U.S. patent application number 12/678744 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-16 for automatic bathing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Dong Mook OH, Il Mook OH.
Application Number | 20110142529 12/678744 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40468571 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110142529 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OH; Il Mook ; et
al. |
June 16, 2011 |
AUTOMATIC BATHING APPARATUS
Abstract
An automatic bathing apparatus that can automatically bath a
body, and more particularly to, an automatic bathing apparatus that
can automatically and easily soap massage and take a bath when a
bathing device contacts with a body by generating a rotation motion
using electricity, transferring the rotation motion to a flexible
shaft, and automatically rotating a bathing device, is provided.
The automatic bathing apparatus includes: a motor (19) that
generates a rotation motion; a first flexible shaft (3) and a
second flexible shaft (7) that transfer a rotation motion of the
motor (19) and that are disposed in a single line; a relay (5) that
is provided between the first flexible shaft (3) and the second
flexible shaft (7) and that disconnects or connects transfer of a
rotation motion; a bathing device (8); and a driver (9) that
receives a rotation motion of the second flexible shaft (7) to
drive the bathing device (8).
Inventors: |
OH; Il Mook; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; OH; Dong Mook; (Yongin-si, KR) |
Family ID: |
40468571 |
Appl. No.: |
12/678744 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
September 4, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2008/005209 |
371 Date: |
October 20, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/268 ;
15/21.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 2201/1685 20130101;
A46B 7/04 20130101; E03C 1/0409 20130101; E03C 1/055 20130101; A61H
2201/018 20130101; A47K 7/04 20130101; A46B 13/06 20130101; A46B
9/005 20130101; A61H 7/005 20130101; E03C 1/0408 20130101; A46B
2200/1006 20130101; A61H 23/0263 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/268 ;
15/21.1 |
International
Class: |
A47K 7/04 20060101
A47K007/04; A46B 11/00 20060101 A46B011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 17, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0093980 |
Claims
1. An automatic bathing apparatus comprising: a rotation means that
generates a rotation motion; first and second flexible shaft means
that transfer a rotation motion of the rotation means; a relay
means that is installed between the first flexible shaft means and
the second flexible shaft means and that disconnects or transfers
the rotation motion of the rotation means; and a driving means
comprising a bathing means and that receives the rotation motion
transferred from the second flexible shaft means to drive the
bathing means.
2. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotation
means comprises: a motor that generates a rotation motion; a motor
housing that has the motor therein; and a multiple transfer means
that receives the rotation motion of the motor and that transfers
the rotation motion in a plurality of directions of the outside of
the motor housing, the multiple transfer means comprises: a
rotation transfer shaft that receives a rotation motion of the
motor; a plurality of driving power transfer means that are formed
in the rotation transfer shaft; a driven power transfer means that
interlocks with the driving power transfer means; and a fixing
means that is fixed within the motor housing to revolve the driven
power transfer means.
3. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first
and second flexible shaft means comprise: a hollow pipe: a
connecting member that is provided at both ends of the pipe; and a
flexible shaft that is disposed within the pipe, wherein a hooking
means that allows to rotate together by hooking is formed at both
end parts of the flexible shaft.
4. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the relay
means comprises a connector means that disconnects or transfers a
rotation motion, the connector means comprises: a coupling member
that is formed detachably to the relay means; a hooking means that
allows to rotate together by hooking to a rotation motion of the
relay means; a gear means that receives a rotation motion from the
hooking means and that transfers the rotation motion to the second
flexible shaft means; and an idle rotation means that idles the
rotation motion transferred to the gear means when an overload in
the rotation motion transferred to the second flexible shaft means
occurs.
5. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the idle
rotation means comprises: a driving transfer member that transfers
a rotation motion; a driven transfer member that receives the
rotation motion of the driving transfer member to transfer the
rotation motion to the second flexible shaft means; and an idle
rotation induction means that is formed at each of contact surfaces
of the driving transfer member and the driven transfer member and
that connects a rotation motion or induces an idle rotation by an
cooperation, the idle rotation induction means comprises: a hooking
member that is formed at one end of the driving transfer member to
transfer a rotation motion; and a hooked member that is formed at
one end of the driven transfer member to receive a rotation motion
by hooking of the hooking member.
6. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the idle
rotation induction means comprises: a bar that receives a rotation
motion in an upper part of the driving transfer member; a disk that
is vertically formed about the bar in a lower part of the driving
transfer member; and a plurality of elastic pieces that have a
protrusion that has vertically elasticity in a lower surface of the
disk and whose end part faces in a lower direction.
7. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the driven
transfer member comprises: a cylinder that receives the driving
transfer member; a disk in which a plurality of protrusions
contacting with a protrusion of the elastic piece are formed in a
bottom surface corresponding to a lower surface of the driving
transfer member; and a coupling means that is connected to the
second flexible shaft means in a lower part of the disc.
8. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the idle
rotation induction means comprises: a bar that receives a rotation
motion in an upper part of the driving transfer member; a disk that
is vertically formed about the bar in a lower part of the driving
transfer member; and a plurality of elastic pieces that have a
protrusion that is formed in a periphery of an outer side surface
of the disk and has elasticity in a direction opposite to the
center of the disk, and that faces in a direction opposite to the
center of the disk.
9. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the driven
transfer member comprises: a cylinder that receives the driving
transfer member; a disc in which a plurality of protrusions
contacting with the protrusion of the elastic piece are formed in
an inner side surface corresponding to an outer side surface of the
driving transfer member; and a coupling means that is connected to
the second flexible shaft means in a lower part of the disk.
10. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the relay
means comprises: a power transfer means that transfers a rotation
motion; a casing that has the power transfer means therein; and a
fixing means that is fixed within the casing to revolve the power
transfer means.
11. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the power
transfer means comprises a plurality of bevel gear assemblies, a
bearing is provided in an outer circumferential surface of each of
the plurality of bevel gear assemblies, and a coupling means that
connects a rotation motion is formed in each bevel gear
assembly.
12. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fixing
means comprises: an inserting member that inserts a plurality of
bevel gear assemblies so that the plurality of bevel gear
assemblies may revolve; and an attaching member that attaches and
fixes the fixing means within the casing.
13. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the
inserting member and the attaching member are integrally formed in
the fixing means.
14. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fixing
means comprises: an arrival member that arrives a plurality of
bevel gear assemblies so that a plurality of bevel gear assemblies
may revolve in a bottom surface within the casing; and a cover that
is fastened to the arrival member and that fixes the bevel gear
unit assembly so that the bevel gear unit assembly may perform an
idle rotation.
15. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the relay
means comprises: a power transfer means that transfers a rotation
motion; a coupling means that couples the first flexible shaft
means and the connector means at one end of the power transfer
means and at the other end of a straight line thereof,
respectively; a bearing that is formed in a peripheral surface of
the power transfer means; and a casing that has the power transfer
means therein so that the power transfer means may revolve by the
bearing.
16. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a switch
that controls an electric device of the rotation means is installed
in the relay means.
17. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the
flexible shaft has a spring shape.
18. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 17, wherein a tip
means is installed at one end or both ends of the flexible shaft,
wherein the tip means comprises: an insertion part whose one end is
inserted into a spring to be mounted in an inner circumference
surface of the spring; a hooked means whose the other end is
exposed to outside to receive a rotation motion; and a fixing pipe
that is fitted and coupled to an outer circumference surface of a
spring enclosing the insertion part to fix both the spring and the
insertion part.
19. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving
means comprises: a driving bevel gear means that receives a
rotation motion from the second flexible shaft means; a driven
bevel gear means that interlocks with the driving bevel gear means;
a rotation shaft that is detachably attached to the bathing means
and that is formed in the driven bevel gear means; a packing means
that is mounted in a periphery of the rotation shaft and that
suppresses permeation of water; a water discharge means that
discharges water within the driving means to the outside; and a
length adjustment means that adjusts a length of the driving
means.
20. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
driving means comprises a lubricating oil supply means that
supplies lubricating oil to the rotation shaft, the lubricating oil
supply means comprises: a lubricating oil storage that is formed
within the rotation shaft; a supply passage that supplies
lubricating oil of the lubricating oil storage to the outside of
the rotation shaft; and an oil feeder that supplies lubricating oil
to the lubricating oil storage is formed in an end part of the
rotation shaft.
21. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
driving means comprises a packing pressing means that presses the
packing means.
22. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the water
discharge means comprises: a through hole that is perforated in a
rotation shaft direction of the driving means; and a stopper that
is mounted in the through hole, wherein the through hole is used as
a check hole for checking the inside of the driving means or for
checking lubricating oil in the driving bevel gear means and the
driven bevel gear means.
23. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
driving means comprises a bathing device protection means for
protecting the bathing means, and the bathing device protection
means comprises: a bathing device cover that encloses the bathing
means; and a coupling member that detachably couples the bathing
device cover to the driving means.
24. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the length
adjustment means comprises a guide pipe that is vertically moved to
a handle and an inner circumference surface of the handle to adjust
a length thereof, and the handle comprises a guide pipe whose
length is adjusted and a fixing means that fixes the handle.
25. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 24, wherein the fixing
means comprises: a drum type means in which a hooked means is
formed in an outer circumference surface thereof and in which a
circular edge formed in each of a vertical end parts is deviated
from the center of a circle; and a ring means that rotates in an
outer circumference surface of the drum type means and that has an
opening in which a part of a circle is opened and in which a
hooking protrusion hooked by contacting with the hooked means is
formed in one end or both ends of the opening, and that the center
of a circle is deviated.
26. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the ring
means has a shape whose cross-section gradually decreases when
advancing in the directions of both end parts of the opening, or a
shape whose cross-section gradually increases when advancing in
directions of both end parts of the opening.
27. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein in the
driving means, the guide pipe and a handle disposed in an outer
circumference surface of the guide pipe have a curved shape, and
the handle is slidably moved along the guide pipe toward the second
flexible shaft means.
28. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
driving means comprises: a coupling means in which other operation
device means is coupled to a peripheral surface of the rotation
shaft to which the bathing means is detachably attached and that
has a cross-section of a cylindrical shape; and a fastening member
that is detachably fastened to other operation device means in an
outer circumference surface of the coupling means.
29. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
driving means comprises: a hand hooking means that uses by hooking
a hand; a hand hooking device that adjusts a length of the hand
hooking means and that hooks the hand; and a plurality of attaching
means in which a hooked means that hooks the hand hooking device is
formed at one end thereof and that are detachably attached to the
driving means at the other end thereof.
30. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 19, wherein an
interior angle between a central axis of the driving bevel gear and
a central axis of the driven bevel gear is an acute angle.
31. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a part of
the rotation means and the relay means is embedded, and a part or
an entire part of the first flexible shaft means is embedded.
32. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising
a rotation means embedded box that has a rotation means whose
opening is formed in one side surface therein, wherein at one side
of the rotation means embedded box, a hole through which an
electric wire passes; a passage that is connected to the first
flexible shaft means at the other end thereof; and a fixing member
that fixes each of a periphery of an opening of the rotation means
embedded box and the rotation means are formed.
33. The automatic bathing, apparatus of claim 1, further comprising
a relay means embedded box that has a relay means in which an
opening is formed in one side surface, wherein at one side of the
relay means embedded box, a passage that is connected to the first
flexible shaft means; and a fixing member that fixes each of a
periphery of an opening of the relay means embedded box and the
relay means are formed.
34. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 32, further
comprising: a guide pipe for connecting the rotation means embedded
box and the relay means embedded box; and a connecting member that
fixes connection among the rotation means embedded box, the guide
pipe, and the relay means embedded box, in order to have and guide
the first flexible shaft means.
35. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bathing
means is one of a brush, a sponge, and a scrubber having a recess
shape in order to increase a degree in which a bathing portion
close contacts with a curved line of a skin.
36. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving
means comprises: an ejection means that is disposed adjacently to
the bathing means to eject water of a tap; and a water supply pipe
that transfers water of the tap to the ejection means, wherein an
outlet of the ejection means faces the bathing means and is formed
in the handle.
37. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the relay
means comprises a connector means that disconnects or transfers a
rotation motion, the connector means comprises: a coupling member
that is formed detachably to the relay means; a hooking means that
allows to rotate together by hooking to a rotation motion of the
relay means; a gear means that receives a rotation motion from the
hooking means and that transfers the rotation motion to the second
flexible shaft means; and an idle rotation means that idles the
rotation motion transferred to the gear means when an overload in
the rotation motion transferred to the second flexible shaft means
occurs.
38. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 37, wherein the idle
rotation means comprises: a driving transfer member that transfers
a rotation motion; a driven transfer member that receives the
rotation motion of the driving transfer member to transfer the
rotation motion to the second flexible shaft means; and an idle
rotation induction means that is formed at each of contact surfaces
of the driving transfer member and the driven transfer member and
that connects a rotation motion or induces an idle rotation by an
cooperation, the idle rotation induction means comprises: a hooking
member that is formed at one end of the driving transfer member to
transfer a rotation motion; and a hooked member that is formed at
one end of the driven transfer member to receive a rotation motion
by hooking of the hooking member.
39. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 38, wherein the idle
rotation induction means comprises: a bar that receives a rotation
motion in an upper part of the driving transfer member; a disk that
is vertically formed about the bar in a lower part of the driving
transfer member; and a plurality of elastic pieces that have a
protrusion that has vertically elasticity in a lower surface of the
disk and whose end part faces in a lower direction.
40. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the driven
transfer member comprises: a cylinder that receives the driving
transfer member; a disk in which a plurality of protrusions
contacting with a protrusion of the elastic piece are formed in a
bottom surface corresponding to a lower surface of the driving
transfer member; and a coupling means that is connected to the
second flexible shaft means in a lower part of the disc.
41. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 39, wherein the driven
transfer member comprises: a cylinder that receives the driving
transfer member; a disk in which a plurality of protrusions
contacting with a protrusion of the elastic piece are formed in a
bottom surface corresponding to a lower surface of the driving
transfer member; and a coupling means that is connected to the
second flexible shaft means in a lower part of the disc.
42. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 38, wherein the driven
transfer member comprises: a cylinder that receives the driving
transfer member; a disk in which a plurality of protrusions
contacting with a protrusion of the elastic piece are formed in a
bottom surface corresponding to a lower surface of the driving
transfer member; and a coupling means that is connected to the
second flexible shaft means in a lower part of the disc.
43. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 38, wherein the idle
rotation induction means comprises: a bar that receives a rotation
motion in an upper part of the driving transfer member; a disk that
is vertically formed about the bar in a lower part of the driving
transfer member; and a plurality of elastic pieces that have a
protrusion that is formed in a periphery of an outer side surface
of the disk and has elasticity in a direction opposite to the
center of the disk, and that faces in a direction opposite to the
center of the disk.
44. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the driven
transfer member comprises: a cylinder that receives the driving
transfer member; a disc in which a plurality of protrusions
contacting with the protrusion of the elastic piece are formed in
an inner side surface corresponding to an outer side surface of the
driving transfer member; and a coupling means that is connected to
the second flexible shaft means in a lower part of the disk.
45. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 43, wherein the driven
transfer member comprises: a cylinder that receives the driving
transfer member; a disc in which a plurality of protrusions
contacting with the protrusion of the elastic piece are formed in
an inner side surface corresponding to an outer side surface of the
driving transfer member; and a coupling means that is connected to
the second flexible shaft means in a lower part of the disk.
46. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 38, wherein the driven
transfer member comprises: a cylinder that receives the driving
transfer member; a disc in which a plurality of protrusions
contacting with the protrusion of the elastic piece are formed in
an inner side surface corresponding to an outer side surface of the
driving transfer member; and a coupling means that is connected to
the second flexible shaft means in a lower part of the disk.
47. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the relay
means comprises: a power transfer means that transfers a rotation
motion; a casing that has the power transfer means therein; and a
fixing means that is fixed within the casing to revolve the power
transfer means.
48. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 47, wherein the power
transfer means comprises a plurality of bevel gear assemblies, a
bearing is provided in an outer circumferential surface of each of
the plurality of bevel gear assemblies, and a coupling means that
connects a rotation motion is formed in each bevel gear
assembly.
49. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 48, wherein the fixing
means comprises: an inserting member that inserts a plurality of
bevel gear assemblies so that the plurality of bevel gear
assemblies may revolve; and an attaching member that attaches and
fixes the fixing means within the casing.
50. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 49, wherein the
inserting member and the attaching member are integrally formed in
the fixing means.
51. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 47, wherein the fixing
means comprises: an arrival member that arrives a plurality of
bevel gear assemblies so that a plurality of bevel gear assemblies
may revolve in a bottom surface within the casing; and a cover that
is fastened to the arrival member and that fixes the bevel gear
unit assembly so that the bevel gear unit assembly may perform an
idle rotation.
52. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the relay
means comprises: a power transfer means that transfers a rotation
motion; a coupling means that couples the first flexible shaft
means and the connector means at one end of the power transfer
means and at the other end of a straight line thereof,
respectively; a bearing that is formed in a peripheral surface of
the power transfer means; and a casing that has the power transfer
means therein so that the power transfer means may revolve by the
bearing.
53. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 2, wherein a switch
that controls an electric device of the rotation means is installed
in the relay means.
54. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the driving
means comprises: a driving bevel gear means that receives a
rotation motion from the second flexible shaft means; a driven
bevel gear means that interlocks with the driving bevel gear means;
a rotation shaft that is detachably attached to the bathing means
and that is formed in the driven bevel gear means; a packing means
that is mounted in a periphery of the rotation shaft and that
suppresses permeation of water; a water discharge means that
discharges water within the driving means to the outside; and a
length adjustment means that adjusts a length of the driving
means.
55. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein the
driving means comprises a lubricating oil supply means that
supplies lubricating oil to the rotation shaft, the lubricating oil
supply means comprises: a lubricating oil storage that is formed
within the rotation shaft; a supply passage that supplies
lubricating oil of the lubricating oil storage to the outside of
the rotation shaft; and an oil feeder that supplies lubricating oil
to the lubricating oil storage is formed in an end part of the
rotation shaft.
56. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein the
driving means comprises a packing pressing means that presses the
packing means.
57. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein the water
discharge means comprises: a through hole that is perforated in a
rotation shaft direction of the driving means; and a stopper that
is mounted in the through hole, wherein the through hole is used as
a check hole for checking the inside of the driving means or for
checking lubricating oil in the driving bevel gear means and the
driven bevel gear means.
58. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein the
driving means comprises a bathing device protection means for
protecting the bathing means, and the bathing device protection
means comprises: a bathing device cover that encloses the bathing
means; and a coupling member that detachably couples the bathing
device cover to the driving means.
59. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein the length
adjustment means comprises a guide pipe that is vertically moved to
a handle and an inner circumference surface of the handle to adjust
a length thereof, and the handle comprises a guide pipe whose
length is adjusted and a fixing means that fixes the handle.
60. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 59, wherein the fixing
means comprises: a drum type means in which a hooked means is
formed in an outer circumference surface thereof and in which a
circular edge formed in each of a vertical end parts is deviated
from the center of a circle; and a ring means that rotates in an
outer circumference surface of the drum type means and that has an
opening in which a part of a circle is opened and in which a
hooking protrusion hooked by contacting with the hooked means is
formed in one end or both ends of the opening, and that the center
of a circle is deviated.
61. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 60, wherein the ring
means has a shape whose cross-section gradually decreases when
advancing in the directions of both end parts of the opening, or a
shape whose cross-section gradually increases when advancing in
directions of both end parts of the opening.
62. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein in the
driving means, the guide pipe and a handle disposed in an outer
circumference surface of the guide pipe have a curved shape, and
the handle is slidably moved along the guide pipe toward the second
flexible shaft means.
63. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein the
driving means comprises: a coupling means in which other operation
device means is coupled to a peripheral surface of the rotation
shaft to which the bathing means is detachably attached and that
has a cross-section of a cylindrical shape; and a fastening member
that is detachably fastened to other operation device means in an
outer circumference surface of the coupling means.
64. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein the
driving means comprises: a hand hooking means that uses by hooking
a hand; a hand hooking device that adjusts a length of the hand
hooking means and that hooks the hand; and a plurality of attaching
means in which a hooked means that hooks the hand hooking device is
formed at one end thereof and that are detachably attached to the
driving means at the other end thereof.
65. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 54, wherein an
interior angle between a central axis of the driving bevel gear and
a central axis of the driven bevel gear is an acute angle.
66. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 2, wherein a part of
the rotation means and the relay means is embedded, and a part or
an entire part of the first flexible shaft means is embedded.
67. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 33, further
comprising: a guide pipe for connecting the rotation means embedded
box and the relay means embedded box; and a connecting member that
fixes connection among the rotation means embedded box, the guide
pipe, and the relay means embedded box, in order to have and guide
the first flexible shaft means.
68. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bathing
means is one of a brush, a sponge, and a scrubber having a recess
shape in order to increase a degree in which a bathing portion
close contacts with a curved line of a skin.
69. The automatic bathing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the driving
means comprises: an ejection means that is disposed adjacently to
the bathing means to eject water of a tap; and a water supply pipe
that transfers water of the tap to the ejection means, wherein an
outlet of the ejection means faces the bathing means and is formed
in the handle.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic bathing
apparatus that can automatically bath a body, and more particularly
to, an automatic bathing apparatus that can automatically and
easily soap massage and take a bath when a bathing device contacts
with a body by generating a rotation motion using electricity,
transferring the rotation motion to a flexible shaft, and
automatically rotating a bathing device. The present invention
further relates to an automatic bathing apparatus that can
conveniently and safely use electricity in a bathroom in which
water is used by making a flexible shaft for transferring a
rotation motion between an electromotor and a bathing device to be
long, but dividing the flexible shaft into two steps, allowing one
step to fix and the other step connected to the bathing device to
freely handle, in order to safely use electricity.
[0002] The present invention further relates to an automatic
bathing apparatus that can provide an ejector of one-body for
ejecting water of a tap to the outside and a driver for rotating a
bathing device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] In general, bathing is performed by splashing a body with
water, soaping a whole body by a hand, rubbing the whole body using
a palm with an appropriate force, or gripping a bathing device by a
hand and moving vertically and horizontally the bathing device
while applying a pressure to a skin. Thereby, when taking a bath,
much time and effort are required. Further, when performing a work
such as bathing, bathroom cleaning, partial clothing washing, etc.,
it is necessary to supply water using a separate hose or a shower
device.
[0004] Further, as can be seen in the following reference Patent
document, there is a prior art that generates a rotation motion
using electricity, and that transfers the rotation motion to a
flexible shaft, and that automatically rotates a bathing device.
However, in the prior art, because a distance between an
electromotor and a rotating bathing device is short, electricity
danger exists, and in a case of a bathing device in which the
flexible shaft is made long, it is uncomfortable for a user to
handle the bathing device due to the long flexible shaft, and it is
not good in view of an appearance thereof.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF A PRIOR ART
[0005] [Patent document 1] Korean Unexamined Patent Application No.
10-0621915 [0006] [Patent document 2] Korean Unexamined Patent
Application No. 20-0242947
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0007] The present invention has been made in an effort to solve
the above problems, and the present invention provides an automatic
bathing apparatus that can generate a rotation motion using an
electromotor, transfer the generated rotation motion to a flexible
shaft, automatically rotate a bathing device with the transferred
rotation motion, and safely use electricity, in order to
automatically perform soaping, bathing, or bathroom water cleaning
work.
[0008] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can easily transfer a rotation motion, even if an
electromotor for transferring a rotation motion to a bathing device
and a spring, which is a flexible rotation shaft is provided in any
side of a right side or a left side of a user.
[0009] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can conveniently be used by a user by forming a
flexible shaft for connecting a bathing device and an electromotor
in two steps, even if the bathing device and the electromotor are
comparatively disposed far apart when using.
[0010] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can prevent overheating damage of an electromotor
when transfer of a rotation motion is disturbed due to forcedly
taking an automatically rotating bathing device or overly twisting
of a flexible shaft when using.
[0011] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can easily connect or disconnect a flexible shaft
formed in two steps when using.
[0012] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can transfers a rotation motion of an electromotor
to a bathing device through a flexible shaft and in which the
flexible shaft is made of a metal or resin that is safe for
electrical conductivity.
[0013] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can allow a rotation motion to be easily transferred
between a flexible shaft that receives a rotation motion of an
electromotor and a spring formed in two steps.
[0014] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can allow an electromotor and a multi-step of spring
to be tightly connected so that a rotation motion of the
electromotor and the multi-step of spring is easily
transferred.
[0015] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can continuously and smoothly rotate an automatic
bathing driver contacting with water when using.
[0016] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can extend a lifetime of a packing without replace
of the packing when the waterproof packing of a periphery of a
rotation axis of an automatic bathing driver is worn due to use for
a long time period.
[0017] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can protect wear of a rotation axis due to a
friction between a rotation shaft and a packing enclosing the
rotation axis of an automatic bathing driver.
[0018] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can easily discharge water without disassembling a
driver when water is penetrated into a driver due to wear of a
packing enclosing a rotation axis of an automatic bathing driver or
leakage of another portion.
[0019] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can allow a bathing device rotating in a driver not
to contact with the floor even if a user puts the rotating driver
on the floor for a moment when using and allow the side of the
rotating bathing device not to contact with a skin.
[0020] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can easily use in a portion such as the back in
which a user's hand does not well reach.
[0021] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that has other operation coupling means and that is
provided at one side of a driver is provided in a driver in order
to operate other operation device means with a rotation motion of a
rotation shaft.
[0022] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can allow a user to grip a driver with a less force
or not to separate the gripped driver from the hand when a user
contacts a driver with a body upon using.
[0023] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can allow a contact surface of a bathing device to
well contact with the back when gripping the automatic bathing
apparatus with a hand and bathing the back over a shoulder.
[0024] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can reduce an exposing portion of a protrusion to
the minimum and more safely install the automatic bathing apparatus
when installing the automatic bathing apparatus in a bathroom.
[0025] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can effectively bath in a short time period by
allowing a bathing device of a driver to contact within a more area
with a skin line having a round external shape.
[0026] The present invention further provides an automatic bathing
apparatus that can supply, when performing a work such as bathing,
bathroom cleaning, and partial clothing washing, water at the same
time while performing the work with one apparatus.
Technical Solution
[0027] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an automatic bathing apparatus including: a rotation means
that generates a rotation motion; a flexible shaft means that
transfers the rotation motion of the rotation means; a relay means
that is installed at one end of the flexible shaft means to
disconnect or connect transfer of the rotation motion; and a
driving means that includes a bathing means and that receives a
rotation motion of the flexible shaft means to drive the bathing
means.
[0028] In the automatic bathing apparatus, the rotation means
includes: an electromotor that generates a rotation motion; a motor
housing that has the electromotor therein; and a multiple transfer
means that receives a rotation motion of the electromotor to
transfer the rotation motion in a plurality of directions of the
outside of the motor housing.
[0029] The multiple transfer means includes: a rotation transfer
shaft that receives a rotation motion of the electromotor; a
plurality of driving power transfer means formed in a multi-step of
the rotation transfer shaft; a driven power transfer means that
interlocks with the driving power transfer means; and a fixing
means that allows the driven power transfer means to revolve and
that is fixed within the motor housing.
[0030] Further, the driving power transfer means and the driven
power transfer means may be formed in a gear means.
[0031] Further, the gear means may be a helical gear and a bevel
gear.
[0032] Further, the fixing means may have a bearing at one end
thereof and fix the helical gear and the bevel gear within the
motor housing by attaching one end or an extension of the helical
gear and the bevel gear so that the helical gear and the bevel gear
may revolve on the bearing.
[0033] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus, in order to
transfer a rotation motion of the rotation means to the flexible
shaft means, in a multi-step of the rotation transfer shaft or at
one step of the driven power transfer means, a connection means for
connecting transfer of a rotation motion to the flexible shaft
means is formed.
[0034] In the automatic bathing apparatus according to the present
invention, the flexible shaft means includes a first flexible shaft
means that receives a rotation motion of a rotation means to
transfer the rotation motion to the relay means; and a second
flexible shaft means that transfers the rotation means of the relay
means to a driving means.
[0035] Further, the first flexible shaft means includes: a hollow
pipe; a connecting member that is formed in a periphery of both end
parts of the pipe and that is connected to the rotation means and
the relay means; and a first flexible shaft that is disposed within
the pipe.
[0036] Further, in an end part of the first flexible shaft that
receives a rotation motion from the connection means of the
rotation means and in an end part of the other end thereof, in
order to receive or transfer a rotation motion, and in order to
transfer the rotation motion to the relay means, a hooked means
that is hooked by the rotation motion is formed in both end parts
of the first flexible shaft.
[0037] Further, the second flexible shaft means includes: a hollow
pipe; a connecting member that is formed in a periphery of both end
parts of the pipe and that is connected to the relay means and the
driving means; and a second flexible shaft that is disposed within
the pipe.
[0038] Further, at both end parts of the second flexible shaft
means, a hooked means that allows to rotate together with the
connected rotation motion is formed.
[0039] Further, the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention further includes a connector means that is
detachably attached to the relay means and that connects a rotation
motion at an end part of a pipe of the relay means side of the
second flexible shaft means.
[0040] Further, in an end part of the connector means, a hooked
means that receives a rotation motion by rotating together with the
rotation motion of the relay means; a gear means that receives a
rotation motion from the hooked means to transfer the rotation
motion to the second flexible shaft means; and a coupling member
that is included at end part of the connector means and that
detachably couples the connector means to the relay means are
formed.
[0041] Further, in the connector means, the gear means is a bevel
gear assembly.
[0042] Further, in the connector means, a cross-section of the
hooked means is formed in a polygonal bar.
[0043] Further, in the connector means, a cross-section of the
polygonal bar is formed in a quadrangular shape.
[0044] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, at one end between the rotation means and
driving means, an idle rotation means in which a transferred
rotation motion is disconnected and that simultaneously idles the
transferred rotation motion is provided.
[0045] Further, the idle rotation means is provided within the
connector means.
[0046] Further, the idle rotation means includes a driving transfer
member that transfers a rotation motion to the other side; a driven
transfer member that receives a rotation motion of the driving
transfer member to transfer the rotation motion to the second
flexible shaft; and an idle rotation induction means that is
provided at one end of the driven transfer member contacting with
one end of the driving transfer member to connect the rotation
motion or induce an idle rotation by an cooperation.
[0047] Further, the idle rotation induction means includes: a
hooking member that is formed at one end of the driving transfer
member to hook and transfer a rotation motion; and a hooked member
that is formed at one end of the driven transfer member to be
hooked to the hooking member and to receive the rotation
motion.
[0048] Further, the hooking member is a first protrusion for
hooking.
[0049] Further, the hooked member is a second protrusion for
hooking that is formed to be hooked to the first protrusion.
[0050] Further, in the idle rotation induction means, a polygonal
bar that receives a rotation motion in the upper part of the
driving transfer member in the idle rotation means; a disk that is
formed vertically about the polygonal bar; and a plurality of
elastic pieces that has vertically elasticity in the disk and that
has a protrusion facing in a lower direction in an end part.
[0051] Further, in the driven transfer member, a disk that has a
plurality of protrusions formed to be hooked to the protrusion of
the disk of the driving transfer member; and a cylinder that has
the disk of the driving transfer member in a periphery of an upper
part of the disk; and a connection means that can be connected to
the second flexible shaft at the lower end of the disk are
formed.
[0052] Further, in the idle rotation means, in the upper part of
the driving transfer member, a polygonal bar that receives a
rotation motion; a disk in which the polygonal bar is vertically
formed at the center thereof; and a plurality of elastic pieces
that has a protrusion that is formed in a periphery of a outer
circumference surface of the disk and that has elasticity in a
direction opposite to the center of the disk and that faces in a
direction opposite to the center of the disk.
[0053] Further, in the driven transfer member, a cylinder in which
a plurality of protrusions that are formed to be hooked to the
protrusion of the disk are formed in an inner circumference surface
thereof; and a connection means that can be connected to the
flexible shaft means at the lower end of the disk.
[0054] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the relay means includes a power transfer means
that transfers a rotation motion; a casing that has the power
transfer means therein; and a fixing means that allows the power
transfer means to revolve and that fixes the power transfer means
within the casing.
[0055] Further, the power transfer means is a gear means.
[0056] Further, the gear means is a plurality of bevel gear
assemblies.
[0057] Further, in the bevel gear assembly, each bevel gear is
formed at one end of each bevel gear assembly, a bearing is formed
in an outer circumferential surface of the other end of each bevel
gear assembly, and at the other end of each bevel gear assembly, a
connection means that is connected to the first flexible shaft and
the connector means or the second flexible shaft to connect a
rotation motion.
[0058] Further, in the fixing means, an inserting member that
revolvably inserts the bevel gear assembly is formed, and an
attaching member that attaches and fixes the fixing means within
the casing is formed.
[0059] Further, in the fixing means, an inserting member for
revolvably inserting the three bevel gear assemblies and an
attaching member for attaching and fixing the fixing means within
the casing are integrally formed.
[0060] Further, the fixing means includes an arrival member that
allows the bevel gear assembly to arrive while revolving the bevel
gear assembly at the bottom within the casing; and a cover that
covers an upper part of the bevel gear assembly so as to fix
together so that the bevel gear assembly may revolve while
fastening to the arrival member.
[0061] In an automatic bathing apparatus according to the present
invention, the relay means includes a power transfer means that
transfers a rotation motion; a connection means that transfers a
rotation motion by being connected to the first flexible shaft and
the connector means at one end of the power transfer means and the
other end of a straight line thereof, respectively; a bearing that
is installed in a periphery of the power transfer means; and a
casing that has the power transfer means therein so that the power
transfer means revolves by the bearing.
