JP2006198112A - Armrest device and western-style toilet unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an armrest device capable of stably support an arm in the flat state even if the height in the erected state is low, and a Western-style toilet unit equipped with the armrest device. <P>SOLUTION: In an armrest support mechanism of the armrest device, a driving arm 91 is rotated around the connection part connected to a driving shaft 74 when the driving shaft 74 is rotated around the axis, and the attitude of an armrest arm 92 is changed as the motion is restricted by a link arm 93. As a result, the attitude of the armrest 2 fixed to the armrest arm 92 is changed from the erected attitude to the flat one. At the time, the center of rotation is moved forward, and therefore, the armrest 2 can be used long when used and the armrest 2 can be lowered when stored. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an armrest device and a Western-style toilet unit including the armrest device.

When using a Western-style toilet, considering the convenience of the user, a Western-style toilet unit equipped with an armrest device in which an armrest appears at an obliquely upper position of the Western-style toilet body by operating a human sensor or remote controller It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP-A-11-104041 JP 2004-113616 A

  In the conventional armrest device, the armrest is rotated to switch between the prone posture at the use position and the standing posture at the retracted position, but since the rotation center position is fixed, the tip of the armrest is correct. A circular arc will be drawn. For this reason, the height dimension from the rotation center position to the armrest tip in the standing state is equal to the length dimension to the armrest tip in the flat state. Therefore, when it is desired to extend the length of the armrest in the flat state, the height of the armrest from the rotation center position in the upright state is correspondingly increased. Therefore, when there is a limit on the height of the armrest in the standing state, the length of the armrest must be shortened in the flat state, and the stability in the state where the elbow is supported by the armrest cannot be obtained. There is a problem.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an armrest device that can stably support an elbow in a flat state even when the height dimension in a standing state is low, and the armrest device. The purpose is to provide a Western-style toilet unit.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes an armrest and an armrest support mechanism that rotatably supports the armrest in a prone posture at a use position and a standing posture in a retracted position behind the use position. In the armrest device, the armrest support mechanism is configured such that the center position of the armrest moves forward when the armrest rotates and switches from a standing posture at the retracted position to a flat posture at the use position. It is characterized by.

  In the present invention, when the armrest rotates from the retracted position to the use position, the rotation center position moves forward. Therefore, when the armrest rotates from the standing posture at the retracted position to the prone posture at the use position, the tip of the armrest The part moves forward from the locus of the perfect circle. On the contrary, when the armrest rotates from the prone posture at the use position to the standing posture at the retracted position, the tip of the armrest moves below the locus of the perfect circle. Therefore, the armrest is positioned forward in a flat state with respect to the height dimension in the standing state. Therefore, even if the height dimension in the standing state is low, the elbow can be stably supported in the flat state, which is convenient.

  In the present invention, the armrest support mechanism is constituted by, for example, a link mechanism having four or more nodes. In this case, the link mechanism is preferably a four-bar link mechanism. In the case of a four-bar linkage mechanism, if the positions of two nodes are fixed and the position of one other node is controlled, the position of another node can be uniquely defined. realizable.

  In this invention, it is preferable to provide the stopper which contact | abuts by a line | wire or a surface at any of the some link which comprises the said link mechanism, and hold | maintains the prone posture of the said armrest. If comprised in this way, since a link and a stopper contact | abut in a large area, force will not concentrate on the local part of a link or a stopper, but a load will disperse | distribute, and it is safe even if it puts a weight on an armrest.

  The present invention can be applied to the case where the armrest is operated either manually or electrically. However, when the armrest is electrically operated, the armrest drive includes a rotation drive motor as a drive source for switching the posture of the armrest. A device may be provided.

  In the present invention, the armrest drive device includes at least an assist spring that biases the armrest in at least one of a direction from the use position toward the retracted position and a direction from the retracted position toward the use position. It is preferable to provide. If comprised in this way, a small thing can be used as a motor for a rotational drive, and the reduction of the power consumption can be aimed at.

