JP4285508B2 - Foot bath - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foot bath having a configuration in which heated liquid particles are discharged into a storage space for inserting a foot, thereby heating the foot.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a foot bath device that heats feet by discharging heated liquid particles such as steam is known (see Patent Document 1). The foot bath includes an opening for inserting a foot, a storage space for storing a foot inserted through the opening, and a footrest base for placing a foot installed and stored at the bottom of the storage space. And a heating unit that discharges heated liquid particles obtained by heating the liquid into the storage space.

  In the above-mentioned conventional foot bath, the liquid supply tank and the heating part are installed in front of the storage space part, and the heated liquid particles are generated at the front position in the storage space part. The heated liquid particles are fed backward and discharged into the storage space.

However, in the foot bath of the above structure, the feet in the storage space are mainly heated by the heat convection of the heated liquid particles, so that both inserted feet and the whole body can be efficiently heated. There was a problem that could not be said. In addition, since the heating unit is located in front of the storage space, the overall shape of the footbath becomes large in the front and rear, which can be a problem when not in use, and the inner surface of the storage space. In addition, since dew condensation water is likely to remain, there is a problem that it is troublesome to maintain hygienically.
Japanese Patent No. 3627746

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above problems, and can efficiently heat both legs inserted while maximally utilizing the heat of the heating section, and thus the entire body, It is an object of the present invention to provide a foot bath that has a compact outer shape and does not get in the way, and has a structure in which condensed water does not easily remain on the inner surface of the storage space and is easy to care for.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention was installed and stored in the opening 4 through which the foot is inserted, the storage space 2 for storing the foot inserted through the opening 4, and the bottom of the storage space 2. In the footbath provided with a footrest portion 50 on which feet are placed and a heating portion 10 that discharges heated liquid particles obtained by heating the liquid into the storage space portion 2, , and a right foot stand unit 8 for the left foot stand unit 7 and the right foot for the left foot, the center position sandwiched the heating unit 10, the left foot stand unit 7 and the right foot stand unit 8 in the housing space 2 The heating unit housing 11 that forms the outer shell of the heating unit 10 is formed in a box shape, and the left and right side walls 12 of the heating unit housing 11 that incorporates a boiler 15 that generates heating liquid particles in the center portion are provided. , Stand upright from the bottom of the storage space 2 And those characterized in that the residual heat at the time of liquid particles produced is provided an inner portion of the left and right feet to warm.

  As described above, the entire dead space can be achieved by arranging the heating unit 10 by effectively utilizing the center dead space generated when both feet are inserted into the storage space 2. In addition, the insides of the left and right feet are heated by heat conduction and heat radiation from the heating unit 10 located in the center. In other words, the heating unit 10 generates and discharges heated liquid particles and heats both feet by thermal convection. However, the heating unit 10 is disposed in the dead space at the center of the bottom of the storage space 2 so that the heated liquid particles are heated. The inside of the left and right feet can be further effectively heated by heat conduction and heat radiation using the residual heat during generation. Condensation is likely to occur in the storage space 2, but the effect of preventing this condensation by heat conduction and heat radiation from the inside of the heating unit 10, and the storage space 2 quickly dries after use so that it is hygienic. The effect that it is easy to maintain is also produced.

  In the footbath having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the heating unit 33 that heats the foot stored in the storage space 2 is provided separately from the heating unit 10. In this way, in addition to the heating effect by heat convection of the heated liquid particles discharged from the heating unit 10 and the heating effect by heat conduction and heat radiation using the residual heat at the time of heating liquid particle generation, A heating effect by heat conduction or heat radiation from the warm portion 33 is obtained. Thereby, the warming effect of the foot is further improved.

  Moreover, it is also suitable to arrange | position the said heating part 33 to both or one side of the bottom face and side peripheral surface of the storage space part 2. FIG. By doing in this way, the part from the toe which is easy to cool to the whole sole, and the part around a calf can be heated effectively.

  It is also preferable to provide a guard portion 35 for preventing the warming portion 33 from coming into direct contact with the foot in the storage space portion 2. In this way, in addition to preventing the foot from touching the warming portion 33 and causing a burn, even in the storage space portion 2 where condensation is likely to occur and the electrical insulation is low. It is possible to more reliably prevent an electric shock from occurring with the heating unit 33.

  And it is suitable to provide the said guard part 35 with the through-hole 36 which penetrates from the heating part 33 side to the storage space part 2 center side. By doing in this way, heat radiation can be efficiently performed from the heating part 33 to the foot through the through hole 36.

