CN109869066B

CN109869066B - Toilet door opening/closing switch and toilet automatic door system

Info

Publication number: CN109869066B
Application number: CN201811466144.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 大西顺也
Original assignee: Chikura Industry Co ltd
Current assignee: Chikura Industry Co ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-04
Filing date: 2018-12-03
Publication date: 2022-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-03
Also published as: CN109869066A; JP2021193668A; JP7406844B2; JP6971469B2; JP2022133375A; JP7105511B2; JP2019100095A

Abstract

The invention provides a toilet door opening and closing switch and a toilet automatic door system, which further improve the operation auxiliary function for the visually handicapped people who are slow before among the toilet users, and are excellent in operability and convenience. In an automatic door system for a toilet having a toilet door opening/closing switch, the toilet door opening/closing switch is provided with a state display section and two push button sections for opening and closing, and tactile marks having different shapes corresponding to the opening and closing are formed in the peripheral surface of each of the two push button sections so as to protrude from the peripheral surface.

Description

Toilet door opening/closing switch and toilet automatic door system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an automatic door system for a toilet, and more particularly to an automatic door system constructed in a toilet installed in a facility where a large number of people gather, such as an airport and a station, and called a "multi-functional toilet", and an opening/closing switch for a toilet door used for operating the automatic door system for a toilet.

Background

In a conventional automatic door system for a toilet, doors are constructed at an entrance and an exit of the toilet, and a toilet outside door opening/closing switch 1 and a toilet inside door opening/closing switch 2 as shown in fig. 11, for example, are disposed on the outside and inside of the toilet. The toilet outside door opening/closing switch 1 and the toilet inside door opening/closing switch 2 have substantially the same appearance, are provided with a state display unit 5 indicating the state of the toilet in the middle, and are provided with a large opening push button unit 3 and a large closing push button unit 4 which can be operated regardless of pressing and are easy to use even by physically handicapped persons. Further, the light emitting unit 6 is disposed in each of the push button units, and only the operable push button units are caused to emit light continuously or intermittently according to the situation, thereby promoting the user of the toilet to perform an appropriate switch operation, and improving convenience.

In addition, the automatic door system for a toilet also includes a system in which a voice guidance device is provided, and for example, convenience is further improved by prompting an operator to perform an appropriate opening and closing operation by a guidance message such as "when an open button is pressed, the door is opened". In facilities used by nationwide persons, voice guidance apparatuses for performing language guidance using a plurality of languages are also provided.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-60799

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-84616

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the conventional door opening/

closing switches

1 and 2 for a toilet shown in fig. 11, a braille portion 7 for visually impaired people to recognize the opening push button portion 3 and the closing push button portion 4 is arranged. However, in addition to the case where the rate of braille literacy is not necessarily high among visually handicapped persons, braille is different for each language, and therefore, in facilities for use by multinationality people, it is hard to say that only braille in a specific language, for example, japanese is sufficiently arranged.

Although voice guidance is one of effective methods for improving convenience for visually impaired people, there is a limit to improving convenience for visually impaired people who cannot recognize the open button by a guidance message of "the door is opened when the open button is pressed" in the related art.

In view of the above-described conventional circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a toilet door opening/closing switch and a toilet automatic door system that can improve an operation assisting function for visually impaired people who have been slow to deal with among toilet users, and that are excellent in operability and convenience.

Means for solving the problems

A first aspect of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in a toilet door opening/closing switch including a state display unit and two push buttons for opening and closing, wherein the two push buttons have respective tactile marks formed in a convex shape from the peripheral surface, the tactile marks having different shapes and corresponding to the respective push buttons for opening and closing.

A second feature is the door opening/closing switch for a toilet according to the first feature, wherein different braille characters corresponding to the opening and closing are formed in the pressing portion of each of the two pressing buttons so as to protrude from the peripheral surface.

According to the first aspect, since the tactile marks formed on the two push button portions are different from braille and are independent of the language, it is possible to easily recognize whether the touched push button portion is open or closed by touching the tactile marks with a finger regardless of the visually impaired person in any region of the world. Further, since the tactile symbol is formed on the pressing portion of the push button portion, it is not necessary to search for the pressing portion after identifying whether the push button portion is for opening or closing, and the push button portion can be operated only by directly pressing the tactile symbol or its periphery.

