soup bucket

Abstract

To provide a tub that can reduce the loss of magnetic force of a magnet and reduce rust and corrosion of the magnet even if the magnet is built into the bottom. [Solution] The tub 1 comprises a tub body 2 formed in the shape of a container, with at least the bottom plate 21 made of synthetic resin, a magnet 3 arranged along the outer surface of the bottom plate 21, a synthetic resin cover 4 arranged opposite the outer surface of the bottom plate 21 so as to cover the magnet 3, and a sealing member 5 that seals the space between the bottom plate 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the cover 4 over the entire length.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a conventional tub. The tub described in Patent Document 1 includes a tub body, a cover attached to the bottom of the tub body, and a plurality of magnets arranged between the bottom of the tub body and the cover. Because the magnets are built into the bottom of the tub, it can be attached to the wall of the bathroom by magnetic force when stored, for example.

[0003] The tub in Patent Document 1 is manufactured as follows: After the tub body is formed by resin molding, a magnet is placed in the recess on the bottom of the tub body. After the magnet is placed in the recess on the bottom of the tub body, a mold for molding the cover is placed over the bottom, and a fluid resin material is filled into the cavity between the mold and the bottom. The resin material then hardens to form a tub with a built-in magnet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-72277 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, magnets have the property that their magnetic force weakens when exposed to high temperatures. As described above, in the case of the tub in Patent Document 1, the fluid resin material comes into contact with the magnet during molding. Because the fluid resin material is hot, there is a possibility that the magnetic force of the magnet will weaken when it comes into contact with the hot resin material.

[0006] On the other hand, if the cover is simply attached to the bottom of the tub body using a simple structure such as a snap-in mechanism, hot water may seep in through the gap between the bottom of the tub body and the cover, exposing the magnet to the hot water and water, which could cause rust or corrosion.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a tub that can reduce the loss of magnetic force of the magnet and reduce rust and corrosion of the magnet even if the magnet is built into the bottom. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One embodiment of the tub according to the present invention comprises a tub body formed in the shape of a container, at least the bottom plate of which is made of synthetic resin, a magnet arranged along the outer surface of the bottom plate, a synthetic resin cover arranged opposite the outer surface of the bottom plate so as to cover the magnet, and a sealing member that seals the space between the bottom plate and the outer peripheral edge of the cover along the entire length. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The above-described aspect of the tub according to the present invention has the advantage that even if a magnet is built into the bottom, the loss of the magnetic force of the magnet can be reduced while rust and corrosion of the magnet can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a tub according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the washtub according to the embodiment in an exploded state. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the bucket body according to the embodiment in a folded state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the bottom plate, magnet, cover, and seal member of the tub body in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the washtub according to the embodiment, in which the cover is cut midway in the height direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the washtub according to the embodiment, taken along a cross section including the central axis. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the washtub according to the embodiment, with a part cut away. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the cover according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [Embodiment] (overview) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a tub 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the tub 1. The tub 1 according to the present embodiment is used, for example, in a bathroom wash area or washroom. Referring to FIG. 1, the tub 1 comprises a tub body 2, a plurality of magnets 3, a cover 4, and a sealing member 5.

[0012] The tub body 2 is formed in the shape of a container. At least the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2 is made of synthetic resin. The magnet 3 is arranged along the outer surface of the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2. The cover 4 is arranged facing the outer surface of the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2 so as to cover the magnet 3. The sealing member 5 seals the gap between the bottom plate 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the cover 4 over the entire length.

[0013] With this configuration, magnet 3 can be embedded between bottom plate 21 and cover 4 of tub 1, allowing the user to attach tub 1 to the wall of the bathroom when not in use. Furthermore, sealing member 5 can seal the gap between bottom plate 21 and the outer periphery of cover 4, reducing the risk of hot or cold water seeping in between bottom plate 21 and cover 4. Furthermore, because sealing member 5 is positioned along the outer periphery of cover 4, it is less likely to come into contact with magnet 3, and even if sealing member 5 becomes very hot, heat is less likely to be applied to magnet 3. Therefore, even if tub 1 has magnet 3 embedded in its bottom, it is possible to reduce the loss of magnetism of magnet 3 while also reducing rust and corrosion of magnet 3.

