Abstract:
A hair washer including a hot water storing tank for storing hot water, a cistern for receiving at least the hair of a person undergoing hair washing, a cistern including shower heads and nozzle heads in an interior thereof, a neck-receiving member provided on the cistern for supporting the back of the neck of a person undergoing hair washing, a conduit running below the neck-receiving member and connecting the hot water storing tank to the shower heads and nozzle heads in the cistern whereby the hot water passing through the conduit heats the neck-receiving member and thus the back of the neck of the person undergoing hair washing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hair washer which is established in a beauty salon, a barbershop or the like, and particularly to neck receiving part for supporting the nape of a person undergoing washing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the a structure of a prior art hair washer. 
     In the figure, reference numeral  1  designates a cabinet. Numeral  2  designates a cistern having an opening  2   a  in the cabinet  1 , into which a person inserts his head while lying on his back, to undergo hair washing. A neck receiving member  103  is arranged at an entering edge part  2   b  of the cistern  2 . The neck receiving part supports the nape of the person under hair washing  9  by a neck receiving part  103   a  of the neck receiving member. Here, the neck receiving member  103  is made of an elastic material, for example, a rubber or the like. 
     In addition, numeral  4  designates a face cover for preventing hot water from spreading over the face of the person under hair washing  9  during hair washing. The face cover is arranged to be capable of opening and closing so that it covers the opening  2   a  of the cistern  2 . Numeral  5  designates a drawable hand shower used for washing off hairs, shampoo agent, or conditioner agent which are attached to a cistern, or in finishing hair washing. Numeral  6  designates a shampoo tank for storing shampoo agent. Numeral  7  designates a conditioner tank for storing conditioner agent. 
     FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of the prior art hair washer. In the figure, the same reference numerals and characters as those in FIG. 6 designate the same or corresponding parts. Reference numeral  8  designates a draining port provided at the bottom of the cistern  2 . Numeral  9  designates a person undergoing hair washing. 
     Shower heads S 1  to S 11  for spouting hot water, and nozzle heads N 1  to N 6  for spouting hot water mixed with shampoo agent or conditioner agent are provided on inner walls of the cistern  2 . Hair washing processes performed by a hair washer are completed by the following processes; an initial draining process, a preliminary washing process, a shampooing process, a first rinsing process, a conditioning process, anda second rinsing process. The shower heads S 1  to S 11  and the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6  are constructed to automatically spout hot water or hot water mixed with shampoo agent or conditioner agent during a prescribed period for the respective processes in accordance with control by a control means (not shown). 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the pipe arrangement in the cabinet of the prior art hair washer. In the figure, the same reference numerals and characters as those in FIGS. 6 and 7 designate the same or corresponding parts. In addition, reference numeral  11  designates a mixing tank for mixing water and hot water which is transmitted from an external water supply and an external hot water supply, via a curb stop, a strainer, and a check valve (not shown), to prepare wash water having a temperature suitable for hair washing. Numeral  12  designates a motor valve. Numeral  13  designates a hot water storing tank for storing the wash water supplied from the mixing tank  11  via the motor valve  12 . Numeral  14  designates a thermistor provided at a lower position of the hot water storing tank  13  to measure the temperature of the wash water stored in the hot water storing tank  13 . Numeral  15  designates a float switch for detecting the amount of wash water stored in the hot water storing tank  13 . Numeral  16  designates a hot water supplying pump for pumping out wash water from the hot water storing tank  13 . Numeral  17  designates a valve for a hand shower. Character A designates a hot water supply way, one end of which is connected to the hot water supplying pump  16 , the other end of which has some branches connected to the shower heads S 1  to S 11  and the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6  at top parts thereof. Numeral  18  designates a draining electromagnetic valve provided midway of the hot water supply way A to drain unnecessary wash water. Characters  19   a  to  19   k  designate hot water supplying electromagnetic valves for supplying the wash water to the shower heads S 1  to S 11  and nozzle heads N 1  to N 6  by an opening and closing of the supply of wash water via a closing operation. Numeral  20  designates a shampoo supplying pump for pumping out the shampoo agent from the shampoo tank  6 . Numeral  21  designates a conditioner supplying pump for pumping out the conditioner agent from the conditioner tank  7 . Numerals  22  and  23  designate check valves. Character B 1  designates a shampoo agent supply way, one end of which is connected to the hot water supply way A, via the shampoo supplying pump  20  and the check valve  22 . Character B 2  designates a shampoo agent supply way, one end of which is connected to the conditioner tank  7 , the other end of which is connected to the hot water supply way A, via the conditioner supplying pump  21  and the check valve  23 . 
     Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of the operation of a hair washer constructed as described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to  8 . 
     At first, when the hair washer is started, hot water and water are supplied to the mixing tank  11  from an external water supply and an external hot water supply, via the curb stop, the strainer, and the check valve. The hot water and the water are mixed by the mixing tank  11  to prepare the hot water having a temperature suitable for hair washing, which is provided to the hot water storing tank  13  via the motor valve  12 . 
     At the time when predetermined amounts of hot water are stored in the hot water storing tank  13 , stand-by mode follows. During the mode, after the person under hair washing inserts his head to the opening  2   a  of the cistern  2  while lying on his back and putting his head on the neck receiving part  3   a , the face cover  4  is closed. 
     Next, when the hot water supplying electromagnetic valves  19   a  to  19   k  are opened, the hot water stored in the hot water storing tank  13  is simultaneously sucked up by the hot water supplying pump  16 , to be provided to the hot water supply way A, whereby cold water stored in the hot water supply way A during an initial predetermined period is drained out from the shower heads S 1  to S 11  and the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 . 
     Next, when all the cold water stored in the hot water supply way A is drained out, the hot water supplying electromagnetic valve  19   k  is closed, in order to stop supplying hot water to the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 , thereby allowing hair washing to be performed utilizing the hot water spouted from the shower heads S 1  to S 11  during a predetermined period. 
     Next, a shampooing process is followed. When the hot water supplying electromagnetic valve  19   k  is opened, shampoo agent stored in the shampoo tank  6  is simultaneously sucked up by the shampoo supplying pump  20  via the shampoo agent supply way B 1 , and provided to the hot water supply way A via the check valve  22 . The shampoo agent is mixed with the hot water of the hot water supply way A, thereby preparing mixed water with shampoo agent. The mixed water with the shampoo agent is spouted from the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 , to perform hair washing with shampoo agent with hot water spouted from the shower heads S 1  to S 11 . 
     Next, when the shampooing process completed completed, the hot water supplying electromagnetic valve  19   k  is closed, to stop the spouting of the water mixed with shampoo agent from the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 , thereby performing a first rinsing of hair for washing away shampoo agent attached to the hair. 
     Next, a conditioning process is followed. When the hot water supplying electromagnetic valve  19   k  is opened, conditioner agent stored in the conditioner tank  7  is simultaneously sucked up by the conditioner supplying pump  21  via the conditioner agent supply way B 2 , in order to be provided to the hot water supply way A via the check valve  23 . The conditioner agent is mixed with the hot water of the hot water supply way A, thereby preparing mixed water with conditioner agent. The mixed water with conditioner agent is spouted from the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 , to perform hair washing with conditioner agent with hot water spouted from the shower heads S 1  to S 11 . 
     Next, a second rinsing process is followed. When the electromagnetic valve  10   k  is closed, in order to stop the spout of the mixed water with conditioner agent from the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 , thereby allowing hair washing to be performed utilizing the hot water spouted from the shower heads S 1  to S 11 . All processes for hair washing are completed. 
