Nozzle member and automatic hair washing device

Abstract

Provided are a nozzle member and an automatic hair washing device which are capable of washing hair without unevenness. This nozzle member 63 provided in a hair washing space of the automatic hair washing device includes: a most upstream communication flow passage part 84 that communicates with a water flow pipe; a branch flow passage part 85 connected to the downstream side of the communication flow passage part 84 and formed so as to become wider toward the downstream side; and a plurality of water discharge passage parts 86 connected to the downstream side of the branch flow passage part 85. Because an air suction hole 87 connected to the outside is formed in each water discharge passage part 86, hot water, suctioned from the air suction hole 87 and mixed with air to increase the washing effect, is discharged.

Description

Nozzle member and automatic hair washing device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a nozzle member and an automatic hair washing device having the nozzle member.

[0002] Conventionally, in hair salons and other beauty salons, an automatic hair washing machine (hereinafter referred to as the "Publication 1 Invention") has been used as an apparatus for automatically washing a person's hair without the need for a hairdresser's hands. In the Publication 1 Invention, the person's head is placed inside the machine, and an arched water discharge pipe rotates around the head while discharging water. The water discharge pipe has multiple water discharge holes formed along its length, and hot and cold water supplied from the end of the water discharge pipe is discharged from each hole.

[0003] JP 2015-223390 A

[0004] However, because the water pressure differs between the upstream and downstream water outlets, the finish of the hair wash also differs depending on the water pressure difference. Therefore, an automatic hair washing device that does not produce uneven hair washing results is required even when there is a difference in water pressure between the water outlets.

[0005] The present disclosure has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a nozzle member and an automatic hair washing device that can wash hair evenly.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the nozzle member of the present disclosure is attached to the side of a water flow pipe that moves around the head of a person being treated within the hair washing space of an automatic hair washing device and discharges hot and cold water toward the head, and is characterized by having a branch flow path section that is formed to become wider as it goes downstream, and multiple water discharge path sections that are connected to the downstream side of the branch flow path section and are narrower than the branch flow path section, and an air intake hole is formed in the water discharge path section.

[0007] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the outlets of the plurality of water discharge channel portions face in the same direction and are aligned in a row.

[0008] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the ejected hot or cold water hits the surface of the head of the person receiving treatment at a right angle or approximately a right angle.

[0009] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the ejected hot or cold water hits the surface of the head of the person receiving treatment at a right angle or approximately a right angle.

[0010] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the branch flow path section has a flat space that is thinner toward downstream, and the discharge flow path section has an upstream flow path narrower than the flat space, a midstream flow path wider than the upstream flow path, a downstream flow path narrower than the midstream flow path and wider than the upstream flow path, and the air intake hole that opens between the upstream flow path and the midstream flow path in a direction intersecting the water flow direction in the discharge flow path section.

[0011] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the branch flow path portion has a flat space that is a flat space, and a partition portion that partitions the flat space to form a branch flow path.

[0012] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the branch flow path portion has a number of branch flow paths that is fewer than the number of the water discharge path portions.

[0013] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is characterized in that it has an upstream cover in which the branch flow path portion is formed, an intake member in which the upstream flow path and the intake hole are formed, and a downstream cover in which the midstream flow path and the downstream flow path are formed, and the intake member is covered by the upstream cover and the downstream cover.

[0014] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is characterized in that air is drawn in through a gap between the upstream cover and the downstream cover.

[0015] The automatic hair washing device according to the present invention is characterized by having the nozzle member described above.

[0016] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure is attached to the side of a water flow pipe that moves around the head of a user within the hair washing space of an automatic hair washing device and discharges hot and cold water toward the head. It has a branch flow path section that widens toward the downstream side, and multiple discharge flow paths connected to the downstream side of the branch flow path and narrower than the branch flow path section, with an air intake hole formed in the discharge flow path section. Based on Bernoulli's theorem, air is drawn in through the air intake hole, and the hot and cold water mixed with air is discharged. The hot and cold water contains a large amount of fine air bubbles, and when the bubbles come into contact with the hair, they pop, simultaneously popping off dirt, improving the cleaning effect. This results in a consistent, even hair wash finish.

[0017] The automatic hair washing device according to the present disclosure has the nozzle member described above, and therefore produces the same effects as those of the nozzle member described above.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a top view of the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view illustrating a state in which a seal member has been separated from the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a first perspective view of a seal member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of a seal member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a top view of a seal member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is an inner side view of a seal member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a rear view of a seal member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a state in which a soft member has been removed from the seal member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a top view of a state in which a soft member has been removed from the seal member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 3 and is a first explanatory enlarged view for explaining a sealing member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 3 and is a second explanatory enlarged view for explaining a sealing member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a cross section taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 2 and is a first explanatory cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is the same cross section as FIG. 3 and is a second explanatory cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is the same cross section as FIG. 3 and is a third explanatory cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is the same cross section as FIG. 3 and is a fourth explanatory cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a head support member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a top view of the head support member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a rear view of the head support member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 20 is a bottom view of a head support member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional side view of the head support member included in the automatic hair washing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along line XXI-XXI in Fig. 18.FIG. 22 is the same cross-section as FIG. 21 , but is a side cross-sectional view of an automatic hair washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure after the head support member has moved. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a shower member having a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 24 is a front view of a shower member having a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the downstream side. FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the upstream side. FIG. 28 is a downstream side view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 29 is a first side view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 30 is a first side cross-sectional view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along the line XXX-XXX of FIG. 28. FIG. 31 is a second side view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 32 is a second side cross-sectional view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along the line XXXI-XXXI of FIG. 28. FIG. 33 is an upstream side view of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 34 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is an enlarged view of a portion corresponding to portion B in Figure 30. Figure 35 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is an enlarged view of a portion corresponding to portion B in Figure 30.

