JP6191227B2 - Human body local cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a human body local cleaning device including a cleaning nozzle for cleaning a local part of a human body.

  As such a human body local washing apparatus, the one described in Patent Document 1 below is known. A hose for supplying cleaning water is connected to a cleaning nozzle that ejects cleaning water for cleaning the local portion. When the cleaning nozzle moves forward, a hose is loosened accordingly, and when the cleaning nozzle moves backward, a mechanism for winding the hose (hereinafter referred to as a hose winding mechanism) is provided.

JP 2006-249862 A

  The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 increases the material cost and assembly cost of various members (such as arms) that construct a hose winding mechanism.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a human body local cleaning device that does not require a hose winding mechanism.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a human body local cleaning device according to the present invention includes a cleaning nozzle that is supported so as to be movable back and forth with respect to a base member, a connecting portion that is a part capable of supplying water from a water source, and one end of the cleaning nozzle. A rack that is connected to the cleaning nozzle and has the other end connected to the connection portion, and a hose that is in a state where at least a portion between the one end and the other end is curved, and a gear that meshes with a gear that is rotated by a driving source, A flexible rack in which one end side is fixed to the cleaning nozzle and at least a part of a portion located on the rear side of the portion fixed to the cleaning nozzle is curved, and the base member includes the flexible rack and curved portions are formed engaging groove for engagement, driving the drive source, when the washing nozzle was moved back and forth, the hose is orthogonal to the width direction While varying the curvature of the curved portion while maintaining a state along the surface, and wherein while the flexible rack slides the engaging groove, one end and the of the hose connected to it together with the cleaning nozzle One end of the flexible rack is configured to move forward and backward.

  The engagement groove may be formed along a wall portion formed in the base member, and the hose may be disposed in a hose accommodating space inside the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion.

  A cover member that covers the engagement groove and the hose accommodating space may be fixed to the base member.

  The human body local cleaning device according to the present invention is configured to advance and retract one end of the hose together with the cleaning nozzle by changing the curvature of the curved portion while maintaining the state along the plane orthogonal to the width direction of the hose. It is. That is, the hose winding mechanism provided in the conventional apparatus is not necessary, leading to cost reduction.

  When a flexible rack that is partially curved is used as a member that transmits the power of the drive source to the cleaning nozzle, and an engagement groove is provided to maintain the curvature of the flexible rack, the engagement groove is formed. What is necessary is just to set it as the structure by which a hose is accommodated inside the inner peripheral surface of the wall part made. Thereby, interference with a hose and a flexible rack can be prevented.

  If the cover member which covers the said hose and a flexible rack is provided, it can prevent that a hose and a flexible rack protrude outside. For example, when washing water is poured into the hose, it is possible to prevent the hose from being violated by the pressure, and the flexible rack from coming off the engaging groove when the washing nozzle moves forward and backward.

1 is an external view of a toilet seat to which a human body local cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is an external view of a human body local cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view of the human body local cleaning device concerning one embodiment of the present invention in the state where one cover member was removed. It is a side view of the human body local cleaning device concerning one embodiment of the present invention, and shows the state where the cleaning nozzle was located in the original position. It is a side view of the human body local cleaning device concerning one embodiment of the present invention, and shows the state where the cleaning nozzle was located in the cleaning position (advance end position). It is sectional drawing (AA sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 3) which showed typically the flexible rack engaged with the engaging groove. It is a side view of the human body local cleaning device concerning a modification, and the state where the cleaning nozzle was located in the original position is shown. It is a side view of the human body local cleaning device concerning a modification, and the state where the cleaning nozzle was located in the cleaning position (advance end position) is shown.

  Hereinafter, a human body local cleaning device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the width direction refers to the direction along the width direction of the cleaning nozzle 20 (X direction shown), and the front-rear direction refers to the direction along the direction in which the cleaning nozzle 20 moves back and forth (Y direction illustrated). In other words, the vertical direction means the direction (Z direction shown in the figure) orthogonal to the width direction and the front-rear direction. The vertical direction may be a direction along the gravitational direction, or may be a direction inclined by a certain angle with respect to the gravitational direction as in the present embodiment.