According to the second feature, the braille characters formed on the two push button portions can make it easier for a part of visually impaired people to recognize whether the push button portions are for opening or closing. Further, since the braille alphabet is formed on the pressing portion of the push button portion, the push button portion can be operated only by directly pressing the tactile symbol or its periphery without searching for the pressing portion after the push button portion is recognized as being opened or closed.

A third aspect of the present invention is the door opening/closing switch for a toilet, wherein, in contrast to the first aspect, a light emitting portion having a different shape is formed on each of the two push button portions in correspondence with the opening and closing.

According to the third feature, even a low-vision person who is difficult to read characters printed on the push button portion can easily recognize whether the push button portion is open or closed based on the difference in shape of the light emitting portion, which is large in contrast and easy to see, by the light emitting portions formed in the two push button portions and which have different shapes. Further, by emitting light only from the push button portion to be operated next, it is possible to assist not only the operation of the low-vision person but also the operation of the healthy person.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the bathroom door opening/closing switch according to the first to third aspects, wherein the entire pressing portion of each of the two pressing button portions protrudes from the display surface of the state display portion.

According to the fourth aspect, since the entire pressing portions of the two pressing button portions are projected from the display surface that is the surface of the status display portion, a step is generated between the two pressing button portions and the status display portion, and therefore, the visually impaired can intuitively confirm by tactile sense that the pressing button portions are present on the projecting portions of the switch.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the door opening/closing switch for a toilet, wherein in contrast to the first to third aspects, a guide portion that protrudes in a circumferential shape from a peripheral surface is formed on each of the two push button portions, and the tactile symbol is formed inside the circumferential guide portion, the guide portion protruding beyond a display surface of the status display portion.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the door opening/closing switch for a toilet, wherein in comparison with the first to third aspects, a guide portion protruding in a columnar shape from a peripheral surface is further formed on each of the pressing portions, the tactile symbol is formed on an upper surface of the columnar guide portion, and the guide portion protrudes beyond a display surface of the state display portion.

According to the fifth feature, since the guide portion formed so as to protrude in a circumferential shape on the pressing portion of the two push button portions is protruded from the display surface of the status display portion, thereby generating a height difference between the upper surface of the guide portion and the status display portion, the visually impaired can intuitively confirm by tactile sensation that the pressing portion of the push button portion exists on the protruded guide portion. Further, by forming the tactile symbol inside the guide portion, the visually impaired person can be easily notified of the presence and position of the tactile symbol.

According to the sixth feature, since the guide portion formed so as to protrude in a columnar shape on the pressing portion of the two push button portions protrudes from the display surface of the status display portion, a height difference is generated between the upper surface of the guide portion and the status display portion, and therefore, the visually impaired can intuitively confirm with a sense of touch that the pressing portion of the push button portion is positioned on the protruding guide portion. Further, by forming the tactile symbol on the upper surface of the guide portion, the visually impaired person can be easily notified of the presence and position of the tactile symbol.

A seventh feature is the door opening/closing switch for a toilet according to the first to sixth features, wherein the door opening/closing switch for a toilet is disposed outside a toilet, and when the toilet is empty, the door opening/closing switch for a toilet displays that the toilet is empty on the state display unit, and when the toilet is in use, the door opening/closing switch for a toilet displays that the toilet is in use on the state display unit.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is the door opening/closing switch for a toilet, as compared to the first to sixth aspects, wherein the door opening/closing switch for a toilet is disposed in a room of a toilet, and when the toilet door is unlocked, the door opening/closing switch for a toilet displays that the toilet door is unlocked on the state display unit, and when the toilet door is locked, the door opening/closing switch for a toilet door displays that the toilet door is locked on the state display unit.

According to the seventh feature, since either "empty" or "in use" is displayed on the state display unit of the outdoor switch, it is easier to understand than the case where the display of "empty" is not provided conventionally.

