JP7529342B2 - Movable bathtub bathroom - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bathroom with a movable bathtub, and in particular to a bathroom with a movable bathtub that is suitable for use by people who require assistance.

Bathrooms for people requiring assistance in homes or care facilities are known in which the position of the bathtub can be changed to suit the physical function and manner of assistance of the person (see Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example).
In Patent Document 1, wheels are attached to the four corners of the bottom of the bathtub via leaf springs. The bathtub can be moved by rolling the wheels while being lifted by the spring force of the leaf springs. When the bathtub is filled with hot water, the bathtub lands on the bathroom floor against the spring force and is fixed in place.

In Patent Document 2, a slide rail is provided on the bathroom floor. Legs are provided on the bottom of the bathtub, and the legs are placed on the slide rail. This allows the bathtub to move along the slide rail. A back hanger is provided on the wall at the back of the bathroom, and the back frame of the bathtub is engaged with the back hanger. This prevents the bathtub from tilting forward (towards the washing area).

Utility Model Registration No. 2551207 Patent No. 5252646

The bathtub with wheels in Patent Document 1 is difficult to move in a straight line along the wall of the bathroom. In addition, hair and other debris easily get tangled in the wheels, and the wheels near the back wall of the bathroom are particularly difficult to clean and may malfunction.
In the bathroom of Patent Document 2, when moving the bathtub, in addition to the frictional resistance between the bathtub and the slide rail, frictional resistance also occurs between the rear frame and the back hanger, so a force that overcomes these frictional resistances is required to move the bathtub. Also, cleaning around the slide rail is required.
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to reduce the effort required for cleaning around a movable bathtub in a bathroom where the bathtub is movable, and to reduce frictional resistance when the bathtub is moved.

In order to solve the above problems, the bathroom with a movable bathtub according to the present invention is as follows:
A movable bathtub that can be moved in the width direction of the bathroom;
A support column supporting the front side of the movable bathtub;
A back hanger is provided on the back wall of the bathroom and supports the back frame of the movable bathtub so that it can move in the width direction;
The rear frame portion is provided with a sliding rail made of a low friction material extending in the width direction,
The back hanger is characterized in that it has a sliding guide made of a low-friction material that engages with the sliding rail so as to allow relative movement of the sliding rail in the width direction while restricting relative movement in the depth direction perpendicular to the width direction.

A bathroom with this movable bathtub does not require wheels at the back, nor is it necessary to have a slide rail to support the bottom of the bathtub. This reduces the effort required to clean around the movable bathtub. In addition, the sliding rails and sliding guides made of low-friction material reduce frictional resistance when the movable bathtub is moved, allowing it to be moved with little force.

The bag hanger includes a wall fixing member fixed to the rear wall, and a guide member held on the wall fixing member so as to be liftable and lowerable, and the sliding guide is provided on the guide member,
It is preferable that the device further includes a levitation spring for applying an upward spring force to the guide member.
The load of the movable bathtub is transferred to the back wall of the bathroom via the wall fixing member.
The upward spring force of the levitation spring raises the guide member, thereby lifting the movable bathtub off the bathroom floor.
By interposing a guide member between the levitation spring and the movable bathtub, the levitation spring can be prevented from directly hitting the movable bathtub.

It is preferable that the levitation spring is a compression coil spring provided between the wall fixing member and the guide member. This allows the storage space for the levitation spring in the back hanger to be compact, and also allows a large upward force to be applied to the movable bathtub.

A click protrusion is provided on one of the guide member and the slide rail,
It is preferable that the other of the guide member and the sliding rail is formed with a click hole into which the click protrusion can be removably fitted when the movable bathtub is in a predetermined position.
The click sensation produced by the engagement of the click protrusion with the click hole allows the user to sense that the movable bathtub has reached a predetermined position in the width direction of the bathroom.

the wall fixing member is tubular and has an open upper end, the levitation spring and the guide member are housed inside the wall fixing member, the upper end of the guide member protrudes from the wall fixing member, and a cover portion that covers the upper end of the wall fixing member is provided on a side portion of the upper end of the guide member facing the rear wall,
It is preferable that the wall fixing member has a pair of protruding fixing portions that protrude toward the rear wall and are fixed to the rear wall, spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and a drainage gap that allows water to pass through in the vertical direction is formed between the pair of protruding fixing portions, and the cover portion faces the drainage gap.
This prevents water from entering the inside of the wall fixing member from above the back hanger and wetting the lift spring, thereby suppressing corrosion of the lift spring. Also, water that gets on the top of the back hanger can be drained downward through the drainage gap.

It is preferable that the slide guide has a rear side restriction portion that prevents the slide rail from being displaced toward the rear side wall.
This reliably prevents the rear frame from hitting the rear wall of the bathroom.

A cam mechanism is provided on the front side of the movable bathtub, and the cam mechanism includes a cam that is provided on the bathtub body or the support pillar of the movable bathtub so as to be displaceable between a normal position and an operating position, a cam receiving portion that is provided on the support pillar or the bathtub body and engaged with the cam so as to rise and fall relative to the cam, and an operating portion that displaces the cam,
When the cam is in the normal position, the bathtub body is landed on the bathroom floor,
It is preferable that when the cam is in the operating position, the relative lifting and lowering causes the bathtub body to rise above the bathroom floor.
In normal times, the cam is left in its normal position, so that the cam and the cam receiver are at their normal relative heights. This allows the movable bathtub to land on the bathroom floor and remain stable and motionless, without causing any disruption to bathing.
When the bathtub is to be moved, the cam is set to the operating position by the operating part. The cam and the cam receiver then move up and down relative to each other through the cam action, causing the bathtub to rise above the bathroom floor. This allows the bathtub to be moved easily across the width of the bathroom with little force.
After the movable bathtub has been moved to the desired position, the cam is returned to its normal position by the operating part, whereby the cam and the cam receiver return to their normal relative heights through the mutual cam action, and the movable bathtub is lowered and lands on the bathroom floor.