  In a Western-style toilet unit having an armrest device to which the present invention is applied and a Western-style toilet bowl having a toilet bowl body, a toilet seat, and a toilet lid, the armrest appears obliquely above the Western-style toilet body as the use position, The rear of the toilet body is set as the retracted position.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the Western-style toilet includes a low tank with a built-in water supply device at the rear of the Western-style toilet main body, and the armrest is in a state lower than the upper surface of the low tank while standing in the retracted position. . If comprised in this way, while being able to improve appearance, it can comprise so that the armrest which stood up in the retracted position may be accommodated in a low tank.

  In the armrest device of the present invention, when the armrest rotates from the retracted position to the use position, the center position of the armrest moves forward, so the armrest moves forward in a flat state for the height dimension in the standing state. To position. Therefore, even if the height dimension in the standing state is low, the elbow can be stably supported in the flat state, which is convenient.

  Hereinafter, an armrest device to which the present invention is applied and a Western-style toilet unit including the armrest device will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
(Overall configuration of Western toilet unit)
1A and 1B are a perspective view showing a state in which an armrest is in a retracted position in a Western-style toilet unit provided with an armrest device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and an armrest used in the Western-style toilet unit It is a perspective view of a drive device. 2 (A) and 2 (B) are perspective views showing a state where the armrest is about to move from the retracted position to the use position in the Western-style toilet unit including the armrest device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; It is a perspective view of the armrest drive device used for this Western style toilet unit. 3 (A) and 3 (B) are perspective views showing a state in which the armrest appears in the use position in the western toilet unit including the armrest device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and the Western toilet unit is used for this Western toilet unit. It is a perspective view of an armrest drive device. In FIGS. 2A and 3A, a part of the toilet lid in the open state is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  In FIG. 1 (A), the western toilet unit 1 of this embodiment has a western toilet 20 having a western toilet body 21, toilet seat 22 and toilet lid 23, and an armrest device 3. In the armrest device 3, The armrest 2 is configured to be movable between a use position that appears in a flat position at an obliquely upper position of the Western-style toilet body 21 and a retreat position that stands up behind the use position. That is, in the western style toilet unit 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), the armrest 2 in a standing state at the rear position of the western style toilet body 21 passes through the state shown in FIG. As shown to 3 (A), it rotates ahead and it appears in the state where it laid flat in the use position of the diagonally upper position of the western-style toilet bowl main body 21. As shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1 (A), FIG. 2 (A), and FIG. 3 (A), the western-style toilet 20 used for the western-style toilet unit 1 of this form has a water supply apparatus, a local washing apparatus, etc. behind the western-style toilet body 21. A row tank 30 is provided, and a side end portion in the row tank 30 is an armrest storage portion 33 for storing the armrest 2 in the retracted position. For this reason, the armrest 2 in the retracted position is located behind the shielding wall 32 formed by the side end of the front portion of the low tank 30, and when viewed from the front where the western-style toilet body 21 is located, It is in the state shielded by the side edge part (shielding wall 32) of the front part. Further, in this embodiment, the side opening of the low tank 30 is closed with the opening / closing lid 31, and the armrest 2 in the retracted position is stored in the armrest storage portion 33 of the low tank 30 and is completely shielded. It is in.

  Therefore, when the state shown in FIG. 1 (A) is shifted to the state shown in FIG. 3 (A), the armrest 2 is provided with an armrest storage portion 33 (shielding wall 32) in the low tank 30 as shown in FIG. 1 (A). 2 (A), as shown in FIG. 2 (A), in a standing posture, the horizontal movement from the side end portion (shielding wall 33) of the front portion of the low tank 30 to the lateral position is performed, and then FIG. 3 (A). As shown in Fig. 4, it rotates so that it becomes a flat posture at the use position. Further, when the state shown in FIG. 1 (A) is shifted to the state shown in FIG. 2 (A), the open / close lid 31 covering the side opening of the low tank 30 moves horizontally in conjunction with the horizontal movement of the armrest 2. The side opening of the low tank 30 is opened, and the armrest 2 can be moved horizontally.