According to the eighth aspect, since either "unlocked" or "locked" is displayed on the status display unit of the indoor switch, it is easier to understand and the effect of preventing forgetting to lock is achieved, compared to the case where the display of "empty room" is not provided.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is summarized as an automatic door system for a toilet, including: a door configured at an entrance and an exit of the toilet; two toilet door opening/closing switches that are disposed outdoors and indoors in the toilet, respectively, and that operate to open and close the doors; and a driving controller that controls a driving device to open and close the door based on an opening signal and a closing signal from the two toilet door opening and closing switches, wherein the toilet door opening and closing switches are provided with a state display portion and two push buttons for opening and closing, and tactile marks having different shapes corresponding to the opening and closing are formed on the respective push portions of the two push buttons so as to protrude from the peripheral surface.

According to the ninth aspect, since the tactile marks formed on the two push buttons of the toilet door opening and closing system disposed inside and outside the toilet are different from braille and are independent of language, it is possible for visually impaired people in any region of the world to easily recognize whether the touched push button is open or closed by touching the tactile marks with the fingers. Further, since the tactile symbol is formed on the pressing portion of the push button portion, it is not necessary to search for the pressing portion after identifying whether the push button portion is for opening or closing, and the push button portion can be operated only by directly pressing the tactile symbol or its periphery.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is the automatic door system for a toilet according to the ninth aspect, wherein light emitting portions are further disposed on the two push button portions, and wherein the automatic door system for a toilet further comprises an operation guide controller that facilitates the operation of the user by emitting only the light emitting portion of the push button portion that can be operated by the user in accordance with a state of the toilet.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the automatic door system for a toilet according to the tenth aspect, further comprising a voice guidance device connected to the operation guidance controller, wherein the voice guidance device sends a guidance message to the user in accordance with a state of the toilet.

According to the tenth aspect, the operation of the healthy person can be assisted in addition to the operation of the low-vision person who is difficult to read the characters printed on the push button portion by causing only the light emitting portion of the push button portion operable by the user to emit light.

According to the eleventh aspect, since the guidance message is sent to the user by the voice guidance device, it is possible for a healthy normal person to assist the operation of the visually impaired person.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the automatic door system for a toilet according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the voice guidance device issues guidance information for notifying the user of the position of the opening push button portion of the toilet door opening/closing switch outdoors and promoting the user's operation when the toilet is empty.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the automatic door system for a toilet according to the eleventh aspect, wherein when the user operates the opening push button portion when the toilet is empty and the door is opened by the control of the driving controller, the voice guidance device issues a guidance message that promotes the user's operation so as to notify the position of the door and guide the user into the toilet.

According to the twelfth feature, for example, the operation of the visually impaired person can be effectively assisted by notifying that the position of the opening push button portion is "upper side" by a voice guidance message such as "when the upper door opening button is pushed, the door is opened".

According to a thirteenth feature, the door is opened, for example by using a "door". The voice guidance message "to enter the toilet from the door at the front right side" is notified that the position of the toilet door is at the front right side ", and the use of the visually impaired person can be effectively assisted.

A fourteenth feature is the automatic door system for a toilet, wherein, in contrast to the eleventh feature, when the toilet is used indoors by a person, the voice guidance device repeatedly issues a guidance message notifying that the toilet is in use at predetermined time intervals.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the automatic door system for a toilet further comprising, in comparison with the eleventh aspect, a proximity sensor that detects a person who approaches the toilet door opening/closing switch outdoors, wherein the voice guidance device issues a guidance message notifying that the toilet is in use when the proximity sensor detects the person who approaches the toilet door opening/closing switch indoors.

A sixteenth feature is the automatic door system for a toilet, as compared with the eleventh feature, wherein the voice guidance device issues a guidance message notifying that the toilet is in use when detection continues for a predetermined time after the proximity sensor detects the person who approaches.

According to the fourteenth aspect, since the voice guidance message such as "in use of the toilet" is repeatedly issued at predetermined time intervals while the toilet is in use, it is very convenient for visually impaired people who cannot see the text "in use" of the information display unit.