This invention reduces the effort required to clean around the movable bathtub. It also reduces frictional resistance when the movable bathtub moves.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bathroom with a movable bathtub according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2(a) is a perspective view of the bathroom with movable bathtub in the center of the width direction. Fig. 2(b) is a perspective view of the bathroom with movable bathtub in the left side of the width direction. Fig. 2(c) is a perspective view of the bathroom with movable bathtub in the right side of the width direction. FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of the bathtub seen from the front. FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view of the bathtub seen from the rear side. FIG. 4(a) is a side cross-sectional view of the bathroom with movable bathtub when the bathtub is floating above the bathroom floor. FIG. 4(b) is a side cross-sectional view of the movable bathtub bathroom in a state where the bathtub is placed on the bathroom floor. FIG. 5(a) is a side cross-sectional view showing the front part of the bathtub floating above the bathroom floor, taken along line VV in FIG. 3(a). FIG. 5(b) is a side cross-sectional view showing the front part of the bathtub when it has landed on the bathroom floor, taken along line VV in FIG. 3(a). FIG. 6(a) is a plan cross-sectional view of the front part of the bathtub taken along the line VIa-VIa in FIG. 3(a). FIG. 6(b) is a plan cross-sectional view of the front part of the bathtub taken along line VIb-VIb in FIG. 3(a). FIG. 7(a) is a side cross-sectional view showing the front part of the bathtub floating above the bathroom floor, taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3(a). FIG. 7(b) is a side cross-sectional view showing the front part of the bathtub when it is placed on the bathroom floor, taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3(a). FIG. 8(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the circular portion VIIIa in FIG. 4(a), showing the rear portion of the bathtub when it is floating above the bathroom floor. FIG. 8(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the circular portion VIIIb in FIG. 4(b), showing the rear part of the bathtub when it has landed on the bathroom floor. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bag hanger and the sliding rail shown in FIG. 4B as viewed from the front and below of the bathroom. FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the bag hanger as viewed from the rear of the bathroom. FIG. 10(b) is an exploded perspective view of the bag hanger as viewed from the rear of the bathroom. FIG. 11 is a plan cross-sectional view showing the bag hanger shown in FIG. 4(b) along line XI-XI in the same figure. FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the rear part of the bathtub when the bathtub is moving. FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a bathroom showing a bathtub according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a landing position. FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view showing the bathtub of the second embodiment in the raised position. 15(a) is a side cross-sectional view of the front and lower part of the bathtub in the landing position of the second embodiment, and FIG 15(b) is a side cross-sectional view of the front and lower part of the bathtub in the floating position of the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 12)
As shown in Figure 1, the bathroom with movable bathtub 1 includes a washing area 2 and a movable bathtub 3. The washing area 2 is located at the front (bottom in Figure 1) in the depth direction perpendicular to the width direction of the bathroom 1, and the movable bathtub 3 is located at the back (top in Figure 1). A waterproof washing area pan 2a is provided in the washing area 2. A waterproof bathtub pan 4 is provided below the bathtub 3. A number of (four in this case) rectangular boards 5a are laid out on the bathtub pan 4, lined up in the width direction. The movable bathtub 3 is placed on a laying body 5 including these boards 5a.
The bathroom floor 6 is formed by the washing area pan 2a and the laying body 5 on the bathtub pan 4.
The laying body 5 constitutes the floor portion on the bathtub side of the bathroom floor 6.

As shown in Figure 1, the width of the movable bathtub 3 is smaller than the width of the bathtub pan 4. As shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(c), the movable bathtub 3 can be moved (position changed) in the width direction of the bathroom 1 by following the rear wall 7 (Figure 4(a)).

As shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), the bathtub 3 includes a bathtub body (bathtub) 10 and an apron 11. A frame 12 is provided around the entire periphery of the upper end of the bathtub body 10. As shown in Figures 1 and 4(a), legs 17 are provided at the bottom of the bathtub body 10. The legs 17 are arranged, for example, on both sides in the width direction of the bathtub body 10 and extend in the depth direction.

The bathtub 3 is raised and lowered by the balance between the levitation force of the levitation means, including the levitation spring described below, and the downward load applied to the bathtub 3. When the levitation force prevails, the bathtub 3 is raised from the bathroom floor 6 (Figure 4(a)). When the downward load prevails and the bathtub 3 is lowered, the legs 17 land on the bathtub pan (Figure 4(b)).

As shown in FIG. 4(a), the movable bathtub 3 is further provided with support structures for supporting the front and rear sides in the depth direction.
The front support structure is constructed as follows.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of support columns 20 are provided at the left and right corners of the front part of the movable bathtub 3. The front part of the bathtub 3 is supported by the support columns 20. As shown in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b), the support column 20 is a telescopic support column that can be extended and retracted up and down. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the support column 20 has an upper column portion 21 and a lower column portion 22. As shown in FIG. 6(a), each column portion 21, 22 has a square tube shape with a square cross section, but is not limited to this and may be cylindrical or the like. As shown in FIG. 5(a) and FIG. 5(b), the upper end portion of the lower column portion 22 is inserted into the lower end portion of the upper column portion 21. The support column 20 is extended and retracted up and down by displacing these columns 21, 22 relative to each other up and down.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), the upper end of the upper column 21 is connected to the bathtub body 10 by a connecting means 23 including a bolt 23b. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the lower end of the upper column 21 is connected to the apron 11 via a support bracket 24. Therefore, the upper column 21 is fixed to the bathtub body 10 directly or via the apron 11.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), a front levitation spring 25 is provided between the upper column 21 and the lower column 22 as a levitation means. The levitation spring 25 is composed of a compression coil spring. The lower end of the levitation spring 25 is housed in the spring housing tube 22b at the upper end of the lower column 22 and abuts against the bottom (spring support) of the spring housing tube 22b. The upper end of the levitation spring 25 abuts against the spring support 21b provided on the upper column 21.

The levitation spring 25 exerts a spring force on the upper column 21 and the lower column 22 to separate them from each other. As a result, the levitation spring 25 exerts an upward spring force (levitation force) on the bathtub 3 via the upper column 21.