  The human body local cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a base member 10, a cleaning nozzle 20, a hose 30, a connection unit 40, and a flexible rack 50. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail. Unless otherwise specified, the shape of each member refers to the shape when the cleaning nozzle 20 is located at the original position. As shown in FIG. 1, the human body local cleaning device 1 is provided behind the toilet seat T, and at the time of cleaning, the nozzle advances to clean the user's local area. The base member 10 is a member for supporting these members, and includes a base plate portion 11 attached to the toilet and a support base portion 12 provided on the upper side of the base plate portion 11.

  The cleaning nozzle 20 is a member supported so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the base member 10. The front end side of the cleaning nozzle 20 is accommodated in a nozzle accommodating case 121 formed on the support base 12. In this embodiment, the anus cleaning nozzle and the bidet cleaning nozzle are provided side by side in the width direction. The basic difference between the anal washing nozzle and the bidet washing nozzle is the structure of the washing water jetting and the number of hoses 30 to be connected. The human body local cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described simply as “cleaning nozzle 20” without distinction. When the cleaning nozzle 20 is located at the original position (the state shown in FIGS. 2 to 4), a part of the tip side is accommodated in the nozzle accommodating case 121. At the time of cleaning, the nozzle moves forward through an opening formed at the front end of the nozzle housing case 121 and reaches a cleaning position (state shown in FIG. 5). After reaching the cleaning position, cleaning water is ejected from a cleaning water outlet provided at the upper end of the front end of the cleaning nozzle 20. The cleaning nozzle 20 in the present embodiment is provided so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction and the distal end side being positioned below the proximal end side.

  The hose 30 is a supply pipe for supplying cleaning water to the cleaning nozzle 20 and is formed of a deformable material (for example, a rubber material). One end of the hose 30 is connected to the rear of the cleaning nozzle 20. In this embodiment, two hoses 30 are connected to the anal cleaning nozzle, and one hose 30 is connected to the bidet cleaning nozzle. Two flow paths are formed in the anal cleaning nozzle, and a hose 30 is connected to each of the flow paths. Thereby, the washing | cleaning aspect rich in the change by the anus washing nozzle is realizable.

  In the present embodiment, the two hoses 30 connected to the anal cleaning nozzle are integrated so as to be aligned in the width direction. That is, when it sees as the whole hose 30, it is a flat shape flat in the width direction. From another viewpoint, it can be said that the hose 30 is formed by forming two flow paths arranged in the width direction in a flat rubber material. Although not shown, the hose 30 connected to the bidet cleaning nozzle also has such a flat shape (one channel).

  The other end of the hose 30 is connected to the connection portion 40. The connecting portion 40 is provided below the cleaning nozzle 20. Specifically, the cleaning nozzle 20 in this embodiment is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction so that the distal end side is located below the proximal end side. 20 is provided on the lower side in the gravity direction on the base end side. The connection part 40 in this embodiment is a joint provided in the flow rate adjustment valve. The connection part 40 is a shape which protrudes toward the back side from the main-body part of the flow control valve 41 (refer FIGS. 2-5). In this embodiment, the connection part 40 is located along a horizontal direction. When viewed roughly, the hose 30 is connected to the cleaning nozzle 20 at one end, pulled out straight from the rear of the cleaning nozzle 20 as it is, curved downward so as to make a U-turn at the rear, and headed forward. The other end, which is the end of the portion, is routed so as to be connected to the connecting portion 40 positioned along the horizontal direction. As described above, when the hose 30 is traced from the cleaning nozzle 20 side, the hose 30 extends rearward, U-turns downward, extends forward, and is connected to the connecting portion 40 positioned along the front-rear direction. And is located along a plane (YZ plane) orthogonal to the width direction.

  The flow rate adjusting valve 41 controls whether or not to supply cleaning water to each hose 30 (each cleaning nozzle 20), and adjusts the flow rate when supplying it. The flow rate adjusting valve 41 is connected to a hose (not shown) connected to a water source different from the hose 30 connected to the cleaning nozzle 20.