[0062] Further, an automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention includes a passage that passes through the first
flexible shaft for transferring a rotation motion to the power
transfer means at one side of the casing; a connecting member that
is formed for being connected to the first flexible shaft means in
a periphery of an outside side surface of the passage; a passage
that transfers a rotation motion of the power transfer means to the
second flexible shaft means at the other side of the casing; and a
fastening means that is detachably connected to a connector means
in a periphery of an outside side surface of the passage.
[0063] Further, the fastening means is formed in an outside side
surface of the casing about the passage, and an outer circumference
surface thereof has a cylindrical shape in which the fastening
means is formed.
[0064] Further, in an automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the relay means further includes an attaching
means that attaches the relay means to a wall.
[0065] Further, fixing members are formed at each of the relay
means and the wall attaching means.
[0066] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, in the relay means, a switch means that controls
an electric device of the rotation means is formed.
[0067] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, a flexible shaft of the flexible shaft means is
a spring.
[0068] Further, the spring is made of a metal material.
[0069] Further, the spring is made of a resin material, which is a
non-conductor.
[0070] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, in the hooked means that is formed at both end
parts of the first flexible shaft and the second flexible shaft,
the end part of the spring is formed in a polygonal shape.
[0071] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, a cross-section of the polygon is formed in a
quadrangular shape.
[0072] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, at both ends or one end of the spring of the
first flexible shaft, a polygonal tip means is formed.
[0073] Further, the polygonal tip means includes: an insertion part
whose one end is inserted into the spring to support an inner
circumference surface of the spring; a hooked means whose the other
end receives a rotation of the connection means in the rotation
means and that is exposed to the outside; and a fixing pipe that is
provided in an outer circumference surface of the spring enclosing
the insertion part to fix both the surface and the insertion
part.
[0074] Further, the insertion part has a spiral groove that can be
rotatably coupled to the spring in the outer circumference surface
thereof, and in the inner circumference surface of the fixing pipe,
a spiral groove that can be rotatably coupled to the spring is
formed.
[0075] Further, a cross-section of the hooked means is formed in a
quadrangular bar.
[0076] Further, a hooking jaw is formed in an outer circumference
surface between the insertion part and the quadrangular bar.
[0077] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, in the connection means, a polygonal hole is
formed at the inside of the center.
[0078] Further, a cross-section of the polygon is formed in a
quadrangular shape.
[0079] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the driving means includes: a guide pipe that
guides a flexible shaft means; a driving bevel gear that receives a
rotation motion of the flexible shaft means guided through the
guide pipe; a driven bevel gear that interlocks with the driving
bevel gear; a housing that has a pair of bevel gears therein; and a
rotation shaft that is detachably attached to a bathing means and
that is formed at the other end of the driven bevel gear.
[0080] The driving means includes: a lubricating oil supply means
that supplies lubricating oil to the rotation shaft; a packing
pressing means that is provided in a periphery of the rotation
shaft to press a packing for suppressing permeation of water; one
end of the rotation shaft that is formed in a metal means; a water
discharge means that discharges water permeated to the inside to
the outside; a bathing device protection means that encloses a
bathing device; a length adjustment means that adjusts a length of
the handle; and a coupling means that couples other operation
device means to a periphery of the rotation shaft to which a
bathing device is detachably attached; and a hand hooking means
that hooks and uses a hand.
[0081] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the lubricating oil supply means includes a
lubricating oil storage that is formed within the rotation shaft;
and a supply passage that supplies lubricating oil from the
lubricating oil storage to the outside of the rotation shaft.
[0082] Further, an oil feeder that refuels to the lubricating oil
storage is formed in an end part of the rotation shaft.
[0083] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the packing pressing means is an end plate that
is inserted into a periphery of the rotation shaft of a bathing
device side in the driving means.
[0084] Further, the end plate is formed in two steps consisting of
a large circumference and a small circumference in which sizes of
the outer circumference surface thereof are different.
[0085] Further, in the outer circumference surface of the large
circumference of the end plate, a screw for fastening is formed,
and a hooking means for hooking and rotating is formed in a
cross-section of the end plate of the bathing device side.
[0086] Further, the hooking means is a hole for hooking and
rotating a tool.
[0087] Further, the packing pressing means is used as a stopper for
repair for replacing a worn packing.
[0088] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, a periphery of the rotation shaft enclosing the
packing in the rotation shaft within the driving means is made of a
metal material.
[0089] Further, the metal material is formed in a pipe shape.
[0090] Further, the metal material is made of stainless steel.
[0091] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the water discharge means includes a through
hole that is formed at one side of the driving means to penetrate
the inside and the outside thereof; and a stopper that blocks the
through hole.
[0092] Further, the through hole is used as a check hole that
checks the inside of the driving means or that checks oil of the
bevel gear.
[0093] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, at one side of the bathing device protection
means, the cover that encloses the bathing device, and at the
driving means side of the cover, a coupling member that is
detachably coupled to the driving means is formed.
[0094] Further, in the bathing device protection means, a water
flowing hole is formed so that water easily escapes from the
cover.
[0095] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the length adjustment means further includes a
handle that is provided in an outer circumference surface of the
guide pipe; and a fixing means that is provided at one end of the
guide pipe to adjust and fix a length of the handle between the
guide pipe and the handle.
[0096] Further, the fixing means includes: a cylinder in which a
hooked means is formed at one end of the outer circumference
surface; a drum type means in which a hole for communicating with
the cylinder is formed at the inside thereof, and that is formed in
a periphery of both end parts of the cylinder and that has disks
whose the centers are formed to be eccentric from centers of the
cylinder; and a ring means that can rotate in the outer
circumference surface of the cylinder and a hooking protrusion that
is hooked to the hooked means is formed at an end part of one end
thereof or at an end part of both ends thereof and that an
eccentric hole is formed at the center, and in which an opening is
formed at one side thereof.
[0097] Further, the ring means is a ring having a cross-section
like a crescent shape that becomes gradually narrow when advancing
from a central arc to both ends thereof.
[0098] Further, the ring means is a ring having a cross-section in
which a central arc is narrow and that gradually widens when
advancing to both ends
[0099] Further, in the length adjustment means, a fixing means for
fixing both the handle and the guide pipe is formed.
[0100] Further, in the fixing means, a clamp that is formed at one
end of an outer circumference surface of the handle; and hinge
members are formed at each of the clamp and the outer circumference
surface of the handle at one end of an outer circumference surface
of the handle adjacent to the clamp so that the clamp may be hinged
in the outer circumference surface of the handle.
[0101] Further, the clamp includes: a lever that is formed at one
end; a ground that is grounded with the guide pipe at the other end
of the clamp; and a pin hole for hinge that is formed at one end of
an intermediate step of the clamp.
[0102] Further, the fixing means includes: a lever that is formed
at one end of an outer circumference surface of the handle and that
is formed at one end thereof; a hooking member that hooks and fixes
the guide pipe at the other end of the lever; a clamp in which a
hinge member is formed at an intermediate step; the hinge member
that is formed at one end of the handle to be hinged together with
the hooking member of the clamp; a spring that is formed between
the clamp and the handle to apply a force pushing the hooking
member of the clamp toward the guide unit; and a hooking hole that
is formed in an outer circumference surface of the guide pipe to
hook and fix the hooking member to the guide pipe.
[0103] Further, in the driving means, both a guide pipe and a
handle that is disposed in an outer circumference surface of the
guide pipe are bent in an arc shape, and the handle can be slid
along the guide pipe toward the second flexible shaft means.
[0104] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, a cross-section of the coupling means is formed
in a cylindrical shape.
[0105] Further, a fastening member for detachably fastening to
other operation device means is formed in the outer circumference
surface of the cylinder.
[0106] Further, the hand hooking means includes a hand hooking
device that can adjust a length and that hooks a hand, and has a
hooking means for hooking the hand hooking device at one end
thereof and a plurality of attaching members that is detachably
attached to the driver at the other end thereof.
[0107] Further, the hand hooking device is a band means in which a
fixing means for fixing after a length is adjusted is formed in the
multi-side surface.
[0108] Further, the fixing means is a velcro that is formed in the
multi-side surface of the band means.
[0109] Further, a through hole that penetrates both end parts of
the band is formed in a hooked means of the attaching means.
[0110] Further, the attaching means is a band in which a velcro is
attached to the multi-side surface to be detachably attached to the
handle of the driver.
[0111] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, in the bevel gear within the driving means of
the automatic bathing apparatus, an interior angle between two
central axes of the driving bevel gear and the driven bevel gear is
an acute angle.
[0112] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the first flexible shaft means that connecting
the rotation means and one end of relay means and the rotation
means and the relay means is embedded.
[0113] Further, the automatic bathing apparatus includes a rotation
means embedded box that has an opening in one side surface thereof
and that has a rotation means.
[0114] Further, at one side of the rotation means embedded box, a
hole through which an electric wire passes, at the other side
thereof, a passage connecting the first flexible shaft means is
formed, and at many sides of a periphery of the opening of the
rotation means embedded box and, each of fixing members for fixing
is formed.
[0115] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, a relay means embedded box that has an opening
in one side surface thereof and that has a relay means therein.
[0116] Further, at one side of the relay means embedded box, a
passage for connecting the first flexible shaft means is formed,
and a fixing member for fixing is formed between many sides of a
periphery of the opening of the relay means embedded box.
[0117] Further, the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention includes a guide pipe that connects space between
the rotation means embedded box and the relay means embedded box to
an internal passage, in order to have the first flexible shaft
means therein and guide the first flexible shaft means.
[0118] Further, the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention further includes a connecting member that fixes
connection of the rotation means embedded box, the guide pipe, and
the relay means embedded box.
[0119] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention, the bathing means is formed in a recess form to
increase a degree in which a bathing portion close contacts
according to a skin curved line.
[0120] Further, in the bathing means, a brush is transplanted at an
opposite side of a rotation shaft coupling surface.
[0121] Further, in the bathing means, a sponge is transplanted at
an opposite side of a rotation shaft coupling surface.
[0122] Further, in the bathing means, a scrubber is transplanted at
an opposite side of a rotation shaft coupling surface.
[0123] Further, the automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention further includes an ejection means that is
disposed adjacently to the driving means to eject water of an
external tap; and a water supply pipe that transfers water of the
tap to the ejection means.
[0124] Further, in the ejection means, an outlet faces toward the
bathing means and is formed in the handle.
Advantageous Effects
[0125] In an automatic bathing apparatus according to the present
invention having the above-described configuration, by operating a
rotation means that operates by electricity and that is installed
at a far distance from the user, with a switch formed in a remote
control or a relay means, a rotation motion is generated, and the
generated rotation motion is transferred in order of a first
flexible shaft means, the relay means, a second flexible shaft
means, and a driving means, and when a rotation motion transferred
to the driving means drives a rotation shaft of the driving means,
a bathing means connected to one end of the rotation shaft rotates.
Therefore, a user can safely and conveniently perform automatic
bathing by contacting a rotating bathing means with a body without
using a hand.
[0126] Because the bathing means can be detached, by selecting a
bathing means in which a brush, a sponge, a scrubber, etc. are
transplanted according to a desired bathing work, and coupling the
bathing means to a rotation shaft of the driving means, a desired
bathing work can be more easily performed.
[0127] Further, in a rotation means that is buried in a wall or
whose one side is buried in a wall, a rotation motion can be
generated and transferred by an electromotor and transferred in a
plurality of directions of the outside of the rotation means by a
multiple transfer means installed within the rotation means.
Accordingly, the rotation means can be freely disposed at the left
side, the right side, the upside, etc. of the user.
[0128] Further, a flexible shaft means that receives a rotation
motion of the rotation means is divided into a first flexible shaft
means and a second flexible shaft means, and a relay means for
connecting a rotation motion is provided between the first flexible
shaft means and the second flexible shaft means. Accordingly, even
if the rotation means buried in a wall and the driving means are
disposed apart far, the first flexible shaft means and the relay
means are buried in a wall, and the second flexible shaft means to
which the driving means is connected can be freely moved.
Accordingly, even if the flexible shaft means is long, bathing can
be easily performed by handling only the driving means freely
connected to the second flexible shaft means
[0129] Further, at an end part of the second flexible shaft means,
a connector means having a coupling member that receives a rotation
motion and that detachably couples to the relay means is formed,
and the connector means is detachably coupled to the relay
means.
[0130] Further, when transfer of a rotation motion is disturbed by
trying to forcedly stop a driving bathing means, or overly twisting
of the second flexible shaft means, the motor is in an overload
state, and thus in order to protect the motor, an idle rotation
means is provided within a connector means. If a rotation motion is
disturbed by power over some limit, an idle rotation induction
means provided within an idle rotation means is operated, and the
transferred rotation motion is disconnected and is converted to an
idle rotation. Thereby, a rotation of the second flexible shaft
means and the bathing means is suspended, and an overload of the
motor due to continuous rotation is prevented.
[0131] Further, the relay means that is buried in a wall or whose
part is buried in a wall and that connects and transfers a rotation
motion of the first flexible shaft means to the second flexible
shaft means can be easily detached from the second flexible shaft
means. Accordingly, by using separation or a rotation motion of the
relay means, an operation means for another purpose can be also
operated.
[0132] Further, by using, as a spring, which is a flexible shaft
means, a metal spring, or a resin spring, which is an insulator,
electricity safely can be improved.
[0133] Further, because a cross-section of a hooking means formed
at one end of both end parts of a spring provided within the first
flexible shaft means and the second flexible shaft means is formed
in a quadrangular shape, when receiving or transferring a rotation
motion, a rotation motion can be easily hooked.
[0134] Further, a rotation motion transfer end part of the rotation
means and an end part of a rotation motion transfer reception part
and transfer part of the relay means rotate together by connecting
to a quadrangular hooking means.
[0135] Further, in an automatic bathing apparatus according to the
present invention having the above-described configuration, the
driving means includes: a guide pipe that guides a flexible shaft
means; a driving bevel gear that receives a rotation motion of the
flexible shaft means guided through the guide pipe; a driven bevel
gear that interlocks with the driving bevel gear; a housing that
has a pair of bevel gears therein; and a rotation shaft that is
detachably attached to a bathing means and that is formed in the
other end of the driven bevel gear.
[0136] The driving means includes:
[0137] a lubricating oil supply means that supplies lubricating oil
to the rotation shaft; a packing pressing means that is provided in
a periphery of the rotation shaft to press a packing for
suppressing permeation of water; one end of the rotation shaft that
is formed in a metal means; a water discharge means that discharges
water permeated to the inside to the outside; a bathing device
protection means that protects a bathing device; a length
adjustment means that adjusts a length of the handle; and a
coupling means that couples other operation device means to a
periphery of a rotation shaft to which a bathing device is
detachably attached; and a hand hooking means that hooks and uses a
hand. Accordingly, the driving means is conveniently and usefully
used as follows.
[0138] In a portion of a packing that blocks permeation of water in
a periphery of the rotation shaft within the driving means, a
lubricating oil storage and supply device for continuously
supplying a lubricating oil is formed, and thus even if the driving
means is used for a long time period, the lubricating oil storage
and supply device assists a long period sustainable lubrication
function between the rotation shaft and the packing and
simultaneously performs a sustainable waterproof function.
[0139] Further, when packing of a periphery of the rotation shaft
is worn due to long time driving of the rotation shaft within the
driving means, in order to reduce a replace frequency of the
packing, if a pressure is applied to a packing by rotating and
advancing a packing pressing means without rapidly replacing the
packing, the packing of an elastic rubber material is pushed, and
one end of the pushed packing close contacts with the rotation
shaft and waterproof property is improved and thus a lifetime of
the packing is extended.
[0140] Further, in the driving means, a stainless steel pipe is
installed at one end of a periphery of the rotation shaft
contacting with the packing within the driving means, and thus upon
friction of the packing and the rotation shaft, wear durability of
the rotation shaft is improved.
[0141] Further, in the driving means in which the rotation shaft
drives, due to wear of packing of a periphery of the rotation shaft
or other reasons, if water is permeated into the driving means,
driving of the bevel gear assembly, etc. within the driving means
is disturbed. In this case, water can be briefly discharged through
a water discharge means formed by penetrating the inside and the
outside of one side surface of the driving means without
discharging water by disassembling the driving means.
[0142] Further, in the driving means, even if the user puts a
driving means in the floor while the mounted bathing device
rotates, by the bathing device protection means provided apart a
clearance from a periphery of the rotating bathing device, only one
side of the bathing device protection means and the driving means
rotates while contacting with the floor and the bathing device.
Further, the side of the rotating bathing device is prevented from
contacting with a skin.
[0143] Further, in the driving means, usually, it is preferable to
shortly use the handle of the driving means in view of handling,
however in order to extend a length of a handle for a bathing
operation of a portion in which a hand does not touch well such as
the back, if extending and fixing the handle, because the handle is
extended by pulling in a connection direction of the second
flexible shaft means, the bathing means can easily contact with the
back and bathing of the back can be easily performed.
