Bathtub circulation outlet foot massager

Abstract

This invention provides a bathtub circulation outlet foot massager applicable to bathtubs that have a hot water inlet for reheating. [Solution]. This foot massager is provided for a single circulation port 30 located on the side wall of a bathtub 2 and having a hot water inlet 31 that supplies hot water H1 into the bathtub 2. It comprises a foot massage section 10 located in front of the hot water inlet 31 inside the bathtub 2, and a hot water guide path 20 located between the foot massage section 10 and the hot water inlet 31, which guides the hot water H1 supplied from the hot water inlet 31 into the bathtub 2 to the outside 2c of the foot massage section 10 when viewed from the front.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathtub circulation foot massager. More specifically, it relates to a foot massager that can be attached to the hot water supply port of a bathtub having a hot water supply port for reheating.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, technologies as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 and 5 and 6 are known.

[0003] <Patent Documents 1 to 4> Utility Model Registration Nos. 3108813 and 3179197, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-070390 and 2013-94638 The gazettes of Patent Documents 1 to 4 describe technologies in which a foot sole massager is provided in a bathtub (summary column and drawings of the same document).

[0004] However, none of these technologies consider the circulation port provided in the bathtub, particularly the single-port circulation port.

[0005] <Patent Document 5> Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-275277 Patent Document 5 sets as its problem "to provide an in-bathtub foot sole massager device capable of sufficiently massaging the foot soles of a bather during bathing", and describes "an in-bathtub foot sole massager device provided with a shiatsu member 2 that can project so as to press the foot soles of a bather bathing in the bathtub 1 and can eject water from its tip, a hydraulic drive mechanism SK that projects the shiatsu member 2, a jet nozzle 12 that can eject water toward the foot soles of the bather at a position where the foot soles can be pressed by the shiatsu member 2, and pressurized water supply means FK1 and FK2 that supply pressurized water to the shiatsu member 2 and the jet nozzle 12 to eject water from the tip of the shiatsu member 2 and the jet nozzle 12". (summary column of the same document).

[0006] However, this in-bathtub foot massage device requires acupressure member 2 that can freely eject water, a water pressure-type drive mechanism SK that protrudes the acupressure member 2, and so on, resulting in a complex structure.

[0007] <Patent Document 6> Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-287541 Patent Document 6 contains: The challenge was to "provide a circulating bathtub that allows users to relax in a natural posture without forcing their ankles to bend, while comfortably massaging the soles of their feet with a jet of water." "The circulating bathtub 1 generates a jet 3 by circulating the bathwater 2 in the bathtub. A footrest 10 is provided on one side 11 of the bathtub, tilted, where a user 6 can place their feet 7 while bathing. The footrest is provided with a foot outlet 13 for spraying the jet towards the soles of the feet 12." Circulating bathtub This is stated (in the abstract section of the same document).

[0008] However, as stated in paragraph 0022 of the same document, this circulating bathtub is "applicable to circulating bathtubs such as jet-jet baths installed in houses (single-family homes, apartment buildings), hotels, etc.," and is not applicable to general bathtubs that have a hot water inlet for reheating.

[0009] <Patent Document 7> Patent No. 7307291 Patent Document 7 contains: The objective is to "provide a cover for a single circulation port in a bathtub that, when installed on the side wall of the bathtub and is roughly disc-shaped when viewed from the front, makes it less likely for the bather to come into contact with hot water." "A cover provided for a circulation port 3 that is roughly disc-shaped in front view and located on the side wall 2b of a bathtub 2, comprising: a front plate 10 that covers the front sides of the hot water inlets 3c and 3d around the single circulation port 3; a receiving port provided on the back side of the front plate 10 between the front plate 10 and the side wall 2b of the bathtub 2, positioned opposite to or in close proximity to the hot water inlets 3c and 3d, and receiving the hot water supplied from the hot water inlets 3c and 3d; a hot water outlet positioned diagonally below the receiving port in a front view; and a hot water guide path that connects the receiving port and the outlet and has partitions on at least three sides when viewed from the direction of hot water flow." - Bathtub single circulation port cover This is stated (in the abstract section of the same document).

[0010] However, this single-port circulation cover does not take foot massage into consideration at all. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3108813 (Gazette) [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3179197 Gazette [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-070390 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-94638 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-275277 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-287541 [Patent Document 7] Patent No. 7307291 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a bathtub circulation outlet foot massager that can be applied to a bathtub having a hot water outlet for reheating.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] In order to solve the above problems, the bathtub circulation port foot massager of the present invention is a foot massager provided on the side wall of the bathtub and provided for a single-port circulation port having a hot water supply port for supplying hot water into the bathtub, a foot massage part provided on the front side of the hot water supply port in the bathtub, a hot water guiding path that is between the foot massage part and the hot water supply port and guides the hot water supplied from the hot water supply port into the bathtub to the outside of the foot massage part in a front view, and is characterized by comprising the above.