[0014] The following is a detailed description of the tub 1 according to this embodiment. For ease of explanation, the direction from the bottom of the tub 1 toward the opening is defined as the "upward direction," the opposite direction as the "downward direction," and both directions parallel to the upward and downward directions as the "vertical direction." An imaginary plane perpendicular to the vertical direction is defined as the "horizontal plane," an axis parallel to the vertical direction passing through the center of the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2 is defined as the "central axis," and a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and from the central axis toward the outer periphery is defined as the "lateral direction." However, the definitions of these directions do not specify how the tub 1 is used.

[0015] (Pail body 2) Referring to FIG. 2, the bucket body 2 is formed in a container-like shape, including a bottom plate 21 and a peripheral wall 22 rising from the outer periphery of the bottom plate 21. The peripheral wall 22 is tapered so that its diameter increases in the upward direction. The peripheral wall 22 is comprised of a cylindrical bottom portion 221, a body portion 222, and a neck portion 223, which are continuous in this order. At least two vertical locations of the body portion 222 are softer than the bottom portion 221 and the neck portion 223, making them flexible. As shown in FIG. 3, the bucket body 2 is thus foldable, and in the folded bucket body 2, the bottom portion 221 is concentrically positioned inside the neck portion 223. The vertical height of the bottom portion 221 is the same as or shorter than the vertical height of the neck portion 223. Here, "the same height" means a height that can be considered substantially the same. A difference of 5% or less in height falls within the "same height" category.

[0016] In the bucket body 2, at least the bottom plate 21 is made of synthetic resin. In this embodiment, not only the bottom plate 21 but also the bottom portion 221 and the neck portion 223 are made of synthetic resin. Specifically, examples of synthetic resins that form the bottom plate 21, the bottom portion 221, and the neck portion 223 include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE). Examples of materials for the body portion 222 include soft resins and elastomers. The entire bucket body 2 may be made of synthetic resin.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a schematic enlarged exploded perspective view of the bottom plate 21, the magnet 3, the cover 4, and the sealing member 5. Referring to FIG. 4, the bottom plate 21 is formed in a circular shape when viewed downward (hereinafter referred to as a "plan view"). In this embodiment, of the main surfaces of the bottom plate 21, the upper main surface is referred to as the "inner surface" and the lower main surface is referred to as the "outer surface." The bottom plate 21 has an inner rib 211 and an upright wall (hereinafter referred to as a second upright wall 212) on its outer surface. The inner rib 211 protrudes downward from the outer surface of the bottom plate 21. When viewed upward, the inner rib 211 is formed in a substantially annular shape. When the cover 4 is attached to the outer surface of the bottom plate 21, the inner rib 211 faces the inner peripheral surface of a rib (second vertical piece 423) that forms the outer periphery of the cover 4.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 4, the second upright walls 212 protrude downward from the outer surface of the bottom plate 21. The height of the second upright walls 212 is the same as the height of the inner rib 211. The second upright walls 212 are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction around the central axis. Each second upright wall 212 is formed in a substantially C-shape, and in a plan view, it opens laterally, and the opening edge is connected to the inner rib 211. The inner rib 211 and the second upright walls 212 are formed in a loop shape. When the cover 4 is attached to the outer surface of the bottom plate 21, as shown in FIG. 5, the second upright walls 212 face the outer peripheral surface of the upright wall of the cover 4 (hereinafter referred to as the first upright wall 44). In other words, the second upright walls 212 surround the first upright wall 44 in a plan view.

[0019] Referring to Figure 2, the bucket body 2 is provided with a handle 23. The handle 23 protrudes laterally from the neck 223 of the bucket body 2. The handle 23 and the neck 223 are integrally formed by resin molding. The handle 23 does not have to be integral with the neck 223. Also, the handle 23 may be omitted, and instead, a flange protruding around the entire outer periphery of the neck 223 may be provided. A non-slip portion made of elastomer or the like may be formed on a portion of the handle 23.

[0020] (Cover 4) Referring to Figure 4, the cover 4 is attached to the bucket body 2 so as to cover the multiple magnets 3. The cover 4 according to this embodiment is formed in a disk shape. The cover 4 includes a central facing portion 41, legs 42, protrusions 43, and multiple first upright walls 44. The cover 4 is made of synthetic resin. The central facing portion 41, legs 42, protrusions 43, and multiple first upright walls 44 are integrally formed by resin molding.

