JP2024154909A - Bathroom Systems - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a bathroom system that can appropriately and effectively utilize hot and cold water in a bathtub using a simple configuration.
[Solution] A bathroom system A comprises a drainage flow path 8 which branches off and is connected to a re-heating pipe 20a, a flow path switching valve Va which is arranged in the bathtub installation area 1a and is configured to be able to selectively switch between a state in which hot and cold water from the bathtub 3 flows into the drainage flow path 8 and a state in which it does not flow, and a pump Pa which is provided in the drainage flow path 8, wherein an opening 37 is provided in the bathtub apron section 30, and a drain section 81 at the end of the drainage flow path 8 is arranged in a position facing or exposed to the washing area 1b via the opening 37, so that hot and cold water from the bathtub 3 can be flowed from the drain section 81 of the drainage flow path 8 into the washing area 1b.
[Selected figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a bathroom system.

A specific example of a bathroom system is described in Patent Document 1.
In the bathroom system described in the document, a drainage flow path branches off from a reheating pipe connected to the bathtub. A flow path switching valve (three-way valve) is provided at the branch connection point, and a pump is provided nearby. By setting the flow path switching valve to a specified state and operating the pump, it is possible to forcibly drain hot and cold water from the bathtub out of the bathtub via the drainage flow path.

With this configuration, for example, if a bather becomes unwell while in the bathtub, the water in the bathtub can be forcibly drained, preventing the bather from drowning or suffering from heat stroke. In addition, the water in the bathtub can be drained to the outside through the drain outlet at the bottom of the bathtub, but by using this in combination with drainage from the drainage flow path described above, the water in the bathtub can be drained more quickly.

However, there is room for improvement in the above-mentioned conventional technology, as described below.

That is, when the hot water in the bathtub is drained to the outside through the drainage flow path, this hot water is led to the bathroom drain and is discarded as is. As a result, the hot water is not put to effective use, and there is room for improvement in this regard. As a specific example, when cleaning (washing) the washing area of the bathroom, there are cases where it is necessary to sprinkle hot water on the washing area in advance to moisten it. In this case, for example, the hot water from the bathtub is scooped up in a washbasin and then sprinkled on the washing area, or the hot water is sprayed from a shower head installed in the bathroom and sprinkled on the washing area. This causes inconvenience for the user, such as making such work troublesome, or increasing the consumption of hot water for the shower.

Patent No. 6587985

The present invention was conceived in light of the circumstances described above, and its objective is to provide a bathroom system that can effectively utilize the hot and cold water in the bathtub using simple means.

To solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

The bathroom system provided by the present invention comprises a bathtub installation area in which a bathtub to which a re-heating pipe is connected is installed, a washing area separated from the bathtub installation area by a bathtub apron, a drainage flow path branched off and connected to the re-heating pipe, a flow path switching valve arranged in the bathtub installation area and a pump arranged in the drainage flow path, which are configured to be able to selectively switch between a state in which hot and cold water from the bathtub flows into the drainage flow path and a state in which the hot and cold water does not flow, the flow path switching valve being arranged in the bathtub installation area and the pump being arranged in the drainage flow path, wherein an opening is provided in the bathtub apron, and a drain section at the end of the drainage flow path is arranged in a position facing or exposed to the washing area via the opening, and the bathroom system is configured so that hot and cold water from the bathtub can be flowed from the drain section of the drainage flow path to the washing area.

With this configuration, the hot and cold water in the bathtub can be drained to the outside of the bathtub through the drainage passage, which meets the needs of those who want to drain the bathtub quickly. In addition, the following effects can be obtained.
The hot water discharged outside the bathtub through the drainage flow path is flowed into the washing area. This makes it possible to use the hot water to clean the washing area. Specifically, the washing area can be cleaned by the flow of hot water, or the washing area can be wetted with the hot water before cleaning the washing area with detergent. Therefore, for example, before cleaning the washing area, it is not necessary to scoop the hot water from the bathtub into a washbasin and then spray it onto the washing area. This also makes it possible to eliminate the need to spray the hot water onto the washing area from a shower head. This is therefore convenient for the user. It is also possible to reduce the consumption of hot water used for cleaning.
In addition, the drainage flow path, the flow path switching valve, and the pump are arranged in the bathtub installation area, while the drain at the end of the drainage flow path is arranged to face the washing area or be exposed from an opening in the bathtub apron that separates the bathtub installation area from the washing area. This makes it possible to shorten the overall length of the drainage flow path and simplify the shape, and to compactly integrate the drainage flow path, the flow path switching valve, and the pump, simplifying the overall configuration. This makes it possible to keep the cost of parts and installation work low.