[0014] With the above configuration, according to this bathtub circulation port foot massager, the following operational effects can be obtained. ​​​​​​​​​​​ In this bathtub circulation foot massager, the hot water guiding path can be configured to guide the hot water from the hot water supply port diagonally downward of the foot massager portion in a front view.

[0016] With such a configuration, since the hot water from the hot water supply port is guided diagonally downward of the foot massager portion in a front view, warm hot water is supplied from below to the foot being massaged by contacting the foot massager portion or the like, so it can be expected that the massage effect will be enhanced.

[0017] In this bathtub circulation foot massager, the single - port circulation port includes the hot water supply port and a return port for returning the hot water in the bathtub to the water heater, A configuration can be adopted in which an adapter for connecting the hot water supply port and the hot water guiding path is provided between the hot water supply port, the return port, and the hot water guiding path, even when the hot water supply port and the return port are reversed.

[0018] With such a configuration, even when the hot water supply port and the return port of the single - port circulation port are reversed, the bathtub circulation foot massager of the present invention can be attached to the bathtub by connecting the hot water supply port and the hot water guiding path with an adapter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] <0​​​​​​​​​​​ [Figure 5] (a1) to (f1) and (a2) to (f2) are diagrams illustrating the functions of adapter 40. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the bathtub circulation outlet foot massager according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same parts or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0021] The foot massage device 1 for the bathtub circulation outlet, as shown primarily in Figures 1 to 3, A foot massager provided for a single circulation port 30 having a hot water inlet 31 that supplies hot water into the bathtub 2, located on the side wall 2b of the bathtub 2, A foot massage unit 10 is provided in the bathtub 2 on the side in front of the hot water outlet 31, The foot massage unit 10 is located between the foot massage unit 10 and the hot water inlet 31, and includes a hot water guide path 20 (see Figure 3) that directs the hot water supplied from the hot water inlet 31 into the bathtub 2 to the outside 2c of the foot massage unit 10 in a front view (Figure 2(b)).

[0022] As described above, this bathtub circulation outlet foot massager 1 provides the following effects.

[0023] Since the foot massage unit 10 is provided in front of the hot water outlet 31 inside the bathtub 2, as shown in Figure 1, for example, the user U can massage their feet U1 with the foot massage unit 10 while soaking in the bathtub 2.

[0024] Furthermore, a hot water guide path 20 (Figure 3) is provided between the foot massage unit 10 and the hot water outlet 31, which guides the hot water supplied from the hot water outlet 31 into the bathtub 2 to the outside 2c of the foot massage unit 10 when viewed from the front. Therefore, the user U can massage their feet U1 with the foot massage unit 10 while remaining in the bathtub 2 and reheating the water.

[0025] In this case, the hot water supplied from the hot water outlet 31 into the bathtub 2 is guided by the hot water guide path 20 to an area 2c (see Figure 1) outside the foot massage section 10 when viewed from the front. Therefore, the hot water from the hot water outlet 31 does not come into contact with the foot U1 that is being massaged by being in contact with the foot massage section 10.

[0026] Therefore, while remaining in the bathtub 2, user U can safely and relaxedly massage their feet U1 with the foot massage unit 10 without worrying about the hot water from the hot water outlet 31 hitting their feet U1, while the water temperature is maintained at their preferred temperature by reheating.

[0027] As described above, this embodiment is applicable to a bathtub 2 having a hot water outlet 31 for reheating, and can effectively perform a foot massage.

[0028] In this application, "guiding the hot water supplied from the hot water outlet into the bathtub to a position outside the foot massage area" means guiding the hot water supplied from the hot water outlet into the bathtub to a position outside the foot massage area, where the hot water does not directly come into contact with the foot being massaged by the foot massage area.

[0029] The hot water guide path 20 is configured to guide the hot water from the hot water outlet 31 to the diagonally downward (2c) of the foot massage section 10 when viewed from the front.

[0030] With this configuration, the hot water from the hot water outlet 31 is guided diagonally downward (2c) of the foot massage unit 10 when viewed from the front. As a result, warm water (see arrow H1 in Figure 1(b)) is supplied from below to the foot U1 being massaged by contacting the foot massage unit 10, which is expected to enhance the massage effect.