(Detailed configuration of armrest device)
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the armrest device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing, in an enlarged manner, the armrest driving device used in the armrest device shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged armrest support mechanism of the armrest device shown in FIG. 4. FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views showing the operation of the armrest support mechanism shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7A shows a state in which the armrest stands in the retracted position by a solid line, while FIG. The state where the arm is flattened is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and in FIG. 7B, the state where the armrest is raised at the retracted position is indicated by a one-dot chain line, while the state where the armrest is flattened is indicated by a solid line. This state is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

  In configuring the western toilet unit 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, in the low tank 30 of the western toilet main body 21, the low tank main body 38 and the opening / closing lid 31 are configured as separate members. The armrest device 3 includes an armrest driving device 5 that performs driving for switching the position of the armrest 2 and a control device 80 that controls the armrest driving device 5.

  The control device 80 is configured to monitor the open / closed state of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23 by a built-in microcomputer, and according to a program stored in a memory such as a RAM, the open / closed state of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23. The armrest driving device 5 is controlled based on the monitoring result.

  That is, the control device 80 controls the armrest driving device 5 so as to move the armrest 2 in the retracted position to the use position when the toilet lid 23 is in the open state and the toilet seat 22 is in the closed state. The control device 80 also sets the armrest so that the armrest 2 is positioned at the retracted position when the toilet lid 23 is in the open state and the toilet seat 22 is in the open state and when the toilet lid 23 is in the closed state. The drive device 5 is controlled.

  In this embodiment, the outputs of the toilet seat opening / closing monitoring sensor 81 and the toilet lid opening / closing monitoring sensor 82 are input to the control device 80 in order to monitor the open / closed states of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23. Such a configuration is effective when the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23 are manually opened and closed, but when the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23 are electrically opened and closed by a drive device (not shown), You may comprise so that the opening / closing state of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23 may be monitored by output. Further, when the opening / closing of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23 is instructed by the operation of the remote controller, the opening / closing states of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23 may be monitored from the output from the remote controller.

  The armrest driving device 5 generally includes a wooden armrest 2 having a varnish applied on the surface thereof, an armrest support mechanism 90 that rotatably supports the armrest 2 as described above, and the armrest 2 in a horizontal direction with the armrest 2 facing sideways. A horizontal driving device 60 for driving and a rotary driving device 70 for rotating the armrest 2 are provided, and these elements will be described in order below.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the horizontal driving device 60 includes a base plate 61 that is fixed to the back of the western-style toilet body 21 with screws and a slide mechanism that is configured on the base plate 61. Has been. The slide mechanism is attached to a pair of guide shafts 62, 63 whose both ends are fixed between bent portions on both sides of the base plate 61, a slider 64 attached to one guide shaft 63, and the other guide shaft 62. A slide rack 65 and a slide unit 66 connected to the slider 64 are included. Although not shown in the drawing, the slide unit 66 includes a horizontal drive motor and a pinion to which the rotation output of the horizontal drive motor is transmitted via a speed reduction mechanism. Are engaged. Therefore, when the horizontal drive motor is driven under the control of the control device 80, the slide rack 65 and the slider 64 move horizontally along the guide shafts 62 and 63.

  The rotation driving device 70 includes a movable plate 71 fixed to the slider 64 of the horizontal driving device 60. The movable plate 71 includes a rotation driving unit 72 (with a rotation driving motor and a reduction gear train inside). A geared motor), an idler gear train 73 to which rotational output is transmitted from the final gear of the reduction gear train exposed on the lower surface of the rotational drive unit 72, and rotational output from the rotational drive unit 72 via these idler gear trains 73. Is transmitted, and a sensor (not shown) such as a potentiometer for detecting the angular position of the drive shaft 74 is provided. For this reason, when the rotation driving motor is driven under the control of the control device 80, the drive shaft 74 rotates around the axis.

