozzle 21 is located further back than the seat S of the wheelchair C when the wheelchair C has advanced to the bathing position (see FIG. 4). In other words, the nozzle 21 is located further back than the waist of the bather P. The nozzle 21 also sprays bath water at a wide angle, rather than in a straight rod stream. The spray angle of the nozzle 21 is, for example, about 60° to about 70° (for example, about 65°). Therefore, the bath water sprayed from the nozzle 21 spreads over a wide range.

[0028] As a result, the bathing water sprayed from the nozzle 21 is directed toward the backrest BR of the wheelchair C. As a result, the bathing water hits the backrest BR. Here, the backrest BR is mesh-shaped. Therefore, even when the bather P is sitting in the wheelchair C, the bathing water sprayed from the nozzle 21 can be sprayed onto the back and waist of the bather P.

[0029] Among the nozzles 2 on the right cover 102 and the left cover 103, the nozzle 2 designated by the reference symbol 22 sprays bath water toward the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, feet, and the like. The nozzle 22 sprays bath water at a wide angle, not in a straight bar stream. The spray angle of the nozzle 22 is, for example, about 60° to about 70° (for example, about 65°). That is, the bath water sprayed from the nozzle 22 spreads over a wide range.

[0030] Although not shown, the bathing apparatus 100 further includes a nozzle arranged on the upper side of the bathing space BS. The upper nozzle of the bathing space BS sprays bathing water toward the chest, abdomen, knees, etc. of the bather P. The bathing apparatus 100 further includes a nozzle arranged on the lower side of the bathing space BS. The lower nozzle of the bathing space BS sprays bathing water toward the genitals and buttocks of the bather P. Here, the seat S of the wheelchair C has a hole or a U-shaped notch. Therefore, even when the bather P is sitting in the wheelchair C, the bathing water sprayed from the lower nozzle of the bathing space BS can be sprayed onto the genitals and buttocks of the bather P.

[0031] Splashes of bathing water sprayed from each nozzle 2 in the bathing space BS spread over a wide area, scattering to the rear and above the bathing space BS. To prevent this, an entrance curtain 3 and a neck curtain 4 are attached to the cover 1 (see Figure 1). The entrance curtain 3 blocks the lower area of ​​the entrance ET (the area below the backrest portion BR protruding from the entrance ET). The neck curtain 4 blocks the upper area of ​​the entrance ET. The neck curtain 4 covers the neck of the bather P.

[0032] Furthermore, bathing apparatus 100 includes sheet 5 (see FIG. 4). Sheet 5 is attached to cover 1. Specifically, sheet 5 is attached to upper cover 12. Sheet 5 covers assistant opening 12A. Sheet 5 is detachable from upper cover 12. Covering assistant opening 12A with sheet 5 can prevent splashes of bathing water from splashing outward through assistant opening 12A.

[0033] It should be noted that one sheet 5 is assigned to one caregiver opening 12A. When there are two caregiver openings 12A, there are a total of two sheets 5.

[0034] The sheet 5 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0035] The sheet 5 has a sheet body 51 that covers the care opening 12A, and an endless elastic body 52. ​​The sheet body 51 is made of a water-repellent fabric. For example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyester can be used as the material for the sheet body 51. The elastic body 52 is a string-shaped rubber (for example, a round rubber band).

[0036] The seat body 51 is in a quadrangular shape with four corners CP cut out. For example, the seat body 51 is in a rectangular shape with four corners CP cut out. The seat body 51 also has through holes TH (see FIG. 7). The through holes TH are obtained by folding back an edge of a quadrangular fabric (material of the seat body 51) with four corners cut out, and sewing the edge to the part that overlaps the edge. In FIG. 7, the sewing location is indicated by a two-dot chain line. Note that the through holes TH are not formed in the four corners of the quadrangular fabric (material of the seat body 51).

[0037] The elastic body 52 is attached to the sheet main body 51 along the edge of the sheet main body 51. Specifically, the elastic body 52 is placed in the through-hole TH. That is, a string-shaped rubber (for example, a round rubber) is passed through the through-hole TH, and both ends of the round rubber are connected to each other.