In the present invention, preferably, the system further includes a hot water supply device capable of filling the bathtub with hot water and supplying hot water to a hot water supply terminal installed in the bathtub, and a cleaning device that selectively sprays either the hot water supplied from the hot water supply device or a detergent solution in which the hot water supplied is mixed with a detergent from a specified nozzle hole onto the washing area, thereby enabling cleaning of the washing area.

With this configuration, by operating the cleaning device, it is possible to clean the washing area using hot water and detergent liquid supplied from the hot water supply device, which is even more preferable for keeping the washing area in a hygienic state.

In the present invention, preferably, the device further includes a control means for controlling the water in the bathtub to be drained into the washing area using the drainage flow path prior to the start of the washing operation of the washing area by the washing device, thereby performing a preliminary rinsing process of the washing area.

With this configuration, the preliminary rinsing process, which is performed prior to the cleaning operation of the washing area by the cleaning device, is performed by effectively using the hot and cold water in the bathtub. This is more preferable in terms of reducing the consumption of hot and cold water. Furthermore, since the cleaning operation by the cleaning device is performed after the preliminary rinsing process in which the hot and cold water in the bathtub is flowed into the washing area is completed, even if the hot and cold water in the bathtub is not sufficiently clean, this does not result in a decrease in the hygiene level of the washing area.

In the present invention, preferably, a nozzle head portion is provided in which a nozzle hole that constitutes the drainage portion of the drainage flow path is formed, and the nozzle hole of the cleaning device is also provided in this nozzle head portion.

With this configuration, the nozzle head portion provided for the drainage flow path is also used for the cleaning device, which can further simplify the overall configuration. Also, the nozzle hole constituting the drainage portion at the end of the drainage flow path and the nozzle hole of the cleaning device can be set to be close to each other and facing the same direction. Therefore, it is easy to align the spray area of hot and cold water in the bathtub using the drainage flow path and the spray area of non-detergent hot and cold water and detergent liquid using the cleaning device so that they are approximately the same area.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1A is a schematic perspective view, partially broken away, showing an example of a bathroom system according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Ib-Ib in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the bathroom system shown in FIG. 1 . 1A is a schematic diagram showing another example of a bathroom system according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a plan cross-sectional view of the nozzle head portion of the bathroom system shown in FIG. 4A and 4B are time charts showing an example of an operational procedure executed in the bathroom system shown in FIG. 3 . 13A and 13B are time charts showing another example of the operational procedure executed in the bathroom system shown in FIG. 3 .

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The bathroom system A shown in Figures 1 and 2 is configured, for example, as a unit bath, and within the bathroom 1, there is a bathtub installation area 1a (not including the area above the bathtub 3) in which a bathtub 3 is installed, a washing area 1b (the area above the floor surface 10), and a bathtub apron section 30 which is the boundary wall between these.
Bathroom system A also includes a water heater 2, a power supply control unit 4, and a bathtub water drainage mechanism B for causing hot and cold water in bathtub 3 to flow to washing area 1b.

The hot water supply device 2 is, for example, an instantaneous gas hot water supply device, and its basic hardware configuration is similar to that of conventionally known devices, so detailed description will be omitted. In addition to a general hot water supply function to a hot water supply terminal such as a shower terminal installed in the bathroom 1, this hot water supply device 2 also has a function to fill the bathtub 3 with hot water and a function to reheat the hot water in the bathtub 3. As a means for reheating the hot water in the bathtub 3, a pair of reheating pipes 20 (20a, 20b) connected to a circulation adapter 31 attached to the bathtub 3, a circulation pump Pb, a heat exchanger 21 for heating the hot water, and a burner 22 are provided. When the circulation pump Pb is operated, the hot water in the bathtub 3 is sent to the heat exchanger 21 via the reheating pipe 20a, where it is heated, and then returned to the bathtub 3 via the reheating pipe 20b.

