SANITARY WASHING DEVICE

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a sanitary washing device including a shutter that opens and closes an opening and a shutter washing unit that is configured to wash the front surface of the shutter, the shutter having a simple structure. A sanitary washing device includes: a shutter configured to open and close an opening formed in a functional unit; and a shutter washing unit arranged above the shutter and configured to wash a front surface of the shutter in a state in which the shutter closes the opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-069842, filed on Apr. 16, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a sanitary washing device.

A known sanitary washing device includes a washing nozzle that can be advanced and retracted, a shutter that opens and closes a front opening in front of the washing nozzle, and a shutter washing unit that washes the shutter (see, for example, JP2019-173287A, corresponding to US Publication No. 2021/0040720). The shutter washing unit disclosed in JP2019-173287A has a washing water spout provided on an upper portion of the shutter, and washes the front surface of the shutter by discharging washing water from the washing water spout.

The shutter disclosed in JP2019-173287A moves to open and close the front opening in front of the washing nozzle. Since the shutter washing unit having the washing water spout is provided on the upper portion of the movable shutter, the structure of the shutter is complicated. Therefore, there is a demand for a shutter having a simple structure.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a sanitary washing device which includes a shutter that opens and closes an opening and a shutter washing unit that is capable of washing the front surface of the shutter, the shutter having a simple structure.

An illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure directed to a sanitary washing device may include a shutter configured to open and close an opening formed in a functional unit and a shutter washing unit arranged above the shutter and configured to wash a front surface of the shutter in a state in which the shutter closes the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet apparatus according to a first illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a sanitary washing device viewed obliquely from below;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a shutter washing unit viewed obliquely from below;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the shutter washing unit viewed from below;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2, and illustrates the shutter washing unit in a state where a shutter is in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the shutter washing unit in a state where the shutter is in an open position; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a shutter washing unit of a sanitary washing device according to a second illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first illustrative embodiment of a toilet apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front-back direction viewed from a user seated on a toilet seat 22 is defined as the front-back direction Y. In the front-back direction Y, the front is denoted as the front Y1 and the back is denoted as the back Y2. The left-right direction viewed from the user seated on the toilet seat 22 is defined as the left-right direction X. In the left-right direction X, the left is denoted as the left X1 and the right is denoted as the right X2, as viewed from the user seated on the toilet seat 22. The up-down direction along a plumb line with respect to a floor surface where a toilet 21 is arranged is defined as the up-down direction Z. In the up-down direction Z, the upper side is denoted as the upper side Z1 and the lower side is denoted as the lower side Z2. FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section taken along a plane that is on the line A-A in FIG. 2 and in the front-back direction Y and the up-down direction Z, the cross-section being viewed in the left-right direction X.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the toilet apparatus 1 of the present illustrative embodiment may include the toilet 21, the toilet seat 22, a toilet lid 3, and a functional unit 4. The toilet 21 may open upward. The toilet 21 may be made of ceramic or resin, for example. The toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 3 may be mounted such that they are pivotable with respect to, and above, the toilet 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the toilet 21 may include a toilet bowl 211 and an outer peripheral wall 212. The toilet bowl 211 may be provided in the toilet 21 in a portion close to the front Y1. The outer peripheral wall 212 may surround the outer surface of the toilet bowl 211, piping, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the functional unit 4 may be provided on top of a back portion of the toilet 21. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the functional unit 4 may include at least a sanitary washing device 5 for washing private parts of a user. The functional unit 4 can include functional components such as the sanitary washing device 5, a base plate 41, and a cover member 42 that covers the exterior of the functional unit. At least some of the functional components of the functional unit 4 may be arranged on the base plate 41.

The functional components may be arranged on the base plate 41 or at other locations for arrangement in consideration of their functions and positional relationships with other components. The functional components may include, for example, a warmer for warming the toilet seat 22, a toilet bowl-washing device equipped with a washing-liquid tank, the sanitary washing device 5 for washing the private parts of a user, a hose, a power supply unit, a control circuit board, an electric opening/closing unit for electrically opening and closing the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 3, a valve unit, and various pipes.