As shown in FIG. 5(b), the support 20 is provided with an extension restriction portion 26. The extension restriction portion 26 includes a pin 26a provided on the upper support portion 21 and a pin hole 26b formed in the lower support portion 22. The pin hole 26b is a long hole extending vertically. The pin 26a is inserted into the pin hole 26b. As the upper support portion 21 rises and falls relative to the lower support portion 22, the pin 26a is displaced vertically within the pin hole 26b. As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the support 20 extends due to the rise of the upper support portion 21, the pin 26a hits the upper end of the pin hole 26b. This restricts the maximum length (maximum extension amount) of the support 20.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), a wheel unit 30 is provided at the lower end of each support 20. The wheel unit 30 includes a wheel 31 and a wheel holder 32. The axle 33 of the wheel 31 faces the depth direction of the bathroom 1. The wheel holder 32 is formed in a U-shape and straddles the wheel 31 in the depth direction. The axle 33 is suspended between a pair of vertical plates of the wheel holder 32.

As shown in Fig. 6(b), the wheel holder 32 of the wheel unit 30 is fixed to the front part (upper part in the figure) of the lower column part 22. Therefore, the wheel 31 is arranged shifted forward from the central axis (center of gravity of the cross section) of the support 20. As a result, as shown in Fig. 5(a), the wheel 31 is in contact with the washing area pan 2a, not with the floor part on the bathtub side of the bathroom floor 6. In other words, the direct lower part of the support 20 on the board 5a constituting the floor part on the bathtub side is a steeply inclined surface 5c that descends from the washing area side toward the back side, and the wheel 31 is arranged on the relatively flat washing area pan 2a, avoiding the steeply inclined surface 5c.
The wheels 31 are interposed between the lower ends of the pillars 20 and the bathroom floor 6, thereby forming a front friction reduction means for reducing friction between the pillars 20 and the bathroom floor 6.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the wheel unit 30 is covered by a wheel cover 35. The wheel cover 35 is formed in a roughly C-shape in a plan view, and covers the front and sides (both sides in the width direction) of the wheel 31. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the wheel cover 35 is removably fixed to the wheel holder 32 and the lower column portion 22 by bolting, claw engagement, etc.

Furthermore, the wheel unit 30 and the wheel cover 35 are stored in the apron 11 in the following manner.
As shown in Fig. 3(a), the apron 11 has an apron body 11a and an apron hem 11b. As shown in Fig. 4(a), the apron body 11a covers the front (the surface facing the washing area 2) and both sides of the bathtub body 10. The apron hem 11b is connected to the lower end of the apron body 11a via a horizontal step 11d. The apron hem 11b hangs down vertically from the step 11d. As shown in Fig. 3(a), the front apron hem 11b is recessed further back than the front apron body 11a and extends in the width direction of the bathroom 1. As shown in Figures 3(a) and 6(a), the front apron hem 11b does not reach both ends of the front apron body 11a in the width direction, and a cutout 11c is formed by the width direction ends of the apron hem 11b and the lower end of the apron body 11a. The wheel unit 30 and the wheel cover 35 are arranged in the cutout 11c.

As shown in FIG. 6(b), in plan view, the wheel cover 35 is flush with the apron body 11a or is slightly recessed from the apron body 11a toward the back of the bathroom (lower in the figure). The wheels 31 are recessed from the apron body 11a toward the back of the bathroom, and are located between the apron body 11a and the apron hem 11b in plan view.

As shown in FIG. 7(a), a cushioning member 40 is provided at the lower end of the apron hem 11b and therefore at the lower end of the apron 11. The cushioning member 40 includes a hard fixing portion 41 and a soft cushioning portion 42. The hard fixing portion 41 is a hard resin molded product, and is fixed to the lower end of the apron hem 11b by gluing or the like. The soft cushioning portion 42 is provided below the hard fixing portion 41. The soft cushioning portion 42 is a soft resin molded product. The soft cushioning portion 42 is detachably joined to the hard fixing portion 41 by a concave-convex fit. The hard fixing portion 41 and the soft cushioning portion 42 are formed with a fitting recess 41a and a fitting protrusion 42a for the concave-convex fit, as well as a fitting claw 41b and a claw fitting groove 42b.

As shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b), the cushioning member 40 moves upward and lands on the bathroom floor 6 as the bathtub 3 rises and falls, as described below. As shown in Figure 7(a), the cushioning gap 45 between the cushioning member 40 and the bathroom floor 6 when they are farthest apart is set to 7 mm or less. In other words, the height H45 from the bathroom floor 6 to the bottom end of the cushioning member 40 when the support pillar 20 is at its maximum length is H45 ≦ 7 mm.

The rear portion of the movable bathtub 3 is supported as follows.
As shown in Fig. 8(a), a sliding rail 60 is provided at the rear side of the bathtub 3. The sliding rail 60 is formed with a constant cross section of a roughly rectangular shape, and extends linearly in the width direction of the bathroom 1. The sliding rail 60 is made of a low-friction material. Examples of low-friction materials include polyacetal (POM), fluorine-based resin, and highly slidable polyethylene.

As shown in Figures 8(b) and 9, multiple grooves 61 are formed in a row on the bottom and front side of the sliding rail 60. This forms sliding ridges 62 between adjacent grooves 61. Each groove 61 and sliding ridge 62 extends straight in the longitudinal direction of the sliding rail 60 (the width direction of the bathroom).

As shown in Figures 8(b) and 9, a locking recess 63 is formed at the corner between the bottom surface and the rear side surface of the sliding rail 60. A number of click holes 64 are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the sliding rail 60 (width direction of the bathroom) on the bottom surface of the sliding rail 60.

As shown in Fig. 8(a), the sliding rail 60 is fixed to the upper plate 12a of the rear frame 12R of the bathtub body 10. A female-threaded bush 13 and a rib 14 hang down from the upper plate 12a. The sliding rail 60 is abutted against the lower end surface of the bush 13, and is fixed to the bush 13 by a rail fixing bolt 15.
The rib 14 is disposed so as to be adjacent to the rear side surface of the slide rail 60. The rib 14 may be in contact with the slide rail 60.
The back side hanging plate 12b of the frame portion 12R abuts against the back side surface of the sliding rail 60.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3(b), one or more back hangers 50 are provided on the rear wall 7 of the bathroom 1. In the figure, two back hangers 50 are provided at a distance from each other in the width direction of the bathroom. Preferably, the back hanger 50 is positioned toward the center of the width direction of the rear wall 7. The back hanger 50 supports the rear frame portion 12R of the bathtub body 10 so that it can move in the width direction.