[0019] In the nozzle member according to the present disclosure, the outlets of the multiple water outlet channels face the same direction and are aligned in a row. Hot and cold water with enhanced cleansing effect is discharged from each outlet and hits the entire head of hair, resulting in a uniform hair wash finish.

[0020] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure allows hot and cold water to be discharged in a straight line and hit the surface of the user's head at a right angle or approximately a right angle, so that the water hits the roots and scalp of dense hair with force, allowing for proper washing.

[0021] In the nozzle member according to the present disclosure, the branch flow path portion has a flat space that becomes thinner toward the downstream side, and the discharge flow path portion has an upstream flow path narrower than the flat space, a midstream flow path wider than the upstream flow path, a downstream flow path narrower than the midstream flow path and wider than the upstream flow path, and an air intake hole between the upstream flow path and the midstream flow path that runs in a direction that intersects with the water flow direction in the discharge flow path portion. By being drawn in and passing through each flow path, the hot and cold water has a high cleaning effect and is discharged at high pressure. This results in a smooth hair wash finish.

[0022] In the nozzle member according to the present disclosure, the branch flow path section has a flat space, which is a flat space, and a partition section that separates the flat space to form branch flow paths. Because the hot and cold water is diverted roughly evenly in the branch flow paths before flowing into each water discharge channel section, the water pressure in each water discharge channel section is also roughly uniform. Because there is little difference in water pressure between the water discharge channel sections, the force of the hot and cold water hitting the hair is roughly uniform across the entire head of hair. This results in a more evenly washed hair. In addition to the uniform water discharge, the use of hot and cold water with a high cleansing effect that is mixed with air achieves even more even hair washing.

[0023] In the nozzle member according to the present disclosure, the branching flow path section has a number of branching paths that is fewer than the number of water discharge path sections. At the branching flow path section, the water is divided into a number of branching paths, and each branching path is divided into a number of water discharge path sections. In other words, water pressure is not applied to all water discharge path sections at once, but is instead diverted into a number of branching paths at the partition section, and water pressure is then applied to the multiple water discharge path sections, resulting in a roughly uniform pressure of the hot and cold water being discharged. This results in a more even hair washing result.

[0024] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure includes an upstream cover in which a branch flow path portion is formed, an intake member in which an upstream flow path and an intake hole are formed, and a downstream cover in which a midstream flow path and a downstream flow path are formed, and the intake member is covered by the upstream cover and the downstream cover. Therefore, the nozzle member can be easily assembled. Furthermore, since the nozzle member can be disassembled, replacement and cleaning are easy.

[0025] The nozzle member according to the present disclosure draws air through the gap between the upstream cover and the downstream cover. Therefore, air can be drawn in even when covered by each cover. In particular, because the air intake holes are covered by each cover, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of chemicals such as coloring agents used in treatments or foreign objects into the air intake holes. Furthermore, by uniformly covering each air intake hole, it is possible to reduce the water pressure difference at the water outlet.

[0026] An automatic hair washing device and a nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show an automatic hair washing device 1 according to this embodiment. In the following, the direction in which a person (not shown) lies down will be referred to as the front side (Front), the opposite side will be referred to as the back side (Back), the width direction when the front-to-back direction is the depth will be referred to as the right side and the left side (Left Side), and the height direction of the automatic hair washing device 1 will be referred to as the upper side and the lower side (Up, Down) (see Figure 1).

[0027] 1 and 2, the automatic hair washing device 1 has a main body 2 that stands on its own on an installation surface, a bowl 4 on top of the main body 2 on which the head of the person to be treated is placed, and a hood 5 (not shown in FIG. 2) that covers the top of the bowl 4. The hood 5 can be freely opened and closed. A hair washing space 7 is formed inside the space surrounded by the hood 5 and the bowl 4.

[0028] A treatment table (not shown) is installed in front of the main body front portion 3, which is the front of the main body portion 2. The person to be treated lies on the treatment table and places their head in the hair washing space 7. A face seal portion 8 is formed at the boundary between the head side and face side of the person to be treated. Specifically, the face seal portion 8 seals the edge of an opening 11 formed across the main body front portion 3 and the hood front portion 6, which is the front of the hood portion 5. The face seal portion 8 is composed of a concave neck seal portion 9 formed at the upper end of the main body front portion 3 and a concave face seal portion 10 formed in the hood front portion 6. The face seal portion 8 is circular or approximately circular to match the shape of the opening 11. The neck seal portion 9 is placed on the neck seal portion 9, sealing the periphery of the neck. The face seal portion 10 is placed around the periphery of the person to be treated and seals the periphery of the face. Therefore, the head except for the face (including the ears) is placed in the hair washing space 7, and the face is exposed to the outside.

[0029] Inside the bowl portion 4, there are installed a head support member 40 on which the head of the person to be treated is placed in the hair washing space 7, a pair of left and right seal members 20 that are placed against the head in the hair washing space 7, and an arch-shaped shower member 60 that dispenses hot and cold water onto the head in the hair washing space 7. Also, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, inside the bowl portion 4, there are installed at least a detachable portion 12 to which the seal members 20 are attached and detached, a shower head 17 that is manually operated by the practitioner, and a hot and cold water stop valve 18, and a drain outlet 19 is formed at the bottom. The detachable portion 12 is located on the front side of the neck seal portion 9. The detachable portion 12 is a member in which two plate-like portions 13 face each other with a gap 16 between them. The plate-like portions 14, 15 are arranged in an upright position, with the front side plate 14 on the near side being larger than the rear side plate 15 on the rear side (in other words, the rear side plate 15 is smaller than the front side plate 14).