The sanitary washing device 5 has a function of washing a human body. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sanitary washing device 5 may include a pair of washing nozzles 51 that can be advanced and retracted, a shutter 52 that opens and closes a front opening 415 (opening) formed in front of the washing nozzles 51, and a shutter washing unit 6. The front opening 415 may be formed in the functional unit 4 in a portion facing the front Y1.

The pair of washing nozzles 51 may be arranged in the functional unit 4 in a portion close to the front Y1, and may be centered in the left-right direction X while being spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction X. In some embodiments, the pair of washing nozzles 51 may be for washing the private parts of a human body, namely, for washing the genital and anal area. Each washing nozzle 51 may discharge washing water toward the human body through a nozzle spout port (not illustrated) that is provided on a front-end upper portion of the washing nozzle.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the shutter 52 may be arranged on the functional unit 4 in a portion facing the front Y1, and may be centered in the left-right direction X. The shutter 52 may have a plate shape extending in the left-right direction X (lateral direction) of the toilet 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in a state in which the front opening 415 (see FIG. 3) is closed with the shutter 52, the shutter 52 has its upper edge extending in the left-right direction X when viewed from the front Y1. The front opening 415 may be formed in a portion toward the upper side Z1 of a base plate front surface 411 of the base plate 41 and may be centered in the left-right direction X. In some embodiments, the lower edge of the shutter 52 curves in an arc shape so that the center of the lower edge in the left-right direction X constitutes the lowermost point and the lower edge extends outward in the left-right direction X from the center while sloping upward. The shutter 52 may be pivotably mounted on the base plate front surface 411 of the base plate 41 of the functional unit 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base plate front surface 411 may extend in the left-right direction and face the front Y1. The base plate front surface 411 may have an upper vertical surface 412 and a lower inclined surface 413.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper vertical surface 412 may be planar and extend in a predetermined length in the up-down direction Z. The lower inclined surface 413 may be connected to the lower end of the upper vertical surface 412 via a smooth curved surface 414, and may extend obliquely downward in the direction from the front Y1 to the back Y2, without bending or curving. In some embodiments, the length of the lower inclined surface 413 in the inclination direction may be longer than the length of the upper vertical surface 412 in the up-down direction Z.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shutter 52 may be arranged along the base plate front surface 411, which is the front surface of the functional unit 4, such that the shutter 52 in a closed position covers an upper portion of the base plate front surface 411. In the range in the left-right direction X where the shutter 52 may be provided, an upper portion of the base plate front surface 411 may be covered by the shutter 52. A lower portion of the base plate front surface 411 that is not covered by the shutter 52 may be exposed toward the front Y1.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the shutter 52 may comprise an upper end bent part 521 and an inclined planar part 522. In some embodiments, when the shutter 52 is in the closed position, the upper end bent part 521 may extend in the up-down direction Z while slightly protruding toward the front Y1. In the closed position, the inclined planar part 522 may extend from the lower end of the upper end bent part 521 obliquely downward in the direction from the front Y1 to the back Y2, without bending or curving.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper end bent part 521 may constitute an upper end portion of the shutter 52 and may be bent backward with respect to the inclined planar part 522 so that the front of the upper end bent part 521 is convex. For example, from the upper end of the inclined planar part 522 extending obliquely downward, the upper end bent part 521 is bent backward relative to a phantom extension line K as an extension line prolonged from the inclined planar part 522 toward the upper side Z1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the shutter 52 may comprise a pair of protruding supports 53 that protrude backward from an upper portion of a back surface 52b of the shutter 52. The protruding supports 53 may each have a support shaft 531 having a circular column shape and extending in the left-right direction X. The support shafts 531 may be rotatably attached to a pair of C-shaped open engagement parts 412a provided on the upper vertical surface 412 of the base plate front surface 411. In a state in which the pair of the protruding supports 53 are attached, the shutter 52 may be pivotable about a rotation axis J that extends along the support shaft 531 in the left-right direction X.

In some embodiments, the upper end portion of the shutter 52 is bent backward. For example, in a case where the entire shutter 52, inclusive of the upper end portion, has a straight shape, when the shutter 52 is pivoted from the closed position to an open position, the trajectory of the pivotal motion of the upper end of the shutter 52 will have a large radius. In this case, there would be a need to form a large clearance between the upper end of the shutter 52 and components provided above the shutter 52.