The hot water supply device 2 is equipped with a control unit 23 (23a) configured using a microcomputer or the like, and this control unit 23a controls the operation of each part of the hot water supply device 2 and performs various data processing. A remote control 7 installed in the bathroom 1 is communicatively connected to the control unit 23a. This remote control 7 is equipped with a display unit 73 capable of displaying text and images, and various operation switches 72. The operation switches 72 also include an operation switch for operating the bathtub hot water drainage mechanism unit B and for causing the hot water in the bathtub 3 to flow into the washing area 1b.

The bathtub hot and cold water drainage mechanism B includes a drainage flow path 8 branched off from the re-heating piping 20 (20a) via a flow path switching valve Va, a pump Pa provided in this drainage flow path 8, and a nozzle head portion 9 provided at the end of the drainage flow path 8.
The drainage flow path 8 is configured using a pipe body 80 made of, for example, metal, but as this pipe body 80, a flexible hose or the like can also be used.
The flow path switching valve Va is, for example, a three-way valve that can be selectively set to either a first state in which hot and cold water in the bathtub 3 can flow to the circulating pump Pb side but not to the pump Pa side, or a second state in which hot and cold water can flow to the pump Pa side (the drainage flow path 8 side) without flowing to the circulating pump Pb side. In this second state, by operating the pump Pa, hot and cold water in the bathtub 3 can be made to flow into the drainage flow path 8 and guided to the nozzle head 9.

Preferably, the flow path switching valve Va and the pump Pa are housed in a common case 97 and unitized. Such unitization not only makes it easier to handle the flow path switching valve Va and the pump Pa (installation work, etc.), but also makes it possible to use the case 97 to adequately waterproof and otherwise protect the flow path switching valve Va and the pump Pa.

Nozzle head 9 is attached to bathtub apron 30 with a portion of it fitted into opening 37 provided in bathtub apron 30. Nozzle head 9 is hollow like a typical shower head, with chamber 86 forming drainage flow path 8, and multiple small nozzle holes 90 provided in the tip surface. A tube 80 is connected to the rear end of nozzle head 9, and hot and cold water flowing through drainage flow path 8 inside tube 80 is discharged from multiple nozzle holes 90 into washing area 1b.
The area of the nozzle head portion 9 in which the multiple nozzle holes 90 are provided is a drainage portion 81 at the end of the drainage flow path 8, and this drainage portion 81 is positioned facing the washing area 1b through the opening 37 or exposed to it.

1 and 2, the nozzle head unit 9 is fixed to the bathtub apron unit 30, and the orientation of the nozzle head unit 9 (the direction in which hot and cold water is discharged) cannot be changed. However, in the present invention, instead, the orientation of the nozzle head unit 9 may be changed to change the direction in which hot and cold water is discharged. The orientation of the nozzle head unit 9 may be changed manually by the user, or, for example, a swinging mechanism driven by a motor may be used to change the orientation of the nozzle head unit 9. In the latter case, the nozzle head unit 9 may be configured to swing within an appropriate angle range while hot and cold water is being discharged into the washing area 1b, so that hot and cold water is discharged over a wide area.

Power supply control unit 4 is installed, for example, on the ceiling wall 19 of bathroom 1, and includes a power supply circuit 40 and a control unit 23 (23b). Power supply circuit 40 is a circuit for supplying the necessary power to each electrical device (including flow path switching valve Va and pump Pa) installed in bathroom 1, and receives power from a commercial power source (not shown) and is connected to each electrical device via wiring (not shown). Control unit 23b is configured using a microcomputer or the like, similar to control unit 23a of water heater 2, and is connected to control unit 23a for communication. These control units 23 (23a, 23b) cooperate with each other to control the operation of each part of bathroom system A.
In this embodiment, the drain plug 38 provided at the bottom of the bathtub 3 is an automatic drain plug that opens and closes upon receiving power from the power supply control unit 4. However, instead of this, a manual drain plug may also be used.