10B, the bag hanger 50 includes a wall fixing member 51 and a guide member 52. The wall fixing member 51 is a molded product of hard resin. In order to ensure strength, it is preferable to use POM, glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, or the like as the material for the wall fixing member 51.
The material of the wall fixing member 51 is not limited to resin, and may be metal.

As shown in Figures 10(b) and 11, the wall fixing member 51 is formed in a generally rectangular tube shape with an open upper end. As shown in Figure 8(a), a stopper 53 consisting of a screw is provided on the front wall portion 51a of the wall fixing member 51 facing the front of the bathroom. A retaining wall 51h is formed at the upper end of the front wall portion 51a so as to protrude upward.

As shown in FIG. 11, a pair of protruding fixing portions 51d are formed on both widthwise sides of the rear wall portion 51b of the wall fixing member 51 that faces the rear of the bathroom. The pair of protruding fixing portions 51d are spaced apart from each other in the bathroom width direction and protrude from the rear wall portion 51b toward the bathroom rear wall 7. Although detailed illustration is omitted, each protruding fixing portion 51d is bolted to the rear wall 7. This fixes the wall fixing member 51 to the rear wall 7.

As shown in FIG. 11, a drainage gap 50d is formed between the pair of protruding fixing parts 51d, the rear wall part 51b, and the bathroom rear wall 7. As shown in FIG. 8(a), the drainage gap 50d opens up and down.

As shown in FIG. 10A, a guide member 52 is held by a wall fixing member 51 so as to be movable up and down.
The guide member 52 is a molded product of hard resin. To improve sliding, low-friction materials such as POM, fluororesin, and high-sliding polyethylene are used as the material for the guide member 52. The low-friction material constituting the guide member 52 may be the same as or different from the low-friction material constituting the slide rail 60. The guide member 52 is not limited to being made of resin, and may be made of metal.

As shown in FIG. 10(b), the guide member 52 has an inner cylinder 52a and a sliding guide 54. The inner cylinder 52a is formed in a generally rectangular cylinder shape with an open bottom end. The inner cylinder 52a is housed in the wall fixing member 51 so that it can be raised and lowered. As shown in FIG. 8(b), a restricting protrusion 52s is formed on the front surface of the inner cylinder 52a. As shown in FIG. 8(a), when the guide member 52 is raised, the restricting protrusion 52s eventually hits the stopper 53. This restricts the height to which the guide member 52 can be raised, and it cannot be raised any further.

As shown in FIG. 10(a), the upper part of the inner cylinder 52a protrudes from the wall fixing member 51, and a sliding guide 54 is integrally formed therewith. As shown in FIG. 10(b), the sliding guide 54 includes an upper cover 54a, a locking wall 54b, and a rear regulating portion 54d. As shown in FIG. 8(a), the upper cover 54a covers the upper end of the inner cylinder 52a.

8(a) and 10(b), the upper surface of the upper cover portion 54a is formed with a low click protrusion 57. The click protrusion 57 is formed in a partial spherical shape that rises toward the center.
The click protrusion 57 may be molded integrally with the guide member 52, or may be molded separately from the guide member 52 and then fixed to the upper cover portion 54a by adhesion or the like.

As shown in FIG. 8(a), a locking wall 54b is formed on the front side of the upper cover 54a of the guide member 52 so as to protrude upward. The locking wall 54b protrudes upward further than the retaining wall 51h. A convex rear regulating portion 54d is formed on the side of the upper cover 54a of the guide member 52 facing the rear wall 7 so as to protrude upward. The rear regulating portion 54d is lower than the locking wall 54b.

As shown in FIG. 8(a), the cover portion 56 is integrally connected to the rear regulating portion 54d. The cover portion 56 is formed in a fin or tongue shape and extends downward from the upper end of the rear regulating portion 54d and thus the guide member 52 along the rear side surface of the guide member 52. The cover portion 56 is inclined so as to approach the rear wall 7 as it extends downward. The cover portion 56 covers the upper end of the rear wall portion 51b and faces the water drainage gap 50d. Specifically, the lower end of the cover portion 56 fits into the water drainage gap 50d.

As shown in Fig. 8(a), a rear side levitation spring 55 is provided between the wall fixing member 51 and the guide member 52 as a levitation means. The levitation spring 55 is formed of a compression coil spring. The levitation spring 55 is housed inside the inner cylinder portion 52a, and is housed inside the wall fixing member 51 together with the inner cylinder portion 52a. The lower end of the levitation spring 55 abuts against the upper surface of the bottom plate of the wall fixing member 51. The upper end of the levitation spring 55 abuts against the lower surface of the upper cover portion 54a of the guide member 52.
The levitation spring 55 applies an upward spring force (levitation force) to the guide member 52 and therefore to the bathtub 3.

As shown in Figures 8(a) and 9, the sliding rail 60 is placed on the sliding guide portion 54 of the guide member 52. The sliding protrusion 62 on the bottom surface of the sliding rail 60 is in sliding contact with the upper cover portion 54a. The front side surface of the sliding rail 60 faces the locking wall 54b. The sliding protrusion 62 on the front side surface is close to or in contact with the locking wall 54b. The locking wall 54b restricts the sliding rail 60 and therefore the bathtub 3 from being displaced forward in the depth direction. The rear side restricting portion 54d is fitted into the locking recess 63 so as to be able to slide in the width direction of the bathroom. The rear side restricting portion 54d restricts the sliding rail 60 and therefore the bathtub 3 from being displaced toward the rear wall 7. This allows the sliding guide 54 to slide (relative movement) in the width direction of the sliding rail 60, while engaging with the sliding rail 60 in a manner that restricts relative movement in the depth direction.