In contrast, according to the present disclosure, the upper end portion of the shutter 52 may be bent backward. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a clearance for receiving the upper end portion of the shutter 52 in the open position is smaller in the present disclosure than in the above-mentioned case where the entire shutter 52 including the upper end portion has a straight shape. Thus, the present disclosure makes it possible to reduce the size of the clearance between the cover member 42 and the upper end of the shutter 52. The small clearance between the cover member 42 and the shutter 52, which is visible from outside, may contribute to improving the design.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front opening 415 may be formed in a portion toward the upper side Z1 of the base plate front surface 411 of the base plate 41 and may be centered in the left-right direction X. The washing nozzles 51 may move forward and backward to protrude from and retract into the front opening 415.

In some embodiments, as the washing nozzle(s) 51 is advanced and retracted, the shutter 52 is moved by the washing nozzle(s) 51 contacting with the back surface of the shutter 52, whereby the shutter 52 opens and closes the front opening 415 formed in front of the washing nozzles 51, as illustrated in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the closed position, the shutter 52 may be positioned to close the front opening 415 in the base plate front surface 411 of the base plate 41 of the functional unit 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the shutter 52 may lie in the closed position while a gap S is formed between the shutter 52 and the base plate front surface 411 of the base plate 41. Referring to FIG. 3, the lower inclined surface 413 of the base plate front surface 411 may comprise thereon a pair of projections 413a that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction X. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the pair of projections 413a may allow for formation of the gap S between the shutter 52 and the lower inclined surface 413 of the base plate front surface 411.

Specifically, in the closed position, the shutter 52 may be in contact with the pair of projections 413a, whereby the gap S may be formed between the shutter 52 and the lower inclined surface 413 of the base plate front surface 411. In some embodiments, the gap S allows washing water to flow therethrough. For example, the washing water is discharged from a back surface-washing water spout 62 (to be described later) of the shutter washing unit 6 and flows along the back surface 52b of the shutter 52.

The shutter washing unit 6 may wash the front surface 52a and the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 in a state where the front opening 415 is closed by the shutter 52. The shutter washing unit 6 may be arranged above the upper end of the shutter 52. When the shutter 52 is in the closed position while closing the front opening 415, the shutter washing unit 6 may discharge washing water downward toward the shutter 52.

In the present illustrative embodiment, “the state in which the shutter 52 closes the front opening 415”, “the state in which the shutter 52 is in the closed position while closing the front opening 415”, and similar expressions may refer to a state in which the front opening 415 is closed by the shutter 52 completely or incompletely. The state described as “the state in which the shutter 52 closes the front opening 415” or “the state in which the shutter 52 is in the closed position while closing the front opening 415” and states described using similar expressions may include, for example, a state in which the shutter 52 is slightly open by being pushed by the washing nozzle 51, but generally blocks the front opening 415.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the shutter washing unit 6 may comprise a front surface-washing water spout 61 (first spout) and/or the back surface-washing water spout 62 (second spout).

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front surface-washing water spout 61 may comprise a plurality of front surface spout ports 611. In some embodiments, the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 discharge washing water to the front surface 52a of the shutter 52. The back surface-washing water spout 62 may comprise a plurality of back surface spout ports 621. In some embodiments, the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 discharge washing water to the back surface 52b of the shutter 52.

The front surface-washing water spout 61 and/or the back surface-washing water spout 62 may discharge washing water that may be temporarily stored in a washing water reservoir 63. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the washing water reservoir 63 may be provided in an upper front portion of the functional unit 4, inside the cover member 42. In some embodiments, the washing water reservoir 63 is hollow and extends in the left-right direction X. The washing water reservoir 63 may include a planar lower surface 632 having a width in the front-back direction Y and extending in the left-right direction X.