[0144] Further, a coupling means that uses a rotation motion of the
rotation shaft of the driving means and that couples other
operation device means to the driving means of a periphery of the
rotation shaft is provided, and by coupling and using the other
operation device means to the rotation shaft and the coupling
means, a rotation motion of the rotation shaft is transferred to
the other operation device means. For example, if protrusions for
massage are formed at one side of the other operation device means,
and at the inside thereof, if an eccentric weight that receives a
rotation motion of the rotation shaft to convert the rotation
motion to a vibration motion is provided, in a portion in which the
user wants, a massage effect can be obtained.
[0145] Further, if taking and using the hand hooking means in a
hand, the driving means can be taken more securely. Even if the
driving means is dropped from the hand, the driving means is not
dropped from the hand by the hand hooking device, and because the
driving means is positioned at the hand with only the back of the
hand without gripping the driving means, and a person who having
weak hand power or in which use of a hand is uncomfortable can
easily use the driving means.
[0146] Further, when an interior angle of two central axes of the
driving bevel gear and the driven bevel gear within the driving
means is an acute angle, centrals axes of a handle formed at a
periphery of an extension of a straight line of the driving bevel
gear and a bathing means coupled to a rotation shaft of an end part
of an extension of the driven bevel gear forms an acute angle, and
thus when bathing the back by raising a hand over a shoulder, a
contact between the back and a contact surface of the bathing means
is easily performed.
[0147] Further, if burying one end of the relay means and the
rotation means, and the first flexible shaft means in a wall,
protrusion of the relay means and the rotation means into a
bathroom space is minimized and thus it is preferable in view of an
appearance and electrical safely.
[0148] Further, when performing a bathing operation by contacting
the bathing means with a body, in order to widen a contact surface
thereof to the maximum, by forming a bathing surface of the bathing
device such as a brush, a sponge, and a scrubber to be recessed,
adhesion to a skin line having a round external form increases and
bathing efficiency improves.
[0149] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus that ejects
water of the tap, while performing various works such as bathing,
bathroom cleaning, and a partial clothing washing, water necessary
when performing the work can be supplied voluntarily without a
separate water hose or a shower device, so that bathing and a
cleaning work can be very conveniently performed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0150] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic
bathing apparatus installed in a bathroom according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0151] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic
bathing apparatus installed in a shower booth according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0152] FIG. 3 is perspective view illustrating a motor housing of
an automatic bathing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0153] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the motor housing taken
along line 3-3 of FIG. 3;
[0154] FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the motor housing
taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 3;
[0155] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating a first
flexible shaft in which a spring is installed;
[0156] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the first flexible shaft
taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 6;
[0157] FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating
a second flexible shaft for connecting a relay and a driver;
[0158] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector
connected to one end of the relay and a second flexible shaft of
one end connected to the connector taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
8;
[0159] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the connector
shown in FIG. 9;
[0160] FIG. 11 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of an idle
rotation induction device in which idle rotation induction
protrusions are vertically arranged;
[0161] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled
shape of a first idle rotation induction device of FIG. 11;
[0162] FIG. 13 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of an idle
rotation induction device in which idle rotation induction
protrusions are horizontally formed;
[0163] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled
shape of a second idle rotation induction device of FIG. 13;
[0164] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation
of a second idle rotation induction device of FIG. 13;
[0165] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a relay;
[0166] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the relay of FIG.
16;
[0167] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the relay of FIG.
17;
[0168] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a relay for
allowing a driving bevel gear assembly and a driven bevel gear
assembly to connect in one fixing member;
[0169] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the relay taken along
line 9-9 of FIG. 19;
[0170] FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of a relay and is an
exploded perspective view of a relay whose fixing member is divided
into two horizontal steps;
[0171] FIG. 22 is a side cross-sectional view of a relay that
vertically receives and horizontally transfers a rotation
motion;
[0172] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an automatic bathing
apparatus in which a relay that vertically receives and
horizontally transfers a rotation motion is embedded;
[0173] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a relay that transfers a
rotation motion in a straight line;
[0174] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a relay that transfers
a rotation motion in a straight line;
[0175] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an automatic bathing
apparatus in which a relay that transfers a rotation motion in a
straight line is vertically installed;
[0176] FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a quadrangular
tip member installed at an end part of a first spring of a first
flexible shaft;
[0177] FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
quadrangular tip member installed at an end part of a first spring
of a first flexible shaft;
[0178] FIG. 29 is a side cross-sectional view of a quadrangular tip
member installed at an end part of the first spring of the first
flexible shaft;
[0179] FIG. 30 is a partially cut-away side cross-sectional view
illustrating connection to a motor housing of the first flexible
shaft in which the quadrangular tip member is installed;
[0180] FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of a driver;
[0181] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a driver in which a bathing
device cover is removed and a handle is slidably extended;
[0182] FIG. 33 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a
driver;
[0183] FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective view of the driver of
FIG. 33;
[0184] FIG. 35 is an enlarged exploded view of a handle length
fixing device shown in FIGS. 33 and 34;
[0185] FIG. 36 is a view illustrating the handle length fixing
device of FIG. 35 that is assembled to be installed between a guide
pipe and a handle;
[0186] FIG. 37 is another enlarged exploded view of the handle
length fixing device whose end part is formed in a wide ring in the
handle length fixing device of FIG. 34;
[0187] FIG. 38 is a view illustrating the handle length fixing
device of FIG. 37 that is assembled to be installed between a guide
pipe and a handle;
[0188] FIGS. 39, 40 and 41 is a view illustrating another handle
length fixing device in which a first clamp is installed in an
arc-shaped guide pipe and handle;
[0189] FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a driver in which a length
of a handle is shortened and that is fixed with a clamp;
[0190] FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a driver n which a length
of a handle is extended and that is fixed with a clamp;
[0191] FIG. 41 is an exploded perspective view of a handle of a
driver and a clamp;
[0192] FIG. 42 is a partial perspective view illustrating a handle
length fixing device for fixing a handle with elasticity of a
spring installed in a clamp;
[0193] FIG. 43 is an exploded partial perspective view of the
handle length fixing device of FIG. 42;
[0194] FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a massage
device;
[0195] FIG. 45 is a perspective view illustrating the massage
device of FIG. 44;
[0196] FIG. 46 is perspective view of a driver in which a hand
hooking member is installed;
[0197] FIG. 47 is a perspective view illustrating a hand hooking
member;
[0198] FIG. 48 is a partially cut-away perspective view
illustrating two axes of a bevel gear of the driver having an
interior angle of an acute angle;
[0199] FIG. 49 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic
bathing apparatus buried in a wall;
[0200] FIG. 50 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a motor
housing embedded box having a motor housing therein;
[0201] FIG. 51 is a perspective view illustrating the motor housing
embedded box of FIG. 50;
[0202] FIG. 52 is a perspective view illustrating embedding of the
motor housing embedded box of FIG. 50;
[0203] FIG. 53 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a relay
embedded box that has a relay a relay therein;
[0204] FIG. 54 is a perspective view illustrating a relay embedded
box that has a relay therein;
[0205] FIG. 55 is a partial perspective view illustrating a guide
pipe for guiding a first flexible shaft between a motor housing
embedded box and a relay embedded box;
[0206] FIG. 56 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating
a brush bathing device formed to be recessed toward the inside of
the center of a bathing surface;
[0207] FIG. 57 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating
a sponge bathing device formed to be recessed toward the inside of
the center of a bathing surface;
[0208] FIG. 58 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating
a scrubber bathing device formed to be recessed toward the inside
of the center of a bathing surface;
[0209] FIG. 59 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic
bathing apparatus that can eject water;
[0210] FIG. 60 is an enlarged perspective view of a driver of FIG.
59;
[0211] FIG. 61 is a partial exploded perspective view of a driver
of FIG. 59; and
[0212] FIG. 62 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view
illustrating a connection part of a water supply pipe and a second
flexible shaft from a tap of FIG. 59.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0213] 1: motor housing [0214] 2: waterdrop movement blocking ring
[0215] 3, 3a: first flexible shaft [0216] 4: fixing member [0217]
5, 5a: relay [0218] 6: connector [0219] 7: second flexible shaft
[0220] 8: bathing device [0221] 9: driver [0222] 10, 10a, 10b:
handle [0223] 11: shower device [0224] 12: remote control [0225]
13: remote control case [0226] 14: shower booth [0227] 15:
attaching member [0228] 16: hooking member [0229] 17: screw [0230]
18: anchor [0231] 19: motor [0232] 20: first gear [0233] 21: second
gear [0234] 22: first rotation transfer shaft [0235] 23: driven
gear [0236] 24: driving gear [0237] 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d: bearing
[0238] 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e: fixing member [0239] 27: first
quadrangular spring [0240] 28a, 28b, 28c: coupler [0241] 29:
driving bevel gear [0242] 30: driven bevel gear [0243] 31a, 31b,
31c: quadrangular hole [0244] 32: second rotation transfer shaft
[0245] 33a, 33b: connector [0246] 34 as, 34b: stopper [0247] 35a,
35b, 35c, 35d: connecting member [0248] 36: first spring [0249] 37:
first electric wire [0250] 38: second electric wire [0251] 39:
first pipe [0252] 40a, 40b: thread [0253] 41: liner pipe [0254] 42:
inner layer [0255] 43: outer layer [0256] 44: fixing member [0257]
44a: inner ring [0258] 44b: outer ring [0259] 45: flexible pipe
[0260] 46: second pipe [0261] 47: second spring [0262] 48: second
quadrangular spring [0263] 49: switch [0264] 50: rotational motion
orthogonal connector [0265] 53: driving bevel gear assembly [0266]
54: driving bevel gear [0267] 55: driven bevel gear assembly [0268]
56: driven bevel gear [0269] 57: elbow type housing [0270] 58, 58a:
quadrangular bar [0271] 59a, 59b: idle rotation induction device
[0272] 60: first driving transfer member [0273] 61: first driven
transfer member [0274] 62: bearing [0275] 63: idle rotation
induction device casing [0276] 66: elastic piece [0277] 64: packing
[0278] 65: first disc [0279] 67: first protrusion [0280] 68:
hooking jaw [0281] 69: cylinder [0282] 70: second protrusion [0283]
71: second disc [0284] 72: quadrangular hole [0285] 74: disk [0286]
75: central direction [0287] 76: third protrusion [0288] 77:
elastic piece [0289] 78: hooking jaw [0290] 79: cylinder [0291] 80:
fourth protrusion [0292] 82: driving transfer member [0293] 83:
driven transfer member [0294] 85: wall attaching member [0295] 86,
86a: casing [0296] 87: plane [0297] 88: vertical plane [0298] 89a,
89b, 89c, 89d, 89e: connecting member [0299] 90a, 90b: thread
[0300] 91a, 91b: through hole [0301] 92a, 92b, 93c, 94d, 94e:
coupler [0302] 93: support [0303] 94a, 94b, 94c: fixing member
[0304] 95a, 95b: driving bevel gear assembly [0305] 96a, 96b:
driving bevel gear [0306] 97: driven bevel gear assembly [0307] 98:
driven bevel gear [0308] 98: driven bevel gear [0309] 99: bearing
[0310] 100: stopper [0311] 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d, 101e:
quadrangular hole [0312] 102: nut hole [0313] 103: nut [0314] 104:
screw [0315] 105: screw [0316] 106: screw hole [0317] 107:
inserting member [0318] 108: attaching member [0319] 109: screw
[0320] 111: one-piece fixing member [0321] 112: cover [0322] 113:
stopper [0323] 114: rear hole [0324] 115: C-ring [0325] 116a, 116b,
116c: through hole [0326] 117: hooking member [0327] 118: vertical
hole [0328] 120a, 120b, 120c: long groove [0329] 121a, 121b, 121c:
long groove [0330] 122: arrival member [0331] 123: top cover [0332]
124: long screw [0333] 125: wall [0334] 126: load bearing [0335]
127: third electric wire [0336] 128: second switch [0337] 129:
ceiling [0338] 131: roller [0339] 132: fixing member [0340] 134:
quadrangular tip member [0341] 135: fixing pipe [0342] 136:
quadrangular bar [0343] 137: hooking jaw [0344] 138: insertion part
[0345] 139: fixing pipe inner circumferential surface jaw [0346]
141: bathing device disc [0347] 142: bathing device cover [0348]
143: water flowing hole [0349] 144: rotation shaft [0350] 145: end
plate [0351] 146: packing [0352] 147a, 147b, 147c, 147d: bearing
[0353] 148: passage [0354] 149: driven bevel gear assembly [0355]
150: driven bevel gear [0356] 151,151a: housing [0357] 152: inside
of driver [0358] 153: water discharge hole [0359] 154: stopper
[0360] 155: oil feeder stopper [0361] 156: oil feeder [0362] 157:
oil absorbent [0363] 158: lubricating oil storage [0364] 159:
stainless steel pipe [0365] 160: driving bevel gear assembly [0366]
161: driving bevel gear [0367] 162: screw groove [0368] 163: handle
guide ring [0369] 164, 164a, 164b: guide pipe [0370] 165a, 165b:
handle length fixing device [0371] 166: gasket [0372] 167: locking
cap [0373] 168: V-gasket [0374] 169: flexible pipe fixing outer
ring [0375] 170: coupling member [0376] 171: rotation hole [0377]
172a, 172b: washer [0378] 173: waterproof hose [0379] 174: screw
[0380] 175: other operation device coupling member [0381] 176:
L-shaped groove fastening member [0382] 177: bathing device cover
coupling member [0383] 178: gasket [0384] 179: O-ring [0385] 180:
nut [0386] 181: gasket [0387] 182: C-ring [0388] 184: fixing
protrusion [0389] 185: fixing groove [0390] 186: fixing ring [0391]
187: flexible pipe fixing inside ring [0392] 188: coupler [0393]
189: quadrangular hole [0394] 191: ring having narrow end part
[0395] 192: drum type member [0396] 193: arc having wide center
[0397] 194: protrusion [0398] 195: drum outer circumferential
surface [0399] 196: first circular edge [0400] 197: second circular
edge [0401] 198: hooking jaw [0402] 200: ring having wide end part
[0403] 201: arc having wide end part [0404] 202: second hinge
member [0405] 203: first clamp [0406] 204: lever [0407] 205: lever
movement direction [0408] 206: gap [0409] 207: pin [0410] 208:
guiding member [0411] 209: first hinge member [0412] 210: pinhole
[0413] 211: pin hooking jaw [0414] 212: second clamp [0415] 213:
hooking member [0416] 214: third hinge member [0417] 215: lever
[0418] 216: spring [0419] 217: hooking hole [0420] 218: guiding
member [0421] 219: guiding groove [0422] 221: massage device [0423]
222: eccentric weight [0424] 223: L-shaped groove fastening member
[0425] 224: rotation shaft insertion device [0426] 225: operation
device rotation shaft [0427] 226: water discharge hole [0428] 227:
stopper [0429] 228: protrusion [0430] 230: hand hooking member
[0431] 231: hand hooking device [0432] 232: first attaching band
[0433] 233: second attaching band [0434] 234: through hole [0435]
235: velcro [0436] 236: first velcro [0437] 237: second velcro
[0438] 239: acute angle [0439] 240: bathing surface [0440] 241:
guide pipe [0441] 242: switch [0442] 243: first guide pipe [0443]
245: housing embedded box [0444] 246: electric wire injection
device [0445] 247: second fixing member [0446] 248: first fixing
member [0447] 249: outer frame [0448] 250: passage [0449] 251:
first guide pipe fastening nut [0450] 252: water discharge port
[0451] 254: relay embedded box [0452] 255: third fixing member
[0453] 256: fourth fixing member [0454] 257: second passage [0455]
258: second guide pipe fastening nut [0456] 259: outer frame [0457]
261: guide pipe [0458] 262: spiral groove [0459] 263: recessed
brush bathing device [0460] 264: recessed sponge bathing device
[0461] 265: recessed scrubber bathing device [0462] 266: ground
surface [0463] 267: rotation shaft connecting bar [0464] 268:
rotation shaft insertion device [0465] 269: ejector [0466] 270: tap
[0467] 271: tap lever [0468] 272: shower water discharge device
[0469] 273: tap discharge device [0470] 274: water supply pipe
[0471] 275: T-shaped pipe [0472] 276: shower water lever [0473]
277: ejecting hole [0474] 278: ejector assembly [0475] 279: screw
[0476] 280: ejecting hole [0477] 281: packing [0478] 282: screw
hole [0479] 283: water supply pipe connector [0480] 284: ejector
casing [0481] 285: band [0482] 287: L-shaped fitting [0483] 288:
packing [0484] 290: connecting member [0485] 291: first connecting
member [0486] 292: second connecting member
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0487] An exemplary embodiment of an automatic bathing apparatus
according to the present invention is described hereinafter in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0488] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic
bathing apparatus installed in a bathroom according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. The automatic bathing
apparatus includes a motor housing 1 that has an electromotor for
generating a rotation motion therein and that is installed in a
wall; a first flexible shaft 3 that has a first spring for
transferring a rotation motion of the motor housing 1 therein; a
relay 5 that has a bevel gear for receiving a rotation motion of
the first flexible shaft 3 and transferring in another direction
therein; a second flexible shaft 7 that has a second spring for
detachably connecting to the relay 5 to transfer a rotation motion
of the relay 5 therein; a detachable bathing device 8; and a driver
9 that receives a rotation motion of the second flexible shaft 7 to
rotate the bathing device 8. Here, for example, a power transfer
wire may be installed in the first flexible shaft 3 and the second
flexible shaft 7.