In other words, the sliding rail 60 is engaged with the sliding guide portion 54 so as to be slidable in the width direction of the bathroom. In turn, the guide member 52 guides the rear frame portion 12R so as to be movable in the width direction of the bathroom. The sliding rail 60 is interposed between the rear frame portion 12R and the back hanger 50, thereby forming a rear friction reduction means that reduces friction between the rear frame portion 12R and the back hanger 50.

As shown in FIG. 8(a), when the sliding rail 60 and thus the bathtub 3 are in a predetermined position in the width direction of the bathroom, the click protrusions 57 fit into predetermined click holes 64. For example, the positions of the multiple click holes 64 in the sliding rail 60 are set so that when the bathtub 3 is positioned at the center (FIG. 2(a)), left end (FIG. 2(b)), or right end (FIG. 2(c)) in the width direction of the bathroom 1, the corresponding click holes 64 fit in alignment with the click protrusions 57. By applying a moving force in the width direction to the sliding rail 60, the click protrusions 57 can come out of the click holes 64.

The movable bathtub 3 having such a structure is used by being placed at an appropriate position in the width direction of the bathroom depending on the physical function of the person requiring assistance, etc. The position of the movable bathtub 3 is changed as follows.
If there is hot or cold water in the bathtub body 10, first drain it. This reduces the load on the bathtub 3. As shown in Figure 4(a), when the load is less than a predetermined value, the upper column portion 41 of the support 20 is pushed up by the spring force of the front lift spring 25. At the same time, the guide member 52 of the back hanger 50 is pushed up by the spring force of the rear lift spring 55. As a result, the legs 17 are lifted up from the bathroom floor 6, and the bathtub body 10 floats. Therefore, there is no static friction resistance between the bathtub body 10 and the bathroom floor 6.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the cushioning member 40 moves upward from the bathroom floor 6, and the soft cushioning portion 42 elastically returns to its original cross-sectional shape. A cushioning gap 45 is formed between the soft cushioning portion 42 and the bathroom floor 6. Since the cushioning gap 45 is at most 7 mm or less, the toes cannot be inserted into the cushioning gap 45, and it is possible to prevent the toes from being pinched between the cushioning member 40 and the bathroom floor 6. Even if the toes are pinched, the elasticity of the soft cushioning portion 42 prevents injury to the toes.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), the pin 26a eventually hits the upper edge of the pin hole 26b. This restricts the extension of the support 40. At almost the same time, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the restricting protrusion 52s hits the stopper 53. This restricts the rise of the guide member 52 of the back hanger 50. As a result, the rise of the bathtub 3 is restricted.

Next, as shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(c), the bathtub 3 is pushed along the width direction of the bathroom 1 toward the desired position. Because the bathtub body 10 floats above the bathroom floor 6 and no frictional resistance occurs between the two, the bathtub 3 can be moved with a light force.

As shown in Figure 5(a), when the bathtub 3 is moved, the wheels 31 roll on the bathroom floor 6 at the front side of the bathtub 3. Therefore, the friction between the support pillars 20 and the bathroom floor 6 can be significantly reduced, making it easier to move the bathtub 3.
By positioning the wheels 31 offset forward of the support 20, the wheels 31 can roll smoothly on the relatively flat washing area pan 2a rather than on the steeply inclined surface 5c on the bathtub side of the bathroom floor 6.
Since the cushioning member 40 is spaced upward from the bathroom floor 6, it does not create frictional resistance (Figure 7(a)).
Since the apron hem 11b is recessed further inward than the apron body 11a, a place for stepping on can be secured when moving around in the bathtub.

12, at the rear side of the bathtub 3, when the bathtub 3 starts to move, the click protrusion 57 comes out of the click hole 64. By forming the click protrusion 57 into a low partial sphere, it is possible to make it easier for the click protrusion 57 to come out of the click hole 64.
Furthermore, the sliding rail 60 slides on the guide member 52 of the back hanger 50. The sliding rail 60 is made of a low-friction material such as POM, fluororesin, or highly slidable polyethylene, and therefore the frictional resistance between the sliding rail 60 and the guide member 52 can be reduced. The guide member 52 is also made of a low-friction material such as POM, fluororesin, or highly slidable polyethylene, and therefore the frictional resistance between the sliding rail 60 and the guide member 52 can be further reduced.
In addition, a concave groove 61 is formed in the sliding rail 60, and since mainly the sliding protrusion 62 comes into contact with the guide member 52, the contact area between the sliding rail 50 and the guide member 52 can be reduced, and frictional resistance can be further reduced.

12, as the slide rail 60 moves, the click hole 64 is displaced from the click protrusion 57, so that the bottom surface of the slide rail 60 is separated from the upper cover portion 54a by the height of the click protrusion 57 and comes into contact only with the top of the click protrusion 57. This makes it possible to further reduce the frictional resistance between the slide rail 60 and the guide member 52.
As a result, the bathtub 3 can be moved in the width direction more easily with less force.

The rear frame 12R of the bathtub 3 is engaged with the back hanger 50 via the sliding rail 60, so that the bathtub 3 can be moved straight in the width direction of the bathroom while maintaining a certain distance from the rear wall 7. During the movement, the bathtub 3 can be prevented from moving away from the rear wall 7 or hitting the rear wall 7.
By positioning the back hanger 50 toward the center in the width direction of the rear wall 7, the back hanger 50 can always be engaged with the rear frame portion 12R regardless of the position of the bathtub 3.

When the bathtub 3 is moved to a predetermined position 1 in the width direction of the bathroom, the first click hole 64 in the sliding rail 60 coincides with the click protrusion 57, and the click protrusion 57 fits into the click hole 64. At this time, a clicking sensation occurs, allowing the user to sense that the bathtub 3 has reached the predetermined position.
In this way, the bathtub 3 can be positioned in the width direction of the bathroom according to the user, such as a person requiring assistance.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), when hot water is poured into the bathtub body 10, the weight of the hot water is added to the weight of the bathtub 3 itself, causing the levitation springs 25, 55 to contract, and the bathtub body 3 to descend.
When the total load of the bathtub 3 and the hot and cold water, i.e., the downward load applied to the bathtub 3, reaches a predetermined value or more, the bathtub body 10 lands on the bathroom floor 6. Specifically, the legs 17 come into contact with the base 5. This allows the bathroom floor 6 to bear the load of the bathtub 3, and prevents excessive force from being applied to the frame 12 and back hanger 50, and ultimately to the rear wall 7. The bathtub 3 can then be used in a stable state.