  The flexible rack 50 constitutes one of the power transmission mechanisms that transmit the power of the drive source to the cleaning nozzle 20. One end side of the flexible rack 50 is fixed to the cleaning nozzle 20. A part of the portion of the flexible rack 50 located on the rear side of the portion fixed to the cleaning nozzle 20 is curved downward. In the present embodiment, an engagement groove 122 that can be engaged with the flexible rack 50 is formed in the support base portion 12 of the base member 10. The engagement groove 122 includes a portion formed in an arc shape having a predetermined curvature. The flexible rack 50 has a plate-like portion 51 formed in a plate shape and a tooth portion 52 protruding therefrom. The width of the tooth portion 52 is smaller than the width of the plate-like portion 51, and there are portions where the tooth portion 52 is not formed on both sides of the flexible rack 50 in the width direction. One side of the portion where the tooth portion 52 is not formed is engaged with the engagement groove 122 (see FIG. 6). That is, the flexible rack 50 is disposed along the engagement groove 122. The curvature of the curved portion of the flexible rack 50 matches the curvature of the portion of the engagement groove 122 formed in the arc shape.

  An output gear 91 is meshed between a portion fixed to the cleaning nozzle 20 and a curved portion in the flexible rack 50. The output gear 91 rotates by receiving power from a motor 92 that is a drive source. Any power transmission mechanism from the motor 92 to the output gear 91 may be used. As will be described later, when the flexible rack 50 is moved by the rotation of the output gear 91, the cleaning nozzle 20 moves forward and backward in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). The shape of the curved portion of the moving flexible rack 50 is maintained by the engagement groove 122.

  A portion of the support base portion 12 of the base member 10 where the engagement groove 122 is formed is a wall portion 123 protruding outward in the width direction. In other words, the recess that is recessed inward in the width direction from the tip of the wall 123 formed in an arc shape is the engagement groove 122. That is, the engagement groove 122 is formed along the wall portion 123. A cylindrical space having a small thickness and having a part opened substantially on the front side is formed inside the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion 123. Specifically, the surface opposite to the surface with which the plate-like portion 51 of the flexible rack 50 contacts is the surface that forms the space. A part of the hose 30 is disposed in this space (hereinafter referred to as a hose accommodating space S). Specifically, the curved portion of the hose 30 is arranged along the wall portion 123. The height of the wall portion 123 is formed larger than the outer diameter of the hose 30. That is, the hose 30 arranged in the hose accommodating space S does not protrude outward in the width direction from the tip of the wall portion 123.

  In this embodiment, the cover member 60 which covers this hose accommodation space S from the width direction outer side is provided. That is, the cover member 60 covers at least a part of the hose 30 including the curved portion from the outside in the width direction. That is, the movement of the hose 30 outward in the width direction is regulated by the cover member 60. As will be described later in the explanation of the operation, when the cleaning nozzle 20 moves forward, the hose 30 is displaced so that the curvature of the curved portion becomes large. The cover member 60 is formed in a shape that can cover at least a part of the hose 30 from the outside in the width direction even when the cleaning nozzle 20 reaches the cleaning position and the curvature of the hose 30 is maximized. Has been.

  The cover member 60 is attached so as to cover the engagement groove 122 formed in the wall portion 123 of the support base portion 12 from the outside in the width direction. That is, since the flexible rack 50 is engaged with the engagement groove 122, the cover member 60 covers at least a part of the flexible rack 50 including a curved portion from the outside in the width direction. That is, like the hose 30, the movement of the flexible rack 50 outward in the width direction is regulated by the cover member 60. As will be described in the description of the operation described later, when the cleaning nozzle 20 moves forward, the flexible rack 50 maintains at least a portion engaged with the engagement groove 122 and one end fixed to the cleaning nozzle 20 is It moves forward with the washing nozzle 20. The cover member 60 has a shape that can cover at least a part of the flexible rack 50 from the outside in the width direction even when the cleaning nozzle 20 reaches the cleaning position and the flexible rack 50 moves from the original position. Is formed.

  The human body local cleaning apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration operates as follows. When the motor 92 is driven in one direction (forward rotation) with the cleaning nozzle 20 in the original position, the power is transmitted to the flexible rack 50 via the output gear 91. The flexible rack 50 moves in a direction in which one end fixed to the cleaning nozzle 20 advances. That is, the cleaning nozzle 20 fixed to the flexible rack 50 moves forward. The other end of the flexible rack 50 moves upward along the arc-shaped portion of the engagement groove 122.