  Here, the movable plate 71 is guided to the end of the base plate 61 when horizontally moving integrally with the slider 64 and the slide rack 65 of the horizontal driving device 60. In addition, an opening / closing lid 31 is attached to a vertical plate portion facing sideways in the movable plate 71 via a stay 36. Further, the upper end of the movable plate 71 is bent sideways to form a stopper 710 for the armrest 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the armrest support mechanism 90 is a metal pipe or a L-shaped cross section that is connected to the drive shaft 74 of the rotation drive device 70 at the proximal end and rotates back and forth about the drive shaft 74. A drive arm 91 made of a metal plate having a shape, an armrest arm 2 whose base end side is rotatably connected to the distal end portion of the drive arm 91 via a pin (node), and a pin (node joint) on the distal end portion of the armrest arm 2 ), And a link arm 93 made of a metal plate whose base end side is rotatably connected via a metal plate or an L-shaped metal plate. The link arm 93 is pinned to the movable plate 71 of the rotation drive device 70. Connected through (section). The armrest arm 93 is made of a metal pipe processed into a loose S-shape or a metal plate having an L-shaped cross section, and the armrest 2 is fixed along a straight line portion on the base end side.

  Here, since the proximal end side of the drive arm 91 constitutes a node that can rotate with respect to the movable plate 71, the movable plate 71, the drive arm 91, the armrest arm 92, and the link arm 93 have four nodes. The link mechanism with For this reason, when the drive shaft 74 of the rotary drive device 70 rotates around the axis, the drive arm 91 rotates around the connecting portion with the drive shaft 74 (supported portion by the movable plate 71). The posture is changed in a state where the movement is defined by the link arm 93. As a result, the armrest 2 fixed to the armrest arm 92 is switched between the standing posture shown in FIG. 7A and the prone posture shown in FIG. Further, the flat posture is held by the upper surface of the link arm 93 coming into contact with the lower surface of the stopper 710. Further, in this embodiment, since the armrest support mechanism 90 is constituted by a four-bar linkage mechanism, when the armrest 2 switches from the standing posture at the retracted position to the flat posture at the use position, the rotation center position is forward. Moving. Accordingly, when the armrest 2 rotates from the standing posture at the retracted position to the flat posture at the use position, the tip of the armrest 2 moves forward from the locus of the perfect circle. Conversely, when the armrest 2 rotates from the flat posture at the use position to the standing posture at the retracted position, the tip of the armrest 2 moves downward from the path of the perfect circle. Therefore, the armrest 2 is positioned forward in a flat state with respect to the height dimension in the standing state.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the rotary drive device 70 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an assist spring (not shown) made of a torsion coil spring is mounted on the drive shaft 74 around the drive shaft 74. The assist spring is deformed in a slightly slacking direction when the center of gravity of the armrest 2 is in the rear (the state shown in FIG. 7A) when viewed from the position directly above the drive shaft 74 (top dead center). Is biased in the direction of movement from the state shown in FIG. 7A to the state shown in FIG. Further, when the center of gravity of the armrest 2 is located directly above the drive shaft 74, the assist spring returns to the no-load state with the amount of displacement being minimized, but during the transition to the state shown in FIG. Tighten. For this reason, the assist spring also biases the armrest 2 in the direction from the use position toward the retracted position.

(Operation)
In the Western toilet unit 1 configured as described above, in the initial state, as shown in FIG. 1A, the armrest 2 is in a state of being retracted to the armrest storage portion 33 in the row tank 30 together with the armrest driving device 5. In this state, the armrest driving device 5 holds the armrest 2 in a standing posture. Further, the side opening of the low tank 30 is closed with an opening / closing lid 31.

  In this state, when the toilet lid 23 is in the closed state, the toilet seat 22 is also in the closed state. Therefore, assuming that no one uses the toilet, the control device 80 drives the armrest to hold the armrest 2 in the retracted position. The apparatus 5 is controlled.

  Next, when the user opens the toilet lid 23 and also opens the toilet seat 22 together, when the western toilet body 21 is cleaned, or the male is used while standing. As it is time, the control device 80 controls the armrest driving device 5 so as to hold the armrest 2 in the retracted position. Therefore, the armrest 2 does not get in the way and the armrest 2 can be prevented from becoming dirty.