[0030] The seal member 20, head support member 40, and shower member 60 will now be described in order with reference to the drawings. Figures 4 to 10 show the appearance of the seal member 20, and Figures 11 and 12 show the operation of the seal member 20. Note that since the pair of seal members 20 are symmetrical, the following description will focus on the left seal member 20, and the description of the right seal member 20 will be omitted.

[0031] As shown in Figures 4 to 10, the seal member 20 is T-shaped (see, for example, Figure 7) and has a soft member 33. The soft member 33 is removable. The seal member 20 is composed of a protruding piece 21, a first water-blocking portion 23 extending downward from the lower end of the protruding piece 21, and a second water-blocking portion 22 extending from the boundary between the protruding piece 21 and the first water-blocking portion 23 in a direction away from the protruding piece 21 and the first water-blocking portion 23. The protruding piece 21 is a plate-like piece extending upward and becomes thinner as it extends upward. The first water-blocking portion 23 is a plate-like piece extending downward. The second water-blocking portion 22 is a plate-like piece extending toward the rear.

[0032] The seal front surface 24, which is the front surface of the seal member 20 and is formed by the protruding piece 21 and the first water-shielding part 23, is flat or approximately flat. The seal upper rear surface 25, which is the top and rear surfaces of the seal member 20 and is formed by the protruding piece 21 and the second water-shielding part 22, is curved from the protruding piece 21 to the second water-shielding part 22 and has a gentle L-shape when viewed from the side (see FIG. 7). The seal lower rear surface 26, which is the bottom and rear surfaces of the seal member 20 and is formed by the second water-shielding part 22 and the first water-shielding part 23, has a right-angled or approximately right-angled L-shape when viewed from the side (see FIG. 7). A spacer 32 is attached to the outer surface of the first water-shielding part 23, extending from the seal front surface 24 to the seal lower rear surface 26 (see FIG. 7). The spacer 32 is flat and can be freely deformed, and is detachable and replaceable.

[0033] The seal outer surface portion 27, which is the left side surface of the seal member 20, is linear from the protruding piece 21 to the first water-shielding portion 23 (see FIG. 8 ; the seal outer surface portion 27 is on the right side in the figure). A rib 29 is formed on the end of the seal upper rear surface portion 25 of the seal outer surface portion 27 (see FIG. 4 ). The rib 29 protrudes upward. The seal inner surface portion 28, which is the right side surface of the seal member 20, is inclined from the protruding piece 21 to the first water-shielding portion 23, and becomes more distant from the seal outer surface portion 27 as it moves downward (in other words, the seal inner surface portion 28 moves from the first water-shielding portion 23 to the protruding piece 21 and approaches the seal outer surface portion 27 as it moves upward; see FIG. 8 ; the seal inner surface portion 28 is on the left side in the figure). An accommodation space 30 for accommodating a soft member 33 is formed inside the second water impermeable portion 22 and the first water impermeable portion 23, and an accommodation opening 31 that communicates with the accommodation space 30 is formed in the seal inner side surface portion 28. The accommodation opening 31 and the accommodation space 30 are L-shaped with a right angle or a nearly right angle when viewed from the side (see FIG. 7 ).

[0034] The soft member 33 is, for example, a cushion, rubber, gel, or the like, and is freely deformable. Therefore, when the soft member 33 is accommodated in the accommodation space 30, it is bent into an L-shape in accordance with the shape of the accommodation space 30. When accommodated in the accommodation space 30, the soft member 33 is formed to be longer than the left-right width of the seal member 20, and protrudes from the seal inner side surface portion 28. Of the protruding soft member 33, a first soft piece 34 is arranged on the same plane as the first water-shielding portion 23, and a second soft piece 35 is arranged on the same plane as the second water-shielding portion 22.

[0035] 11 and 12 , the sealing member 20 configured as described above is attached to the detachable portion 12 inside the bowl portion 4. Specifically, the first water-blocking portion 23 of the sealing member 20 also functions to be attached to and detached from the detachable portion 12, and is therefore sandwiched in the gap 16 of the detachable portion 12. When the sealing member 20 is attached to the detachable portion 12, the first water-blocking portion 23 faces the neck side seal portion 9 of the face seal portion 8, and the second water-blocking portion 22 projects away from the first water-blocking portion 23 towards the rear, which is the opposite side of the neck side seal portion 9 relative to the first water-blocking portion 23.

[0036] Next, the function and effect of seal member 20 will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 13 to 16 show side cross sections of automatic hair washing device 1, illustrating the operation of shower member 60 and the position of seal member 20 relative to shower member 60.

[0037] 11 and 12 , when the therapist grasps the sealing member 20 and pushes it toward the head while the patient's head is placed on the head support member 40, the sealing member 20 moves toward the head. That is, before the head is placed on the head support member 40, the sealing member 20 is away from the head, so the sealing member 20 does not interfere with the placement of the head (see FIG. 11 ). The sealing member 20 is held in place by the frictional force between the detachable portion 12 and the first water-impermeable portion 23 (spacer 32). By sliding the sealing member 20 against the frictional force, the sealing member 20 can be moved toward or away from the head. When the sliding is stopped, the sealing member 20 stops in place. Therefore, the sealing member 20 has a simple configuration and can be easily moved. Furthermore, after the head is placed on the head, the sealing member 20 approaches the head depending on the size of the head, allowing the sealing member 20 to be adjusted to an appropriate position. When handling the seal member 20, the practitioner can grip the protruding piece portion 21.