The plurality of front surface spout ports 611 of the front surface-washing water spout 61 and/or the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 of the back surface-washing water spout 62 may be formed in the lower surface 632 of the washing water reservoir 63. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the two ends of the washing water reservoir 63 in the left-right direction X may each be connected to a washing water supply path 631. Washing water may be introduced into the washing water reservoir 63 via the washing water supply paths 631 to be stored in the washing water reservoir 63. The washing water temporarily stored in the washing water reservoir 63 may be discharged toward the shutter 52 through the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 of the front surface-washing water spout 61 and/or the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 of the back surface-washing water spout 62.

As illustrated in 5 and 6, the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 and the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 may be arranged in two rows (front and back rows) in the lower surface 632 of the washing water reservoir 63. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the lower surface 632 of the washing water reservoir 63, the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 may be arranged close to the front Y1 and the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 may be arranged close to the back Y2. In the region in the left-right direction X where the shutter 52 may be provided, the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 and the plurality of back surface spout ports may be respectively arranged straight in the left-right direction X in a staggered configuration such that their positions in the left-right direction X do not substantially overlap with each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the lower surface 632 of the washing water reservoir 63, the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 may be arranged toward the front Y1 and may be constituted by through-holes that penetrate the lower surface 632 of the washing water reservoir 63 in the up-down direction Z. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 may open downward to cause washing water to flow along the front surface 52a of the shutter 52 in the state in which the shutter 52 is in the closed position.

The plurality of front surface spout ports 611 may be located above a surface 521a of the upper end bent part 521 of the shutter 52 facing the front Y1, and may open downward in a direction along the surface 521a. Due to this configuration, the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 discharge washing water in the direction along the surface 521a, which faces the front Y1, of the upper end bent part 521 of the shutter 52, and the washing water flows along the front surface 52a of the shutter 52, whereby the front surface 52a of the shutter 52 can be cleaned.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the lower surface 632 of the washing water reservoir 63, the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 may be arranged toward the back Y2 relative to the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 and may be constituted by through-holes that penetrate the lower surface 632 of the washing water reservoir 63 in the up-down direction Z. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 may open downward to cause washing water to flow along the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 in the state in which the shutter 52 is in the closed position.

The plurality of back surface spout ports 621 may open downward in a direction along a surface 521b of the upper end bent part 521 of the shutter 52 facing the back Y2. Due to this configuration, the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 discharge washing water in the direction along the surface 521b, which faces the back Y2, of the upper end bent part 521 of the shutter 52, and the washing water flows along the back surface 52b of the shutter 52, whereby the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 can be cleaned.

The washing water discharged from the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 may flow along the back surface 52b of the shutter 52, and thereafter, may flow along the base plate front surface 411 of the functional unit 4. Thus, the shutter washing unit 6 can wash the base plate front surface 411 of the functional unit 4 with the washing water discharged from the plurality of back surface spout ports 621.

The shutter washing unit 6 described above causes the front surface-washing water spout 61 and the back surface-washing water spout 62 to discharge the washing water, which may be stored in the washing water reservoir 63, downward at the same timing in the state in which the shutter 52 is closed. As a result, the shutter washing unit 6 can wash the front surface 52a and the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 at the same time.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the state in which the shutter 52 is closed, the front surface-washing water spout 61 may discharge, through the front surface spout ports 611, the washing water downward onto the surface 521a, which faces the front Y1, of the upper end bent part 521 of the shutter 52. The washing water discharged onto the surface 521a, which faces the front Y1, of the upper end bent part 521 of the shutter 52 may flow along the front surface 52a of the shutter 52.

The washing water flowing along the front surface 52a of the shutter 52 may then flow along a surface 522a, which faces the front Y1, of the inclined planar part 522 due to the surface tension of the washing water. In this way, the front surface-washing water spout 61 may allow for the front surface 52a of the shutter 52 to be washed with the washing water discharged through the plurality of front surface spout ports 611.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the state in which the shutter 52 is closed, the back surface-washing water spout 62 may discharge, through the back surface spout ports 621, washing water downward onto the surface 521b, which faces the back Y2, of the upper end bent part 521 of the shutter 52. The washing water discharged onto the surface 521b, which faces the back Y2, of the upper end bent part 521 of the shutter 52 may flow along the back surface 52b of the shutter 52.