  As the cleaning nozzle 20 advances, the hose 30 connected thereto is pulled. That is, the hose 30 pulled by the advance of the cleaning nozzle 20 is displaced so that the curvature of the curved portion is large (the radius of curvature is small). As the cleaning nozzle 20 moves forward, the curvature of the curved portion of the hose 30 increases, and when the cleaning nozzle 20 reaches the cleaning position (advance end position), the curvature of the curved portion becomes the largest. . Thus, even if the curvature changes, the state along the plane (YZ plane) in which the hose 30 is orthogonal to the width direction is maintained. In this way, the cleaning nozzle 20 reaches the cleaning position. After the cleaning nozzle 20 reaches the cleaning position, the flow rate adjusting valve 41 is operated, and cleaning water is sent to the cleaning nozzle 20 at a predetermined flow rate.

  After completion of cleaning, when the motor 92 is driven (reversely rotated) to the other side, the power is transmitted to the flexible rack 50 via the output gear 91. The flexible rack 50 moves in a direction in which the other end fixed to the cleaning nozzle 20 moves backward. That is, the cleaning nozzle 20 fixed to the flexible rack 50 moves backward. The other end of the flexible rack 50 moves downward along the arc-shaped portion of the engagement groove 122. When the cleaning nozzle 20 moves backward, one end of the hose 30 connected thereto moves rearward. That is, as the cleaning nozzle 20 moves backward, the hose 30 is displaced so as to decrease the curvature of the curved portion (increase the curvature radius). When the cleaning nozzle 20 returns to the original position, the curvature of the curved portion of the hose 30 is the smallest. In this way, the cleaning nozzle 20 returns to the original position.

  According to the human body local cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects are achieved.

  The human body local cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the curvature of the curved portion of the hose 30 changes while maintaining the state along the plane orthogonal to the width direction as the cleaning nozzle 20 advances and retreats. is there. That is, the configuration is such that the displacement of one end of the hose 30 due to the forward and backward movement of the cleaning nozzle 20 is absorbed by the change in the curvature of the hose 30 itself. Therefore, the winding mechanism of the hose 30 as provided in the conventional apparatus is not necessary, leading to cost reduction.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the hose 30 connected to each cleaning nozzle 20 has a flat shape that is flat in the width direction. Therefore, compared with the case where the cylindrical hose 30 is employed, the resistance force (reaction force) when the hose 30 changes the curvature as described above is small. That is, energy (load on the motor 92 that is a driving source) when the cleaning nozzle 20 is moved forward and backward can be suppressed. When it is necessary to construct a plurality of cleaning water supply channels for a certain cleaning nozzle 20 like the anal cleaning nozzle of the present embodiment, the plurality of channels are arranged in the width direction. By doing so, the hose 30 having a flat shape as a whole may be used.

  Further, the human body local cleaning apparatus 1 uses a flexible rack 50 that is partially curved as a member that transmits the power of the drive source to the cleaning nozzle 20, and an engagement groove 122 is provided for maintaining the curvature of the flexible rack 50. The configuration is as follows. The hose 30 is accommodated in the hose accommodating space S inside the wall portion 123 where the engagement groove 122 is formed. Therefore, interference between the hose 30 and the flexible rack 50 can be prevented. Specifically, if the hose 30 that is displaced by the advancing and retreating cleaning nozzle 20 is allowed to have a margin, the hose 30 is somewhat slack when the cleaning nozzle 20 is in its original position. Since 123 is provided, when the hose 30 returns to the original position (when the curvature of the hose 30 becomes the smallest), the hose 30 and the flexible rack 50 located outside thereof do not interfere with each other. . That is, the wall 123 has a configuration in which an engagement groove 122 for smoothly moving the flexible rack 50 together with the cleaning nozzle 20 is formed while maintaining the curvature of the flexible rack 50, and the hose 30 and the flexible rack 50. It can be said that it is the structure which prevents interference.

  The human body local cleaning apparatus 1 is provided with a cover member 60 that covers the hose 30 and the flexible rack 50. Thereby, it can prevent that the hose 30 and the flexible rack 50 protrude outside. That is, since the hose 30 and the flexible rack 50 are pressed from the outside in the width direction by the cover member 60, the hose 30 and the flexible rack 50 are planes (YZ plane) orthogonal to the width direction even when the cleaning nozzle 20 moves forward and backward. The displacement is surely along. For example, when washing water is poured into the hose 30, the hose 30 is violated by the pressure, and the flexible rack 50 is prevented from coming off the engagement groove 122 when the washing nozzle 20 moves forward and backward. be able to.