[0038] The seal member 20 is moved until the soft member 33 contacts the head. Because the contacting portion is the soft member 33, there is little irritation to the skin. When the seal member 20 contacts the head, the first water-blocking portion 23 is sandwiched in the gap 16 of the detachable portion 12, but a portion of the first water-blocking portion 23 protrudes from the detachable portion 12 toward the head and faces the neck seal portion 9. The second water-blocking portion 22 is positioned behind the ear of the patient, and the protruding piece 21 is positioned below the earlobe. In this state, the seal inner surface portion 28 is inclined upward from the first water-blocking portion 23 to the protruding piece 21, in a direction away from the patient's face, so it does not come into contact with the ear or face. This prevents pressure on the ear or face. When moving the sealing member 20 away from the face, the practitioner can grasp the protruding piece 21 and hook his / her fingers onto the rib 29, making it easy to move the sealing member 20.

[0039] As shown in Figures 13 to 16, shower member 60 rotates and reciprocates within a predetermined rotation angle within hair washing space 7, moving around the recipient's head and discharging hot and cold water toward the head, with seal member 20 located at the destination of the water. For example, if the recipient's head is relatively small or the crown of the head is narrow, the discharged hot and cold water will cross the head toward face seal member 8, but seal member 20 blocks the hot and cold water just before face seal member 8, preventing the hot and cold water from reaching face seal member 8 and leaking from face seal member 8. This prevents water leakage regardless of individual differences in the recipient. Specifically, when shower member 60 is located downward and hot and cold water is discharged generally upward from the back of the recipient's head toward face-side seal member 10 (see Figure 13), the hot and cold water is blocked by second water-blocking portion 22, lower rear seal portion 26, second soft piece 35 of soft member 33, etc. Furthermore, when shower member 60 is positioned generally horizontally and sprays water generally horizontally from the top of the recipient's head toward neck seal 9 (see FIG. 15), hot and cold water is blocked by first water-blocking portion 23, lower rear seal portion 26, protruding piece 21, upper rear seal portion 25, first soft piece 34 of soft member 33, etc. Furthermore, when shower member 60 is positioned generally upward and sprays water generally downward from the top of the recipient's head toward neck seal 9 (see FIG. 16), hot and cold water is blocked by protruding piece 21, upper rear seal portion 25, second soft piece 35, etc. Therefore, no matter what direction water is sprayed from, seal member 20 blocks the water and prevents leakage.

[0040] Furthermore, the sealing member 20 has a simple, integrated configuration in which the protruding piece 21, the second water-blocking portion 22, and the first water-blocking portion 23 are integrated (see FIGS. 4 to 10). The sealing member 20 can be detached from the detachable portion 12, making it easy to clean or replace the sealing member 20 (see FIG. 3). Furthermore, the soft member 33 can be detached from the sealing member 20, making it easy to clean or replace the soft member 33 (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0041] Next, the head support member 40 will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 13 and 14 show a side cross section of the automatic hair washing apparatus 1 and illustrate the operation of the head support member 40. Figures 17 to 22 show the appearance and cross section of the head support member 40.

[0042] 13 and 14 , the head support member 40 has a support main body 41 that supports the head of the person to be treated in the hair washing space 7, and a support base 46 that supports the support main body 41 so that the support main body 41 can swing. The support main body 41 swings back and forth relative to the support base 46. The support main body 41 and the support base 46 form a movement mechanism 50 (see FIGS. 21 and 22 ), and the movement mechanism 50 causes the support main body 41 to swing back and forth. Specifically, the movement mechanism 50 moves the support main body 41 to a support position that supports the head during automatic hair washing ( FIG. 13 ), while during non-automatic hair washing, the support main body 41 moves to a separated position that is away from the top of the head and toward the neck of the person to be treated ( FIG. 14 ). In the support position, the support body 41 is generally horizontal or has a posture with the rear end slightly pointing upward, and while moving from the support position to the separated position, the rear end of the support body 41 moves downward and the front end moves upward and forward toward the neck of the patient. At that time, the support body 41 swings in an arc between the support position and the separated position (see arrow 100 in FIG. 13 and arrow 101 in FIG. 14).

[0043] As shown in Figures 17 to 22, the support body 41 has a mesh portion 42 that supports the back of the head of the patient, and a pair of mesh support portions 43 that support the left and right sides of the mesh portion 42. The mesh shape of the mesh portion 42 is arbitrary, for example, a honeycomb shape. The mesh support portion 43 is a rectangular parallelepiped that is long from front to back. A slit 44 is formed on the underside of the mesh support portion 43, and a connecting piece portion 45 is located inside the mesh support portion 43. The slit 44 leads to the connecting piece portion 45. The mesh support portions 43 are arranged at a distance that is the same as the width of the patient's head or wider than the width of the head, and the mesh portion 42 is stretched between the two mesh support portions 43.

[0044] The support base 46 has a plate-shaped base piece 47, a pair of plate-shaped base leg pieces 48 that rise from both ends of the base piece 47 at right angles to the base piece 47, and a base connecting piece 49 formed at the upper end of the base leg piece 48. The base leg piece 48 is curved in an arc upward and toward the rear. The base connecting piece 49 is passed through the slit 44 of the net support part 43 and connected to the connecting piece 45.

[0045] The support main body 41 has a rail portion 51 as a movement mechanism 50, while the support base 46 has an engagement protrusion 55 that engages with the rail portion 51 and a guide protrusion 56 that is guided by the rail as a movement mechanism 50. Specifically, the rail portion 51 is formed on the connecting piece portion 45 inside the net support portion 43. The rail portion 51 extends in the front-to-rear direction and curves in an arc downward or is bent downward. Two notches 52 that are cut out toward the upper side are formed in the rail portion 51. One of the notches 52 is a support notch 53 that is formed at the front end of the rail portion 51. Meanwhile, the other notch 52 is a non-support notch 54 that is formed in the middle of the rail portion 51.