Next, we will explain the operation of the bathroom system A described above.

First, when a specific switch operation is performed using the remote control 7, the flow path switching valve Va is set so that the drainage flow path 8 is connected to the reheating pipe 20a, and the pump Pa is operated. Then, the hot water stored in the bathtub 3 is discharged from the multiple nozzle holes 90 (drainage section 81) of the nozzle head section 9 via the drainage flow path 8 into the washing area 1b. When this operation is performed, it becomes possible to drain the hot water in the bathtub 3 through a route other than the drain plug 38, which is advantageous when the hot water in the bathtub 3 needs to be drained quickly.

For example, if a bather in the bathtub 3 is at risk of suffering from heat stroke and cannot be allowed to immediately leave the bathtub 3, it is necessary to quickly drain the water from the bathtub 3. In response to this, the water can be quickly drained from the bathtub 3 by opening the drain plug 38 and draining the water from this part, as well as draining the water from the bathtub 3 to the outside of the bathtub 3 via the drainage flow path 8. In addition, there are cases when no such emergency situation has occurred and the user simply wants to quickly drain the water from the bathtub 3 and fill it with new water. The bathroom system A of this embodiment can accurately meet such requests.

The hot water from the bathtub 3 discharged from the nozzle head 9 (the drain 81 at the end of the drain passage 8) is discharged into the washing area 1b. Therefore, it is possible to use the hot water from the bathtub 3 to wash the washing area 1b, which is rational. For example, when a user uses detergent to wash the washing area 1b, if the hot water from the bathtub 3 is discharged from the nozzle head 9 into the washing area 1b in advance, the hot water will wet the floor surface 10 of the washing area 1b, improving the efficiency of subsequent washing. As a means for wetting the floor surface 10 of the washing area 1b, there is no need to scoop the hot water from the bathtub 3 into a washbasin and then sprinkle it on the washing area 1b, and there is also no need to sprinkle hot water for the shower on the washing area 1b. Therefore, it is convenient for the user when washing the washing area 1b. In addition, there is also the advantage of reducing the consumption of hot water used for washing.

The drainage flow path 8 over its entire length, the flow path switching valve Va, and the pump Pa are located in the bathtub installation area 1a, while the drain section 81 at the end of the drainage flow path 8 is located facing or exposed to the washing area 1b through an opening 37 provided in the bathtub apron section 30. This allows the overall length of the drainage flow path 8 to be shortened and the shape to be simplified. There is no need to install piping for the drainage flow path 8 along a long and complicated route. As a result, the drainage flow path 8, the flow path switching valve Va, and the pump Pa can be compactly arranged, the overall configuration can be simplified, and the parts costs and installation costs can be kept low.

The bathroom system Aa shown in Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, elements that are the same as or similar to those in the previous embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the previous embodiment, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

The bathroom system Aa is equipped with a cleaning device C. This cleaning device C has a function for cleaning the bathtub 3 and a function for cleaning the washing area 1b. As a configuration for the cleaning function of the bathtub 3, the cleaning device C has a hot water flow path 6 having at its beginning a water inlet 6a through which hot water is supplied from the hot water supply device 2 and at its end a jet nozzle 60 installed at the bottom of the bathtub 3.
The hot water flow path 6 is provided with an on-off valve Vb, a detergent mixing section 61, and a flow path switching valve Vd. A detergent tank 62 is connected to the detergent mixing section 61 via a detergent supply path 63 provided with an on-off valve Vc. When the on-off valve Vb is open and hot water flows through the detergent mixing section 61, and the on-off valve Vc is also open, the detergent is mixed with the hot water to generate detergent liquid. This detergent liquid is sprayed from the spray nozzle 60 toward the inner wall surface of the bathtub 3. On the other hand, when the on-off valve Vc is set to a closed state, the detergent is not mixed into the hot water, and non-detergent hot water is sprayed from the spray nozzle 60. The non-detergent hot water is hot water for rinsing. In the cleaning operation of the bathtub 3, for example, a preliminary rinse in which non-detergent hot water is sprayed into the bathtub 3, a main wash in which detergent liquid is sprayed into the bathtub 3 multiple times at predetermined intervals, and a main rinse in which non-detergent hot water is sprayed into the bathtub 3 are performed in this order. As means for controlling such operations, a control unit 23c and an operation unit 69 are provided.