  It is also preferable to provide a radiating member 34 in the heating unit 33. By doing in this way, the thermal radiation from the heating part 33 to a leg | foot can be increased, and a heating effect can be improved further.

  Moreover, the temperature detection means which detects the temperature of the said heating part 10 and the heating part 33, and the control part which controls the output of the said heating part 10 and the heating part 33 based on the temperature detected by a temperature detection means are provided. It is also suitable to do. By doing in this way, the heating part 10 and the heating part 33 do not become too hot or too warm, and heating with a high usability is possible. In addition, if both or one of the heating unit 10 and the heating unit 33 are energized and controlled so that the detected temperature changes periodically, the warmth of the user can be maintained.

  It is also preferable to include an operation unit 41 that can select a combination of output levels of the heating unit 10 and the heating unit 33. By doing in this way, the various heating methods according to a user's preference can be provided, and also the change of a heating method is easy.

  Each configuration described above can be appropriately combined without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The present invention provides a heating unit that discharges heated liquid particles obtained by heating a liquid into a storage space portion at a central position between the left footrest platform portion and the right footrest platform portion within the storage space portion, and the heating section The heating part housing that forms the outer shell of the container is formed in a box shape, and the right and left side walls of the heating part housing that contains a boiler that generates heated liquid particles are built up from the bottom of the storage space. It is possible to efficiently heat both feet inserted into the storage space, and thus the entire body, while making the most of the heat of the body. In addition, the entire outer shape is made compact so that it does not get in the way, and there is an effect that dew condensation water does not easily remain on the inner surface of the storage space and the maintenance becomes easy.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In addition, each direction such as front / rear / left / right directions used in the text is based on the direction seen from the user side. That is, the toe side of the inserted foot is the front.

  FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the appearance of the entire foot bath as an example in the embodiment of the present invention. The foot bath of this example includes a boot-type main body 1 having a storage space portion 2 into which the entire lower leg of both left and right feet (ie, the portion from the tip of the foot to the calf) can be inserted. On the upper surface of the main body housing 3, an opening 4 for allowing the left and right feet to pass through the storage space 2 is opened upward. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the opening 4 is covered with a lid 5, and the opening 4 can be opened and closed by removing the lid 5.

The front wall portion 3a of the main body housing 3 is formed so as to be able to rise and fall toward the front. By opening the front wall portion 3a, taking in and out of the foot and maintenance in the storage space portion 2 are facilitated. 3 and 4 show a state where the front wall 3a is tilted forward and opened. As shown in the figure, in this example, as a footrest base portion 50 placed on the bottom surface of the storage space portion 2, a left footrest portion 7 for placing a left foot and a right footrest for placing a right foot. The platform 8 is separately provided on the bottom surface of the storage space 2 with a distance left and right. In the illustrated example, the right and left foot rests 7 and 8 are separate, it may be integrated by a continuous part.

  In the storage space portion 2, the liquid (water in this example) supplied by the user is temporarily stored at the center position in the left-right direction between the left footrest base portion 7 and the right footrest base portion 8. The liquid tank 9 and the heating unit 10 that heats the liquid fed from the liquid supply tank 9 to generate heated liquid particles (steam in this example) and discharges it into the storage space 2 after mixing it with air. Are integrally provided.

  The heating unit housing 11 that forms an outer shell of the heating unit 10 includes left and right side wall parts 12 that stand upright from the bottom surface of the storage space part 2, an upper wall part 13 that smoothly connects the upper ends of the left and right side wall parts 12, and a diagonally lower front side. It has a front wall portion 14 that is inclined and is formed in a box shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and the liquid supply tank 9 is detachably mounted on the front wall portion 14 from above. The front wall 3a has an opening at a position corresponding to the front wall 14 and the liquid supply tank 9 is detachably exposed through the opening even when the front wall 3a is closed. .

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the heating unit 10 will be described in detail. Although the liquid supply tank 9 is not shown in FIG. 5, a tank installation location 25 is recessed in the front wall portion 14 of the heating unit housing 11, and when the liquid supply tank 9 is attached to the tank installation location 25, In this structure, the liquid filled in the liquid supply tank 9 is supplied up to the boiler 15 installed in the center of the heating unit housing 11. A boiler heater 16 is attached to the boiler 15, and a power supply unit 17 that supplies electric power to the boiler heater 16 is built under the boiler 15. The heating unit 10 includes a control unit (not shown), and the control unit and the power supply unit 17 are electrically connected.