[0038] It should be noted that no through-holes TH are provided in the four corners CP of the sheet body 51. Therefore, the elastic body 52 is exposed near the four corners CP of the sheet body 51. In other words, a part of the elastic body 52 is spaced apart from the edge of the corners CP of the sheet body 51. The sheet 5 has, as the interlocking portions 50, the parts of the elastic body 52 that are spaced apart from the edge of the sheet body 51. The parts of the elastic body 52 that are spaced apart from the edge of the sheet body 51 are respectively located near the four corners CP of the sheet body 51. In other words, the sheet 5 has four interlocking portions 50. As will be described in detail later, the interlocking portions 50 are parts that are attached to the upper cover 12.

[0039] To attach the sheet 5 to the cover 1, the cover 1 has a plurality of sheet locking portions 6 on the outer edge of the assistant opening 12A. Specifically, the cover 1 has, for example, four sheet locking portions 6 for one assistant opening 12A. For example, if there are two assistant openings 12A, the number of sheet locking portions 6 will be eight in total. The plurality of sheet locking portions 6 are provided on the outer surface of the cover 1 opposite to the inner surface facing the bathing space BS. The sheet 5 is attached to the upper cover 12. That is, the plurality of (for example, four) sheet locking portions 6 are provided on the outer surface of the upper cover 12.

[0040] The seat locking portion 6 is a pin that protrudes from the outer surface of the upper cover 12. The seat locking portion 6 (pin) has a mushroom shape. That is, of the protruding portion of the seat locking portion 6 that protrudes from the outer surface of the upper cover 12, the tip portion has a larger outer diameter than the other portions. The shape of the protruding portion of the seat locking portion 6 is not particularly limited. For example, the shape of the protruding portion of the seat locking portion 6 may be a hook shape.

[0041] The sheet 5 is attached to the outer surface of the upper cover 12 by the elastic body 52 being tensed and engaging with the sheet locking portion 6. Specifically, the four locked portions 50 are engaged with different sheet locking portions 6, respectively, so that the sheet 5 is attached to the upper cover 12. In this configuration, the edge of the sheet 5 is elastically deformable. This allows the edge of the sheet 5 to be bent to expose the assistant opening 12A without removing the sheet 5 from the upper cover 12. That is, the hand can be inserted into the bathing space BS (the bather P can be assisted). After that, by simply removing the hand from the bathing space BS, the entire assistant opening 12A returns to a state in which it is blocked by the sheet 5. This is convenient for the assistant.

[0042] Even if the edge of the sheet 5 is bent to put the hand into the bathing space BS, the part of the opening 12A for the assistant other than the part where the hand is put is kept blocked by the sheet 5. In other words, the opening 12A for the assistant can be partially exposed. In other words, only the necessary part of the opening 12A for the assistant can be exposed. This prevents splashes from hitting the assistant when putting the hand into the bathing space BS through the opening 12A for the assistant. Also, the heat retention of the bathing space BS can be prevented from decreasing.

[0043] Here, the sheet 5 is washed after being removed from the cover 1 (upper cover 12). Therefore, it is preferable that the sheet 5 be easily removed from the upper cover 12.

[0044] Therefore, the multiple sheet locking portions 6 are provided on the outer surface of the upper cover 12. That is, the sheet 5 is removably attached to the outer surface of the upper cover 12 (the care opening 12A is blocked by the sheet 5 from outside the bathing space BS). This allows the sheet 5 to be attached to and detached from the upper cover 12 from outside the bathing space BS. As a result, the sheet 5 can be easily washed (attached to and detached from the upper cover 12).

[0045] If the sheet 5 were attached to the inner surface of the upper cover 12, it would be necessary to remove the upper cover 12 from the main body cover 11 when removing the sheet 5. Alternatively, it would be necessary to insert one's hand into the bathing space BS to remove the sheet 5 from the upper cover 12. In this case, the inconvenience of being time-consuming to wash the sheet 5 would arise. With a configuration in which the sheet 5 is attached to the outer surface of the upper cover 12, this inconvenience does not arise.

[0046] Furthermore, by attaching the sheet 5 to the outer surface of the upper cover 12, all edges of the sheet 5 are exposed. Here, as shown in Fig. 8, the edges of the sheet 5 marked with the symbols E1, E2, E3, and E4 are elastically deformable. In this configuration, the hands can be inserted from any of the edges E1, E2, E3, and E4. In other words, the place where the hands are inserted can be changed depending on the body shape and posture of the bather P.

[0047] 8 illustrates the case where the hand is inserted from the edge E1 side. Although not illustrated, when inserting the hand from the edge E2 side, the edge E2 can be bent toward the edge E1. When inserting the hand from the edge E3 side, the edge E3 can be bent toward the edge E4, and when inserting the hand from the edge E4 side, the edge E4 can be bent toward the edge E3. Being able to insert the hand from various places in this way makes assistance easier and improves convenience for the caregiver.