[0489] In an end part of the relay 5 side of the second flexible
shaft 7, a connector 6 that is detachably connected to the relay 5
and that directly receives a rotation motion is formed. A remote
control 12 and a remote control case 13 for remotely controlling an
electric device within the motor housing 1 are installed in a wall
adjacent to the driver 9. A fixing member 4 for fixing the first
flexible shaft 3 to a wall is installed at one end of the first
flexible shaft 3.
[0490] In the driver 9, a handle 10 that can be slid along the
second flexible shaft 7 is formed.
[0491] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic
bathing apparatus installed in a shower booth according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Unlike a perspective
view of FIG. 1, in FIG. 2, the motor housing 1 is disposed at the
right side, and the first flexible shaft 3, the relay 5, the second
flexible shaft 7, and the driver 9 are disposed at the left
side.
[0492] FIG. 3 is perspective view illustrating a motor housing of
an automatic bathing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention. At the rear side of the motor housing 1,
an attaching member 15 for attaching to a wall is independently
provided, and at one side of the attaching member 15, a hooking
member 16 for hooking a rear side of the motor housing 1 is formed,
the attaching member 15 is fixed to a wall using a screw 17 and an
anchor 18, and by hooking the rear side of the motor housing 1 to
the hooking member 16, the motor housing 1 is fixed to the wall.
Further, the first flexible shaft 3 for transferring a rotation
motion of the motor provided therein is connected to a side surface
of the motor housing 1.
[0493] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the motor housing taken
along line 3-3 of FIG. 3. In the motor housing 1, a motor 19 for
generating a rotation motion; a first gear 20 of a motor side for
transferring a rotation motion of the motor; a second gear 21 for
receiving a rotation motion of the first gear 20 of a motor side; a
first rotation transfer shaft 22 for rotating by the first gear 20;
and gears (24, 29) for transferring a rotation motion in a
direction in which a user wants are provided at a multi-step of the
first rotation transfer shaft 22. In FIG. 3, other electric devices
provided within the motor housing 1 are omitted.
[0494] The bearings (25a, 25b) are inserted into a periphery of the
multi-step of the first rotation transfer shaft 22 to assist a
smooth rotation of the first rotation transfer shaft 22. In a
periphery of the bearings (25a, 25b), fixing members (26a, 26b) for
attaching the bearings (25a, 25b) and for fixing the bearings (25a,
25b) to the inside of a rotation means are installed. At one end of
the first rotation transfer shaft 22, a quadrangular spring 27 in
which one end of the first flexible shaft 3 is formed in a
quadrangle is inserted, and a coupler 28a having a quadrangular
hole 31c for transferring a rotation motion for hooking is
formed.
[0495] A driving bevel gear 29 for transferring a rotation motion
to another direction is provided in an intermediate step of the
first rotation transfer shaft 22, and a driven bevel gear 30 for
interlocking with the driving bevel gear 29 is provided around the
driving bevel gear 29. At the other end of the driven bevel gear
30, a quadrangular spring whose end part is formed in a quadrangle
is inserted, and a coupler 28b having a quadrangular hole 31a for
transferring a rotation motion is formed, and a driving gear 24 for
transferring a rotation motion to another direction is provided at
the other end of the first rotation transfer shaft 22. A driven
gear 23 for interlocking with the driving gear 24 is provided
around the driving gear 24, and a second rotation transfer shaft 32
rotates together with the driven gear 23 at a central part of the
driven gear 23. In an end part of one end of second rotation
transfer shaft 32, a quadrangular spring 27 whose end part is
formed in a quadrangle is connected, and a coupler 28c having
quadrangular hole 31b formed to transfer a rotation motion is
formed. In an outer circumference surface of the second rotation
transfer shaft 32, bearings (25c, 25d) for assisting a rotation of
the second rotation transfer shaft 32 are provided, and in a
periphery of the bearings (25c, 25d), the outer circumference
surface of the bearings (25c, 25d) is attached and fixing members
(26c, 26d) for fixing the bearing (25c, 25d) to the housing are
provided. Only a coupler of a selected direction among couplers
(28a, 28b, 28c) for transferring a rotation motion the motor in a
plurality of directions is used, and gears connected to couplers
that do not use are removed, or a position thereof is moved not to
allow teeth of gears to contact, in order to decrease operation
noise.
[0496] In the motor housing 1, in a region of the motor housing 1
opposite to a plurality of couplers (28a, 28b, 28c), connectors
(33a, 33b, 33c) of the first flexible shaft 3 in which a thread is
formed in an inner circumference surface thereof are provided, and
in connectors that do not use, stoppers (34a, 34b) whose threads
are formed in an outer circumference surface thereof so as to
engage with threads of the connectors (33a, 33b, 33c) are provided
so that the connectors may be blocked.
[0497] FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the motor housing
taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 3. Unlike a case of FIG. 4, in FIG. 5,
only one of the first rotation transfer shaft 22 is used, and using
both ends and an intermediate step of the first rotation transfer
shaft 22, a rotation motion is transferred to the first flexible
shaft 3. In the motor housing 1, a motor 19 that generates a
rotation motion; a first gear 20 of the motor 19 side that receives
of the motor 19; a second gear 21 that receives a rotation motion
of the first gear 20 of the motor 19 side; and a first rotation
transfer shaft 22 that rotates by the second gear 21. At both ends
of the first rotation transfer shaft 22, in order to transfer a
rotation motion in a direction in which a user wants, couples (28a,
28b, 28c) having quadrangular holes (31a, 31b, 31c) into which a
first quadrangular spring 27 of the first flexible shaft 3 is
inserted are provided, and as in FIG. 4, at the intermediate step
of the first rotation transfer shaft 22, a driving bevel gear 29, a
driven bevel gear 30, and the coupler 28b for transferring a
rotation motion of the driven bevel gear 30 are provided, and as in
FIG. 4, a fixing member 26e for rotatably supporting the coupler
28b within the motor housing 1 provided.
[0498] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating a first
flexible shaft in which a spring is installed, and FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional view of the first flexible shaft taken along line
4-4 of FIG. 6.
[0499] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, at peripheries of a first
flexible hollow pipe 35a and both end parts of the first flexible
hollow pipe 35a, a first connecting member 35b and a second
connecting member 35b for connecting to the motor housing 1 and the
relay 5 are provided, and a first spring 36 in which one end of
both end parts thereof is formed in a quadrangular shape is
inserted in an inner part of the first pipe 39.
[0500] The first pipe 39 includes a liner pipe 41 into which a
spring is inserted, an inner layer 42 coated by knitting the liner
pipe 41, and an outer layer 43 that coats the inner layer 42 and
that made of a rubber material, and at both end parts of the first
pipe 39, a fixing member 44 formed in a pair of the inner ring 44b
and the outer ring 44a for fixing all of the liner pipe 41, the
inner layer 42, and the outer layer 43 is provided. Further, when
controlling a motor and an electric device of the motor housing 1
with a switch (not shown) provided in the relay 5, a first electric
wire 37 for connecting the electric device and the switch can be
disposed between the inner layer 42 and the outer layer 43, and the
first electric wire 37 is protruded to the outside by penetrating
through the outer layer 43 from an end part of the first pipe 39
and can be replaced with the second electric wire 38, as shown in
dotted lines.
[0501] In an outer circumference surface and an inner circumference
surface of the first connecting member 35a and the second
connecting member 35b, threads (40a, 40b) for connecting and fixing
each of the motor housing 1 and the relay 5, respectively are
formed. Because one end of both ends of the first spring 36 is
formed in a first quadrangular spring 27, a rotation motion easily
receives by hooking from the coupler 28a for transferring a
rotation motion of the motor without using a separate additional
part. Further, when the received rotation motion transfers to the
relay 5, the rotation motion can be well transferred by easy
hooking, and as lubricating oil is applied between an outer
circumference surface of the first spring 36 and an inner
circumference surface of the liner pipe 41 within the first pipe
39, a frictional force is minimized.
[0502] FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating
a second flexible shaft for connecting a relay and a driver.
[0503] The second flexible shaft 7 includes a second hollow pipe
46, at both ends of the second pipe 46, in order to connect to the
relay 5 and the driver 9, a third connecting member 35c and a
fourth member 35d are provided, and at the inside of the second
pipe 46, a second spring 47 in which one end of both ends is formed
in a second quadrangular spring 48 and that transfers a rotation
motion is inserted. Further, in an end parts of the relay 5 side of
the second flexible shaft 7, a connector 6 that is detachably
attached to the relay 5 and that receives a rotation motion of the
relay 5 to transfer the second flexible shaft 7 is further
provided. The second pipe 46 includes a liner pipe 41 into which
the second spring 47 is inserted, an inner layer 42 that is coated
by knitting the liner pipe 41, and an outer layer 43 that coats the
inner layer 42 and that is made of a rubber material. Further, in
an outer circumferential surface of the second pipe 46, a flexible
pipe 45 is provided. In both end parts of the second pipe 46, a
fixing member 44 for fixing all of the liner pipe 41, the inner
layer 42, the outer layer 43, and the flexible pipe 45 is formed
with an inner ring 44a and an outer ring 44b, and a thread is
formed in an inner circumference surface side of a third connecting
member 35c to be connected the connector 6, and may be directly
connected to the relay 5 without the connector 6.
[0504] Further, at one end of both end parts of the second spring
47, a second quadrangular spring 48 is formed, and when receiving
or transferring a rotation motion, the second quadrangular spring
48 is well connected to a connector of a quadrangular hole and thus
a rotation motion is easily transferred. Further, in internal space
of the second quadrangular spring 48, a quadrangular metal bar (not
shown) is compressed together with the second quadrangular spring
48 to reinforce side strength of the second quadrangular spring
48.
[0505] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector
connected to one end of the relay and a second flexible shaft of
one end connected to the connector taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 8,
and FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown
in FIG. 9.
[0506] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0507] In an outer circumference surface of one end of an elbow
type housing 57, the connector 6 is detachably attached to the
relay 5, and in an inner circumference surface thereof, a fifth
connection member 35e in which a thread is formed is provided, and
at an end part of the relay 5 side, a quadrangular bar 58a whose
cross-section receiving a rotation motion of the relay 5 has a
quadrangular shape is formed, and at the other end of an opposite
side thereof, a driving bevel gear assembly 53 and a driving bevel
gear 54 are formed, and in an outer circumference surface of one
end of the driving bevel gear assembly 53, bearings (25c, 25d) are
provided, and the driving bevel gear assembly 53 revolves in an
inner circumference surface of the connector 6.
[0508] The bearings (25c, 25d) are provided in an outer
circumference surface of a lower end part of the driven bevel gear
56 interlocking with the driving bevel gear 54, and at the inside
of the center of the lower end thereof, a driven bevel gear
assembly 55 that has a quadrangular hole (not shown) for
transferring a rotation motion is formed, and an idle rotation
induction device 59a is provided in an intermediate step of a
connection part of the driven bevel gear assembly 55 and the second
flexible shaft 7. While a rotation of the driven bevel gear 56 is
transferred to the second spring 47 of the second flexible shaft 7,
if the second spring 47 or the bathing device 8 of the driver 9
that receives a rotation of the second spring 47 is disturbed by an
external force over some degree, an idle rotation induction device
59a operates and disconnects transfer of a rotation motion, and the
transferred rotation motion performs an idle rotation at one end of
the idle rotation induction device 59a.
[0509] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrates a first idle rotation induction
device in which protrusions for inducing an idle rotation are
vertically disposed in an idle rotation induction device shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10, FIG. 11 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of
an idle rotation induction device in which idle rotation induction
protrusions are vertically arranged, and FIG. 12 is a
cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled shape of a first
idle rotation induction device of FIG. 11. The following
description is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 11 and
12.
[0510] In the first idle rotation induction device 59a consisting
of a first driving transfer member 60 and a first driven transfer
member 61 formed in a pair of an upper portion and a lower portion,
because a quadrangular bar 58b positioned at the center of the
first upper driving transfer member 60 is inserted into a
quadrangular hole 31 (see FIG. 9) of the driven bevel gear assembly
55, the first upper driving transfer member 60 receives a rotation
motion, and at the lower end of the quadrangular bar 58b, a first
disc 65 in which the quadrangular bar 58b is vertically positioned
at the central part thereof is integrally formed. At many places of
the first disc 65, a plurality of elastic pieces 66 that have
vertically elasticity are formed, and a first protrusion 67 for
hooking is formed in a lower direction at an end part of the
elastic pieces 66.
[0511] In a lower part of the first disc 65 of the driving transfer
member 60, as the first driven transfer member 61 that receives a
rotation motion of the first disc 65, in a second disc 71 in which
a plurality of second protrusions 70 for hooking to first
protrusions 67 of the elastic piece 66 of the first disc 65 are
formed in a circular shape and arranged in a line and a periphery
of an upper edge of the second disc 71, a cylinder 69 for holding
the first disc 65 of the first driving transfer member 60 is
integrally formed. At many places of an inner circumference surface
of the cylinder 69, a hooking jaw 68 is formed so that the first
upper disc 65 does not escape, and at the lower end of the second
disc 71, a quadrangular hole 72 in which an opening is formed in a
lower direction at the center thereof is formed, and a quadrangular
spring 48 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) formed in an end part of the second
spring 47 of the second flexible shaft 7 is inserted into the
quadrangular hole 72, and thus a rotation motion of the second disc
71 is transferred to the second spring 47.
[0512] In the idle rotation induction device 59a having the
above-described configuration, when a first protrusion 67 of a
first driving transfer member 60 side engages with a second
protrusion 70 of a first driven transfer member 61 side, a rotation
motion is transferred from the first driving transfer member 60 to
the first driven transfer member 61. If transfer of a rotation
motion receives a disturbance force over some degree due to an
action, for example, twisting of the second flexible shaft 7 or
forcedly stopping by taking a rotating bathing device 8 with a hand
of disturbing transfer of a rotation motion in the second spring 47
of the second flexible shaft 7 or the bathing device 8 of the
driver 9 formed under the first driven transfer member 61 while
transferring a rotation motion, the first upper protrusions 67 and
the lower protrusions 70 are hooked to each other. Accordingly, if
a disturbance force over some limit generates under the second
flexible shaft 7 while transferring a rotation motion, the elastic
piece 66 in which the first protrusions 67 of the first driving
transfer member 60 side is formed is pushed up, then the elastic
piece 66 drops again by an elastic force, the first upper
protrusion 67 and the first lower protrusion 70 are hooked, the
elastic piece 66 is pushed up, and due to such a continuous
operation, an idle rotation is induced.
[0513] FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 illustrate an idle rotation induction
device in which protrusions for inducing an idle rotation are
horizontally disposed in the idle rotation induction device shown
in FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0514] FIG. 13 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of an idle
rotation induction device in which idle rotation induction
protrusions are horizontally formed.
[0515] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled
shape of a second idle rotation induction device of FIG. 13.
[0516] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation
of a second idle rotation induction device of FIG. 13.
[0517] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15.
[0518] In an upper second driving transfer member 82 of a second
idle rotation induction device 59b consisting of a second driving
transfer member 82 and a second driven transfer member 83 as a pair
of an upper portion and a low portion, a quadrangular bar 58
positioned at the center thereof is inserted into the quadrangular
hole 31 of the driven bevel gear assembly 55 within the connector 6
(see FIG. 9) and receives a rotation motion, and at the lower end
of the quadrangular bar 58, a disk 74 disposed vertically to the
quadrangular bar 58 is formed. At many places of an outer
circumference surface of a horizontal side of the disk 74, a
plurality of elastic pieces 77 that has elasticity horizontally
toward an opposite side of the center of the disk 74 are formed,
and at the outside of the end part of the elastic piece 77, a third
protrusion 76 for hooking is formed. In a lower part of the disk
74, as a second driven transfer member 83 for receiving a rotation
motion of the disk 74, a cylinder 79 in which a plurality of fourth
protrusions 80 for hooking the third protrusion 76 of the disk 74
are formed in an inner circumference surface thereof is integrally
formed, and at many places of an inner circumference surface of the
cylinder 79, a hooking jaw 78 is formed so that an upper cylinder
does not escape, and at the lower end of the cylinder 79, a
quadrangular hole 72 in which an opening is formed in a lower
direction is formed at the center thereof, and the quadrangular
spring 48 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) formed in an end part of the second
spring 47 of the second flexible shaft 7 is inserted into the
quadrangular hole 72, and thus a rotation motion of the disk 74 is
transferred to the second spring 47.