  At the rear of the heating unit housing 11, there is provided a mixing / discharging mechanism that mixes heated liquid particles generated in the boiler 15 with air and then discharges the particles into the storage space 2. The mixing and discharging mechanism includes a pipe-shaped heating liquid particle channel 18 extending from the boiler 15, a mixing unit 19 connected to the downstream end of the heating liquid particle channel 18, and the mixing unit 19. The air intake port 20 that takes in the air in the space portion 2 and the air-fuel mixture discharge port 22 that discharges the air-fuel mixture in the mixing portion 19 toward the storage space portion 2 are provided. Furthermore, in this example, the air blower 23 composed of a fan motor for air suction is arranged in the mixing unit 19, but it may be provided so that air is sucked from the air intake port 20 by the venturi effect.

  The air intake port 20 is formed in a number of slits at the upper end portions of the left and right side wall portions 12 of the heating portion housing 11 formed in a box shape so as to rise from the bottom surface of the storage space portion 2. . The air-fuel mixture discharge port 22 is also formed in a number of slits at the lower end portions of the left and right side wall portions 12, and the air-fuel mixture discharged from the air-fuel mixture discharge port 22 is respectively left and right footrest platform 7. , 8 are positioned so as to be discharged first.

  The left and right footrests 7 and 8 installed at the bottom of the storage space 2 are connected to each other through a plurality of protrusions that are convex upward so as to increase the exposed area of the sole. The air-fuel mixture discharged from the air-fuel mixture discharge port 22 is sent from the lower space of the left and right footrest base portions 7 and 8 to the entire upper storage space portion 2 through the gap between the protrusions. It is like that. That is, the left and right footrests 7 and 8 position the left and right feet higher than the air-fuel mixture discharge port 22, and the rib 6 (see FIG. 4) along the side wall portion 12 of the heating unit housing 11 is provided inside thereof. Since the rib 6 projects upward from the edge, the rib 6 functions as a guide for loading and unloading, and also functions as a shielding unit interposed between the heating unit 10 and the foot.

  The air-fuel mixture filled in the storage space portion 2 is sucked again into the mixing portion 19 through the air intake port 20, mixed with new heated liquid particles supplied from the boiler 15 side, and again stored in the storage space portion. The circulation that is supplied to 2 is created. Thereby, it is possible to fill the storage space 2 with the heated liquid particles in a short time.

  The mixing unit 19 is provided with temperature detecting means comprising a resistance temperature detector 24 (see FIG. 5) for detecting the temperature of the air-fuel mixture. Based on the detection result of the temperature detecting means, the control unit controls the temperature of the air-fuel mixture. It comes to control. The temperature control is performed by appropriately controlling the amount of power supplied from the power supply unit 17 to the boiler heater 16.

  Furthermore, in the footbath of this example, as a heating means different from the above-mentioned heating means for discharging the air-fuel mixture from the heating part 10, it is a side peripheral surface of the storage space part 2 of the main body part 1, and A heating unit 33 in which a heater member 30 is sandwiched between a back cover 31 and an upper cover 32 on a portion of the left and right legs facing the calves (that is, on the back side of the storage space 2) (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Is arranged. The heating unit 33 has a heating surface with a large area for heating both the left and right feet stored in the storage space unit 2, and is supplied with power from the power supply unit 17 in the heating unit 10. Thus, the heater member 30 is heated, and both feet are heated mainly through the calf through the heating surface.

  Further, a sheet-like radiation member 34 is provided on the front side of the upper cover 32 of the heating unit 33, and the heating surface of the heating unit 33 is further on the front side of the radiation member 34. A guard portion 35 is attached to prevent the foot from directly contacting the foot. The radiating member 34 is formed by applying an appropriate radiant paint to a sheet member having substantially the same area as the heater member 30 arranged in a planar shape, and the guard portion 35 substantially coincides with the radiating member 34. A plurality of through-holes 36 are formed in a planar plate-like member to form a substantially lattice shape.

