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 ).

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.