[0519] In the second idle rotation induction device 59b having the
above-described configuration, when third protrusions 76 of the
second driving transfer member 82 engages with fourth protrusions
80 of the driven transfer member 83 side, a rotation motion is
transferred from the second driving transfer member 82 to the
second driven transfer member 83. If transfer of a rotation motion
is disturbed in the second spring 47 or the bathing device 8 of the
second flexible shaft 7 under the driven transfer member 83 while
transferring a rotation motion, the elastic piece 77 in which
protrusions of the driving transfer member 82 side are formed is
pushed in a central direction of the disc 74 and is restored to an
original position by an elastic force and is moved in an opposite
direction of the center, and opposite third protrusion 76 and
fourth protrusion 80 are hooked by each other and the elastic piece
77 is pushed in a central direction of the disc 74 and is restored
to an original position, and due to a continuous operation, an idle
rotation is induced.
[0520] In FIGS. 16 to 26, a relay for transferring a rotation
motion of the first flexible shaft to the second flexible shaft is
classified according to a kind or an installation method of a
component thereof. The following description is described in detail
with reference to FIGS. 16 to 26.
[0521] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a relay 5. A
cylindrical connecting member 89a is formed to connect to an end
part of the first flexible shaft 3 in a left side surface of an
outside side surface of the casing 86 of the relay 5, and in an
outer circumference surface thereof, a connecting member 35b of the
first flexible shaft 3 and a thread 90a for fixing are formed, and
in the casing 86 of the central part of the cylindrical connecting
member 89a, a through hole 91a for penetrating the first
quadrangular spring 27 of an end part of the first flexible shaft 3
is formed. Further, in the inside of the connecting member 89a or
at one end of the left side surface thereof, in the relay 5, a hole
for passing through a first electric wire 37 or a second electric
wire 38 for controlling the motor 19 (see FIG. 4) of the motor
housing 1 is formed.
[0522] In a front surface of the relay 5, in order to connect to
one end of the connector 6 of the second flexible shaft 7, a
cylindrical connecting member 89b is formed, and in an outer
circumference surface thereof, a connecting member 35e of the
connector and a thread 90b for fixing are formed. A through hole
91b is formed in a housing of a central part of the cylindrical
connecting member 89b, and a quadrangular bar 58a of an end part of
the connector 6 is inserted into the through hole 91b to receive a
rotation motion from the relay 5.
[0523] In an inner circumference surface side of the front
connecting member 89b, a plane 87 that is in bilateral symmetry and
that is vertically parallel is formed and is tightly inserted into
a vertical plane 88 (see FIG. 17) formed at one end of the
connector to prevent horizontal movement. Further, at an upper end
of the front surface of the casing 86, a waterproof switch 49 is
formed to be connected to a first electric wire 37 or a second
electric wire 38 entering from a left side surface, and the motor
19 is controlled by the switch 49.
[0524] In the right side surface of the casing, the same connecting
member 89c as that of a left side surface is formed (see FIG. 17),
and this allows the first flexible shaft 3a to connect in a right
side.
[0525] Further, the connecting member 89c of the right side can
receive a rotation motion by connecting the connector 6. The relay
includes a casing 86 in which an opening is formed in a lower
direction and a support 93 for supporting the casing 86 from the
bottom, and in a rear surface of the casing 86, and a wall
attaching member 85 is formed.
[0526] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the relay of FIG. 16,
and FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the relay of FIG.
17.
[0527] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18.
[0528] A connector 6 of the first flexible shaft 3 and the second
flexible shaft 7 is connected to the relay 5, and within the casing
86 of the relay 5, bevel gears (96a, 96b, 98) and bevel gear
assemblies (95a, 95b, 97) that receives a rotation motion of the
first flexible shaft 3 to transfer the rotation motion to the
connector 6 of the second flexible shaft 7 side are provided, and
fixing members (94a, 94b, 94c) for allowing the bevel gear
assemblies (95a, 95b, 97) to revolve within the casing 86 are
provided. The bevel gear and the bevel gear assembly include
driving bevel gears (96a, 96b), driving bevel gear assemblies (95a,
95b), a driven bevel gear 98, and a driven bevel gear assembly
97.
[0529] At one end of the driving bevel gear assemblies (95a, 95b),
the driving bevel gears (96a, 96b) are formed, and a bearing 99 is
formed in an outer circumference surface of an intermediate step
thereof. In couplers (92a, 92b) positioned at an end part of the
other end, and quadrangular holes (101a, 101b) into which a first
quadrangular spring 27 of an end part of the first flexible shaft 3
is inserted are formed, and likewise, at one end of the driven
bevel gear assembly 97, a driven bevel gear 98 interlocking with
the driving bevel gears (96a, 96b) is formed. In an outer
circumference surface of an intermediate step, a bearing 99 is
provided, and in a coupler positioned at an end part of the other
end, a quadrangular hole 101c is formed at the center thereof, and
a quadrangular bar 58a of the connector 6 that receives a rotation
motion is inserted into the quadrangular hole 101c, thus the
connector 6 receives a rotation motion of the relay 5, and the
rotation motion is transferred to the second flexible shaft 7.
[0530] The fixing members (94a, 94b, 94c) include an inserting
member 107 for allowing the bevel gear assemblies (95a, 95b, 97)
revolve within the relay 5 and an attaching member 108 for
attaching the inserting member 107 to an inner surface of the
casing. The inserting member 107 has holes for inserting the bevel
gear assemblies (95a, 95b, 97), and a nut hole 102 for being
fastened to a support 93 and a screw 109 constituting the bottom of
the casing is formed in a periphery of the bottom of the attaching
member 108.
[0531] FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate another embodiment of the relay,
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a relay for connecting a
driving bevel gear assembly and a driven bevel gear assembly to one
fixing member, and FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the relay
taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 19.
[0532] The following description is described with reference to
FIGS. 19 and 20.
[0533] Within the casing 86 of the relay 5, driving bevel gear
assemblies (95a, 95b) and driven bevel gear assembly 97 that
receive a rotation motion of the first flexible shaft 3 to transfer
the rotation motion to the connector 6 of the second flexible shaft
7 are provided, and the driving bevel gear assemblies (95a, 95b)
and the driven bevel gear assembly 97 can revolve within the casing
86, but are installed in an one-body fixing member 111 to transfer
a rotation. As shown above, at the bottom within the casing 86, the
one-body fixing member 111 of a hexagonal shape is formed, at the
right and left side surfaces and the bottom, through holes (116a,
116b, 116c) for inserting to revolve the driving bevel gear
assemblies (95a, 95b) and the driven bevel gear assembly 97 are
formed, and within a deep vertical hole 118 among an upper surface
of the one-body fixing member 111, each of the driving bevel gears
(96a, 96b) and the driven bevel gear 98 are connected to transfer a
rotation motion.
[0534] Similar to FIGS. 17 and 18, a rotation motion is
transferred. The first flexible shaft 3 is connected to a
quadrangular hole (101a or 101b) of the driving bevel gear assembly
(95a or 95b) to rotate the driving bevel gear assembly (95a or
95b), and the driven bevel gear assembly 97 rotates by interlocking
with the driving bevel gear assembly (95a or 95b). By connecting
the quadrangular bar 58a of the connector 6 to the quadrangular
hole 101c of the driven bevel gear assembly 97, a rotation motion
is transferred to the connector 6 and the second flexible shaft 7.
In the rear surface of the one-body fixing member 111, a rear hole
114 communicating with the inside of the one-body fixing member 111
and a stopper 113 for blocking the hole are provided, and the rear
hole 114 is connected to the upper vertical hole 118, and the rear
hole 114 is used for partial assembly or checking of the driving
bevel gear assemblies (95a, 95b) and the driven bevel gear assembly
97.
[0535] Further, the cover 112 for covering the vertical hole 118 is
provided on an upper surface.
[0536] FIG. 21 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a relay
5 and is an exploded perspective view of a relay whose fixing
member is divided into two horizontal steps.
[0537] In an lower part of the casing 86 of the relay 5, an arrival
member 122 that has long grooves (120a, 120b, 120c) and that
arrives only the bearing 99 is provided so that the driving bevel
gear assemblies (95a, 95b) and the driven bevel gear assembly 97
revolve. At the upside of the arrival member 122, a top cover 123
for covering the lower arrival member 122 is provided and at the
lower part of the top cover 123, long grooves (121a, 121b, 121c
(not shown)) like the arrival member 122 are formed, and on a long
groove of the arrival member 122 of the lower part, the driving
bevel gear assemblies (95a, 95b) and the driven bevel gear assembly
97 are provided, and as the top cover 123 covers the driving bevel
gear assemblies (95a, 95b) and the driven bevel gear assembly 97,
the driving bevel gear assemblies (95a, 95b) and the driven bevel
gear assembly 97 are fixed, and can revolve at the same time, and
transfers a rotation motion. Further, because a vertical hole 118
is formed in the top cover 123 of an upper part, the bevel gears
(96a, 96b, 98) can be checked or oil thereof can be checked through
the vertical hole 118. The arrival member 122 of a lower part and
the top cover 123 of an upper part are fixed by a long screw 124
provided on the top cover 123 and a nut 103 of the lower part.
[0538] FIG. 22 illustrates another exemplary embodiment, and is a
side cross-sectional view of a relay that vertically receives and
horizontally transfers a rotation motion, and FIG. 23 is a
perspective view of an automatic bathing apparatus in which a relay
that vertically receives and horizontally transfers a rotation
motion is embedded.
[0539] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 22 and 23.
[0540] In the relay 5, the motor housing 1 is installed in an upper
part or a ceiling 129 of the bathroom, and the first flexible shaft
3 for transferring a rotation motion is vertically disposed
directly under the motor housing 1 to be connected to the relay 5,
and by rotating the driving bevel gear assembly 95a and the driving
bevel gear 96a vertically inserted into the relay 5 and the driven
bevel gear 98 and the driven bevel gear assembly 97 that are
horizontally inserted and that interlock with the driving bevel
gear assembly 95a and the driving bevel gear 96a, and by inserting
a quadrangular bar 58a of the connector 6 into a quadrangular hole
101c of the driven bevel gear assembly 97, a rotation motion is
transferred to the second rotation shaft 7 and the driver 9.
[0541] In the relay 5, as a bearing of the driving bevel gear
assembly 95a, a bearing 126 for a vertical load is selected.
Further, in the relay 5, the casing 86 becomes a fixing member of
each of the bevel gear assemblies (95a, 97).
[0542] FIGS. 24, 25, and 26 illustrate another relay transfers a
rotation motion in a straight line.
[0543] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a relay that transfers a
rotation motion in a straight line.
[0544] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a relay that transfers
a rotation motion in a straight line.
[0545] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an automatic bathing
apparatus in which a relay that transfers a rotation motion in a
straight line is vertically installed.
[0546] The following description is described with reference to
FIGS. 24, 25, and 26.
[0547] The first flexible shaft 3, the connector 6, and connection
members (89d, 89e) for connecting a rotation motion are formed at
both ends of the relay 5a, and at the bottom (not shown) within the
casing 86a, in order to transfer a rotation motion in a straight
line, at the inside of the center of both end parts, the first
quadrangular spring 27 of an end part of the first flexible shaft 3
and couplers (92d, 92e) having a quadrangular hole into which the
quadrangular bar 58a of the connector 6 is inserted are formed, and
in an outer circumference surface thereof, the bearing 99 is
formed, and a roller 131 formed to turn on its axis within the
fixing member 132 is provided within the relay 5a.
[0548] As shown in FIG. 26, the motor housing 1 is installed at the
ceiling 129 of the bathroom, the first flexible shaft 3 is
vertically connected, at the end of a lower part of the first
flexible shaft 3, the relay 5a for transferring a rotation motion
in a straight line is installed. The connector 6a is provided under
the relay 5, and the bevel gear and the bevel gear assembly are
removed from the connector 6a, only an idle rotation induction
device is installed at the connector 6a (see FIG. 9), and a
rotation motion to the driver 9 is transferred by connecting the
second flexible shaft 7.
[0549] FIGS. 27, 28, 29, and 30 illustrates a polygonal tip member
formed at an end part of a first circular spring 36 in order to
replace a function of the first quadrangular spring 27 (see FIGS. 6
and 7) formed at both ends or one end of the first flexible
shaft.
[0550] FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a quadrangular
tip member installed at an end part of a first spring of a first
flexible shaft.
[0551] FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
quadrangular tip member installed at an end part of a first spring
of a first flexible shaft.
[0552] FIG. 29 is a side cross-sectional view of a quadrangular tip
member installed at an end part of the first spring of the first
flexible shaft.
[0553] FIG. 30 is a partially cut-away side cross-sectional view
illustrating the first flexible shaft in which the quadrangular tip
member and that is connected to a motor housing.
[0554] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 27, 28, 29, and 30.
[0555] At one end of the quadrangular tip member 134, a spiral
groove is formed in an outer circumference surface thereof, and
thus an insertion part 138 rotating along a spiral groove of an
inner circumference surface side of the first spring 36 is formed
in the spiral groove, and at the other end thereof, a quadrangular
bar 136 that is inserted into a quadrangular hole of the coupler
28a formed at an end part of the rotation transfer shaft 22 within
the motor housing 1 to receive a rotation motion is formed. In an
outer circumference surface of an intermediate step, when the
insertion part 138 is inserted while rotating along the spiral
groove into the first spring 36, a hooking jaw 137 is formed not to
insert over some degree.
[0556] After the insertion part 138 is inserted while rotating into
the first spring 36, the insertion part 138 is inserted over a
periphery of the quadrangular bar 136 so as not to escape by a
rotation from the first spring 36. In an inner circumference
surface thereof, a fixing pipe 135 having a spiral groove rotating
along an outer circumference surface of the first spring 36 is
inserted while rotating an outer circumference surface of the first
spring 36, and at an end part of an inner circumference surface of
the quadrangular bar 136 side of the fixing pipe 135 at an inserted
state, a fixing pipe inner circumference surface jaw 139 is formed
to be no longer inserted into the outer circumference surface of
the first spring 36 due to the hooking jaw 137 of the quadrangular
bar.
[0557] The fixing pipe 135 allows the quadrangular tip member 134
not to escape from the first spring 36. If the quadrangular tip
member 134 into which the fixing pipe is inserted applies an
additional pressure to the outer circumference surface of the
fixing pipe 135 using a tool such as a drop wrench, the inserted
fixing pipe 135 made of a metal material is compressed to the
inside and is fastened, so that coupling of the quadrangular tip
member 134 and the first spring 36 is more secured.
[0558] FIGS. 31 to 48 illustrate the driver.
[0559] FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of a driver. The
second flexible shaft 7 at a lower end is connected to the bathing
device 8 that is detachably attached to the driver 9, the bathing
device cover 142 enclosing the disk 141 of the bathing device 8,
and a handle 10 that can adjust a length.
[0560] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a driver in which a bathing
device cover is removed and a handle is slidably extended.
[0561] The driver 9 extended to the second flexible shaft 7 side
while the handle 10 slides along the guide pipe 164 and is used for
well contacting the back when bathing the back in which the hand
does not well touch.
[0562] FIG. 33 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a
driver.
[0563] FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective view of the driver of
FIG. 33.
[0564] FIGS. 33 and 34 are described in detail as follows.
[0565] The driver includes a guide pipe 164 that guides the second
flexible shaft 7 that transfers a rotation motion received in order
of the motor housing 1, the first flexible shaft 3, and the relay 5
into the driver 9; a driving bevel gear assembly 160 and a driving
bevel gear 161 that receive a rotation motion of the second
flexible shaft 7 through the guide pipe 164, a driven bevel gear
assembly 149, a driven bevel gear 150 that interlocks with the
driving bevel gear 161; a housing 151 that has a pair of bevel gear
assemblies (160,149) therein; and a rotation shaft 144 that is
detachably attached to the bathing device 8 and that passes through
the inside and the outside of the housing 151 at the other end of
the driven bevel gear assembly 149 and that is integrally formed.
The bearings (147a, 147b, 147c 147d) are formed in an outer
circumference surface of an intermediate step of the driving bevel
gear assembly 160 and the driven bevel gear assembly 149 and
revolve in an inner side surface of the housing 151.
[0566] Further, the driver 9 of the automatic bathing apparatus
according to the present invention includes a lubricating oil
storage 158 that supplies lubricating oil to a packing 146
enclosing a rotation shaft of the inside of the housing 151a; a
packing pressing end plate 145 that is provided in a periphery of
the rotation shaft of the inside of the housing 151a to press a
packing 146 for assisting waterproof of the rotation shaft; a
stainless steel pipe 159 that is provided in a periphery of a
rotation shaft contacting with the packing 146; a water discharge
hole 153 that discharges water permeated to the inside of the
driver 152 to the outside; a stopper 154 that blocks the water
discharge hole 153; a bathing device cover 142 that encloses one
end of the bathing device 8; a handle 10 that can adjust a length;
other operation device coupling member 175 in which a massage
device is coupled to the housing of a periphery of a rotating shaft
to which the bathing device 8 is detachably attached; and a hand
hooking member 230 (see FIG. 19) that can use by hooking a
hand.
[0567] This is described in detail.
