JP7683385B2 - Hand washing counter - Google Patents

Description

The disclosed embodiment relates to a hand washing counter.

Conventionally, hand-washing counters used for hand-washing and washing the face have spaces (baggage storage areas) for users to place their baggage on, for example, the top surface of the counter (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-22030 A

However, in conventional hand washing counters such as those described above, the top surface of the counter is often wet due to splashes of water, and users may hesitate to place their belongings on the wet top surface. In such situations, unless a separate shelf or other space is provided for placing luggage, there is no place to place the luggage without getting it wet (hygienically).

Also, if there is a cabinet under the counter, the front of the cabinet is usually blocked off with a panel, so in this case too there is no place to put your luggage.

One aspect of the embodiment aims to provide a hand-washing counter that can provide a place to place baggage hygienically and can provide a place to place this baggage without incurring any cost.

A hand washing counter according to one embodiment includes a counter having a bowl portion and a cabinet provided below the counter, the cabinet having a front panel that covers the front surface of the cabinet and is inclined toward the rear, and a luggage placement portion in which a luggage placement surface is formed so as to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel.

With this configuration, the luggage placement surface is formed so as to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel, so that it is possible to prevent baggage placed on the luggage placement surface inside the cabinet from becoming wet. In other words, it is possible to provide a place where baggage can be placed without getting wet (hygienically). In addition, since there is no need to provide a separate shelf or the like for placing baggage, a place to place baggage can be provided at no cost.

In addition, the front of the cabinet is open due to the front panel being tilted backwards, allowing the user to get closer to the hand washing counter.

In addition, in the hand washing counter described above, the front panel can move between the inclined state and a vertical state in which the front panel is installed vertically.

With this configuration, when the luggage rack is not in use, the front panel remains upright, so the appearance is not marred, and when the luggage rack is in use, a space for placing luggage (a place to place luggage) can be easily created by simply tilting the front panel backwards.

In addition, in the hand-washing counter described above, the luggage placement surface is located behind the front panel when in the vertical position.

With this configuration, when the luggage surface is not in use, it is covered by the front panel in a vertical position, preventing the luggage surface from getting wet.

In addition, in the hand washing counter described above, the front panel is provided with a handhold for users to place their hands on.

With this configuration, the user can move the front panel by placing their fingers on the grips. This makes it easy to move the front panel.

According to one aspect of the embodiment, a place where baggage can be placed hygienically can be provided, and this place for placing baggage can be provided at no cost.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (part 1) showing a hand washing counter according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view (part 2) showing the hand washing counter according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion B in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating the operation of the front panel. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the front panel (part 2). FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a hand washing counter according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a first modified example of the hand washing counter according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a second modified example of the hand washing counter according to the second embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the hand washing counter disclosed in this application will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown below.

First Embodiment
A hand-washing counter 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hand-washing counter 1 according to the first embodiment, showing the case where the front panel 31 is in a vertical state. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hand-washing counter 1 according to the first embodiment, showing the case where the front panel 31 is in an inclined state.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 2 (a central cross-sectional view in the left-right direction of the hand-washing counter 1 according to the first embodiment). Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part B in Figure 3 (an enlarged view of the upper end of the front panel 31). Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part C in Figure 3 (an enlarged view of the lower end of the front panel 31).

Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the front panel 31, specifically, when the front panel 31 is operated from a vertical state to a tilted state. Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the front panel 31, specifically, when the front panel 31 is operated from a tilted state to a vertical state.

In addition, each figure shows a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system including the Z axis, with the positive direction being vertically upward (upward). For ease of explanation, the positive direction of the X axis is defined as the left, the negative direction of the X axis as the right, the positive direction of the Y axis as the forward direction, and the negative direction of the Y axis as the backward direction. For this reason, the X axis direction will be referred to as the left-right direction, the Y axis direction as the front-back direction, and the Z axis direction as the up-down direction.

The hand-washing counter 1 is installed, for example, in a toilet room and is used by users to wash their hands after using the toilet or to wash their faces. The hand-washing counter 1 is installed with its rear surface tightly attached to a wall of the toilet room or the like.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, hand-washing counter 1 comprises counter 2 and cabinet 3. Counter 2 is made of ceramic, for example, and is provided above cabinet 3, which will be described later. Counter 2 comprises top surface 21 and front surface 22. Top surface 21 is a horizontal surface. Note that in this specification, "horizontal" is not limited to strictly horizontal, but includes approximately horizontal. Top surface 21 may be a surface that slopes downward, for example, toward the user using hand-washing counter 1, i.e., toward the front.