     However, when hair washing is performed using the prior art hair washer, the neck receiving part arranged at an entering edge part of the cistern becomes cool especially when hair washing is performed in the early morning or winter season. Thus, a person under hair washing feels cool at his nape and this gives rise to feelings of displeasure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a hair washer which can keep the nape of a person under hair washing warm. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a hair washer which has a hot water storing tank for storing hot water, a cistern. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a hair washer which has a hot water storing tank for storing hot water, a cistern to which a person under hair washing enables to insert, and a neck receiving member provided with a neck receiving part for supporting a nape part of a person under hair washing, wherein a neck receiving part warming conduit for running hot water from the hot water storing tank arranged to touch the neck receiving member is provided. Therefore, when performing hair washing, it is possible to keep the nape part of the person under hair washing warm utilizing the hot water running through in the neck receiving part warming conduit via the neck receiving member. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, a hair washer which has a hot water storing tank for storing hot water, a cistern to which a person under hair washing enables to insert, and a neck receiving member provided with a neck receiving part for supporting a nape part of a person under hair washing, wherein the neck receiving member is made of a hollow member, and comprising; a hot water supply way of the neck receiving part for supplying hot water from the hot water storing tank to the neck receiving member, and a hot water drain way of the neck receiving part for draining hot water in the neck receiving member. Therefore, when performing hair washing, it is possible to run the hot water from the hot water storing tank through in the neck receiving member, thereby keeping the nape part of the person under hair washing warm by the neck receiving member. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, a hair washer as defined in claim  2 , wherein the neck receiving member is made of a hollow elastic member having resiliency, and comprising; an electromagnetic valve, which is provided in midway of the hot water supply way of the neck receiving part for performing a supply and a stop of a supply of hot water to an inside of the neck receiving member by opening/closing operations of the electromagnetic valve, an electromagnetic valve, which is provided in midway of the hot water drain way of the neck receiving part for performing a start and a stop of a drain of the hot water in the neck receiving member by opening/closing operations of the electromagnetic valve, a hydraulic pressure sensor for measuring a hydraulic pressure of the neck receiving member, and an electromagnetic control part for controlling opening/closing operations of the electromagnetic valves of the hot water supply way of the neck receiving part and the hot water drain way of the neck receiving part to set a hydraulic pressure of the neck receiving member at a predetermined pressure based on the hydraulic pressure of the neck receiving member measured by the hydraulic pressure sensor. Therefore, when performing hair washing, it is possible to run hot water from the hot water storing tank through the neck receiving member. The opening/closing operations of the electromagnetic valves of the hot water supply way of the neck receiving part and the hot water drain way of the neck receiving part are controlled by the electromagnetic valve control part, to control the supply to the hollow part of the neck receiving member and the drain of the hot water from the hollow part of the neck receiving member, thereby setting a hydraulic pressure of the neck receiving member to a predetermined pressure. Therefore, it is possible to keep the nape of the person under hair washing warm, as well as support same resiliently with a suitable cushion formed by the neck receiving member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation schematically illustrating a structure of a hair washer according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating a structure of a neck receiving part at an entering edge part of a cistern of a hair washer according to the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of pipe arrangement in a cabinet of a hair washer according to the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating a structure of a neck receiving part at an entering edge part of the cistern of a hair washer to a second embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of pipe arrangement in a cabinet of a hair washer according to the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation schematically illustrating a structure of a prior art hair washer; 
     FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of a prior art hair washer; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a structure of pipe arrangement in a cabinet of a hair washer of a prior art hair washer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 1 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation schematically illustrating a structure of a hair washer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating a structure of a neck receiving part at an entering edge part of a cistern of a hair washer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the pipe arrangement in a cabinet of a hair washer according to the first embodiment. In the figures, the same reference numerals and characters as those in FIGS. 6 to  8  designate the same or corresponding parts. In addition, character A 1  designates a neck receiving part warming conduit arranged midway of the hot water supply way A. The neck receiving part warming conduit A 1  is arranged to touch the under surface of a neck receiving member  3  arranged at an entering edge part of the cistern  2 . Here, the neck receiving member  3  is made of an elastic material having resiliency, such as rubber. 