  On the other hand, when the user opens the toilet lid 23 but leaves the toilet seat 22 in the closed state, the control device 80 retracts the armrest 2 so as to be used in the sitting position. The armrest driving device 5 is controlled to move from the position to the use position. That is, in the horizontal driving device 60, the horizontal driving motor is turned on, and the slide rack 65 and the slider 64 together with the movable plate 71 are changed from the state shown in FIG. 2A to the state shown in FIG. Then, it moves horizontally along the guide shafts 62 and 63. As a result, the rotation driving device 70, the armrest support mechanism 90, and the armrest 2 supported on the movable plate 71 move horizontally toward the side. At that time, as shown in FIG. 2A, the opening / closing lid 31 moves horizontally along with the movable plate 71 to open the side opening of the low tank 30. Next, in the rotational drive device 70, when the rotational drive motor is turned on and the drive shaft 74 rotates counterclockwise CCW around the axis, the drive arm 91 is connected to the drive shaft 74 (movable portion). The armrest 2 that rotates about the support portion of the plate 71 and is fixed to the armrest arm 92 switches from the standing posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 7A to the flat posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 7B. . The prone posture is held when the upper surface of the link arm 93 comes into contact with the lower surface of the stopper 710. At that time, the rotation center position of the armrest 2 moves forward. Accordingly, when the armrest 2 rotates from the standing posture at the retracted position to the flat posture at the use position, the tip of the armrest 2 moves forward from the locus of the perfect circle.

  After sitting on the toilet seat 22 using the armrest 2 that has been flattened in the use position in this way, when the user uses it and closes the toilet lid 23, the control device 80 moves the armrest 2 to the use position. The armrest driving device 5 is controlled so as to return to the retracted position. That is, contrary to the above operation, in the rotary drive device 70, the drive shaft 74 rotates in the clockwise direction CW around the axis, and the armrest 2 changes from the prone posture shown in FIG. 3 to the standing posture shown in FIG. After that, the slide unit 66 operates, and the armrest 2 moves horizontally toward the armrest storage portion 33 as shown in FIG. 1 and enters a standby state. At that time, the opening / closing lid 31 closes the side opening of the low tank 30.

(Main effects of this form)
As described above, in the western toilet unit 1 of the present embodiment, the armrest 2 in the retracted position is shielded from the front with the side end portion of the front portion of the low tank 30 as the shielding wall 32, and the side is the open / close lid 31. It is shielded by. For this reason, since the armrest 2 in the retracted position is in a completely covered state, it looks good and does not become dirty, so it is always hygienic. Moreover, since the armrest 2 in the retracted position is not exposed, the clothes are not caught and are safe.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the armrest support mechanism 90 is configured by a four-bar linkage mechanism, if the positions of the two nodes are fixed, the other one can be controlled only by controlling the position of the other node. Since the position of the node can be uniquely defined, stable operation can be realized. Moreover, in the armrest support mechanism 90, when the armrest 2 rotates from the retracted position to the use position, the center of rotation moves forward, so that the armrest 2 is in a flat state and the armrest 2 is in a standing height. It will be located in front of the size. Therefore, even if the height dimension in the standing state is low, the elbow can be stably supported in the flat state, which is convenient. That is, the armrest 2 can be used for a long time during use, and when stored, the armrest 2 is in a position lower than the upper surface of the low tank 30 while standing in the retracted position, so that the low tank 30 is in a state where the armrest 2 is in the standing position. Can be stored inside. Therefore, it does not get in the way even in a narrow toilet and does not impair the appearance.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the biasing force of the assist spring is used, a small-sized rotation drive motor can be used, and the power consumption can be kept low. In addition, the assist spring biases the armrest 2 in the use position in a direction toward the retracted position. For this reason, when the armrest 2 moves from the retracted position to the use position, the assist spring acts as a brake, which is safe. Further, when the armrest 2 moves to the retracted position, the greatest torque is required, but at such timing, the biasing force of the assist spring acts effectively.