[0046] The engagement protrusion 55 and the guide protrusion 56 are attached to the side surfaces of the base connecting piece 49 and are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. The engagement protrusion 55 is formed at the front end of the base connecting piece 49. The guide protrusion 56 is formed at the rear end of the base connecting piece 49. In the support position, the engagement protrusion 55 engages with the support notch 53, while no protrusions engage with the non-support notch 54 (see FIG. 21). On the other hand, in the separated position, the engagement protrusion 55 engages with the non-support notch 54, while no protrusions engage with the support notch 53 (see FIG. 22).

[0047] Next, the function and effect of the head support member 40 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0048] In FIG. 13 , when the practitioner grasps the support body 41 in the support position and pushes it forward (arrow 100 in the same figure), the movement mechanism 50 is activated, and the support body 41 moves to the separated position. In FIG. 14 , in the separated position, the support body 41 moves away from the top of the head of the person being treated, leaving space on the back and top of the head, so the head is uncovered. Therefore, when washing hair by hand after automatic hair washing, the practitioner can move their hands in the space, making hair washing easier. Note that in the separated position, the front end of the support body 41 is located above and forward, so the area near the nape of the neck of the person being treated may remain on the mesh portion 42. Even in this case, space is left on at least a portion of the back of the head (the part of the back of the head closer to the top of the head), making hair washing easier.

[0049] The rail portions 51 of the net support portion 43 are curved or bent downward in an arc (see FIGS. 21 and 22), so that when the engaging protrusions 55 of the support base portion 46 are engaged with the rail portions 51, the support main body portion 41 swings in an arc or bends by moving along the rail portions 51. This leaves space on the back and top sides of the head of the person being treated, allowing the practitioner to wash hair in an open space.

[0050] In the support position, the engaging protrusions 55 engage with the support notches 53, causing the support main body 41 to stop and maintaining an appropriate posture for supporting the user's head during automatic hair washing (see FIGS. 15 and 21). On the other hand, in the separated position, the engaging protrusions 55 engage with the non-support notches 54, causing the support main body 41 to stop and maintaining an appropriate posture for manually washing the user's head (see FIGS. 14 and 22).

[0051] Furthermore, because the portion that directly supports the head is the mesh portion 42, only a small portion of the head is covered (see FIG. 17 ). This minimizes the area that interferes with hair washing using the automatic hair washing device 1. Because both sides of the mesh portion 42 are supported and the area below the mesh portion 42 is open, the mesh support portion 43 and support base portion 46 do not interfere with hair washing.

[0052] Next, the shower member 60 will be described with reference to the drawings. The shower member 60 is shown in FIGS.

[0053] As shown in Figures 23 and 24, the shower member 60 has an arch-shaped water flow pipe 61 and multiple nozzle members 63 attached to the water flow pipe 61. The left end of the water flow pipe 61 has a rotating shaft 62, and the right end is closed. The water flow pipe 61 has holes (not shown) formed at predetermined intervals, and the nozzle members 63 are attached to align with the holes. Therefore, hot and cold water flowing from the rotating shaft 62 and flowing through the water flow pipe 61 is supplied to each nozzle member 63.

[0054] Here, the nozzle member 63 will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 25 to 33 show the appearance, cross section, and structure of the nozzle member 63. Note that the description based on Figures 25 to 33 will be based on the orientation shown in Figure 25. The orientation shown in Figure 25 is different from the orientation shown in Figure 1.

[0055] 25 to 27, the nozzle member 63 has an intake member 64, an upstream cover 65 and a downstream cover 66 that cover the intake member 64 from above and below, and a fixing cover 67 for fixing the upstream cover 65 to the water flow pipe 61. First, the internal structure of the nozzle member 63 will be described with reference to Figures 30 and 32, and then the external shapes of each member will be described with reference to other drawings. Figures 30 and 32 show cross sections of the nozzle member 63.

[0056] 30 and 32, a flow path through which hot and cold water flows is formed inside the nozzle member 63. The flow path is subdivided as it proceeds downstream. The flow path has a communication flow path section 84 at the most upstream side that communicates with the water flow pipe 61, a branch flow path section 85 that is connected to the downstream side of this communication flow path section 84 and widens as it proceeds downstream, and a plurality of water discharge flow path sections 86 that are connected to the downstream side of this branch flow path section 85. Each water discharge flow path section 86 has an air intake hole 87 that is connected to the outside.

[0057] The branch flow path section 85 has a flat space 88. The flat space 88 is long in the left-right direction and flat in the front-to-back direction. The left-to-right width of the flat space 88 gradually increases and the front-to-back thickness gradually decreases from the connecting flow path section 84 toward the downstream side. The branch flow path section 85 has a plurality of partitions 89, which divide the flat space 88 into a plurality of branch flow paths 92. The partitions 89 are composed of a central partition 90 formed approximately in the center of the branch flow path section 85 and side partitions 91 formed at positions spaced apart on the left and right sides of the central partition 90. The central partition 90 extends toward the downstream side, and the side partitions 91 extend toward the downstream side and the left and right sides, respectively. Two central flow paths 93 are formed between the central partition 90 and each of the side partitions 91, and two side flow path sections 94 are formed between each of the side partitions 91 and the inner wall 95 of the branch flow path section 85. Therefore, the flat space 88 is divided into four branch flow paths 93, 94 by each of the partitions 90, 91, and the flow path from the communication flow path section 84 to the discharge channel section 86 is divided into the four branch flow paths 93, 94 approximately evenly.