As shown in Figure 7 (b), the cushioning member 40 comes into contact with the bathroom floor 6 in parallel with the tub body 10 landing. Furthermore, the soft cushioning portion 42 is compressed between the hard fixing portion 41 and the bathroom floor 6, and is elastically deformed so as to be crushed vertically. Therefore, the soft cushioning portion 42 is in close contact with the bathroom floor 6. This makes it possible to seal the gap between the apron 11 and the bathroom floor 6. By interposing the cushioning member 40 between the apron 11 and the bathroom floor 6, damage to the apron 11 and the bathroom floor 6 can be prevented.
Since the soft buffer portion 42 is detachable from the hard fixed portion 41, when the soft buffer portion 42 becomes dirty or deteriorated, it can be removed and replaced with a new one.

As can be seen from Figure 8 (a), when a force is applied to push or tilt the bathtub 3 toward the rear, the vertical surface 63v of the locking recess 63 abuts against the rear regulating portion 54d of the back hanger 50. This prevents the bathtub 3 from being displaced toward the rear. This prevents the rear frame portion 12R from hitting or rubbing against the rear wall 7, and prevents damage to the bathtub 3 and the rear wall 7.
When a force is applied to the bathtub 3 to pull it toward the front or tilt it toward the front, the front side of the sliding rail 60 hits the locking wall 54b of the back hanger 50, thereby preventing the bathtub 3 from being displaced toward the front. Furthermore, by arranging the retaining wall 51h in front of the locking wall 54b, the bathtub 3 can be reliably prevented from being displaced toward the front.
This allows the back hanger 50 to have both the function of sliding the bathtub 3 in the width direction and the function of restricting the bathtub 3 in the depth direction. By providing two functions in one member, the structure can be simplified.

By providing the levitation spring 55 (levitation spring) to the back hanger 50, the reaction force of the push-up force can be applied to the rear wall 7. In other words, there is no need to apply the reaction force of the push-up force to the rear part of the bathroom floor 6. Therefore, there is no need to provide a reaction force receiving portion for the push-up force to the rear part of the bathroom floor 6.
The hanging plate 12b of the rear frame portion 12R is attached to the rear side surface of the sliding rail 60, thereby preventing the sliding rail 60 from moving toward the rear side relative to the bathtub body 10. In addition, the rib 14 is disposed close to the front of the sliding rail 60, thereby restricting the sliding rail 60 from moving forward relative to the bathtub body 10. As a result, the load on the female-threaded bush 13 and the bolt 15 can be reduced.

With the movable bathtub 3, wheels 31 only need to be provided on the front side, and no wheels are required on the rear side. In addition, the bathroom floor 7 does not need a slide rail to support the bottom of the bathtub body 10. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the rear part of the bathroom floor 6 does not need a reaction force receiving part for the upward force. Therefore, the effort of cleaning around the movable bathtub 3 is reduced. By lifting the bathtub body 10 off the bathroom floor 6, the part between the bottom of the bathtub body 10 and the bathroom floor 6 can also be washed. In particular, cleaning of the rear part between the bottom of the bathtub body 10 and the bathroom floor 6 can be made easier.
The laying body 5 and thus a part of the bathtub pan 4 are exposed to the outside in the width direction of the bathtub 3, so that they can be easily cleaned. When the bathtub 3 is moved in the width direction, the newly exposed parts of the laying body 5 and the bathtub pan 4 can be easily cleaned.
The area around the front wheels 31 is easier to clean than the area at the back. This prevents the wheels 31 from rolling smoothly, allowing the bathtub 3 to be moved smoothly.

The front lift spring 25 is housed inside the support 20, so there is no risk of it getting wet when cleaning or bathing. This prevents the lift spring 25 from corroding or deteriorating, which can cause a loss of its lift function.

The rear floating spring 55 is housed in the back hanger 50, which prevents it from getting wet with water during cleaning or bathing. Even if water splashes on the back hanger 50, the cover part 56 covers the upper end of the rear wall part 51b, preventing the water from entering the inside of the wall fixing member 51. Furthermore, water splashed on the back hanger 50 can be guided along the cover part 56 to the water drainage gap 50d and drained below the water drainage gap 50d. This reliably prevents the floating spring 55 from getting wet with water during cleaning or bathing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the deterioration of the lifting function due to corrosion and deterioration of the floating spring 55. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent water from splashing on the sliding rail 60, and the sliding function can be maintained.

Second embodiment (FIGS. 13 to 15)
As shown in Fig. 13, in the second embodiment, a support 80 at the front of the bathtub 3 includes a first support portion 81 and a second support portion 82. The upper end of the first support portion 81 is connected to the bathtub body 10 by a connecting means such as a bolt. The middle portion of the first support portion 81 is fixed to the bathtub body 10 via support brackets 84, 85 and the body 71 of the apron 70. A foot bottom member 81b at the lower end of the first support portion 81 is landed on the base 5 of the bathroom floor 6. An anti-slip material may be provided on the bottom surface (lower surface) of the foot bottom member 81b.

The second support portion 82 is positioned forward (leftward in FIG. 13) of the first support portion 81. With the boundary 2b between the washing area and the bathtub in between, the first support portion 81 is positioned on the bathtub side, and the second support portion 82 is positioned on the washing area side.

The second support column 82 is supported by support brackets 84, 85 so that it can move up and down. In turn, the second support column 82 is connected to the first support column 81 via the support brackets 84, 85 so that it can move up and down relative to the first support column 81. A caster 83 is provided at the lower end of the second support column 82 so that it can roll in the width direction of the bathroom on the washing area pan 2a. Therefore, the lower end of the second support column 82 has lower friction resistance in the width direction of the bathroom against the bathroom floor 6 than the lower end of the first support column 81.