[0021] Examples of resins that can be used to form the cover 4 include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE).

[0022] When the cover 4 is attached to the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2, the central facing portion 41 faces an area including the center of the outer surface of the bottom plate 21. Specifically, the central facing portion 41 faces a part of the area surrounded by the inner rib 211 and the second upright wall 212 of the bottom plate 21, and contacts the outer surface of the bottom plate 21 as shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the center of the central facing portion 41 and the center of the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2 coincide with each other along the central axis C1 in the up-down direction, but the center of the central facing portion 41 and the center of the underside of the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2 may be misaligned in the horizontal direction.

[0023] The central facing portion 41 according to this embodiment is circular, but the central facing portion 41 is not limited to a circular shape and may be, for example, an elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or the like.

[0024] The leg portion 42 is a portion that rests on a mounting surface. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the leg portion 42 is formed to protrude downward from the outer periphery of the central facing portion 41. The leg portion 42 is formed around the entire outer periphery of the central facing portion 41 and is continuously formed to surround the central facing portion 41. As shown in FIG. 6, the leg portion 42 is composed of a first vertical piece 421, a grounding piece 422, and a second vertical piece 423. The first vertical piece 421 protrudes downward from the outer periphery of the central facing portion 41. The grounding piece 422 protrudes laterally from the lower end of the first vertical piece 421. The second vertical piece 423 protrudes upward from the outer edge of the grounding piece 422. The lower surface of the grounding piece 422 can be placed in contact with the mounting surface. When the bucket body 2 is folded, the lower surface of the grounding piece 422 is positioned in a position that protrudes downward from the lower end of the neck portion 223 (see Figure 3). The first vertical piece 421, the grounding piece 422, and the second vertical piece 423 are formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 7 , the protrusion 43 protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the second vertical piece 423. The protrusion 43 is formed around the entire outer circumferential surface of the second vertical piece 423 and is formed in a flange shape. However, the protrusion 43 may be formed partially on the outer circumferential surface of the second vertical piece 423. The upper surface of the protrusion 43 is formed to be flush with the upper end surface of the second vertical piece 423 and is aligned with the outer surface of the bottom plate 21. The protrusion 43 contacts the inner circumferential surface of the sealing member 5 (described later), thereby increasing the contact area between the sealing member 5 and the cover 4 and blocking hot and cold water from seeping in between the second vertical piece 423 and the sealing member 5.

[0026] 8 is a schematic plan view of the cover 4 viewed from below. Each first upright wall 44 surrounds one magnet 3 in plan view. Referring to FIG. 8, the first upright wall 44 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and has an opening at the upper end surface. The first upright wall 44 according to this embodiment is cylindrical, but may also be in the shape of a square tube.

[0027] The first upright wall 44 holds the magnet 3 by surrounding it. The magnet 3 is fitted into the first upright wall 44 and is held within the first upright wall 44 without being glued, but it may also be held by gluing. Since multiple magnets 3 are held by multiple first upright walls 44, the magnet 3 can be placed in the tub 1 simply by attaching the cover 4 to the bottom, and the magnet 3 is less likely to shift position.

[0028] 8, the multiple first upright walls 44 are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction around the central axis C1. In this embodiment, the three first upright walls 44 are set so that the central angle θ1 of the line passing through the center of each first upright wall 44 and the central axis C1 in the horizontal plane between adjacent first upright walls 44 is 120°. This makes it possible to reduce the weakening of the magnetic force caused by the magnetic fields of the magnets 3 influencing each other.

[0029] (Magnet 3) The magnet 3 is disposed between the bottom plate 21 of the bucket body 2 and the cover 4. That is, the magnet 3 is disposed along the outer surface of the bottom plate 21. The magnet 3 in this embodiment is a neodymium magnet. The magnet 3 may be a ferrite magnet, a samarium-cobalt magnet, an alnico magnet, or an electromagnet. The magnet 3 in this embodiment uses a high-magnetic-force neodymium magnet, but by holding the magnets 3 at a fixed distance by the first upright wall 44, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of the magnets 3 sticking together.