The front surface 22 is a vertical surface that continues from the front end side of the top surface 21. Note that in this specification, "vertical" is not limited to being strictly vertical, but also includes being approximately vertical.

The counter 2 also includes a bowl portion 23. The bowl portion 23 is made of ceramic, for example, and is formed in a concave shape on the top surface 21 of the counter 2 to receive water discharged from a water outlet (not shown) located, for example, at the rear upper part of the bowl portion 23. The bowl portion 23 is formed integrally with the top surface 21 of the counter 2. Note that the bowl portion 23 may be a type that is separate from the top surface 21 of the counter 2 and is attached to the top surface 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bowl portion 23 has a drain outlet 231 formed in the bottom thereof to which the drain pipe 4 is connected. The bowl portion 23 discharges water from the water outlet through the drain outlet 231 to the drain pipe 4.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cabinet 3 is provided below the counter 2. The cabinet 3 is generally rectangular box-shaped and includes a front panel 31, a sub-front panel 32, a side panel 33, a bottom panel 34, and a back plate 35.

The front panel (also called the main front panel) 31 is a rectangular plate-like member that is disposed on the front surface of the cabinet 3 and covers the front surface of the cabinet 3. The front panel 31 is movable between a vertical state (see FIG. 1) in which it is installed vertically so as to cover the front surface of the cabinet 3, and an inclined state (see FIG. 2) in which it is retracted (inclined backward) toward the inside (rear side) of the cabinet 3 so as to open the front surface of the cabinet 3. Details of the front panel 31 will be described later using FIGS. 3 to 7.

The sub-front panel 32 is disposed on the front of the cabinet 3 and below the front panel (main front panel) 31. It is a rectangular plate-shaped member that covers the front of the cabinet 3 together with the front panel 31. The sub-front panel 32 is also a decorative material that hides the legs 36 (described later) so that they cannot be seen from the front of the cabinet 3.

The side panels 33 are rectangular plate-shaped members that are disposed on the left and right sides of the cabinet 3 and cover the left and right sides of the cabinet 3. Note that a plurality of (two) legs 36 are provided in a line in the front-to-rear direction on the lower portion (lower surface) of each of the left and right side panels 33. The legs 36 are made of metal, for example. Note that, as described above, the legs 36 are hidden by the sub-front panel 32 so that they are not visible from the front of the cabinet 3.

The front panel 31 is disposed between the left and right side panels 33 on the front side of the cabinet 3.

The bottom panel 34 is disposed at the bottom of the cabinet 3 and is a rectangular plate-like member that forms the bottom surface of the cabinet 3. The bottom panel 34 is located above the sub-front panel 32, and its upper surface 341 forms a horizontal surface. The upper surface 341 of the bottom panel 34 becomes the luggage placement surface 341 of the luggage placement section 37 described below. In addition, a stopper portion 38 (see FIG. 3), described below, is provided on the upper surface (luggage placement surface) 341 of the bottom panel 34.

The backplate 35 is disposed on the rear surface of the cabinet 3. The backplate 35 is a rectangular plate-shaped member, and as shown in FIG. 3, is disposed between the left and right side panels 33 at the upper and lower parts of the rear surface of the cabinet 3. The backplate 35 is suspended between the left and right side panels 33, and serves as a reinforcing member that reinforces the cabinet 3.

The back plate 35 may be a panel member that covers the entire rear surface of the cabinet 3. Also, since the rear surface of the cabinet 3 is in close contact with the wall surface of a toilet room or the like, the cabinet 3 may not be provided with a back plate 35.

The front panel 31, the sub-front panel 32, the side panel 33, the bottom panel 34, and the back plate 35 are made of, for example, wood, resin, or metal. The front panel 31, the sub-front panel 32, the side panel 33, the bottom panel 34, and the back plate 35 may also be made of materials other than those mentioned above.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cabinet 3 further includes a luggage placement section 37. The luggage placement section 37 includes a luggage placement surface 341 (upper surface of the bottom panel 34) on which a user of the hand-washing counter 1 can place his or her baggage HB (see Figure 2).