Furthermore, the second support 82 constitutes a hem support that supports the hem 72 of the apron 70. In more detail, as shown in FIG. 13, in the apron 70 of the second embodiment, the apron hem 72 at the lower end is separate from the apron body 71 above it. The apron body 71 is fixed to the bathtub body 10 and the first support 81.

As shown in FIG. 15(a), a recessed wall 74 is vertically attached to the lower end of the apron body 71 via a downward step 71d. The apron hem 72 is engaged with the recessed wall 74 so that it can be displaced vertically relative to the apron body 71. The apron hem 72 is made of, for example, a thinner resin than the apron body 71 and has a U-shaped cross section into which the recessed wall 74 is inserted. The longitudinal end of the apron hem 72 is fixed to and supported by the second support 82. The apron hem 72 may be fixed to the U-shaped wheel holder 83h of the caster 83, or may be fixed to the main body 82a of the second support 82 directly or via a bracket (not shown).

The size (vertical dimension) of the gap 75 between the apron hem 72 and the bathroom floor 6 is greater than 0 mm and less than 8 mm.
In addition, the rear end of the side apron hem 72b of the apron hem 72 that covers the side of the bathtub is connected to the apron main body 71 via a connecting shaft 77.

As shown in FIG. 13, the front part of the bathtub 3 in the second embodiment is further provided with a cam mechanism 90 that is linked to the support 80. The cam mechanism 90 includes a cam 91, a cam receiving portion 92, and an operating lever 93 (operating portion).

The cam 91 is disposed in the space formed between the apron 70 and the first support 81 above the second support 82, and is attached to the support bracket 84. The support bracket 84 is provided with a camshaft 91c (cam connection part). The cam 91 is attached around the camshaft 91c so that it can be rotated between the normal position and the operating position. The cam 91 is connected to the bathtub body 10 and the first support 81 via the camshaft 91c and the support bracket 84. The side surface of the cam 91 that faces downward from the normal position to the operating position (the surface facing the second support 82) constitutes the cam surface 91a.

The cam receiver 92 is attached to the upper end of the second support column 82 and is fixed in position relative to the second support column 82. When the cam receiver 92 abuts against the cam surface 91a, the cam 91 and the cam receiver 92 are engaged so that they can rise and fall relative to each other due to their respective cam actions.

An operating lever 93 extends from the cam 91. By operating the operating lever 93, the cam 91 is displaced between a normal position and an operating position. On both sides of the front part of the apron body 71, a vertically long opening 71g is formed in which the cam 91 and operating lever 93 are accommodated.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the cam 91 is in the normal position, the operating lever 93 hangs down from the cam 91 along the front apron body 71a and fits into the opening 71g. At this time, the cam 91 and the cam receiver 92 are at their normal relative heights, the bathtub body 10 is placed in the landing position, and the lower ends of the first support 81 and the second support 82 are placed at approximately the same height and land on the bathroom floor 6. That is, the foot 17 at the bottom of the bathtub body 10 is landed on the floor board 5a, the foot bottom member 81b at the lower end of the first support 81 is landed on the floor board 5a, and the caster 83 of the second support 82 is landed on the washing area pan 2a.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the cam 91 is in the operating position, the operating lever 93 protrudes forward from the front apron body 71a. At this time, the cam 91 and the cam receiver 92 are at a different relative height from the normal position. Specifically, the height difference between the cam shaft 91c and the cam receiver 92 is increased from the normal position. Therefore, the overall height of the support 80 is extended from the normal position. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15(b), the front part of the bathtub body 10 and the first support part 81 are raised from the bathroom floor 6, and the bathtub body 10 is positioned in the raised position. In addition, the caster 83 of the second support part 82 protrudes downward from the foot bottom member 81b of the first support part 81, and of the first support part 81 and the second support part 82, only the caster 83 of the second support part 82 lands on the bathroom floor 6.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the second embodiment, during normal use, the operating lever 93 fits within the opening 71g, the cam 91 is placed in the normal position, and the height difference between the cam shaft 91c and the cam receiving portion 92 is normal. This allows the bathtub body 10 and the first support portion 81 to land on the floor board 5a. Therefore, the movable bathtub 3 can be stably placed on the bathroom floor 6, and bathing is not hindered. The load applied to the bathtub body 10 is transferred directly from the bathtub body 10 to the bathroom floor 6, and also from the first support portion 81 to the bathroom floor 6. Therefore, the load applied to the second support portion 82 can be sufficiently reduced, and the load on the cam mechanism 90 and casters 83 can be reduced.

As shown in Figure 14, when the movable bathtub 3 is moved, the operating lever 93 is turned toward the front to set the cam 91 in the operating position. This causes the cam 91 and the cam receiver 92 to move up and down relative to each other. Specifically, the height difference between the cam shaft 91c and the cam receiver 92 is increased from the normal position. This causes the overall height of the support 80 to be extended.
As a result, the front part of the bathtub body 10 rises up from the bathroom floor 6, with the back hanger 50 as the rotation fulcrum. This reduces the frictional resistance that acts between the bathtub body 10 and the bathroom floor 6 when the position of the movable bathtub 3 is changed. Furthermore, the first support column 81 also rises up from the bathroom floor 6 together with the bathtub body 10. This means that no friction acts between the first support column 81 and the bathroom floor 6.

In contrast, the second support part 82 remains at its original height without floating up, and the caster 83 maintains its position on the bathroom floor 6. This allows the movable bathtub 3 to be easily moved in the width direction of the bathroom with a light force while the caster 83 rolls along the bathroom floor 6. The movable bathtub 3 does not become unstable due to vibrations from springs or the like, and the movable bathtub 3 can be moved stably.

The apron body 71 is raised together with the front part of the bathtub body 10 and the first support part 81. Meanwhile, the apron hem part 72 is not raised but remains at the original height together with the second support part 82, and maintains the same height as normal relative to the bathroom floor 6. Therefore, the size of the gap 75 can be always kept at 8 mm or less, and it is possible to prevent toes from getting caught in the gap 75 during rearrangement work.