On the other hand, cleaning of the washing area 1b by the cleaning device C can be achieved based on a configuration in which the nozzle head portion 9A and the flow path switching valve Vd are connected via an additional flow path 64.
More specifically, the nozzle head 9A is attached to the bathtub apron 30, similar to the nozzle head 9 of the previous embodiment, and has a plurality of nozzle holes 90 (drainage section 81) capable of discharging into the washing area 1b the hot and cold water that has flowed through the drainage flow path 8. However, inside this nozzle head 9A, a chamber 86a is formed that is separated from the chamber 86 that constitutes the drainage flow path 8, and a plurality of nozzle holes 90a are provided that communicate with this chamber 86a.
The chamber 86a of the nozzle head 9A corresponds to a part of the additional flow path 64 and is connected to the flow path switching valve Vd. Therefore, by switching the flow path switching valve Vd, it is possible to selectively supply either the detergent liquid or the non-detergent hot or cold water to the nozzle head 9A and to eject it from the multiple nozzle holes 90a into the washing area 1b.

This bathroom system Aa is configured to perform the following operations under the control of the control unit 23 (23a to 23c; in Figure 3, control unit 23a is not shown).

First, there are a hand-washing mode and an automatic washing mode as modes for washing the washing area 1b, and it is possible to select and start either of these modes on the remote control 7.
When the hand-washing mode is selected, first, as shown in Fig. 4(a), the pump Pa is turned on for a predetermined time, and a preliminary rinsing process is performed in which hot and cold water in the bathtub 3 is discharged into the washing area 1b from the multiple nozzle holes 90. After that, when a predetermined time Ta has elapsed, as shown in Fig. 4(b), the on-off valve Vb is opened, and a main rinsing process is performed in which new hot and cold water, that is, non-detergent hot and cold water, is discharged into the washing area 1b from the multiple nozzle holes 90a.

When the pump Pa is turned on to perform the preliminary rinsing process, the floor surface 10 of the washing area 1b is wetted with the hot and cold water of the bathtub 3. In this state, the washing area 1b can be washed, for example, by sprinkling detergent on the floor surface 10 and scrubbing the floor surface 10 with a brush while mixing the detergent with the hot and cold water. The period from the end of this washing until the time Ta has elapsed can be used as a waiting period for the detergent to penetrate the dirt on the floor surface 10.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the on-off valve Vb is opened and the main rinsing process is performed, whereby non-detergent hot water is used to rinse the floor surface 10 of the washing area 1b, and dirt and detergent can be washed away toward the drain of the bathroom 1.

On the other hand, when the automatic washing mode is selected, the pump Pa is turned on for a predetermined time as shown in FIG. 5(a) to perform a preliminary rinsing process. This is the same as in the hand washing mode, and the above operation causes hot and cold water in the bathtub 3 to be discharged from the multiple nozzle holes 90 into the washing area 1b. After that, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the on-off valve Vb is opened intermittently multiple times, and detergent liquid is discharged from the multiple nozzle holes 90a into the washing area 1b (main washing). A certain period immediately after the detergent liquid is discharged is a waiting period to allow the detergent to penetrate the dirt on the floor surface 10. When the final waiting period ends, the on-off valve Vb is opened, and the main rinsing process is performed in which new hot and cold water, which is non-detergent hot and cold water, is discharged from the multiple nozzle holes 90a into the washing area 1b.