The luggage placement surface 341 is located behind the front panel 31 when the front panel 31 is in a vertical position, and when the front panel 31 is tilted backwards, the front of the cabinet 3 is opened and appears at the front of the cabinet 3. The luggage placement surface 341 is a surface formed to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel 31.

Now, the front panel 31 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 3 to 7. As shown in Figure 3, the front panel 31 is movable between a vertical state in which it is installed vertically and a state in which the lower end side of the front panel 31 moves toward the inside of the cabinet 3 and is tilted backwards (tilted state). In other words, the front panel 31 can be changed from a vertical state to a tilted state and from the tilted state to a vertical state.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, when the front panel 31 is in the vertical position, the engagement parts 311a and 311b (described later) engage with each other, so that the front panel 31 is suspended from the front surface of the cabinet 3. When the front panel 31 is in the tilted position, the upper end of the front panel 31 is fixed to the front surface of the cabinet 3 by the engagement parts 311a and 311b, and the lower end of the front panel 31 is fixed to the rear of the luggage surface 341 by the stopper part 38.

The front panel 31 has an engagement portion (hereinafter referred to as the first hook) 311a at its upper end. The first hook 311a holds the front panel 31 in a suspended state by engaging with an engagement portion (hereinafter referred to as the second hook) 311b provided on the rear surface of the front surface 22 of the counter 2. The first hooks 311a are provided continuously in the left-right direction along the upper edge of the front panel 31. Note that multiple first hooks 311a may be provided intermittently in the left-right direction.

Similarly, the second hooks 311b may be provided continuously in the left-right direction, or may be provided intermittently in a plurality of hooks in the left-right direction to correspond to the first hooks 311a that are provided intermittently in the left-right direction. The first hooks 311a and the second hooks 311b are made of a light metal such as an aluminum alloy.

The front panel 31 also has a grip 312 at its lower end for a user to hook their fingers onto. The grip 312 forms the lower end of the front panel 31 and is provided continuously in the left-right direction. The grip 312 has a recess 312a formed on its front surface into which the user can insert their fingers. The recess 312a is formed continuously in the left-right direction on the front surface of the grip 312. The grip 312 is made of a light metal, such as an aluminum alloy.

As described above, the rear of the luggage surface 341 is provided with a stopper portion 38 that engages the lower end portion (handhold portion 312) of the front panel 31 in order to hold the front panel 31 in an inclined state. The stopper portion 38 is provided, for example, in the form of a rail that continues in the left-right direction. Note that the stopper portion 38 may be provided in multiple portions at intervals in the left-right direction at the rear of the luggage surface 341, or may be provided only in a portion of the rear of the luggage surface 341.

The stopper portion 38 is formed so that its side cross section has a U-shape that is open at the top. The lower end portion of the front panel 31 (handhold portion 312) is inserted into the stopper portion 38 from above, thereby fixing the lower end portion of the front panel 31 and holding the front panel 31 in an inclined state. The stopper portion 38 is made of, for example, resin.

The stopper portion 38 only needs to function to hold the front panel 31 in an inclined state, and may be, for example, a simple rectangular plate-like member made of resin or the like that is continuous in the left-right direction or that is arranged intermittently along the left-right direction. Even if such a member is used, the front panel 31 can be held in an inclined state by friction. Alternatively, the front panel 31 may be held in an inclined state by directly abutting the lower end of the front panel 31 against the luggage placement surface 341 without providing the stopper portion 38.

When the hand-washing counter 1 is not in use, for example, the front panel 31 is in a vertical position, and the front of the cabinet 3 is closed by the front panel 31. When a user of the hand-washing counter 1 washes their hands or washes their face, they move the front panel 31, for example, with the hand that is not holding the baggage HB, to create a space (luggage placement section 37) for placing the baggage HB.

In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 6 (left side), the user inserts his/her fingers into the recess 312a of the grip portion 312 and lifts the front panel 31 upward (in the direction D1). This disengages the first hook 311a from the second hook 311b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (center), the user pushes the lower end (handle portion 312) of the front panel 31, which has been raised higher than the luggage placement surface 341, backward (in the direction of D2).