[0031] As shown in Figure 5, the single circulation port 30 is equipped with a hot water inlet 31 and a return port 32 that returns the hot water in the bathtub 2 back to the water heater 4. Between these hot water outlets 31 and return outlets 32 and the hot water guide path 20, an adapter 40 is provided to connect the hot water outlet 31 and the hot water guide path 20 even if the hot water outlet 31 and return outlet 32 ​​are reversed.

[0032] With this configuration, even if the hot water inlet 31 and return port 32 of the single circulation port 30 are reversed, the adapter 40 can be used to connect the hot water inlet and the hot water guide path 20, allowing the bathtub circulation port foot massager 1 to be attached to the bathtub 2.

[0033] Further details are provided below.

[0034] The foot massage unit 10 can be configured in any way as long as it is installed in the bathtub 2 on the side in front of the hot water outlet 31 and is suitable for massaging the soles of the feet, etc. For example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the foot massage unit 10 of this embodiment comprises a plate-shaped base unit 11 and a massage body 12 attached to the front side of the base unit 11. The front surface of the massage body 12 is provided with a group of protrusions 12b suitable for sole massage and a toe separator 12c consisting of multiple protrusions suitable for intertoe massage.

[0035] The base portion 11 can be attached to the single circulation port 30 and / or the side wall 2b of the bathtub by appropriate means. The illustrated base portion 11 is attached to the side wall 2b with an adhesive member 13, as shown in Figure 2(a2).

[0036] The massage body 12 can be attached to the base portion 11 by appropriate means. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the massage body 12 is detachably attached to the base portion 11b by fitting a slit 12s provided on the inner surface of the massage body 12 to the edge portion 11s of the base portion 11.

[0037] The hot water guide path 20 is located between the foot massage unit 10 and the hot water inlet 31 of the single circulation port 3. Any configuration can be adopted as long as it is suitable for guiding the hot water supplied from the hot water inlet 31 into the bathtub 2 (see arrow H1 in Figures 3 and 5) to an area 2c outside the foot massage unit 10 in a front view (Figure 2(b)).

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the hot water guide member 21, which is positioned on the back side of the base portion 11 of the foot massage unit 10, has a hot water receiving portion 22 (central hole 21c) that receives hot water from the hot water inlet 31, and a hot water guide path 20 that communicates with the hot water receiving portion 22 and guides the hot water from the hot water receiving portion 22 diagonally downward from the hot water receiving portion 22, thereby guiding the hot water to the foot massage unit 10 diagonally downward 2c, outside the foot massage unit 10 in a front view (Figure 2(b)). The hot water guide member 21 is positioned on the rear side of the base portion 11 and, together with the base portion 11, is housed in a nearly box-shaped massage body 12 with an open bottom. The front of the hot water introduction passage 20 is closed off by the rear side of the base portion 11.

[0039] The adapter 40 can adopt any configuration as long as it can connect (maintain communication with) the hot water outlet 31 and the hot water guide path 20 even if the hot water outlet 31 and the return outlet 32 ​​in the single circulation port 30 are reversed.

[0040] For example, as shown in Figure 5(f1), the single-port circulation port 30 has two connection ports (31, 32) that are connected to the water heater 4, and in recent years, either of these connection ports can be used as the hot water inlet or the return port.

[0041] Figure (f1) shows a case where the upper connection port is used as a hot water outlet 31 to supply hot water H1 from the water heater 4, and the lower connection port is used as a return port 32 to return hot water H2 from the bathtub 2 to the water heater 4.

[0042] Conversely, (f2) shows the case where the upper connection port in the diagram is used as a return port 32 to return hot water H2 from the bathtub 2 to the water heater 4, and the lower connection port in the diagram is used as a hot water outlet 31 to supply hot water H1 from the water heater 4.

[0043] The adapter 40 is for connecting (making communication with) the hot water outlet 31 and the hot water guide path 20, for example, even when the hot water outlet 31 and the return outlet 32 ​​in the single circulation port 30 are reversed.

[0044] The single-port circulation port 30 itself can be of a known configuration, and the function of the adapter 40 is as described above, but for the sake of clarity, a detailed explanation is provided below.

[0045] The single-port circulation port 30, mainly shown in Figures 3 and 4, comprises a main body 33 and a mounting member 34 for attaching the main body 33 to the bathtub 2. The main body 33 comprises a casing 33b, a central passage 33c, an outer ring passage 33d, and upper and lower connection ports (31, 32) as shown in the diagram above. The upper connection port communicates with the central passage 33c, and the lower passage communicates with the outer ring passage 33d. The central passage 33c and the outer ring passage 33d communicate with the central hole 21c (see Figure 3) of the hot water guide member 21.