     Hereinafter, the operation will be explained of the hair washer of the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to  3 . 
     First, when a hair washer started, hot water and water are supplied to the mixing tank  11  from an external water supply and an external hot water supply, via the curb stop, the strainer, and the check valve. The hot water and the water are is mixed by the mixing tank  11  to prepare hot water having a temperature suitable for hair washing, which is provided to the hot water storing tank  13  via the motor valve  12 . 
     At the time when predetermined amounts of hot water are stored in the hot water storing tank  13 , stand-by mode follows. 
     During the mode, after the person under hair washing  9  inserts his head into the opening  2   a  of the cistern  2  while lying on his back, and puts his head on the neck receiving part  3   a , the face cover  4  is closed. 
     Next, in the same manner as hair washing processes performed by the prior art hair washer, hot water stored in the storing tank  13  is pumped out by the hot water supplying pump  16 , in order to be provided to the hot water supply way A. The hot water runs through the neck receiving part warming conduit A 1  arranged to touch the under surface of the neck receiving member  3 , on its way to be provided to the shower heads S 1  to S 11  and the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6  via the hot water supplying electromagnetic valves  19   a  to  19   k  so that hot water is spouted from the shower heads S 1  to S  11  and mixed water with shampoo agent or mixed water with conditioner agent is spouted from the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 . Therefore, it is possible to perform an initial draining, a preliminary washing, a washing with shampoo agent, a first rinsing, a washing with conditioner agent, and a second rinsing. 
     In the above-described washing processes, the nape of the person under hair washing  9  can be kept warm utilizing the hot water running through in the neck receiving part warming conduit A 1  via the neck receiving member  3 . 
     As described above, according to the hair washer of the first embodiment, the neck receiving part warming conduit A 1  is provided midway of the hot water supply way A for supplying hot water stored in the hot water storing tank  13  to the shower heads S 1  to; and S 1 l and the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 , and is located so that it touches the under surface of the neck receiving part  3  the neck receiving member is made of an elastic material having resiliency, such as rubber or the like, thereby enabling the hot water to run through the neck receiving part warming conduit A 1  touching the under surface of the neck receiving member  3 . Thus, it is possible to keep the nape of the person under hair washing  9  warm utilizing hot water running through in the neck receiving part warming conduit A 1 . 
     Embodiment 2. 
     FIG. 4 is the longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating a structure of the pipe arrangement of the neck receiving part at an entering edge part of the cistern of the hair washer according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the pipe arrangement in a cabinet of a hair washer according to the second embodiment. In the figures, the same reference numerals and characters as those in FIGS. 1 to  3  designate the same or corresponding parts. 
     As discussed, the neck receiving member  3  is made of an elastic material having resiliency, such as rubber or the like, it has a hollow part  3   b , and both ends of which comprise a hot water inlet port  3   c  and a hot water outlet port  3   d . The hot water inlet port  3   c  and the hot water outlet port  3   d  of the neck receiving member  3  are respectively connected to a hot water supply way A 2  of the neck receiving part and a hot water drain way A 3  of the neck receiving part, which are branched from the hot water supply pipe A. The hot water supply way A 2  of the neck receiving part and the hot water drain way A 3  of the neck receiving part, respectively, have electromagnetic valves  30   a  and  30   b  midway thereof. The electromagnetic valve  30   a  supplies hot water to the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3  by opening/closing operations. The electromagnetic valve  30 B drains hot water form the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3  by opening/closing operations. Reference numeral  31  designates a hydraulic pressure sensor for measuring hydraulic pressure of the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3 . Numeral  32  designates electromagnetic valves control part for controlling opening/closing operations of the electromagnetic valves  30   a  and  30   b.    