[0568] A lubricating oil storage 158 is formed within the rotation
shaft 144 provided within the housing 151a of the driver 9, and a
passage 148 that supplies from the lubricating oil storage 158 to
the outer circumference surface of the rotation shaft 144 is
formed, and an oil feeder 156 that feeds to the lubricating oil
storage 158 is formed at an at an end part of a bar of the rotation
shaft 144 protruded to the outside of the housing 151a, and an oil
feeder stopper 155 that detachably blocks the oil feeder 156 is
also formed, and lubricating oil of the lubricating oil storage 158
is continuously supplied to the packing 146 side enclosing the
passage 148 through the passage 148. Here, it is preferable that
lubricating oil of a paste phase having viscosity is used so as to
continuously and slowly supply. Further, an oil absorbent 157 made
of a fiber material is provided within a storage to supply
continuously and more slowly lubricating oil.
[0569] Further, in a periphery of the rotation shaft 144 of the
bathing device 8 side of the driver 9, an outer circumferential
surface of an end plate 145 for pressing a packing 146 that is
inserted into the driver 9 and that is formed in the periphery of
the rotation shaft 144, and that blocks penetration of water from
the outside is a cylinder formed in two steps consisting of a small
circumference and a large circumference, and the screw groove 162
for fastening is formed in an outer circumference surface of a
large circumference, and even if a rotation shaft 144 rotates so
that a locking direction of the screw is identical to the rotation
shaft 144 of the rotation shaft 144, due to a vibration, the end
plate 145 is not locked.
[0570] Further, a screw groove is formed in an inner circumference
surface side of the housing 151a contacting with an outer
circumference surface of the large circumference, and a rotation
hole 171 for rotating the end plate 145 by hooking a tool is formed
at one end of the end plate 145. When rotating while advancing the
end plate in an inside direction of the driver, a side part of a
small circumference pushes and pressures a packing 146 of a rubber
material and thus the pressed and pushed packing 146 close contacts
with an outer circumference surface of the rotation shaft 144
within the housing 151a due to the pressure.
[0571] In the end plate 145, when the packing 146 tightly inserted
into a periphery of the rotation shaft 144 has been used for a long
time period, in spite of a lubrication action of a lubricating oil,
an inner circumference surface of the packing 146 is worn by a
rotation of the rotation shaft 144 and thus external water of the
housing 151a permeates into a gap of the packing 146 and the
rotation shaft 144. At this time, by advancing while rotating the
end plate 145 in an inside direction of the housing 151a without
replacing the packing 146, when the packing 146 is pressed to one
side of the end plate 145, the packing 146 is pushed by the
pressure and the pushed packing 146 of a rubber material more close
contacts with an outer circumference surface of the rotation shaft.
Because a washer 172b and a bearing 147a are sustained at the
packing 146 of an opposite side of the end plate, the packing 146
is no longer pushed.
[0572] In this way, because permeation of water is prevented,
lifetime of the packing can be extended without immediate replace
of the packing 146.
[0573] Because a periphery of one end of a rotation shaft enclosing
the packing 146 in the rotation shaft of the driver 9 is formed
with a stainless steel pipe 159, the stainless steel pipe 159
minimizes wear of the rotation shaft 144 from friction of the
rotation shaft 144 and the packing 146. This is because when the
entire rotation shaft 144 is made of plastic, the rotation shaft is
worn due to a friction with the packing 146 and a weight thereof
reduces, compared with when the entire rotation shaft 144 is made
of metal.
[0574] Further, at one end of the housing 151 of the driver 9, due
to wear of the packing 146 of a periphery of the rotation shaft
144, in order to discharge water permeated to the inside, water can
be simply discharged through the water discharge hole 153
penetrating through the inside and the outside of the housing 151
without disassembling the housings (151,151a). A stopper 154 is
formed in the water discharge hole 153, and as a screw groove is
formed at both sides with which the water discharge hole 153 and
the stopper 154 contact, the water discharge hole 153 and the
stopper 154 may be separated and may be securely coupled.
[0575] Further, because the water discharge hole 153 are disposed
around the bevel gears (150, 161), in order to check the bevel
gears (150, 161) or to smoothly rotate the bevel gears (150, 161),
the water discharge hole 153 can perform a functional of a check
hole for checking lubricating oil.
[0576] Further, because the stopper is made of a transparent
material, water permeated to the inside of the housing 151 can be
viewed without opening the stopper.
[0577] Because a plurality of protrusion type coupling members 170
detachably coupled to one end of the housing 151a are formed in a
bathing device cover 142 enclosing one side of an opposite side of
the bathing surface of the bathing device 8, the coupling members
170 can be detached, as needed, and a bathing device cover coupling
member 177 having an L-shape groove to be coupled to the coupling
member 170 of the bathing device cover 142 is formed in a
multi-step of an outer circumference surface of the housing
151a.
[0578] Further, in the bathing device cover 142 of a recess form
enclosing one side of the bathing device 8, when the driver to
which the bathing device 8 is attached faces the upside direction,
in order to easily discharge water pooled at the inside of the
recessed bathing device cover 142, a water flowing hole 143 is
formed at many places of the bathing device cover 142.
[0579] Even if the bathing device 8 is put at the floor for a
moment while rotating, the bathing device cover 142 allows the
rotating bathing device 8 not to contact with the floor and
prevents the side of the bathing device disk 141 in which washing
hairs are transplanted from contacting with a skin. Further, when
the bathing device 8 receives an impact such as drop of the driver
9 to which the bathing device 8 is attached, if the side of the
bathing device 8 receives an impact, the rotation shaft 144 to
which the bathing device 8 is coupled and bevel gears (150,161)
which are an extension part of the rotation shaft 144 are badly
affected and thus a function for preventing this is performed.
[0580] FIGS. 35 to 38 illustrate the handle length fixing device
165a of FIGS. 33 and 34. The following description is described
according to a configuration thereof.
[0581] FIG. 35 is an enlarged exploded view of a handle length
fixing device shown in FIGS. 33 and 34.
[0582] FIG. 36 is a view illustrating the handle length fixing
device of FIG. 35 that is assembled to be installed between a guide
pipe and a handle.
[0583] FIGS. 34, 35, and 36 are described in detail as follows.
[0584] In an inner circumference surface of the handle length
fixing device 165a provided in an outer circumference surface of a
lower end part of the guide pipe 164, as shown in FIG. 34, a fixing
groove 185 of the guide pipe 164 to be fixed together with a fixing
protrusion 184 (see FIG. 34) of the handle length fixing device
165a formed in an outer circumference surface of a lower end part
of the guide pipe 164 is formed, and in a lower part thereof,
because a fixing ring 186 (see FIG. 34) for supporting and fixing
the handle length fixing device 165a supports, the handle length
fixing device 165a is fixed to a lower end part of the guide pipe
164.
[0585] A first circular circumference 196 and a second circular
circumference 197 that are deviated in a vertical direction of the
drum type member 192 of the handle length fixing device 165a and
that is parallely formed are a little smaller than a diameter of an
inner circumference surface of the handle 10 and are formed in an
outer circumference surface 195 of the drum type member 192, and
only a part of an outer side surface of a central wide arc 193 of a
ring 191 whose opening is formed at one side thereof and that has a
narrow end part contacts with an inner circumference surface of the
handle 10. Therefore, when gripping and fixing the driver 9 or the
guide pipe 164 with one hand and gripping and turning the handle 10
to the right side with the other hand, due to a contact friction of
the inner circumference surface of the handle 10 and the central
wide arc 193 of the ring 191, as the ring 191 rotates together, a
friction between the circumference surface of the central wide arc
193 of the ring 191 and an eccentric outer circumference surface of
the drum type member 192 increases and thus the outer circumference
surface of the ring 191 puts between the inner circumference
surface of the handle 10 and the outer circumference surface of the
drum type member 192 and is fixed due to a pressure thereof. In
order to release the fixation, if fixing the guide pipe 164 and
rotating the handle 10 to the left side, a protrusion 194 formed at
one end of the ring 191 contacts with a hooking jaw 198 formed at
one end of the outer circumference surface of the drum type member
192, whereby a rotation of the ring 191 stops and a pressure
therebetween is released. When a pressure is released as described
above, the handle 10 can freely vertically move in a periphery of
an outer circumference surface of the guide pipe 164, and if the
handle 10 rotates again at a desired position, both the handle 10
and the guide pipe 164 are fixed. If the handle 10 rotates after
extending toward the second flexible shaft 7 by a desired length
along the guide pipe 164 as described above, both the handle 10 and
the guide pipe 164 are fixed by the handle length fixing device
165a, and a total length of the driver 9 is thus extended.
[0586] FIG. 37 is another enlarged exploded view of the handle
length fixing device 165b whose end part is formed in a wide ring
in the handle length fixing device of FIG. 34.
[0587] FIG. 38 is a view illustrating the handle length fixing
device 165b of FIG. 37 that is assembled to be installed between a
guide pipe and a handle. The following description is described in
detail with reference to FIGS. 37 and 38.
[0588] The drum type member 192 is the same as that of FIGS. 35 and
36, and an operation mechanism of a wide ring 200 of a shape that
is provided in an outer circumference surface of the drum type
member 192 and in which an opening is formed at one side and in
which a cross-section of both end parts is wide and that becomes
gradually narrow when advancing to a central arc and that has a
wide end part is similar to that of FIGS. 35 and 36. When a wide
arc 201 of the ring 200 rotating together while contacting with an
inner circumference surface of the handle 10 approaches in a right
rotation direction of an eccentric outer circumference surface of
the drum type member 192, the wide arc 201 of the ring 200 is
strongly pressed by the outer circumference surface of the drum
type member 192 and the inner circumference surface side of the
handle 10 and is in a sandwich state, and the handle 10 is thus
fixed. If the wide arc 201 of a ring 200 is released in an opposite
direction, a pressure is released and the handle 10 can be freely
vertically moved.
[0589] FIGS. 39, 40 and 41 is a view illustrating another handle
length fixing device in which a first clamp is installed in an
arc-shaped guide pipe and handle.
[0590] FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a driver in which a length
of a handle is shortened and that is fixed with a clamp.
[0591] FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a driver in which a length
of a handle is extended and that is fixed with a clamp.
[0592] FIG. 41 is an exploded perspective view of a handle of a
driver and a clamp.
[0593] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 39, 40 and 41.
[0594] A first clamp 203 is provided at one end of an outer
circumferential surface of an arc-shaped handle 10a provided in an
outer circumference surface of an arc-shaped guide pipe 164a bent
with a smooth curved line, and at one end of an outer circumference
surface of the arc-shaped handle 10a to which the first clamp 203
is adjacent, a first hinge member 209 and a second hinge member 202
are formed in the outer circumference surface of the handle 10a and
the first clamp 203 so that the first clamp 203 may be hinged in
the outer circumferential surface of the handle 10a. At one end of
the first clamp 203, a ground 205 protruded to be grounded with the
guide pipe 164a is formed, at the other end thereof, and a lever
204 for operating with a finger is formed to be hinged with the
guide pipe 165a.
[0595] If the lever 204 is dropped in a lower direction like the
lever movement direction 205, the ground 205 positioned at the
other end of the lever 204 is fitted to the guide pipe 164a, and
the guide pipe 164a and the handle 10a are fixed together.
[0596] In the first hinge member 209 of the handle 10a, a pair of
pin hooking jaw 211 connected to the pinhole 210 of the first clamp
203 is formed, and a gap 206 is formed between the pin hooking jaws
211. The first clamp 203 can be rotated in the gap 206 and be
grounded to the guide pipe 164a.
[0597] FIGS. 42 and 43 illustrates a handle length fixing device in
which another clamp is formed in a handle.
[0598] FIG. 42 is a partial perspective view illustrating a handle
length fixing device for fixing a handle with elasticity of a
spring installed in a clamp.
[0599] FIG. 43 is an exploded partial perspective view of the
handle length fixing device of FIG. 42. The following description
is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 42 and 43.
[0600] At one end of an outer circumference surface of the handle
and an intermediate step of the second clamp 212 provided in an
outer circumference surface of the handle, a first hinge member 209
and a third hinge member 214 are formed. A lever 215 is formed at
the lower end of the second clamp 212 and at an upper end thereof,
a hooking member 213 for hooking to a plurality of hooking holes
217 whose the inside is blocked and that are formed in an outer
circumference surface of the guide pipe 164b is formed. At the
inside of the hooking member 213 of the second clamp 212, a spring
216 for allowing the hooking member 213 of the second clamp 212 to
continues to apply a force to the hooking hole 217 of the guide
pipe 164b is provided, and the third hinge member 214 of the second
clamp 212, the first hinge member 209 of the handle 10b, and a pin
207 for penetrating the spring 216 are provided. A gap 206 is
formed between the first hinge members 209 formed in the handle 10b
and thus the hooking member 213 freely contact with the hooking
hole 217 of the guide pipe.
[0601] A guiding member 218 of a long protrusion is formed in an
outer circumference surface of the guide pipe 164b and an inner
circumference surface side of the handle 10b so that the handle 10b
only vertically moves in a straight line instead of moving in a
lateral direction in the outer circumference surface of the guide
pipe 164b.
[0602] As in FIGS. 39 and 40, in FIGS. 42 and 43, the guide pipe
164b and the handle 10b may be curved in an arc shape, and as both
the guide pipe 164b and the handle 10b are bent, if the handle 10b
is extended along the guide pipe 164b, when performing a bathing
operation of the back, a bathing surface of the bathing device 8
more easily contacts with the back.
[0603] FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a massage
device.
[0604] FIG. 45 is a perspective view illustrating the massage
device of FIG. 44.
[0605] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 44 and 45 together with other operation device
coupling member 175 formed in the housing 151a of FIGS. 33 and
34.
[0606] The massage device further includes a coupling member 175 in
which the massage device 221 is coupled to the housing 151a of a
periphery of the rotation shaft 144 to which the bathing device 8
is detachably attached. A fastening member 176 having a detachable
L-shape groove in an outer circumference surface of the cylindrical
coupling member 175 so that the massage device 221 is not easily
separated is formed.
[0607] A protrusion type fastening member 223 for the L-shaped
groove is formed in the massage device 221, and the fastening
member 223 is inserted into the L-shaped groove and fastened to the
L-shaped groove by turning a little and at the same time, the
rotation shaft 144 of the driver 9 is also inserted into the
rotation shaft insertion device 224 of the massage device 221.
[0608] At the center of a side surface of the driver of the massage
device 221, a rotation shaft insertion device 224 that is
detachably coupled and that receives a rotation motion of the
rotation shaft 144 is provided, and an operation device rotation
shaft 225 of the massage device 221 that rotates with the rotation
motion received from the insertion device is provided at the inside
of the massage device, which is an opposite side of the rotation
shaft insertion device 224. At an end part of the operation device
rotation shaft 225, an eccentric weight 222 for generating a
vibration when rotating is provided to generate a vibration by a
rotation of the operation device rotation shaft 225. The vibration
is transferred to the protrusion 228, which is a skin contact
surface of the massage device and by contacting the protrusion 228
with a skin, a face beauty massage or a skin massage can be
performed.
[0609] Further, the massage device 221 makes more rapidly a
rotation motion of the operation device rotation shaft 225 and thus
a vibration due to the eccentric weight 222 becomes larger and
stronger, whereby the massage device 221 can be used as a massage
device.
[0610] FIG. 46 is perspective view of a driver in which a hand
hooking member is installed.
[0611] FIG. 47 is a perspective view illustrating a hand hooking
member.
[0612] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 46 and 47.
[0613] A palm side grips the handle 10, and the back of the hand is
hooked to a hand hooking device 231, and the hand hooking device
231 is hooked to each one side of a first handle attaching band 232
formed in an outer circumference surface of the handle 10 and at
one end of a housing 151 around the handle 10 and a second
attaching band 233 formed in an outer circumference surface of a
lower end of the handle 10. One end of the hand hooking device 231
is fixed to the handle second attaching band 233, and the other end
thereof passes through a through hole 234 formed in another first
handle attaching band 232, and is attached to a velcro 235 formed
in many sides of the hand hooking device 231, and thus by moving a
position of the velcro 235 for moving and attaching according to a
size of a user's hand, a length of the hand hooking device 231 is
adjusted.
[0614] The first handle attaching band 232 and the second handle
attaching band 233 are detachable from a periphery of the handle 10
or the housing 151 by a first velcro 236 and a second velcro 237
formed in itself and can be used as a hand hooking member 230 by
attaching, if necessary, according to a user's inclination and can
be used as the driver 9 by removing, if unnecessary. Therefore,
such a hand hooking member 230 is especially necessary for an old
person who has a weak arm force or a disabled person in which use
of a hand is uncomfortable.
[0615] FIG. 48 is a partially cut-away perspective view
illustrating two axes of a bevel gear of the driver having an
interior angle of an acute angle.