[0058] The discharge channel section 86 is formed narrower than each of the branch channels 93, 94 of the flat space 88. Each discharge channel section 86 is linear and arranged in parallel or approximately parallel fashion. Therefore, the discharge ports 99 of the discharge channel sections 86 face the same direction (upward in Figure 30) and are lined up in a row on the left and right. The number of discharge channel sections 86 is arbitrary, but is generally 10 to 20, which is more than the number of branch channels 92 (in other words, the number of branch channels 92 is less than the number of discharge channel sections 86).

[0059] The discharge channel section 86 has an upstream channel 96 connected to the downstream side of the branch channel section 85, a connecting channel 102 formed downstream of the upstream channel 96, a midstream channel 97 connected to the downstream side of the connecting channel 102, and a downstream channel 98 connected to the downstream side of the midstream channel 97. The upstream channel 96 is formed narrower than the branch channels 93, 94 of the flat space 88. The connecting channel 102 is formed wider than the upstream channel 96. The midstream channel 97 is formed wider than the upstream channel 96 and has the same or approximately the same diameter as the connecting channel 102. The downstream channel 98 is formed narrower than the midstream channel 97 and wider than the upstream channel 96. The channels 96, 102, 97, and 98 are connected in a straight line.

[0060] The air intake hole 87 is formed in the connecting flow path 102 between the upstream flow path 96 and the midstream flow path 97. The air intake hole 87 opens in a direction perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the water flow direction in the water discharge path section 86. The inner diameter of the air intake hole 87 is the same as or approximately the same as that of the upstream flow path 96.

[0061] 26 and 27, the fixed cover 67 is a generally rectangular plate having a semicircular grip portion 81 on one side through which the water flow pipe 61 is passed. Screws 82 are passed through the four corners of the fixed cover 67.

[0062] The upstream cover 65 has an upstream cover main body 68 that is long in the left-right direction, a semicircular other-side gripping portion 69 connected to the lower part of the upstream cover main body 68, and a branch flow path portion 85 formed inside the upstream cover main body 68. An annular upstream cover edge portion 70 that extends upward from the outer periphery is formed at the upper end of the upstream cover main body 68, and an intake member mounting groove 71 to which the intake member 64 is attached is formed inside the upstream cover edge portion 70. The intake member mounting groove 71 communicates with the branch flow path portion 85. The upstream cover main body 68 has gap-forming outer ends 72 at both left and right ends.

[0063] The intake member 64 is elongated in the left-right direction, has a plurality of upstream flow passages 96 formed on its inside, and has a plurality of intake holes 87 formed on its front and rear outer surfaces. Each intake hole 87 leads to a connecting flow passage 102 of each upstream flow passage 96. The upper end of the intake member 64 is formed with an annular intake member edge 73 extending upward from the outer periphery, and a downstream cover mounting groove 74 is formed inside this intake member edge 73, to which the downstream cover 66 is attached.

[0064] The downstream cover 66 has a downstream cover outer body portion 75 that is long in the left-right direction, a pair of support pieces 76 extending downward from the downstream cover outer body portion 75 and configured as a front-rear pair, and a downstream cover inner body portion 77 (see Figures 30 and 32) formed inside the downstream cover outer body portion 75, with a midstream flow path 97 and a downstream flow path 98 formed in the downstream cover inner body portion 77. An intake member mounting gap 78 (see Figures 30 and 32) to which the intake member 64 is attached is formed between the downstream cover outer body portion 75 and the downstream cover inner body portion 77. A screw hole 79 is formed in each support piece portion 76. Gap-forming inner ends 80 are formed on the inner surfaces of both left and right ends of the downstream cover outer body portion 75.

[0065] The intake member 64 is attached to the intake member attachment groove 71 of the upstream cover 65, thereby connecting the branch flow path 85 of the upstream cover 65 to the upstream flow path 96 of the intake member 64. In this state, the downstream cover inner main body 77 of the downstream cover 66 is attached to the downstream cover attachment groove 74 of the intake member 64, and the intake member edge 73 of the intake member 64 is attached to the intake member attachment gap 78 of the downstream cover 66, thereby connecting the connecting flow path 102 of the intake member 64 to the midstream flow path 97 of the downstream cover 66. Finally, the fixed cover 67 is attached to the lower parts of the upstream cover 65 and the downstream cover 66, and the screws 82 of the fixed cover 67 are fastened to the screw holes 79 of the downstream cover 66. At this time, the water flow pipe 61 is sandwiched between the other-side gripping portion 69 of the upstream cover 65 and the one-side gripping portion 81 of the fixed cover 67.

[0066] 25, 28, 29, 31, and 33, the components 64, 65, 66, and 67 are combined to form the nozzle component 63. The gap-forming outer end 72 of the upstream cover body 68 and the gap-forming inner end 80 of the downstream cover outer body 75 are not in close contact with each other, and a ventilation gap 83 is provided between them.

[0067] Next, the function and effect of the nozzle member 63 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0068] When the pump built into the main body 2 or an external pump (not shown) is operated and hot water is supplied from the hot water storage tank (not shown), the hot water flows through the water flow pipe 61 and into the nozzle member 63. The hot water passes through the connecting flow path 84, the branching flow path 85, and the water discharge path 86 and is discharged from the water discharge port 99 (see Figures 30 and 32). Based on Bernoulli's theorem, air is drawn in through the ventilation gap 83 and the air intake hole 87, and the hot water mixed with air is discharged. The hot water contains a large number of fine air bubbles, and when the bubbles come into contact with the hair, they pop, simultaneously scattering dirt and other impurities, enhancing the cleansing effect. This results in a consistent, even hair wash. In particular, because the water discharge ports 99 of the water discharge path 86 face the same direction and are aligned in a row, the water with enhanced cleansing effect is discharged from each water discharge port 99 and hits the entire head of hair. This results in a consistent, even hair wash.