[0046] The adapter 40 is detachably attached to the central hole 21c of the hot water guide member 21 in an inverted state of 180 degrees.

[0047] As shown in Figures 5(c1)(d1), the adapter 40 comprises a disc portion 41, a central pipe 42 provided in the center of the disc portion 41, a flow path 43 communicating with the central pipe 42, a flow path 45 separated from the central pipe 42 and the flow path 43 by a partition wall 44, and an opening 46 communicating with the flow path 45, provided around the central pipe 42, and separated from the central pipe 42 and the flow path 43 by a partition wall 44.

[0048] As shown in Figure (f1), the central pipe 42 communicates with the central passage 33c of the main body 33 of the single-port circulation port 30, and the opening 46 communicates with the outer ring passage 33d of the main body 33.

[0049] As shown in Figures 5(a1) to (f1), when the adapter 40 is attached to the central hole 21c of the hot water guide member 21 with the flow path 43 positioned on the upper side, the flow path 43 communicates with the left and right hot water guide paths 20 (Figure (a1)) mentioned above, and the flow path 45 communicates with the hot water return port 23 (see Figure 3) located at the bottom of the hot water guide member 21.

[0050] Therefore, in this state, hot water H1 from the water heater 4 is supplied to the bathtub 2 via the upper connection port (in this case, the hot water outlet 31) of the single-port circulation port 30, the central passage 33c, the central pipe 42 and flow path 43 of the adapter 40, and the hot water introduction path 20 of the hot water guide member 21. The hot water H2 in the bathtub 2 is returned to the water heater 4 via the hot water return port 23 of the hot water guide member 21, the flow path 45 and opening 46 of the adapter 40, the outer ring passage 33d of the single-port circulation port 30, and the lower connection port (in this case, the return port 32).

[0051] Conversely, as shown in Figures 5(a2) to (f2), when the adapter 40 is attached to the central hole 21c of the hot water guide member 21 with the flow path 45 positioned on the upper side, the flow path 45 communicates with the left and right hot water guide paths 20, and the flow path 43 communicates with the hot water return port 23 located at the bottom of the hot water guide member 21.

[0052] Therefore, in this state, hot water H1 from the water heater 4 is supplied to the bathtub 2 via the upper connection port of the single circulation port 30 (in this case, the return port 32 functions as the hot water inlet 31), the outer ring passage 33d, the opening 46 of the adapter 40, the flow path 45, and the hot water introduction path 20 of the hot water guiding member 21. The hot water H2 in the bathtub 2 is returned to the water heater 4 via the hot water return port 23 of the hot water guiding member 21, the flow path 43 of the adapter 40, the central pipe 42 of the single circulation port 30, and the lower connection port (in this case, the return port 32 (the hot water inlet 31)).

[0053] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a strainer 25 is detachably provided at the hot water return port 23 of the hot water guide member 21.

[0054] The foot massage section 10 can be made of a suitable material, such as a heat-resistant resin. The hot water guide path 20, strainer 25, and adapter 40 can each be made of a suitable material, such as heat-resistant synthetic resin or metal.

[0055] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be appropriately modified and implemented within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 1: Bathtub circulation outlet foot massager 10: Foot Massage Department 20: Hot water access road 31: Hot water outlet 40: Adapter

Claims

1. A foot massager provided for a single circulation port (30) located on the side wall (2b) of a bathtub (2) and having a hot water inlet (31) for supplying hot water (H1) into the bathtub (2), A foot massage section (10) is provided in the bathtub (2) on the side in front of the hot water outlet (31), Between the foot massage unit (10) and the hot water outlet (31), there is a hot water guide path (20) that directs the hot water supplied from the hot water outlet (31) into the bathtub to an area (2c) outside the foot massage unit (10) when viewed from the front, A foot massager for a bathtub circulation outlet, characterized by having the following features.

2. In claim 1, The bathtub circulation outlet foot massager is characterized in that the hot water guide path (20) guides the hot water (H1) from the hot water outlet (31) to a diagonally downward (2c) of the foot massage section (10) when viewed from the front.

3. In claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned single-port circulation port (30) comprises the aforementioned hot water outlet (31) and a return port (32) for returning the hot water (H2) in the bathtub (2) back to the water heater. A bathtub circulation port foot massager is characterized in that an adapter (40) is provided between the hot water inlet (31) and the return port (32) and the hot water guide path (20), which connects the hot water inlet (31) and the hot water guide path (20) even if the hot water inlet (31) and the return port (32) are reversed.

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