The automatic washing mode is more convenient for the user than the hand washing mode. However, in both of the above two modes, the hot water in the bathtub 3 is used as hot water for preliminary rinsing to wet the floor surface 10 of the washing area 1b in advance, so water saving is appropriately achieved. In addition, there is no need to scoop the hot water in the bathtub 3 with a washbasin and then sprinkle it on the washing area 1b, which is more convenient for the user. The hot water in the bathtub 3 is used for preliminary rinsing before the cleaning work using detergent (main washing), but is not used for main rinsing after the main washing. New hot water is used for the main rinsing. Therefore, it is more preferable in finishing the washing area 1b as a hygienic area.

The nozzle head portion 9A is provided with multiple nozzle holes 90 for discharging hot and cold water into the bathtub 3, as well as multiple nozzle holes 90a for the cleaning device C. This allows for appropriate simplification of the overall configuration by sharing the nozzle head portion 9A. The multiple nozzle holes 90, 90a are arranged close to each other, and the directions in which the hot and cold water are discharged can be aligned in approximately the same direction. This allows the spray area of the hot and cold water for the preliminary rinse and the spray area of the hot and cold water for the main wash and main rinse (detergent liquid, non-detergent hot and cold water) to be aligned in approximately the same area, improving the efficiency of the cleaning operation.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The specific configuration of each part of the bathroom system according to the present invention can be freely designed and modified within the intended scope of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the drainage section at the end of the drainage flow path is an area in which multiple nozzle holes are provided on the front surface of the nozzle head, but the present invention is not limited to this. The drainage section at the end of the drainage flow path in the present invention may be a section that does not have multiple nozzle holes and has only one or a small number of openings through which drainage can occur (such as the end of the pipe that constitutes the drainage flow path itself).
The drainage flow path may be branched into multiple parts to provide multiple drainage sections, and hot and cold water may be discharged from each of the multiple drainage sections into the washing area.
An opening is provided in the bathtub apron to allow the drainage section at the end of the drainage flow path to face or be exposed to the washing area, but the specific shape, size, position, number, etc. of this opening are not limited.
The hot water supply device is not limited to an instantaneous type equipped with a burner, and for example, a storage type hot water supply device may also be used.

A, Aa Bathroom system C Cleaning device Pa Pump Va Flow path switching valve 1 Bathroom 1a Bathtub installation area 1b Washing area 2 Water heater 20 (20a) Reheating pipe 23 (23a to 23c) Control unit (control means)
3 Bathtub 30 Bathtub apron 37 Opening (of bathtub apron)
8 Drainage flow path 81 Drainage section (at the end of the drainage flow path)
9, 9A Nozzle head portion 90, 90a Nozzle hole

Claims (4)

A bathtub installation area in which a bathtub to which a reheating pipe is connected is installed;
The bathtub installation area is a washing area separated by a bathtub apron,
A drainage flow path branched and connected to the reheating pipe;
A flow path switching valve that is configured to be able to selectively switch between a state in which hot and cold water in the bathtub flows through the drainage flow path and a state in which hot and cold water does not flow through the drainage flow path and is disposed in the bathtub installation area and a pump that is provided in the drainage flow path;
A bathroom system comprising:
A bathroom system characterized in that an opening is provided in the bathtub apron portion, and a drain section at the end of the drainage flow path is arranged facing or exposed to the washing area through the opening, so that hot and cold water from the bathtub can be drained from the drain section of the drainage flow path into the washing area. 2. The bathroom system according to claim 1,
A hot water supply device capable of filling the bathtub with hot water and supplying hot water to a hot water supply terminal installed in the bathtub;
A washing device selectively sprays either the hot water supplied from the hot water supply device or a detergent liquid obtained by mixing the hot water and a detergent into the washing area from a predetermined nozzle hole, thereby enabling a washing operation of the washing area;
The bathroom system also includes: A bathroom system according to claim 2,
A control means for controlling the washing area so that, when the washing device starts a washing operation of the washing area, the hot and cold water in the bathtub is drained into the washing area using the drainage flow path prior to the washing operation, and a preliminary rinsing process of the washing area is performed;
It also comes with a bathroom system. A bathroom system according to claim 2 or 3,
A bathroom system comprising a nozzle head portion in which a nozzle hole that constitutes the drainage portion of the drainage flow path is formed, and in which the nozzle head portion also has the nozzle hole of the cleaning device.

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