  FIG. 7 shows the heating section 33 as viewed from the back side with the back cover 31 removed. As shown in the figure, the heater member 30 is provided with temperature detection means comprising a resistance temperature detector 37. The control unit controls the heater temperature based on the detection result of the temperature detection means. The temperature control is performed by appropriately controlling the amount of power supplied from the power supply unit 17 to the heater member 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an operation unit 41, which is an external controller for a user to input commands, is accommodated in an operation unit case 40 formed on the outer surface of the main body housing 3. The operation unit 41 is connected to the control unit by wire or wireless (wired in this example), and can arbitrarily select a heating mode desired by the user as well as turning on and off the power. The user can appropriately select a combination of output levels of the heating unit 10 and the heating unit 33 by operating the buttons on the operation unit 41. That is, according to the user's preference and situation, for example, a heating mode in which only the heating unit 10 is operated, a heating mode in which only the heating unit 33 is operated, and a heating mode in which the heating unit 10 and the heating unit 33 are simultaneously operated. In addition, when the heating unit 10 and the heating unit 33 are operated simultaneously, the combination of the strengths of the outputs can be selected as appropriate.

  Reference numeral 45 in the drawing is a drain button installed at a position below the liquid supply tank 9 in the front wall portion 14 of the heating unit housing 11. Further, reference numeral 46 in the figure denotes a drainage cup that is detachably attached to the front surface of the bottom of the main body housing 3, and when the drainage button 45 is pressed, the drainage mechanism 47 shown in FIG. The residual liquid in 10 is discharged into the drain cup 46.

  Thus, in the foot bath of this example having the above-described configuration, the power is supplied to the heating unit 10 by operating the button of the operation unit 41, so that the storage space is obtained by the thermal convection of the air-fuel mixture discharged from the heating unit 10. At the same time as heating the entire lower leg in the part 2, it is possible to effectively warm the calf part of the lower leg effectively by heat conduction and heat radiation from the heating part 33.

  Here, in this example, the heating unit 10 is disposed at a central position between the left and right footrests 7 and 8 in the storage space 2, so that a dead space when both feet are inserted is reduced. In addition to the effective use of the main body 1 and making the entire body compact, the heating part 10 itself is heated by the heating part housing 11 and the ribs 6 of the left and right footrest parts 7 and 8. It also plays a role of heating both left and right feet by conduction and heat radiation. In other words, the heating unit 10 is a mechanism for generating and releasing heated liquid particles. By arranging the heating unit 10 in a dead space in the storage space unit 2, heat conduction is performed using the residual heat generated when the heated liquid particles are generated. In addition, the inside of the left and right feet can be more effectively heated by heat radiation.

  There is a cutaneous vein called the great saphenous vein on the inner surface of the foot. It collects blood from the dorsal vein arch of the sole of the foot, travels subcutaneously on the inner surface, joins the femoral vein, and flows to the upper body. Therefore, by heating the inner part of the left and right legs (shaded area in FIG. 3) by heat conduction and heat radiation using the residual heat of the heating unit 10, the blood that flows back to the upper body is warmed and more efficiently. It is possible to convey warmth to the upper body.

  Condensation is likely to occur in the storage space 2, but the effect of preventing condensation due to heat conduction and heat radiation from the inside of the heating unit 10, and the storage space 2 is quickly dried after use. There is also an effect that it is easy to maintain hygiene. Since the ribs 6 of the left and right footrests 7 and 8 are provided between the foot and the heating unit 10, the foot is protected even if an abnormality occurs in the heating unit 10. It has become.

  In addition, by supplying power to the heating unit 33 by operating the button of the operation unit 41, the calf portions of both the left and right feet are further effective due to heat conduction and heat radiation performed from the heating unit 33 via the guard unit 35. Can be warmed. The heating part 33 is provided with a radiating member 34, and the guard part 35 is provided with a number of through-holes 36 penetrating from the heating part 33 side having the radiating member 34 toward the central side of the storage space part 2. The heating effect of the calf by heat radiation can be obtained with very high efficiency. Moreover, due to the presence of the guard portion 35, there is no concern that the foot will come into contact with the warming portion 33 to cause burns, and even in the storage space portion 2 where condensation water is liable to occur and the electrical insulation is low. The occurrence of an electric shock with the heating unit 33 is more reliably prevented.

  There is a cutaneous vein called the small saphenous vein on the calf side of the foot. This collects blood outside the foot, travels subcutaneously on the back of the lower leg (the calf side), and joins the popliteal vein. Compared with the knee side, it is more effective to heat this vein part that circulates to the upper body, so that the warmth can be transmitted to the upper body more effectively. By warming a special part, there is an area effect, and the warmth feeling felt by the whole body can be very high. Here, the “area effect” is an effect that, as a characteristic of a living body, a warmer feeling can be obtained more with a larger heated area even at the same temperature.