  Hereinafter, a modified example of the human body local cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention (the human body local cleaning device 1a according to the modified example) will be described. In the following description, only the differences from the human body local cleaning device 1 will be described, and description of the points where the same configuration as the human body local cleaning device 1 can be applied will be omitted.

  The human body local cleaning apparatus 1a according to this modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is different from the human body local cleaning apparatus 1 in the arrangement structure of the flexible rack 50. One end of the flexible rack 50 is fixed to the cleaning nozzle 20. In the flexible rack 50, a part of the portion located on the rear side of the portion fixed to the cleaning nozzle 20 is curved downward, and the other end of the flexible rack 50 is provided with the flexible rack fixing portion provided in the base member 10 as it is. 124 is fixed. The curved portion of the flexible rack 50 has a shape that goes around the outside of the curved portion of the hose 30.

  When the cleaning nozzle 20 located at the original position is advanced, the hose 30 having one end connected to the cleaning nozzle 20 is displaced so as to increase the curvature of the curved portion. Similarly, the flexible rack 50 having one end connected to the cleaning nozzle 20 is also displaced so as to increase the curvature of the curved portion (displaced from the state shown in FIG. 7 to the state shown in FIG. 8). When the cleaning nozzle 20 located at the cleaning position is retracted, the hose 30 is displaced so as to reduce the curvature of the curved portion. Similarly, one flexible rack 50 is displaced so as to reduce the curvature of the curved portion (displaced from the state shown in FIG. 8 to the state shown in FIG. 7).

  Thus, when the cleaning nozzle 20 is moved forward and backward, the curved portion of the flexible rack 50 is displaced together with the curved portion of the hose 30. Thereby, together with the cleaning nozzle 20 that moves forward and backward, one end of the hose 30 and one end of the flexible rack 50 connected to it move forward and backward.

  The human body local cleaning apparatus 1a according to the present modification has a configuration in which the curvature of the curved portion of the flexible rack 50 changes when the cleaning nozzle 20 moves forward / backward, that is, one end of the flexible rack 50 accompanying the forward / backward movement of the cleaning nozzle 20. This displacement is absorbed by a change in the curvature of the flexible rack 50 itself. Therefore, a configuration for maintaining the curved portion of the flexible rack 50 at a constant curvature is not necessary. In addition, when the cleaning nozzle 20 moves back and forth, the flexible rack 50 is not configured to slide while being guided by another member. Therefore, friction (sliding) resistance is not generated between the flexible rack 50 and other members. Absent. That is, it is possible to reduce energy loss (load on the motor 92 that is a drive source) due to such frictional resistance.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment at all, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a Human body local washing | cleaning apparatus 10 Base member 122 Engaging groove 123 Wall part S Hose accommodation space 20 Cleaning nozzle 30 Hose 40 Connection part 50 Flexible rack 60 Cover member 124 Flexible rack fixing | fixed part

Claims (3)

A cleaning nozzle supported so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the base member;
A connection that is a part capable of supplying water from a water source;
One end is connected to the cleaning nozzle and the other end is connected to the connecting portion, and at least a part between the one end and the other end is in a curved state,
A rack that meshes with a gear that is rotated by a drive source, one end of which is fixed to the cleaning nozzle, and at least a portion of a portion located on the rear side of the portion fixed to the cleaning nozzle is curved; ,
With
The base member is formed with an engaging groove for engaging a curved portion of the flexible rack,
When the drive source is driven and the cleaning nozzle is moved forward and backward, the hose is maintained in a state along a plane perpendicular to the width direction while changing the curvature of the curved portion, and the flexible rack The human body local cleaning apparatus is configured such that one end of the hose connected to the cleaning nozzle and one end of the flexible rack move forward and backward while sliding in the engagement groove . The engagement groove is formed along a wall portion formed in the base member,
The apparatus for cleaning a human body part according to claim 1 , wherein the hose is arranged in a hose housing space inside the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion. The human body local cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a cover member that covers the engagement groove and the hose accommodating space is fixed to the base member.

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