The washing water flowing along the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 may pass through the gap S between the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 and the lower inclined surface 413 of the base plate front surface 411 of the functional unit 4, and then, may flow along a lower portion of the lower inclined surface 413 of the base plate front surface 411 due to the surface tension of the washing water. As a result, the washing water that has washed the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 may further wash the lower portion of the lower inclined surface 413 of the base plate front surface 411 of the functional unit 4.

The shutter washing unit 6 may perform the operation for washing the shutter 52 at a predetermined timing. The predetermined timing may not be particularly limited, and the shutter washing unit 6 may only need to perform the operation for washing the shutter 52 in the state in which the shutter 52 is closed. For example, the shutter washing unit 6 may perform the operation before the washing nozzle 51 washes the private parts of a human body, subsequent to the washing of the private parts by the washing nozzle 51, or at substantially the same time as the washing nozzle 51 being washed with washing water.

The sanitary washing device 5 of the present illustrative embodiment described above may exert the following effects.

The sanitary washing device 5 of the present illustrative embodiment may include the shutter 52 that opens and closes the front opening 415 in the functional unit 4, and the shutter washing unit 6 that may be arranged above the shutter 52 and washes the front surface 52a of the shutter 52 in the state in which the shutter 52 closes the front opening 415.

Thus, the shutter washing unit 6, which is separate from the shutter 52, may be provided above the shutter 52 that is a movable component. Therefore, the shutter 52 can be washed by the shutter washing unit 6, which is separate from the shutter 52. Due to this feature, the shutter 52 may have a simple structure. Furthermore, the front surface 52a of the shutter 52 can be washed in the state in which the shutter 52 closes the front opening 415. This feature makes it unlikely for washing water discharged from the shutter washing unit 6 to be sprayed toward the front Y1 with respect to the toilet 21.

According to the present illustrative embodiment, the shutter washing unit 6 can wash the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 in the state in which the shutter 52 closes the front opening 415. Thus, the shutter washing unit 6 can wash both the front surface 52a and the back surface 52b of the shutter 52.

According to the present illustrative embodiment, the shutter washing unit 6 can wash the front surface 52a and the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 at the same time in the state in which the shutter 52 closes the front opening 415. This feature makes it possible to wash the front surface 52a and the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 at the same time in a short time.

According to the present illustrative embodiment, the shutter washing unit 6 may comprise the front surface-washing water spout 61 that discharges washing water to the front surface 52a of the shutter 52, and the back surface-washing water spout 62 that discharges washing water to the back surface 52b of the shutter 52. Due to this feature, the front surface 52a and the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 can be washed by means of the front surface-washing water spout 61 and/or the back surface-washing water spout 62, respectively, thereby making it possible to efficiently wash both of the front surface 52a and the back surface 52b of the shutter 52.

According to the present illustrative embodiment, the shutter washing unit 6 may discharge washing water downward. Since the shutter 52 is located below the shutter washing unit 6, it is suitable to discharge the washing water in the direction of gravity. This feature facilitates washing the shutter 52.

According to the present illustrative embodiment, the shutter 52 may have its upper end portion bent backward. Due to this feature, when the shutter 52 is open, the clearance between the cover member 42 and the shutter 52 may be smaller in the present illustrative embodiment than in a case where the entire shutter 52 including the upper end portion has a straight shape. The small clearance between the cover member 42 and the shutter 52, which is visible from outside, may contribute to improving the design.

According to the present illustrative embodiment, the shutter 52 may be provided along the base plate front surface 411 of the functional unit 4 so as to cover a portion of the base plate front surface 411, and the functional unit 4 has the projections 413a that allow the formation of the gap S between the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 and the base plate front surface 411 of the functional unit 4. This feature enables the back surface-washing water spout 62 to wash not only the back surface 52b of the shutter 52 but also the lower portion of the base plate front surface 411 of the functional unit 4.

Next, a sanitary washing device 5A according to a second illustrative embodiment will be described. Note that in a case where any configurations of the second illustrative embodiment are not described below, the descriptions of the corresponding configurations of the first illustrative embodiment should apply to such configurations. In the second illustrative embodiment, components similar to those of the first illustrative embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters as in the first illustrative embodiment, and the descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the sanitary washing device 5A according to the second illustrative embodiment may include a pair of washing nozzles 51 that can be advanced and retracted, a shutter 52A that may open and close a front opening 415 (opening) formed in front of the washing nozzles 51, and a shutter washing unit 6A.