  Further, the assist spring effectively exerts a biasing force on the armrest 2 because the amount of displacement is minimized near the top dead center in the middle of rotating from the standing posture to the flat posture. That is, the armrest 2 generates a downward moment around the center of rotation due to its own weight, and the moment changes as the armrest 2 rotates. This moment is the largest at the use position and the smallest at the top dead center. Therefore, in this embodiment, since the assist spring is in a free state in the vicinity of the top dead center, the assist spring is largely displaced at the use position, and a large urging force is generated. For this reason, when the armrest 2 moves from the retracted position to the use position, the assist spring effectively acts as a brake. For example, the inclination of the biasing force change of the assist spring can be parallel to or tighter than the inclination of the moment change of the armrest. Therefore, the safety can be improved and the operation is smooth. Further, when the armrest 2 moves to the retracted position, the greatest torque is required, but at such timing, the biasing force of the assist spring acts more effectively. Moreover, when the weight is applied to the armrest 2, the assist spring effectively acts as a force to resist it.

  The urging force of the assist spring is such that the load is not applied when the center of gravity of the armrest 2 is directly above the drive shaft 74 (top dead center), and the center of gravity of the armrest 2 is directly above the drive shaft 74 ( You may employ | adopt the structure which becomes a no-load when it exists back or forward from a top dead center). In addition to the torsion coil spring, the assist spring may be a tension coil spring or a leaf spring. Further, the assist spring is not limited to the inside of the armrest driving device 5 and may be externally attached.

  The prone posture is held by the upper surface of the link arm 93 coming into contact with the lower surface of the plate-like stopper 710, and the contact area at that time is wide. Therefore, the force is not concentrated on the local portions of the link arm 93 and the stopper 710, and the load is dispersed. Therefore, it is safe to put weight on the armrest 2.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the Western-style toilet, it is assumed that the user can be seated from the open / closed state of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23, and the open / closed state of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 23 is monitored. Based on this, the armrest driving device 5 is controlled. For this reason, since the armrest 2 appears at the use position in accordance with the timing of seating, it is easy to use.

[Embodiment 2]
8A and 8B are a perspective view showing a state in which the armrest is in the retracted position and a state in which the armrest appears in the use position in the western toilet unit including the armrest device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. FIGS. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a side view showing a state in which an armrest appears at a use position in a Western-style toilet unit including an armrest device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, since the armrest 2 in the retracted position is shielded by using the side end portion of the front surface portion of the low tank 30 as a shielding wall, the open / close lid 31 is disposed on the side surface of the low tank 30, but FIG. ), (B), and the Western-style toilet unit 1A and armrest device 3A shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, an opening / closing lid 31A is provided on the side end portion of the front portion of the low tank 30, and the opening / closing lid 31A is provided. The armrest 2 in the retracted position may be used as a shielding wall that shields it from the front. Here, the opening / closing lid 31 is biased in the direction of rotation from the open state shown in FIG. 8B to the closed state shown in FIG. 8A.

  When configuring such a Western-style toilet unit 1A and armrest device 3A, in the armrest drive device 5 described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, the horizontal drive device 60 is omitted, and the rotation drive device 70 and the armrest support are omitted. What is necessary is just to comprise the armrest drive device 5 only by the mechanism 2. FIG. That is, when the user opens the toilet lid 23 but leaves the toilet seat 22 closed, the control device 80 shown in FIG. As a result of controlling the armrest drive device 5 to move from the retracted position to the use position, in the rotation drive device 70, the rotation drive motor is turned on, and the drive shaft 74 rotates counterclockwise CCW. As a result, the drive arm 91 rotates around a connecting portion (supported portion by the movable plate 71) with the drive shaft 74, and the armrest 2 fixed to the armrest arm 92 is in an upright posture shown in FIG. 8B and FIG. 9 are switched to the flat posture. At that time, after the protrusion (not shown) formed on the inner side of the opening / closing lid 31A is pushed outward at the tip of the armrest 2, the inner ridge 310A is pushed outward by the drive arm 91, Rotate around the vertical axis and open.

  On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 8B, when the rotational drive motor rotates the drive shaft 74 clockwise CW in the rotational drive device 70, the drive arm 91 is connected to the drive shaft 74 ( The armrest 2 that rotates about the support portion of the movable plate 71 and is fixed to the armrest arm 92 switches from the prone posture shown in FIG. 8B to the standing posture shown in FIG. As a result, the opening / closing lid 31 </ b> A is released from the restraint by the armrest 2, and thus is rotated by a spring force to return to a position where the armrest 2 is covered forward.