     Hereinafter, the operation will be explained of the hair washer according to the second embodiment with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     First, when the hair washer is started, hot water and water are supplied to the mixing tank  11  from an external water supply and an external hot water supply, via the curb stop, the strainer, and the check valve. The hot water and the water is mixed by the mixing tank  11  to prepare water having a temperature suitable for hair washing, which is provided to the hot water storing tank  13  via the motor valve  12 . 
     At the time when predetermined amounts of hot water are stored in the hot water storing tank  13 , stand-by mode follows. During the mode, after the person under hair washing inserts his head into the opening  2   a  of the cistern  2  while lying on his back, and puts his head on the neck receiving part  3   a , the face cover  4  is closed. 
     Next, in the same manner as hair washing processes preformed by using the prior art hair washer, hot water stored in the storing tank  13  is pumped out by the hot water supplying pump  16 , in order to be provided to the shower heads S 1  to S 11  and the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6  for hot water through the hot water supply way A via the hot water supplying electromagnetic valves  19   a  to  19   k , the hot water is spouted from the shower heads S 1  to S 11 , and mixed water with shampoo agent or mixed water with conditioner agent spouted from the nozzle heads N 1  to N 6 . Therefore, it is possible to perform an initial draining, a preliminary washing, washing with shampoo agent, a first rinsing, washing with conditioner agent, and a second rinsing. 
     In the above-described hair washing processes, the electromagnetic valve  30   a  of the hot water supply way A 2  of the neck receiving part and the electromagnetic valve  30   b  of the hot water drain way A 3  of the neck receiving part are open by the electromagnetic control part  32 , thereby splitting hot water running through in the hot water supply way A into the hot water supply way A 2  of the neck receiving part, to be lead to the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3  via the electromagnetic valve  30   a . Further, the hot water of the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3  is led to the hot water supply way A via the hot water drain way A 3  of the neck receiving part. Therefore, it is possible to run the hot water from the storing tank  13  through the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3 , thereby enabling the nape of the person under hair washing  9 , to be best warm utilizing the hot water of the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3 . 
     When the hot water is running through the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3 , the electromagnetic valve  30   b  of the hot water drain way A 3  of the neck receiving part is closed by the electromagnetic control part  32 , thus by stopping the drain of the hot water of the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving part  3 , and only supplying hot water t o the neck receiving part  3 . Thereafter, when the hydraulic pressure sensor  31  detects that the hydraulic pressure of the neck receiving member  3  reaches a predetermined hydraulic pressure, the electromagnetic valve  30   a  of the hot water supply way A 2  of the neck receiving part is closed by the electromagnetic control part  32 . Therefore, the neck receiving member  3  made of an elastic material having resilience, such as rubber or the like, can be kept at suitable pressure for the nape of the person under hair washing  9 . 
     As described above, the hair washer according to the second embodiment comprises the hot water inlet port  3   c  and the hot water outlet port  3   d  at the hollow neck receiving member  3  made of an elastic material having resiliency, such as rubber or the like, the hot water inlet port  3   c  and the hot water outlet port  3   d  are respectively connected to the hot water supply way A 2  of the neck receiving part and the drain port A 3  of the neck receiving part which are respectively branched from the hot water supply way A, thereby enabling the hot water thus from the hot water storing tank  13  through the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3 . In addition, the electromagnetic valve control part  32  controls the opening/closing operations of the electromagnetic valve  30   a  of the hot water supply way A 2  of the neck receiving part and the electromagnetic valve  30   b  of the hot water drain way A 3  of the neck receiving part, to control a supply of the hot water to the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3  and a drain from the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving member  3 , thereby enabling the setting the hydraulic pressure of the hollow part  3   b  of the neck receiving part  3  to a predetermined pressure. Therefore, it is possible to keep the nape of the person under hair washing  9  warm as well as support same resiliently with a suitable cushion formed by the neck receiving member  3 .