# US 11,304,872 B2 · Bathtub

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- Number: US 11,304,872 B2
- Document ID: US11304872B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/489,648
- Filed: 2017-12-27
- Published: 2020-01-09
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-28
- Assignees: Toto Ltd.
- Applicants: Toto Ltd.
- Inventors: Yasuhiko Izumitani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304872B2

## CPC

- A47K 3/02: Baths (combined with showers A47K3/20)
- A61H 33/0091: {Water agitated by means moving in the bath, i.e. without water connections to an outside pump circuit}
- A47K 3/28: Showers {or bathing douches} (combined with baths A47K3/20)
- A61H 9/00: Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
- A61H 33/00: Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes (A61H35/00 takes precedence; {sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005;} for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; {isolation chambers A61M21/0094; } electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 {; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54})
- A61H 33/0095: {Arrangements for varying the temperature of the liquid}
- A61H 33/6005: {Special constructive structural details of the bathtub, e.g. of the walls or supporting structure}
- A61H 33/6068: {Outlet from the bath}
- A47K 3/001: {Accessories for baths, not provided for in other subgroups of group A47K3/00; Insertions, e.g. for babies; Tubs suspended or inserted in baths; Security or alarm devices; Protecting linings or coverings; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting baths; Bath insulation}
- A61H 2205/02: Head
- A61H 2205/062: Shoulders
- A61H 2205/081: Back
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

There is provided a bathtub, including: a bottom surface part; a side surface part surrounding the bottom surface part, extending upward from the bottom surface part, and including a backrest part; a pillow part provided to be movable vertically over a prescribed range along the backrest part; and a water discharger mounted to the pillow part, the water discharger being provided to be movable vertically along the backrest part with the pillow part.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bathtub, comprising:
a bottom surface part;
a side surface part surrounding the bottom surface part, extending upward from the bottom surface part, and including a backrest part inclined downward and toward a front of the bathtub;
an axial part extending in the vertical direction along the backrest part;
a supporter supporting the axial part to be movable, the supporter being provided at the backrest part;
a pillow part being mounted to the axial part, the pillow part provided to be movable vertically over a prescribed range along the backrest part; and
a water discharger mounted to the pillow part, the water discharger being provided to be movable vertically along the backrest part with the pillow part, and
the pillow part being moved with the axial part over the prescribed range along the backrest part in the state of covering the supporter, the axial part, and the water discharger.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bathtub according to claim 1, comprising:
a water supplier provided in the backrest part; and
a water supply functional part supplying, to the water discharger, hot water supplied from the water supplier,
the water supply functional part being capable of supplying the hot water supplied from the water supplier even when the water discharger is moving vertically along the backrest part with the pillow part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bathtub according to claim 1, comprising:
a water supplier provided in the backrest part; and
a supply pipe connecting the water discharger and the water supplier and supplying, to the water discharger, hot water supplied from the water supplier,
the supply pipe having flexibility in which a shape of the supply pipe changes according to movement of the water discharger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The bathtub according to claim 3, wherein the pillow part covers the supply pipe so that a load from a front does not act on the supply pipe when the pillow part is at any height within the prescribed range.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3, 4)

The bathtub according to claim 3 or 4, wherein
the water discharger has a laterally-long configuration extending in a left/right direction, and includes a connector to the supply pipe at least at one end in the left/right direction, and
the connector extends in the left/right direction from the one end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The bathtub according to claim 5, wherein
the water discharger has a water discharge port extending in the left/right direction and performing a broad water discharge, and
the connector is provided at two ends in the left/right direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The bathtub according to claim 6, wherein
the water discharger further includes:
an internal flow channel feeding, to the water discharge port, hot water supplied from a pair of the connectors provided at two ends of the internal flow channel; and
a pair of decelerators provided in the internal flow channel to correspond respectively to the pair of connectors, the pair of decelerators decelerating a force of the hot water flowing into the internal flow channel from the pair of connectors.