  When such a configuration is adopted, the armrest device 3 can be easily retrofitted and can be made optional.

[Other embodiments]
In the said form, it was the structure by which the armrest 2 was arrange | positioned only at one side of right and left, However, You may apply this invention to the western-style toilet unit by which the armrest 2 is arrange | positioned at both right and left sides. Moreover, in the said form, although the 4 node link mechanism was used as the armrest support mechanism 90, you may use the link mechanism of 5 nodes or more. In such a configuration, more complicated movement can be realized. Furthermore, in order to move the center when the armrest 2 rotates, a cam may be used as a part of the link mechanism. Furthermore, in the said form, although the armrest 2 was the structure operated electrically, you may apply this invention to the western-type toilet unit of the type by which the armrest 2 is operated manually. In addition, although the example which mounted the armrest apparatus 3 in the western style toilet unit was demonstrated with the said form, you may use the armrest apparatus 3 to which this invention is applied for chairs, such as a conference hall or a hall, besides a western style toilet unit. .

(A), (B) is the perspective view which shows the state which has an armrest in a retracted position in the western style toilet unit provided with the armrest apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the armrest drive device used for this western style toilet unit FIG. (A), (B) is the perspective view which shows the state in the middle of an armrest moving from a retracted position to a use position in the western style toilet unit provided with the armrest apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and this Western style It is a perspective view of the armrest drive device used for the toilet unit. (A), (B) is the perspective view which shows the state which the armrest appeared in the use position in the western style toilet unit provided with the armrest apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the armrest drive used for this western style toilet unit It is a perspective view of an apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of the armrest apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the armrest drive device of the armrest apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the armrest support mechanism of the armrest apparatus shown in FIG. (A), (B) is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the armrest support mechanism shown in FIG. (A), (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which has an armrest in a retracted position, and the state which the armrest appeared in the use position in the western style toilet unit provided with the armrest apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing. It is the top view and side view which show the state which the armrest appeared in the use position in the western style toilet unit provided with the armrest apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Western style toilet unit 2 Armrest 3 Armrest device 5 Armrest drive device 20 Western style toilet 21 Western style toilet body 22 Toilet seat 23 Toilet lid 30 Low tank 31 Opening and closing lid 32 Shielding wall 33 Armrest storage part 60 Horizontal drive device 70 Rotation drive device 74 Drive shaft 80 Control Device 90 armrest support mechanism

Claims (8)

In an armrest device comprising: an armrest; and an armrest support mechanism that rotatably supports the armrest in a prone posture at a use position and a standing posture in a retracted position behind the use position.
The armrest support mechanism is configured such that when the armrest rotates and switches from a standing posture at the retracted position to a prone posture at the use position, the rotation center position moves forward. Armrest device.   2. The armrest device according to claim 1, wherein the armrest support mechanism includes a link mechanism having four or more nodes.   The armrest device according to claim 2, wherein the link mechanism is a four-bar link mechanism.   The armrest device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a stopper that maintains a flat posture of the armrest by abutting a line or a surface with any of the plurality of links constituting the link mechanism. .   The armrest device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an armrest drive device including a rotation drive motor as a drive source for switching the posture of the armrest.   6. The assist spring according to claim 5, wherein the armrest driving device biases the armrest in at least one of a direction from the use position toward the retracted position and a direction from the retracted position toward the use position. An armrest device characterized by comprising: A Western-style toilet unit comprising an armrest device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 and a Western-style toilet comprising a western-style toilet body, toilet seat and toilet lid,
The western toilet unit, wherein the armrest appears obliquely above the western toilet body as the use position, and the rear of the toilet body is the retracted position. In Claim 7, the Western-style toilet includes a low tank with a built-in water supply device behind the Western-style toilet body,
The Western-style toilet unit, wherein the armrest is lower than the upper surface of the low tank in a state where the armrest stands in the retracted position.

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