  The heating unit 10 is controlled based on the temperature of the air-fuel mixture detected by the resistance temperature detector 24, and the heating unit 33 is controlled based on the heater temperature detected from the resistance temperature detector 37. It can be heated safely and with a high feeling of use without becoming too hot or too warm. Here, it is possible to maintain the warmth of the user by energizing and controlling both or one of the heating unit 10 and the heating unit 33 such that the detected temperature changes periodically. In general, the living body adapts to a certain temperature stimulus immediately (accustomed), but has the property of reacting sensitively to the change. become.

  Although the output control of the heating unit 10 and the heating unit 33 may be performed separately and independently, it is effective for heating to be performed in conjunction with each other. At the same time, if it is controlled to end the energization, safer use becomes possible. The combination of the operation control of the heating unit 10 and the heating unit 33 can be appropriately selected by the operation unit 41 according to the user's preference or the like.

  Next, based on FIG. 8, the structure of the footbath of another example in the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to an above-described example structure, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted, and only the characteristic structure different from an example is explained in full detail below.

  In the footbath of this example, the heating part 33 having the heater member 30 is arranged on the entire bottom surface and side peripheral surface of the storage space part 2. In this way, the heating unit 33 is also arranged below the left and right footrests 7 and 8 in the storage space 2 and the energization control is performed, whereby the heating is performed via the left and right footrests 7 and 8. The entire sole is effectively heated by heat conduction and heat radiation generated from the portion 33. By effectively warming the entire sole from the toes that are easy to cool, the warming effect of the whole body is further improved.

  Moreover, since the heating part 33 is arranged in the whole from the front to the back even if it exists in the side peripheral surface of the storage space part 2, in addition to the heating by the thermal convection of the air-fuel mixture, the left and right lower leg parts Heating is performed very effectively by heat conduction and heat radiation from below and from the entire side. In this example, the left and right footrests 7 and 8 also serve as a guard portion that shields the warming portion 33 on the bottom side and the left and right feet.

  In addition, the heating part 33 should just be arrange | positioned in at least one of the bottom face and side peripheral surface of the storage space part 2, and it is effective to arrange | position in the back side like an example especially in a side peripheral surface. is there.

It is a top view of an example footbath in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which covered the cover of the footbath device same as the above. It is a top view which shows the state which open | released the front wall part of the footbath same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the state which open | released the front wall part of the footbath same as the above. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the state which accommodated the leg in the footbath same as the above. It is a disassembled perspective view of the heating part installed in a footbath same as the above. It is a rear view which shows the upper body which removed the back cover of the heating part same as the above. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the foot bath device of the other example in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Storage space portion 7 Left footrest portion 8 Right footrest portion 10 Heating portion 33 Heating portion 34 Radiation member 35 Guard portion 36 Through hole 41 Operation portion 50 Footrest portion

Claims (8)

An opening through which the foot is inserted, a storage space for storing the foot inserted through the opening, a footrest base for placing the foot installed and stored at the bottom of the storage space, and heating the liquid in footbath instrument the resulting heated liquid particles; and a heating portion for discharging the accommodation space portion Te, as the footrest portion, and a right foot stand portion for the left foot stand portion and the right foot for the left foot, The heating unit is disposed in a central position between the left footrest and the right footrest in the storage space, and the heating portion housing that forms the outer shell of the heating portion is formed in a box shape, and the heating liquid particles are The left and right side walls of the heating unit housing with the built-in boiler built in the center are placed upright from the bottom of the storage space, and the inner parts of the left and right feet are heated by the residual heat generated when heated liquid particles are generated. Foot bath featuring   The footbath according to claim 1, further comprising a heating unit that heats a foot stored in the storage space, separately from the heating unit.   The footbath according to claim 2, wherein the warming part is arranged on both or one of the bottom surface and the side peripheral surface of the storage space.   The footbath according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a guard portion for preventing the warming portion from coming into direct contact with the foot in the storage space.   The footbath according to claim 4, wherein the guard portion is provided with a through-hole penetrating from the heating portion side to the central portion of the storage space portion.   The footbath according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a radiation member is provided in the heating portion.   The temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the heating part and the heating part, and the control part for controlling the output of the heating part and the heating part based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means, The footbath according to any one of claims 2 to 6.   The footbath according to claim 7, further comprising an operation unit capable of selecting a combination of output levels of the heating unit and the heating unit.

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