[0048] In addition, in a configuration in which a pin protruding from the outer surface of the upper cover 12 serves as the seat locking portion 6 and a portion of the elastic body 52 spaced from the edge of the seat main body 51 (herein simply referred to as the spaced portion) functions as the locked portion 50, the seat 5 can be easily attached to the upper cover 12 simply by engaging the spaced portion of the elastic body 52 with the seat locking portion 6. In addition, the seat 5 can be easily removed from the upper cover 12 simply by releasing the engagement of the spaced portion of the elastic body 52 with the seat locking portion 6. Furthermore, in a configuration in which the spaced portion of the elastic body 52 functions as the locked portion 50, there is no need to provide a separate member (such as a hook) that functions as the locked portion 50, so that the structure of the seat 5 can be prevented from becoming complicated, and costs can be reduced.

[0049] Additionally, the upper cover 12 has the caregiver opening 12A within a rectangular range whose vertices are the installation positions of the four seat locking parts 6. The rectangular range whose vertices are the installation positions of the four seat locking parts 6 is shown by dashed lines in Fig. 9. In this configuration, the caregiver opening 12A can be blocked by the seat 5 simply by engaging the four locked parts 50 with different seat locking parts 6 from each other.

[0050] Moreover, the sheet body 51 has a size that allows it to cover the care opening 12A by itself. That is, the sheet 5 is made up of one sheet body 51. For example, if the sheet 5 is made up of multiple sheet bodies 51, the number of sheet fastening parts 6 (pins) must be increased. Also, the amount of material used for the sheet body 51 increases. This leads to increased costs. On the other hand, if the sheet 5 is made up of one sheet body 51, costs can be reduced. Also, by making the sheet 5 up of one sheet body 51, cleaning work becomes easier.

[0051] The upper cover 12 has one assistant opening 12A on each of the right and left sides. That is, there are multiple assistant openings 12A. When an upper cover 12 having multiple assistant openings 12A is used, one sheet 5 is assigned to each of the multiple assistant openings 12A. The number of assistant openings 12A is not particularly limited, and may be one, or may be three or more. In addition, the position where the assistant openings 12A are formed is not particularly limited.

[0052] Furthermore, the shape of the opening for the caregiver 12A is not particularly limited. The shape of the sheet 5 can be changed according to the opening shape of the opening for the caregiver 12A. For example, the shape of the opening for the caregiver 12A may be triangular.

[0053] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered as limiting. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 Cover 5 Sheets 6 Seat locking part 11 Main unit cover 12 Upper cover 12A Assistance opening 50 Locked part 51 Seat body 52 Elastic Body 100 Bathing Equipment BS Bathing space C. Wheelchair P bather TH through hole

Claims

1. A bathing device having a bathing space that is wheelchair accessible, A cover that surrounds the bathing space and has an opening for assistance that exposes the body of a bather in the bathing space; A sheet attached to the cover and closing the care opening, The seat has a seat body that closes the caregiver opening and an endless elastic body, The elastic body is attached to the sheet body along an edge of the sheet body, The cover has a plurality of seat locking portions on an outer edge of the care opening, The seat locking portion is provided on an outer surface of the cover opposite to an inner surface facing the bathing space, A bathing device characterized in that the sheet is attached to the outer surface by the elastic body being tensed and engaging with the sheet engaging portion.

2. The seat locking portion is a pin protruding from the outer surface, The bathing device described in claim 1, characterized in that the sheet has a portion of the elastic body that is spaced apart from the edge of the sheet body as a locking portion, and the sheet is attached to the outer surface by engaging the locking portion with the sheet locking portion.

3. the cover has four of the seat locking portions and the care opening is within a range of a rectangle having vertices at positions where the four seat locking portions are installed, The bathing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sheet has four engaging portions, and is attached to the outer surface by each of the four engaging portions engaging with a different sheet engaging portion.

4. The bathing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sheet body has a size that is sufficient to cover the assistance opening by itself.

5. The cover includes a main body cover and an upper cover, The body cover has an opening on an upper side, the upper cover closes the opening of the main body cover, The care opening is provided in the upper cover, The bathing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sheet is attached to the upper cover.

6. 6. The bath apparatus of claim 5, wherein the upper cover is transparent.

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