[0616] If an interior angle of two central axes of the driving
bevel gear 161 and the driven bevel gear 150 becomes an acute angle
239, the center of the handle 10, which is an extension line of the
driving bevel gear 161 and the center of the bathing device 8,
which is a extension line of the driven bevel gear 150 thus becomes
an acute angle 239, and thus one end of the housing 151 becomes
bent from the handle 10. After the handle 10 of the driver 9 is
extended, when bathing the back over a shoulder while gripping the
handle 10 with the hand, even if the hand is moved less toward the
back or is raised less, the bathing surface 240 of the bathing
device 8 more easily contacts with the back.
[0617] FIGS. 49 to 55 are views illustrating the automatic bathing
apparatus whose each portion is buried in a wall.
[0618] FIG. 49 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic
bathing apparatus buried in a wall. In the automatic bathing
apparatus, one end of the relay 5 and the motor housing 1, and a
guide pipe 241 that guides the first flexible shaft 3 that connects
the motor housing 1 and the relay 5 to the inside thereof are
buried in a wall. Accordingly, protrusion to a bathroom is
minimized, thus electricity safely for the motor housing 1 is
further improved, and a simple appearance is obtained. Further, a
switch 242 that controls an electric device of the motor housing 1
using a wire is partially buried in a neighboring wall of a
bathtub, and an electric wire connected to the switch 242 and the
motor housing 1 can be also buried through the first guide pipe
243.
[0619] FIGS. 50, 51, and 52 illustrates a motor housing embedded
box in which a motor housing is buried in a wall.
[0620] FIG. 50 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a motor
housing embedded box that has a motor housing therein.
[0621] FIG. 51 is a perspective view illustrating the motor housing
embedded box of FIG. 50.
[0622] FIG. 52 is a perspective view illustrating embedding of the
motor housing embedded box of FIG. 50.
[0623] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 50, 51, and 52.
[0624] At one side of the motor housing embedded box 245, a wire
inlet 246 through which an electric wire for receiving electricity
passes is provided, and at the other side thereof, a first passage
250 through which a guide pipe 241 for guiding the first flexible
shaft 3 passes is provided, and a first guide pipe fastening nut
251 for fixing the guide pipe 241 to the motor housing embedded box
245 is formed at the inside of the passage 250. A first fixing
member 248 and a second fixing member 247 for fixing each other are
formed between a periphery of an opening of the motor housing
embedded box 245 and the other side of the motor housing 1. A screw
hole to be fastened to the screw 105 is formed in the first fixing
member 248 and the second fixing member 247.
[0625] Further, a water discharge port 252 for discharging
permeated water when performing a work such as water cleaning and
so on within a bathroom is formed in a lower part of the motor
housing embedded box 245.
[0626] FIGS. 53 and 54 illustrates a relay embedded box that has a
relay therein.
[0627] FIG. 53 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a relay
embedded box that has a relay therein.
[0628] FIG. 54 is a perspective view illustrating a relay embedded
box that has a relay therein.
[0629] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 53 and 54.
[0630] A second passage 257 through which a guide pipe 241 for
guiding the first flexible shaft 3 passes is formed in one side of
the relay embedded box 254, and a second guide pipe fastening nut
258 for fixing the guide pipe 241 to the relay embedded box 254 is
provided at the inside of the second passage 257. A third fixing
member 255 and a fourth fixing member 256 for fixing each other are
formed in a periphery of an opening of the relay embedded box 254
of the relay 5, and a screw hole to be fastened to the screw 105 is
formed in the third fixing member 255 and the fourth fixing member
256, and both the relay embedded box 254 and the relay 5 are fixed
by the screw 105.
[0631] FIG. 55 is a partial perspective view illustrating a guide
pipe for guiding a first flexible shaft between a motor housing
embedded box and a relay embedded box.
[0632] Both one end of the motor housing embedded box 245 and one
end of the relay embedded box 254 are buried in a wall, and a guide
pipe 261 having a diameter greater than the first flexible shaft 3
is disposed between the buried both one end, and thus the first
flexible shaft 3 is disposed and connected through the inside of
the guide pipe 261. Each of the motor housing embedded box 245, the
relay embedded box 254, and the guide pipe 261 is fixed by a spiral
groove 262 formed in an outer circumference surface of the guide
pipe 261, a first fastening nut 251, and a second fastening nut 258
of the guide pipe formed in each of the embedded boxes (245, 254)
so as to be fastened to the spiral groove 262.
[0633] FIGS. 56, 57, and 58 illustrates bathing surfaces of various
bathing devices having a recess shape.
[0634] FIG. 56 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating
a brush bathing device formed to be recessed toward the inside of
the center of a bathing surface.
[0635] FIG. 57 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating
a sponge bathing device formed to be recessed toward the inside of
the center of a bathing surface.
[0636] FIG. 58 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating
a scrubber bathing device formed to be recessed toward the inside
of the center of a bathing surface.
[0637] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 56, 57, and 58.
[0638] In a recess brush bathing device 263, a recess sponge
bathing device 264, a recess scrubber bathing device 265, because a
skin contact surface 266 of the bathing device has a recess shape
of a smooth curved line toward the center, a more wide surface
contacts with a skin curved line, and thus when performing a skin
bathing operation, more effective bathing efficiency than a normal
bathing device having a flat bathing surface can be obtained.
[0639] FIGS. 59, 60, 61, and 62 illustrates an automatic bathing
apparatus that can supply water.
[0640] FIG. 59 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic
bathing apparatus that can eject water.
[0641] FIG. 60 is an enlarged perspective view of a driver 16 of
FIG. 59.
[0642] FIG. 61 is a partial exploded perspective view of a driver
16 of FIG. 59.
[0643] FIG. 62 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view
illustrating a connection part of a water supply pipe 274 and a
second flexible shaft 7 from a tap of FIG. 59.
[0644] The following description is described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 59, 60, 61, and 62.
[0645] The automatic bathing apparatus that can supply water
includes a motor housing 1 whose one end is buried in a wall and
that generates a rotation motion; a first flexible shaft 3 that
transfers the rotation motion of the motor housing 1; a relay 5
that receives the rotation motion of the first flexible shaft 3 to
transfer the rotation motion to a second flexible shaft 7 and whose
one end is buried in a wall; a second flexible shaft 7 that
transfers a rotation motion of the relay 5 to the driver 9a in
which a bathing device 8 is mounted; an ejector 269 that is formed
at a lower end of one side of the driver 9a and that has a
plurality of ejecting holes 280 that eject water of a tap 270 to
the outside; a water supply pipe 274 that is disposed at one end of
an internal pipe of the second flexible shaft 7 in order to supply
water to the ejector 269; and a T-shaped pipe 275 that is formed at
one end of the second flexible shaft 7 in order to guide the water
supply pipe 274 connected to the external tap 270 into the second
flexible shaft 7. As an embodiment of a disposition of the water
supply pipe 274, in the tap 270 in which both a tap discharge
device 273 and a shower water discharge device 272 are formed, the
water supply pipe 274 is connected to the shower water discharge
device 272 and is disposed parallel to the outer layer 43 of the
second flexible shaft 7 enclosing by the flexible pipe 45 through
one side of the T-shaped pipe 275 that is formed at one end of the
second flexible shaft 7, and the water supply pipe 274 is connected
to an L-shaped fitting 287 within the T-shaped pipe 275 to be
extended in a lower direction.
[0646] The water supply pipe 274 disposed within the flexible pipe
45 of the second flexible shaft 7 faces toward the driver 9a in
parallel to the outer layer 43 enclosing the second spring 47 and
is connected to an ejector assembly 278 of an ejector casing 284
extended to one end of the handle 10 to eject water of a tap to an
ejector hole 280 of the ejector 269. The second quadrangular spring
48 above the ejector casing 284 that has also a function of the
handle 10 is connected to a quadrangular hole 189 formed in the
coupler 188 (see FIG. 33) of the driving bevel gear assembly to
transfer a rotation motion.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0647] An operation of an exemplary embodiment of an automatic
bathing apparatus according to the present invention having the
above-described configuration is described in detail with reference
to the drawings.
[0648] Because a plug for supplying electricity to the motor
housing 1 is always inserted into an outlet, a switch 49 provided
in the remote control 12 or the relay 5 is in a standby state that
can operate the motor housing 1 and thus a user can operate the
automatic bathing apparatus at anytime with the switch 49 of the
remote control 12 or the relay 5.
[0649] When bathing with the automatic bathing apparatus, the user
grips the driver 9 and inserts the bathing device 8 into the
protruded rotation shaft 144 of the driver 9. After splashing water
in a whole body or a body portion to bath, the user applies shampoo
in the bathing surface 240 of the bathing device 8 or splashes
water in the bathing surface 240 and lathers a body. Thereafter, if
operating the motor 19 within the motor housing 1 by pressing an
operation button of the switch 49 of the remote control 12 or the
relay 5, the motor 19 rotates, thus rotates the first gear 20 of a
motor side and the neighboring second gear 21, and thus the
rotation transfer shaft 22 rotates, and the transferred rotation
motion is transferred to the first spring 36 within the first
flexible shaft 3 connected to a coupler (one of 28a, 28b, and 28c)
extended and connected to one end of the rotation transfer shaft
22.
[0650] In this case, gears of directions that are not used among
gears (29, 30, 24, 23) installed at a plurality of places of the
first rotation transfer shaft 22 to transfer a rotation motion in a
plurality of directions of the outside are removed, or moves a
position thereof in order not to allow gears to contact, in order
to decrease operation noise.
[0651] A rotation motion of the first spring 36 within the first
flexible shaft 3 is transferred to the coupler (92a or 92b) of the
driving bevel gear assembly (95a or 95b) within the relay 5 to
rotate the driving bevel gear (96a or 96b), and to rotate the
driven bevel gear 98 by interlocking with the driving bevel gear
(96a or 96b), and to transfer the rotation motion to the connector
6 of the second flexible shaft 7 side through the coupler 92c of
the driven bevel gear assembly 97. The transferred rotation motion
is transferred to the driver 9 through the second spring 47 within
the second flexible shaft 7 and is transferred to the coupler 188
of the driving bevel gear assembly 160 of the driver 9 to rotate
the driving bevel gear 161, the driven bevel gear 150 interlocking
with the driving bevel gear 161, and the driven bevel gear assembly
149, and to rotate the rotation shaft 144 extended to one end of
the driven bevel gear assembly 149, and thus rotates the bathing
device 8 inserted into the rotation shaft 144 protruded to the
outside of the rotation shaft 144. At this time, a rotation speed
button appropriate to the user among various motor speed adjustment
buttons of the switch 49 of the remote control 12 or the relay 5 is
selected and operated.
[0652] If the rotating bathing device 8 to which bathing agent is
applied slowly moves while contacting with a skin of a body, the
rotating bathing device 8 removes sweat and fat on a skin, an aged
horny skin, and dust while generating soup bubble due to a contact
with a skin.
[0653] After such a bathing operation, a bathing is automatically
performed with less force by bathing a bathing portion with water.
After the bathing is terminated, the motor 19 of the motor housing
1 is stopped by pressing a stop button in the switch 49 of the
remote control 12 or the relay 5.
[0654] Further, the bathing device cover 142 detachably attached to
the bathing device 8 side of the driver 9 protects the side of the
disk 141 of the rotating bathing device 8 among using from
contacting with a body. Even if the side of the bathing device 8 is
affected as the driver 9 is dropped to the floor, the bathing
device cover 142 protects the rotation shaft 144 into which the
bathing device 8 is inserted and connection parts within the
driver, which are an extension part of the rotation shaft 144. The
bathing device cover 142 can be easily removed by rotating when the
user does not want.
[0655] Further, bathing of a region having difficulty in touching
with a hand, such as a back can be easily performed by extending
the handle 10 at a lower end of the driver 9 toward the second
flexible shaft 7, fixing the handle 10 with the handle length
fixing device (165a, 165b, 203, or 212), and extending a length of
the driver 9.
[0656] In the above-described driver, the bathing device 8 to which
a brush, a sponge, and a scrubber are attached is used according to
user selection.
[0657] Further, according to a quality or an elastic degree of a
bathing hair that is attached to the disk 141 of the bathing device
8 or that is transplanted, a rotation speed of the bathing device 8
is set to about 270 to 350 RPM even if there is a somewhat
difference, at this rotation speed, water or soap bubble is little
splashed from the bathing device 8, and an automatic bathing can be
performed.
[0658] Further, in the automatic bathing apparatus, a hand hooking
member 230 that is detachably attached to the driver 9 is provided.
When the user fixes a first handle attaching band 232 and a second
handle attaching band 233 formed in the hand hooking member 230 to
one end of the handle 10 or the housing 151 around the handle 10 as
needed, fixes then using velcros (236, 237), and the back of the
hand is hooked by the hand hooking device 231 by inserting a hand
into the hand hooking device 231 for connecting two of the first
handle attaching band 232 and the second handle attaching band 233,
and the palm of the hand grips the handle 10 of the driver 9.
Because the velcro 235 is formed in the hand hooking device 231
itself, a length of the hooking device 231 can be adjusted by
moving a bonding position of the velcro 235, a length of the hand
hooking device 231 is adjusted according to a size of the hand.
Accordingly, even if the handle 10 of the driver 9 is dropped,
because the hand hooking device 231 is hooked in the back of the
hand, the driver 9 is prevented from being dropped from the hand,
so that it is helpful for a person having a weak hand force or an
old and feeble person.
[0659] Further, when automatically massaging a face or a body in a
bathroom using the automatic bathing apparatus, if the motor 19
within the motor housing 1 is operated by pressing the switch 49 of
the remote control 12 or the relay 5 after inserting the massage
device 221 into the rotation shaft 144 of the driver 9 and the
other operation device coupling member 175 around the rotation
shaft 144, the transferred rotation motion rotates the operation
device rotation shaft 225 of the massage device 221 that receives a
rotation motion by being inserted into the rotation shaft 144 of
the driver 9, and the eccentric weight 222 rotating together with
the operation device rotation shaft 225 is formed in an end part of
the operation device rotation shaft 225 in an internal connecting
part of the massage device 221 of the operation device rotation
shaft 225, and thus the operation device rotation shaft 225 the
eccentric weight 222 rotate and thus vibration movement is
generated by the eccentric weight 222, and the vibration vibrates
the massage device 221 and brings the protrusion 228 of the massage
device into contact with a face or a desired body region, and thus
the face or the desired body region is massaged. At this time,
massage can be more softly performed by using an oil or a body
shampoo, etc. as a lubricating oil agent in a skin contact region
with which the protrusion 228 of the massage device contacts.
Further, the massage device 221 can perform a function of a
vibration massage device by performing a heavy vibration operation
using the eccentric weight 222.
[0660] Further, when intending to clean a bathroom using the
automatic bathing apparatus, the user inserts a cleaning device
into the rotation shaft 144 of the driver 9 after sprinkling water
on a desired cleaning part, and applies a cleaning agent in the
floor or a wall to clean or a cleaning device for cleaning.
Likewise, the rotating bathing device performs a cleaning operation
while contacting with a cleaning portion together with cleaning
agent by moving the rotating bathing device for cleaning while
contacting the rotating bathing device for cleaning with a portion
to clean after operating bathing device for cleaning, and by
sprinkling water after the cleaning operation, a cleaning operation
of a bathroom can be automatically operated. A rotation speed of
the driver when performing a cleaning operation is more rapidly
than that when bathing.
[0661] Further, by selecting a bathing device in which different
kinds of bathing hairs are transplanted and inserting the bathing
device into the driver according to use, a partial washing
operation of clothing such as washing of sports shoes or heavy dirt
of clothing can be automatically performed.
[0662] In a case of a wide bathroom, because a driver having a long
flexible shaft is necessary, in order to extend and use a length of
the second flexible shaft 7, a flexible shaft extension line can be
connected and used between the connector 6 between the relay 5 and
the second flexible shaft 7, and a connecting member that can be
connected to the relay 5 and a connecting member that can connect
to the connector 6 are formed at both ends of the flexible shaft
extension line.
[0663] Further, when intending to supply water to an operation
region while performing an operation such as body bathing, bathroom
cleaning, and partial washing of clothing using the automatic
bathing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, by selecting the driver 9a in which a water
ejection device is formed, opening a shower water lever 276, and
turning the tap 270, water of tap is discharged like shower water
through the ejector 269 of the driver 9a after passing through the
external water supply pipe 274 and the water supply pipe 274
disposed within the second flexible shaft 7. By sprinkling the
discharged water of a tap to an operation portion, bathing of a
bathing portion can be performed and water may be discharged at the
same time with a bathing operation and only a shower device
function may be used with water ejected to the ejector 269 without
a separate bathing operation.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0664] In an automatic bathing apparatus according to the present
invention having the above-described configuration, by operating a
rotation means that operates by electricity and that is installed
at a far distance from the user, with a switch formed in a remote
control or a relay means, a rotation motion is generated, and the
generated rotation motion is transferred in order of a first
flexible shaft means, the relay means, a second flexible shaft
means, and a driving means, and when a rotation motion transferred
to the driving means drives a rotation shaft of the driving means,
a bathing means connected to one end of the rotation shaft rotates.
Therefore, a user can safely and conveniently perform automatic
bathing by contacting a rotating bathing means with a body without
using a hand.
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