After moving the movable bathtub 3 to the desired position in the width direction of the bathtub, as shown in Figure 13, the operating lever 93 is tilted down and the cam 91 is returned to its normal position. This returns the height difference between the cam shaft 91c and the cam receiving portion 92 to its normal position, contracting the overall height of the support 80, and the bathtub body 10 and the first support portion 81 are lowered and land on the floor board 5a. This allows the movable bathtub 3 to be stably installed in the changed position.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims.
For example, the levitation spring is not limited to a compression coil spring, but may be a tension coil spring, a leaf spring, an air spring, or the like.
The levitation spring needs to be provided at least on the back hanger, i.e., on the rear side of the bathtub. As a means for levitating the front side of the bathtub, a support 20 may be provided so that the height can be adjusted by means of screws or pins.
The levitation spring may be omitted. When the bathtub 3 moves, the bottom (legs 27) of the bathtub body 10 may rub against the bathroom floor 6. By making the sliding rail 60 and the guide member 52 out of a low-friction material, the frictional resistance during movement can be reduced.
The wheels 31, 83 may be omitted, and the lower ends of the pillars 20, 82 may be made to slide in contact with the bathroom floor 6. A sliding member made of a low-friction material may be provided at the lower ends of the pillars 20, 82 or at the sliding area of the bathroom floor 6 with the pillars.
The support pillar may be fixed to the bathroom floor 6, or the front frame of the bathtub may be placed on the support pillar so as to be slidable in the width direction.
One or more click protrusions 57 may be provided on the slide rail 60, and click holes 64 may be provided on the back hanger.
As a modification of the second embodiment, the cam mechanism may be configured by a screw mechanism. The cam mechanism may be any mechanism that converts the operating force of the operating portion 93 into a relative height displacement between the first and second support portions 81, 82.

The present invention can be applied, for example, to bathrooms in care facilities.

Reference Signs List 1 Bathtub with movable bathtub 2 Washing area 3 Movable bathtub 4 Bathtub pan 6 Bathroom floor 7 Back wall 10 Bathtub body 12R Back frame 12a Top plate 12b Drop plate 13 Female threaded bush 14 Rib 15 Rail fixing bolt 17 Leg 20 Telescopic support (support)
50 Back hanger 50d Water drain gap 51 Wall fixing member 51d Protruding fixing portion 51h Holding wall 52 Guide member 52a Inner cylinder portion 52s Restricting protrusion 53 Stopper 54 Sliding guide 54a Top cover portion 54b Locking wall 54d Back side restricting portion 55 Floating spring (compression coil spring, floating means)
56 Cover portion 57 Click protrusion 60 Slide rail (rear side friction reduction means)
61: groove 62: sliding protrusion 63: locking recess 63v: vertical surface 64: click hole 70: apron 71: apron body 72: apron hem 75: gap 80: support 81: first support portion 82: second support portion 83: caster (wheel)
90 Cam mechanism 91 Cam 92 Cam receiver 93 Operation lever (operation part)

Claims (6)

A movable bathtub that can be moved in the width direction of the bathroom;
A support column supporting the front side of the movable bathtub;
A back hanger is provided on the back wall of the bathroom and supports the back frame of the movable bathtub so that it can move in the width direction;
The rear frame portion is provided with a slide rail extending in the width direction,
The back hanger has a slide guide that engages with the slide rail so as to allow relative movement of the slide rail in the width direction and restrict relative movement in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction ,
The bag hanger includes a wall fixing member fixed to the rear wall, and a guide member held on the wall fixing member so as to be liftable and lowerable, and the sliding guide is provided on the guide member,
A bathroom with a movable bathtub further comprising a levitation spring that applies an upward spring force to the guide member . 2. The bathroom with movable bathtub according to claim 1 , wherein the floating spring is a compression coil spring provided between the wall fixing member and the guide member. A click protrusion is provided on one of the guide member and the slide rail,
The bathroom with movable bathtub as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the other of the guide member and the sliding rail is formed with a click hole into which the click protrusion can be fitted so as to be able to slip out when the movable bathtub is in a predetermined position. the wall fixing member is tubular and has an open upper end, the levitation spring and the guide member are housed inside the wall fixing member, the upper end of the guide member protrudes from the wall fixing member, and a cover portion that covers the upper end of the wall fixing member is provided on a side portion of the upper end of the guide member facing the rear wall,
A bathroom with a movable bathtub as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wall fixing member has a pair of protruding fixed portions that protrude toward the rear wall and are fixed to the rear wall, spaced apart from each other in the width direction, a drainage gap that allows water to pass through in the vertical direction is formed between the pair of protruding fixed portions, and the cover portion faces the drainage gap. A movable bathtub that can be moved in the width direction of the bathroom;
A support column supporting the front side of the movable bathtub;
A back hanger is provided on the back wall of the bathroom and supports the back frame of the movable bathtub so that it can move in the width direction;
The rear frame portion is provided with a slide rail extending in the width direction,
The back hanger has a slide guide that engages with the slide rail so as to allow relative movement of the slide rail in the width direction and restrict relative movement in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction,
A bathroom with a movable bathtub, characterized in that the sliding guide has a rear regulating portion that prevents the sliding rail from displacing toward the rear wall. A movable bathtub that can be moved in the width direction of the bathroom;
A support pillar supporting the front side of the movable bathtub;
A back hanger is provided on the back wall of the bathroom and supports the back frame of the movable bathtub so that it can move in the width direction;
The rear frame portion is provided with a slide rail extending in the width direction,
The back hanger has a slide guide that engages with the slide rail so as to allow relative movement of the slide rail in the width direction and restrict relative movement in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction,
A cam mechanism is provided on the front side of the movable bathtub, and the cam mechanism includes a cam that is displaceably mounted on the bathtub body or the support pillar of the movable bathtub between a normal position and an operating position, a cam receiving portion that is provided on the support pillar or the bathtub body and engaged with the cam so as to rise and fall relative to the cam, and an operating portion that displaces the cam,
When the cam is in the normal position, the bathtub body is landed on the bathroom floor of the bathroom ,
A bathroom with a movable bathtub, characterized in that when the cam is in the operating position, the bathtub body is raised above the bathroom floor by the relative lifting and lowering.

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