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (right side), the user lowers the lower end portion (handhold portion 312) of the front panel 31 downward (in the direction D3) to engage the lower end portion (handhold portion 312) of the front panel 31 with the stopper portion 38, and engages the first hook 311a with the second hook 311b. This causes the front panel 31 to be inclined.

In this way, when the user uses the hand-washing counter 1, the user creates a luggage placement surface 341 on which to place luggage HB (see Figure 2) by tilting the front panel 31.

When the user of the hand-washing counter 1 has finished washing their hands or washing their face, they pick up their baggage HB again and move the front panel 31, for example, with the hand that is not holding the baggage HB, to return the front panel 31 to its original state (vertical state).

In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 7 (left side), the user inserts his/her finger into the recess 312a of the grip portion 312 and lifts the front panel 31 upward (in the direction of D4). This disengages the lower end portion (grip portion 312) of the front panel 31 from the stopper portion 38, and disengages the first hook 311a from the second hook 311b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (center), the user pulls back the lower end portion (handle portion 312) of the front panel 31 forward (in the direction D5).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (right side), the user lowers the lower end portion (handle portion 312) of the front panel 31 downward (in the direction D6) to engage the first hook 311a with the second hook 311b. This brings the front panel 31 into a vertical position.

In this way, when the user has finished using the hand-washing counter 1, he or she operates the front panel 31 to a vertical position so that the luggage placement surface 341 is not exposed at the front of the cabinet 3 (see Figure 1).

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the luggage placement surface 341 is formed so as to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel 31, so that it is possible to prevent the luggage HB placed on the luggage placement surface 341 on the inside of the cabinet 3 from becoming wet (from getting water on the luggage HB). In other words, it is possible to provide a place where the luggage HB can be placed without getting wet (hygienically). In addition, since there is no need to provide a separate shelf or the like for placing the luggage HB, a place to place the luggage HB can be provided at no cost.

In addition, the front of the cabinet 3 is open due to the front panel 31 being tilted backwards, allowing the user to get closer to the hand washing counter 1.

When the luggage placement surface 341 is not in use, the appearance is not marred by the vertical front panel 31, and when the luggage placement surface 341 is in use, a space for placing baggage HB (a place to place baggage HB) can be easily created by simply tilting the front panel 31 backwards.

In addition, when the luggage placement surface 341 is not in use, it is covered by the front panel 31 in the vertical position. In other words, the luggage placement surface 341 is only exposed when it is in use, so that the luggage placement surface 341 can be prevented from getting wet.

In addition, when the front panel 31 is in the vertical position, the lower end of the front panel 31 is positioned below the luggage placement surface 341, which further prevents the luggage placement surface 341 from getting wet.

In addition, the user can move the front panel 31 by hooking their fingers on the grip portion 312, which allows the front panel 31 to be moved easily.

<Modification of the First Embodiment>
In the first embodiment described above, the front panel 31 is configured to be movable between a vertical state and an inclined state by engaging the first hook 311a and the second hook 311b, which are the engaging portions. However, for example, the upper end of the front panel 31 may be configured as a hinge structure so that the front panel 31 can swing in the forward and backward directions.

In this case, the vertical dimensions of the front panel 31 are set so that, in the vertical position, its bottom end is positioned above the luggage placement surface 341.

In this case, it is preferable that the front panel 31 be biased in a direction returning to the vertical state.

With this configuration, the luggage placement surface 341 is formed to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel 31, so that it is possible to prevent the luggage HB placed on the luggage placement surface 341, which is the inside of the cabinet 3, from becoming wet. In other words, it is possible to provide a place where the luggage HB can be placed without getting wet (hygienically). In addition, since there is no need to provide a separate shelf or the like for placing the luggage HB, a place to place the luggage HB can be provided at no cost.

In addition, the front of the cabinet 3 is open due to the front panel 31 being tilted backwards, allowing the user to get closer to the hand washing counter 1.

When the luggage placement surface 341 is not in use, the appearance is not marred by the vertical front panel 31, and when the luggage placement surface 341 is in use, a space for placing baggage HB (a place to place baggage HB) can be easily created by simply tilting the front panel 31 backwards.

In addition, when the luggage placement surface 341 is not in use, it is covered by the front panel 31 in the vertical position, which prevents the luggage placement surface 341 from getting wet.

In addition, the luggage placement surface 341 can be created simply by pushing the front panel 31 backwards, and the weight of the luggage HB can be used to hold the front panel 31 in an inclined position.