[0030] The magnet 3 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. The magnet 3 may also be formed in a rectangular or hexagonal prism shape. As shown in FIG. 5 , each magnet 3 is surrounded by a first upright wall 44, which is surrounded by a second upright wall 212. The inner rib 211 and the second vertical piece 423 are tightly fitted around the lateral outer sides of the magnets 3, the first upright walls 44, and the second upright walls 212, and are also surrounded by a sealing member 5. Thus, in the tub 1 according to this embodiment, the lateral outer sides of the magnet 3 have at least a triple (here, quadruple) water-stopping structure, which effectively prevents water from seeping into the magnet 3. Therefore, even when using the tub 1 to scoop water from the bathtub, the intrusion of water between the bottom plate 21 and the cover 3 is reduced. Furthermore, when the tub is attached to the wall of the bathroom, water of a droplet size running down the wall is less likely to infiltrate between the bottom plate 21 and the cover 3. Therefore, according to the tub 1 of this embodiment, rust and corrosion occurring on the magnet 3 can be reduced.

[0031] (Sealing member 5) The sealing member 5 provides a seal over the entire length between the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2 and the outer periphery of the cover 4. The sealing member 5 is formed in an annular shape. The sealing member 5 is made of, for example, elastomer, rubber, thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, etc. The sealing member 5 may be made of a wet sealing material or a dry sealing material.

[0032] The sealing member 5 is in close contact with the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2 and the second vertical piece 423 and protrusion 43 (sometimes referred to as the outer periphery of the cover 4) of the cover 4. For example, by applying heat to the sealing member 5 while the sealing member 5 is in contact with the bottom plate 21 of the tub body 2 and the outer periphery of the cover 4 before heating, the sealing member 5 can be brought into close contact with the bottom plate 21 and the outer periphery of the cover 4. At this time, the sealing member 5 is not in contact with the magnet 3 and is separated from the magnet 3, so it is unlikely to conduct high heat to the magnet 3 and is unlikely to affect the magnetic force of the magnet 3.

[0033] [Variations] The above embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. Modifications of the embodiment are listed below. The modifications described below can be applied in appropriate combinations.

[0034] Although the washtub 1 according to the above embodiment has a handle 3, it does not have to have a handle 3. It may also be a non-foldable washtub. The washtub 1 may also be a so-called washbasin.

[0035] When the seal member 5, the body 22, and the non-slip portion of the handle 23 are made of the same material, the seal member 5, the body 22, and the non-slip portion of the handle 23 may be formed simultaneously during manufacturing.

[0036] (summary) As described above, the tub 1 of the first embodiment comprises a tub body 2 formed in the shape of a container, with at least the bottom plate 21 made of synthetic resin, a magnet 3 arranged along the outer surface of the bottom plate 21, a synthetic resin cover 4 arranged opposite the outer surface of the bottom plate 21 so as to cover the magnet 3, and a sealing member 5 that seals the space between the bottom plate 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the cover 4 along the entire length.

[0037] According to this embodiment, the magnet 3 can be embedded between the bottom plate 21 and the cover 4 of the tub 1, allowing it to be attached to the bathroom wall when not in use. The gap between the bottom plate 21 and the outer periphery of the cover 4 can be sealed with the sealing member 5, reducing the risk of hot or cold water seeping in between the bottom plate 21 and the cover 4. Furthermore, because the sealing member 5 is positioned between the bottom plate 21 and the outer periphery of the cover 4, the magnet 3 is less likely to be exposed to high heat. Therefore, even though the magnet 3 is embedded in the bottom of the tub 1, the loss of the magnetism of the magnet 3 can be reduced, while also reducing rust and corrosion of the magnet 3.

[0038] In the tub 1 according to the second embodiment, the cover 4 has a central facing portion 41 facing an area including the center of the bottom plate 21, and legs 42 formed to protrude from the outer peripheral edge of the central facing portion 41 away from the outer surface of the bottom plate 21 in the thickness direction of the bottom plate 21, and the magnet 3 is disposed between the legs 42 and the bottom plate 21. According to this embodiment, the structure of the legs 42 can also be used as a storage space for the magnet 3, making it easy to achieve a simplified structure. Furthermore, the weight of the legs 42 can be increased, allowing the tub 1 to be placed stably.