[0069] The partitions 90, 91 formed in the branch flow path section 85 divide the flow path from the communication flow path section 84 to the water discharge flow path section 86 into four branch flow paths 93, 94 at approximately equal intervals (see Figure 30). Because the hot and cold water is diverted approximately evenly in each branch flow path 93, 94 before flowing into each water discharge flow path section 86, the water pressure in each water discharge flow path section 86 is also approximately uniform. Because there is little difference in water pressure between each water discharge flow path section 86, the force of the hot and cold water hitting the hair is also approximately uniform across the entire head of hair. This results in a more even wash. In addition to the uniform water discharge, the use of hot and cold water with a high cleansing effect that is mixed with air achieves even more even hair washing.

[0070] In particular, in the branch flow path section 85, the water is divided into four branch flow paths 93, 94, and each branch flow path 93, 94 is divided into three or four water discharge flow paths 86. In other words, water pressure is not applied to all water discharge flow paths 86 at once, but is instead divided into multiple branch flow paths 93, 94 at each partition section 90, 91, and water pressure is then applied to multiple water discharge flow paths 86, so the pressure of the hot and cold water discharged is roughly uniform. Therefore, the hair washing finish is even.

[0071] In the water discharge channel section 86, the upstream channel 96 is narrower than the branch channels 93, 94 of the flat space 88, the connecting channel 102 is wider than the upstream channel 96, the midstream channel 97 is wider than the upstream channel 96 and has the same or approximately the same diameter as the connecting channel 102, the downstream channel 98 is narrower than the midstream channel 97 and wider than the upstream channel 96, and the air intake hole 87 opens into the connecting channel 102 between the upstream channel 96 and the midstream channel 97 in a direction perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the water flow direction in the water discharge channel section 86 (see Figures 30 and 32). By being sucked in and passing through the channels 96, 97, and 98, the hot and cold water has a high cleansing effect and is discharged at high pressure. This results in a consistent, even hair wash finish.

[0072] The nozzle member 63 is a combination of the components 64, 65, 66, and 67, allowing for easy assembly. It can also be disassembled for easy replacement and cleaning. The gap-forming outer end 72 of the upstream cover body 68 and the gap-forming inner end 80 of the downstream cover outer body 75 are not in close contact, leaving a ventilation gap 83 between them (see Figures 30 and 33). Therefore, air can be drawn in even when covered by the components 64, 65, 66, and 67. In particular, because the air intake hole 87 is covered by the covers 6, 5, 66, and 67, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of chemicals, such as coloring agents, or foreign objects used in treatments. Furthermore, uniform coverage of each air intake hole 87 also reduces the water pressure difference at each water outlet 99.

[0073] Shower member 60 rotates within a predetermined rotation angle range and moves back and forth within hair-washing space 7, moving around the head of the person being treated and spraying hot and cold water in a straight line toward the head, so that the sprayed hot and cold water hits the surface of the head at a right angle or nearly a right angle (see Figures 13 to 16). The hot and cold water hits the dense roots of the hair and the scalp with force, allowing for a proper hair wash.

[0074] Next, as other embodiments of the nozzle member 63, a nozzle member 263 according to a second embodiment and a nozzle member 363 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 34 shows a partial cross section of the nozzle member 263 according to the second embodiment, and Figure 35 shows a partial cross section of the nozzle member 363 according to the third embodiment. Note that the following mainly describes the configuration that differs from the nozzle member 63, and a description of the configuration that is the same as the nozzle member 63 will be omitted.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 34 , the nozzle member 263 has the connecting flow path 202 and the midstream flow path 297 connected with a lateral offset. That is, the upstream flow path 296 and the connecting flow path 202 are aligned in a straight line, the midstream flow path 297 and the downstream flow path 298 are aligned in a straight line, and the upstream flow path 296 and the connecting flow path 202 are offset from the midstream flow path 297 and the downstream flow path 298. This offset creates resistance to the water flow, thereby suppressing water pressure. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the water pressure depending on the degree of offset. Furthermore, the pressure of hot and cold water discharged from each outlet 299 is generally uniform. It is also possible to adjust the water pressure by adjusting the water volume through control of the pump's AC motor, inverter, and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation).

[0076] As shown in FIG. 35 , the nozzle member 363 has a step 303 formed at the boundary between the midstream flow path 397 and the downstream flow path 398, connecting the two flow paths 397, 398 in a stepped manner. That is, the midstream flow path 397 and the downstream flow path 398 are straight, cylindrical shapes, and the inner diameter of the downstream flow path 398 is smaller than the inner diameter of the midstream flow path 397. The step 303 is formed by the difference in the inner diameters of the flow paths 397, 398. This configuration ensures that the pressure of hot and cold water discharged from each water outlet 399 is generally uniform. Similar to the nozzle member 263, the nozzle member 363 has a connecting flow path 302 and a midstream flow path 397 that are offset to the left and right. Note that the connecting flow path 302 and the midstream flow path 397 may be connected in a straight line, similar to the nozzle member 63.