In addition, since the front panel 31 is biased in a direction returning to a vertical state, when the user removes the baggage HB from the luggage placement surface 341, the front panel 31 automatically returns to a vertical state.

Second Embodiment
A hand-washing counter 10 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the hand-washing counter 10 according to the second embodiment.

The hand washing counter 10 according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the front panel 310. For this reason, in the second embodiment described below, the same reference numerals are used for the same or equivalent parts as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions of the same or equivalent parts are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the hand-washing counter 10 has a front panel 310. The front panel 310 is inclined toward the rear. Thus, the hand-washing counter 10 has a recess (luggage placement section 37) on the front surface of the cabinet 3, which is formed by the front panel 310 inclined toward the rear. A luggage placement surface 341 is formed so as to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel 310.

According to the second embodiment, the luggage placement surface 341 is formed so as to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel 310, so that it is possible to prevent the baggage HB (see FIG. 2) placed on the luggage placement surface 341 on the inside of the cabinet 3 from becoming wet (see FIG. 2). In other words, it is possible to provide a place where the baggage HB can be placed without getting wet (hygienically). In addition, since there is no need to provide a separate shelf or the like for placing the baggage HB, a place to place the baggage HB can be provided at no cost.

In addition, the front of the cabinet 3 is open due to the front panel 310 being tilted backwards, allowing the user to get closer to the hand washing counter 10.

<Modification of the second embodiment>
A modified example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a first modified example (hand-washing counter 10A) of hand-washing counter 10 according to the second embodiment. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a second modified example (hand-washing counter 10B) of hand-washing counter 10 according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the hand washing counter 10A of the first modified example has a front panel 310A. The front panel 310A is inclined toward the rear and has a curved surface that bulges toward the rear.

With this configuration, the luggage placement surface 341 is formed to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel 310A, so that it is possible to prevent the luggage HB (see FIG. 2) placed on the luggage placement surface 341 on the inside of the cabinet 3 from becoming wet (see FIG. 2). In other words, it is possible to provide a place where the luggage HB can be placed without getting wet (hygienically). In addition, since there is no need to provide a separate shelf or the like for placing the luggage HB, a place to place the luggage HB can be provided at no cost.

In addition, the front of the cabinet 3 is open due to the front panel 310A being tilted backwards, allowing the user to get closer to the hand washing counter 10A.

In addition, in the first modified example, the front panel 310A has a curved surface that bulges backward, which allows the volume of the recessed luggage compartment 37 to be increased. This makes it possible to accommodate even large pieces of luggage HB.

As shown in FIG. 10, the hand washing counter 10B of the second modified example has a front panel 310B. The front panel 310B is inclined toward the rear and has multiple surfaces (two in the illustrated example).

With this configuration, the luggage placement surface 341 is formed to extend forward from the lower end side of the front panel 310B, so that it is possible to prevent the luggage HB (see FIG. 2) placed on the luggage placement surface 341 on the inside of the cabinet 3 from becoming wet (see FIG. 2). In other words, it is possible to provide a place where the luggage HB can be placed without getting wet (hygienically). In addition, since there is no need to provide a separate shelf or the like for placing the luggage HB, a place to place the luggage HB can be provided at no cost.

In addition, the front of the cabinet 3 is open due to the front panel 310B being tilted backwards, allowing the user to get closer to the hand washing counter 10B.

Also, in the second variant, the volume of the recessed luggage compartment 37 can be made large, making it possible to accommodate even large pieces of luggage HB.

Further advantages and modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Reference Signs List 1 hand washing counter 2 counter 3 cabinet 23 bowl section 31 front panel 37 luggage placement section 312 handhold section 341 luggage placement surface

Claims (3)

A counter having a bowl portion;
A cabinet provided below the counter,
The cabinet comprises:
a front panel that is movable between a vertical state and an inclined state and that is in the inclined state when a lower end of the front panel moves toward an inside of the cabinet;
A hand-washing counter characterized by having a luggage placement section in which a luggage placement surface is formed extending forward from the lower end side of the front panel in the inclined state . The luggage placement surface is
The hand washing counter according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is located behind the front panel in the vertical position. The hand washing counter according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the front panel is provided with a handhold portion on which a user can place their hands.

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