[0039] In the third aspect of the tub 1, in the second aspect, the legs 42 are formed continuously over the entire length, surrounding the central opposing portion 41. According to this aspect, when the tub is attached to the bathroom wall, the wall and the legs 42 are in close contact, making it difficult for water droplets running down the bathroom wall to get inside the legs 42, and preventing water from pooling in the space surrounded by the legs 42. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of slime and mold on the legs 42, and to reduce the likelihood of the tub 1 sliding down the bathroom wall.

[0040] The tub 1 according to the fourth aspect is any one of the first to third aspects, and includes a plurality of magnets 3; the cover 4 has a plurality of first upright walls 44 surrounding each of the magnets 3 in the thickness direction of the bottom plate 21; the bottom plate 21 has a plurality of second upright walls 212 surrounding each of the first upright walls 44 in the thickness direction of the bottom plate 21; and the sealing member 5 is located closer to the outer edge of the cover 4 than the plurality of first upright walls 44 and the plurality of second upright walls 212 in the thickness direction of the bottom plate 21. According to this aspect, the magnet 3 is surrounded by the first upright walls 44, the second upright walls 212, and the sealing member 5, and has at least a triple-layered watertight structure, further reducing contact with hot and cold water.

[0041] In the tub 1 according to the fifth aspect, in the fourth aspect, each magnet 3 is held within each first upright wall 44. According to this aspect, during manufacturing, the cover 4 holding the multiple magnets 3 can be attached to the tub body 2, which reduces the possibility of the magnets 3 sticking together and reducing workability. This makes it less likely that workability will be impaired even when handling magnets 3 with strong magnetic force (for example, neodymium magnets).

[0042] The tub 1 according to the sixth aspect is any one of the first to fifth aspects, and is provided with three magnets 3, and the three magnets 3 are arranged so that the central angle θ1 of the line passing through the center of the bottom plate 21 and the center of the magnet 3 between adjacent magnets 3 is 120°. According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce the reduction in magnetic force caused by the magnetic fields of the magnets 3 influencing each other.

[0043] In the tub 1 according to the seventh aspect, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the cover 4 further has a protrusion 43 that protrudes in a flange-like shape from the outer peripheral surface of the leg 42 along the outer surface of the bottom plate 21 and contacts the sealing member 5. According to this aspect, the contact area between the sealing member 5 and the cover 4 can be increased, thereby improving watertightness.

[0044] The configurations according to the second to seventh embodiments are not essential for the tub 1 and can be omitted as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 hot water tub 2 Pail body 21 Bottom plate 212 Second standing wall 3. Magnets 4 Cover 41 Central facing section 42 Legs 421 First vertical section 422 Grounding Piece 423 Second vertical section 43 Protrusion 44 1st standing wall 5 Sealing material

Claims

1. A tub body formed in a container shape, at least the bottom plate of which is made of synthetic resin; a magnet disposed along the outer surface of the bottom plate; a synthetic resin cover disposed opposite the outer surface of the bottom plate so as to cover the magnet; a sealing member that seals the gap between the bottom plate and the outer periphery of the cover over the entire length; Equipped with A plurality of the magnets are provided, the cover has a plurality of first upright walls surrounding each of the magnets in a thickness direction of the bottom plate, the bottom plate has a plurality of second upright walls surrounding each of the first upright walls in a thickness direction of the bottom plate, The sealing member is located closer to an outer circumferential edge of the cover than the first upright walls and the second upright walls in a thickness direction of the bottom plate. Hot water tub.

2. The cover is a central facing portion facing a region including the center of the bottom plate; a leg portion formed to protrude from the outer peripheral edge of the central opposing portion in a thickness direction of the bottom plate so as to be away from the outer surface of the bottom plate; and The magnet is disposed between the leg and the bottom plate. The tub according to claim 1.

3. The leg portion is formed continuously over the entire length so as to surround the central opposing portion. The tub according to claim 2.

4. Each of the magnets is held within each of the first upright walls. The tub according to claim 1.

5. A magnet having three magnets, The three magnets are arranged such that the central angle between adjacent magnets and a line passing through the center of the bottom plate and the center of the magnet is 120°. The tub according to claim 1.

6. The cover further has a flange-like protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the leg along the outer surface of the bottom plate and contacts the sealing member. The tub according to claim 2.

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