[0077] <Sealing member> In another embodiment according to the present disclosure, the sealing member is fixed and does not move, nor can it be removed. In another embodiment, the sealing member does not include a soft member. In another embodiment, the soft member is fixed to the sealing member and cannot be attached or removed. In another embodiment, the sealing member includes only a protruding piece portion and a first water-blocking portion, and does not include a second water-blocking portion. In another embodiment, the sealing member includes only a protruding piece portion and a second water-blocking portion, and does not include a first water-blocking portion. In another embodiment, the sealing member includes only a first water-blocking portion and a second water-blocking portion, and does not include a protruding piece. In another embodiment, the sealing member moves automatically by electrical power. <Head support member> In another embodiment, the support main body portion moves directly below the head. Therefore, the separation position is below the head. In another embodiment, the support main body portion moves from the top of the head toward the rear. Therefore, the separation position is at the rear of the head. If at least the mesh portion is separated from the back of the head and a gap is created between the mesh portion and the back of the head, washing hair by hand is possible. In another embodiment, the rail portion does not have a cutout portion. In this case, when the head of the person being treated is placed on the mesh portion of the support body, the support body swings according to the posture of the head. Therefore, the head is supported in an appropriate position according to the posture, size, shape, etc. of the head of the person being treated. In another embodiment, the support body is automatically moved electrically to the support position or the separated position. <Nozzle member> In another embodiment, the direction of the water outlet of the nozzle member is not constant. In another embodiment, hot or cold water ejected from the nozzle member hits the surface of the head of the person being treated at any angle. In another embodiment, the position of the air intake hole in the water outlet channel portion is arbitrary. In another embodiment, there is no partition portion. In another embodiment, the nozzle member is formed as a single unit and cannot be disassembled. In another embodiment, the position of the gap between the upstream cover and the downstream cover is arbitrary.

[0078] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design modifications can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0079] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic hair washing device 2 Main body 3 Main body front portion 4 Bowl portion 5 Hood portion 6 Hood front portion 7 Hair washing space 8 Face seal portion 9 Neck side seal portion 10 Face side seal portion 11 Opening 12 Detachable portion 13 Plate-shaped portion 14 Rear side plate portion 15 Front side plate portion 16 Gap 17 Shower head 18 Stop valve 19 Drain opening 20 Seal member 21 Projecting piece portion 22 Second water-blocking portion 23 First water-blocking portion 24 Seal front portion 25 Seal upper rear surface portion 26 Seal lower rear surface portion 27 Seal outer surface portion 28 Seal inner surface portion 29 Rib 30 Storage space 31 Storage opening portion 32 Spacer 33 Soft member 34 First soft piece 35 Second soft piece 40 Head support member 41 Support main body portion 42 Net portion 43 Net support portion 44 Slit 45 Connecting piece portion 46 Support base portion 47 Base base piece portion 48 Base leg piece portion 49 Base connecting piece portion 50 Movement mechanism portion 51 Rail portion 52 Cutout portion 53 Support cutout portion 54 Non-support cutout portion 55 Engagement protrusion portion 56 Guide protrusion portion 60 Shower member 61 Water flow pipe 62 Rotating shaft portion 63, 263, 363 Nozzle member 64 Intake member 65 Upstream cover 66 Downstream cover 67 Fixed cover 68 Upstream cover main body portion 69 Other side grip portion 70 Upstream cover edge portion 71 Intake member mounting groove portion 72 Gap forming outer end portion 73 Intake member edge portion 74 Downstream cover mounting groove portion 75 Downstream cover outer main body 76 Support piece 77 Downstream cover inner main body 78 Intake member mounting gap 79 Screw hole 80 Gap forming inner end 81 One-side grip 82 Screw 83 Ventilation gap 84 Communication flow path 85 Branch flow path 86 Discharge flow path 87, 287, 387 Intake hole 88 Flat space 89 Partition 90 Central partition 91 Side partition 92 Branch flow path 93 Central flow path 94 Side flow path 95 Inner wall 96, 296,396 Upstream flow path 97, 297, 397 Midstream flow path 98, 298, 398 Downstream flow path 99, 299, 399 Outlet 100 Arrow 101 Arrow 102, 202, 302 Connecting flow path 303 Step portion,

Claims

1. A nozzle member that is attached to the side of a water flow pipe that moves around the head of a person being treated in the hair washing space of an automatic hair washing device and that discharges hot and cold water toward the head, the nozzle member having a branch flow path section that is formed to become wider as it goes downstream, and a plurality of water discharge flow paths that are connected to the downstream side of the branch flow path section and are narrower than the branch flow path section, and an air intake hole is formed in the water discharge flow path section.

2. The nozzle member according to claim 1, wherein the outlets of the plurality of water discharge channel portions face the same direction and are aligned in a row.

3. The nozzle member according to claim 1, characterized in that the ejected hot and cold water hits the surface of the head of the person receiving treatment at a right angle or approximately a right angle.

4. The nozzle member according to claim 2, characterized in that the ejected hot and cold water hits the surface of the head of the person receiving treatment at a right angle or approximately a right angle.

5. A nozzle member as described in claim 1, characterized in that the branch flow path portion has a flat space that is thinner toward downstream, and the discharge flow path portion has an upstream flow path narrower than the flat space, a midstream flow path wider than the upstream flow path, a downstream flow path narrower than the midstream flow path and wider than the upstream flow path, and the air intake hole that is located between the upstream flow path and the midstream flow path and opens in a direction that intersects with the water flow direction in the discharge flow path portion.

6. The nozzle member according to claim 2, wherein the branch flow path portion has a flat space that is a flat space, and a partition portion that partitions the flat space to form a branch flow path.

7. The nozzle member according to claim 6, wherein the branch flow path portion has a plurality of branch flow paths which are fewer in number than the number of the water discharge path portions.

8. A nozzle member according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises an upstream cover in which the branch flow path portion is formed, an intake member in which the upstream flow path and the intake hole are formed, and a downstream cover in which the midstream flow path and the downstream flow path are formed, and the intake member is covered by the upstream cover and the downstream cover.

9. The nozzle member according to claim 8, wherein air is drawn in through a gap between the upstream cover and the downstream cover.

10. An automatic hair washing device comprising the nozzle member according to claim 4.

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