Like shutter 52, the shutter 52A may be arranged on a functional unit 4 in a portion located close to the front Y1 and may be centered in a left-right direction X. The shutter 52A may comprise a plate shape extending in the left-right direction X (lateral direction) of a toilet 21. The shutter 52A may be mounted on a base plate front surface 411 of a base plate 41 of the functional unit 4 such that the shutter 52A may be pivotable around a rotation axis J.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in a closed position, the shutter 52A may extend obliquely downward in the direction from the front Y1 to the back Y2 without bending or curving. The front surface of an upper end portion of the shutter 52A may be curved and inclined so as to taper slightly.

In a state in which the shutter 52A closes the front opening 415, the shutter washing unit 6A may wash a front surface 55a and/or a back surface 55b of the shutter 52A. The shutter washing unit 6A may be arranged obliquely in front of and above the upper end of the shutter 52A. The shutter washing unit 6A may discharge washing water obliquely backward and downward when the shutter 52A is in the closed position while closing the front opening 415.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the shutter washing unit 6A may comprise a front surface-washing water spout 65 (first spout) and a back surface-washing water spout 66 (second spout).

The front surface-washing water spout 65 may include a plurality of front surface spout ports 651. The plurality of front surface spout ports 651 may discharge washing water to the front surface 55a of the shutter 52A. The back surface-washing water spout 66 may include a plurality of back surface spout ports 661. The plurality of back surface spout ports 661 may discharge washing water to the back surface 55b of the shutter 52A.

The front surface-washing water spout 65 and/or the back surface-washing water spout 66 may discharge washing water that is temporarily stored in a washing water reservoir 67. The washing water reservoir 67 may be provided in an upper front portion of the functional unit 4, inside a cover member 42. The washing water reservoir 67 may comprise an inclined lower surface 672 that is inclined upward in the direction from the front Y1 to the back Y2, and extends in the left-right direction X.

The plurality of front surface spout ports 651 of the front surface-washing water spout 65 and/or the plurality of back surface spout ports 661 of the back surface-washing water spout 66 may be formed in the inclined lower surface 672 of the washing water reservoir 67. The washing water temporarily stored in the washing water reservoir 67 may be discharged toward the shutter 52A through the plurality of front surface spout ports 651 of the front surface-washing water spout 65 and/or the plurality of back surface spout ports 661 of the back surface-washing water spout 66.

In the inclined lower surface 672 of the washing water reservoir 67, the plurality of front surface spout ports 651 may be arranged toward the front Y1 and constituted by through-holes that penetrate the inclined lower surface 672 of the washing water reservoir 67 in an obliquely backward direction. The plurality of front surface spout ports 651 may open obliquely backward and downward so as to cause washing water to flow along the front surface 55a of the shutter 52A in the state in which the shutter 52A is in the closed position.

The plurality of front surface spout ports 651 may be located obliquely in front of and above the shutter 52A, and may open obliquely backward and downward in a direction along the front surface 55a of the shutter 52A. As a result, the washing water discharged from the plurality of front surface spout ports 651 may flow along the front surface 55a of the shutter 52A, whereby the front surface 55a of the shutter 52A can be cleaned.

In the inclined lower surface 672 of the washing water reservoir 67, the plurality of back surface spout ports 661 may be arranged toward the back Y2 relative to the plurality of front surface spout ports 651. The plurality of back surface spout ports 661 may be constituted by through-holes that penetrate the inclined lower surface 672 of the washing water reservoir 67 in an obliquely backward and downward direction. The plurality of back surface spout ports 661 may open obliquely backward and downward so as to cause washing water to flow along the back surface 55b of the shutter 52A in the state in which the shutter 52A is in the closed position.

The plurality of back surface spout ports 661 may be located obliquely in front of and above the shutter 52A, and may open obliquely backward and downward in a direction along the back surface 55b of the shutter 52A. As a result, the washing water discharged from the plurality of back surface spout ports 661 may flow along the back surface 55b of the shutter 52A, thereby the back surface 55b of the shutter 52A can be cleaned.

The front surface-washing water spout 65 and/or the back surface-washing water spout 66 of the shutter washing unit 6A described above may discharge washing water, which may be stored in the washing water reservoir 67, downward at the same timing in the state in which the shutter 52A is closed. Thus, the shutter washing unit 6A can wash the front surface 55a and the back surface 55b of the shutter 52A at the same time.

The second illustrative embodiment may exert not only the same effects as those of the first illustrative embodiment, but also the following effects. In the second illustrative embodiment, the shutter washing unit 6A discharges the washing water obliquely backward and downward. In comparison with a case where washing water is discharged in the vertically downward direction, the washing water discharged obliquely backward and downward may easily flow on the front surface 55a and the back surface 55b of the shutter 52A. This may makes it easier to tolerate manufacturing variation and/or assembly variation in the position of the shutter washing unit 6A and the position of the shutter 52A. Therefore, the second illustrative embodiment may be tolerant of a wider range of manufacturing variation and assembly variation.

According to the present illustrative embodiment shutter 52A may be absent and the washing water discharged from the shutter washing unit 6A is allowed to flow backward. Thus, the washing water discharged from the shutter washing unit 6A is allowed to flow backward as opposed to in the direction toward pooled water in the toilet 21. As a result, even if the shutter 52A is absent, the user is unlikely to feel discomfort because the washing water can be discharged backward.

In the foregoing, preferred illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. It should be noted that the above-described illustrative embodiments are not intended to limit the present disclosure, and modifications may be made to the present disclosure as appropriate.

In the above-described illustrative embodiments, the front surface-washing water spout 61 and the back surface-washing water spout 62 each include the plurality of spout ports. However, this is a non-limiting example. The front surface-washing water spout 61 and the back surface-washing water spout 62 may each be configured as a slot extending in the left-right direction X.

The orientation of the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 and that of the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 are not limited to any particular orientation. For example, the plurality of front surface spout ports 611 and/or the plurality of back surface spout ports 621 may discharge washing water in the vertically downward direction, obliquely backward, or horizontally backward.

In the above illustrative embodiment, the projections 413a are provided on the front surface of the functional unit 4. However, this is a non-limiting example. The projections may be provided on the back surface 52b of the shutter 52.

In the above illustrative embodiments, the shutter is configured to open and close the opening in front of the washing nozzles. However, this is a non-limiting example. The shutter may be configured to open and close, for example, an opening in front of a hot-air dryer, an opening in front of a deodorizing device, an opening in front of a toilet bowl-washing water spout, and/or an opening in front of a mist nozzle or a foam nozzle.

Claims

1. A sanitary washing device comprising:

a shutter configured to open and close an opening formed in a functional unit; and

a shutter washing unit arranged above the shutter and configured to wash a front surface of the shutter in a state in which the shutter closes the opening.

2. The sanitary washing device of claim 1, wherein the shutter washing unit is configured to wash a back surface of the shutter in the state in which the shutter closes the opening.

3. The sanitary washing device of claim 2, wherein the shutter washing unit is configured to wash the front and back surfaces of the shutter at the same time in the state in which the shutter closes the opening.

4. The sanitary washing device of claim 2, wherein the shutter washing unit includes:

a first spout that discharges washing water to the front surface of the shutter; and

a second spout that discharges washing water to the back surface of the shutter.

5. The sanitary washing device of claim 1, wherein the shutter washing unit discharges washing water downward.

6. The sanitary washing device of claim 5, wherein the shutter washing unit discharges washing water obliquely backward and downward.

7. The sanitary washing device of claim 1, wherein the shutter comprises an upper end portion that is bent backward.

8. The sanitary washing device of claim 1, wherein the shutter washing unit is configured to wash a front surface of the functional unit.

9. The sanitary washing device of claim 1,

wherein the shutter is arranged along a front surface of the functional unit such that the shutter covers a portion of the front surface of the functional unit when the shutter is closed and is in a closed position, the functional unit being arranged on a back portion of a toilet, and

at least one of the shutter or the functional unit has a projection, the projection allowing formation of a gap between the back surface of the shutter and the front surface of the functional unit.