According to the fifteenth feature, if the proximity sensor detects a person who is in proximity while the toilet is in use, a voice guidance message such as "toilet in use" is issued, and therefore it is convenient for a visually impaired person and a quiet environment can be maintained without a person who is in proximity.

According to the sixteenth feature, since the guidance message such as "in use of the toilet" is issued if the detection is continued for a predetermined time after the proximity sensor detects the person who approaches while the toilet is in use, it is convenient for the visually impaired, and the voice guidance message can be not issued to a person who merely passes in front of the toilet, so that a quiet environment can be maintained in the absence of a person who wants to use the toilet.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toilet door opening/closing switch and a toilet automatic door system, which improve convenience for visually impaired people and achieve a more versatile design. Specifically, the toilet door opening/closing switch according to the present invention is a switch that enables even visually impaired people to easily understand the position of each push button by a tactile sense, and the toilet automatic door system according to the present invention including the toilet door opening/closing switch provides a system that further performs operation guidance by a voice suitable for visually impaired people.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a toilet including an automatic door system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of an automatic door system for a toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a front view and a sectional view showing a main part of a toilet door opening/closing switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view and a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a tactile symbol of the toilet door opening/closing switch according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a front view showing a display state of each state display unit of the outdoor and indoor toilet door opening and closing switches according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation assistance and a guidance message transmission method until a user opens a door when entering a toilet in the automatic door system for a toilet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation assistance and a guidance message transmission method until a user opens a toilet door and enters the toilet, and closes the toilet door in the toilet, in the automatic door system for a toilet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation assistance and a guidance message transmission method until a user opens and closes a door in a toilet in the automatic door system for a toilet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a front view and a sectional view showing a main part of a toilet door opening/closing switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a front view and a side view showing a main part of a toilet door opening/closing switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a front view and a side view of a conventional toilet door opening/closing switch.

Detailed Description

An outline of an embodiment of an automatic door system for a toilet according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 and 2.

(example 1)

The toilet 21 has a sliding door 22 openably and closably disposed in an opening 21a thereof, and a drive device 23 and a drive controller 24 are disposed in a crosspiece above the opening 21a, the drive device 23 including a door position detecting unit such as a motor and an encoder, not shown, and a power transmission mechanism such as a timing belt, and the drive controller 24 driving a drive operation of the drive device 23 by an appropriate output signal. The drive controller 24 is connected to an electronic lock 25 via an electronic lock controller 26, and is locked or unlocked in a timely manner in accordance with the opening/closing operation of the door 22.

Further, although not shown, a toilet bowl 21b and a commode 21c are provided in the toilet 21, and an emergency call switch 34 is provided in the vicinity of the toilet bowl 21b, a room lamp, a ventilation fan, and the like are appropriately installed.

Further, a toilet outdoor door opening/closing switch 1 is disposed on the outdoor side of the toilet 21, and a toilet indoor door opening/closing switch 2 is disposed on the indoor side. The toilet outside door opening/closing switch 1 and the toilet inside door opening/closing switch 2 have substantially the same appearance, are collectively referred to as a toilet door opening/closing switch, and include an opening push button 3, a closing push button 4, and a state display unit 5, respectively.

The toilet outside door opening/closing switch 1 and the toilet inside door opening/closing switch 2 are connected to the drive controller 24 via an operation guide controller 27 that controls the operations of these switches, and are associated with the opening/closing operation of the door 22. That is, when the door 22 is opened or closed by the pressing operation of the opening push button part 3 or the closing push button part 4 of the outside-toilet door opening/closing switch 1 and the inside-toilet door opening/closing switch 2, the drive controller 24 controls the drive device 23 to open or close the door 22.

The opening push button unit 3 and the closing push button unit 4 may be general push buttons, but preferably have light emitting units formed separately, and an operation assisting function of presenting the user with the push button unit to be operated next by continuously or intermittently emitting light based on the control of the operation guidance controller 27.

The external toilet door opening/closing switch 1 and the internal toilet door opening/closing switch 2 may be arranged in a horizontal manner as shown in fig. 1, but are preferably arranged in a vertical manner as shown in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 2, the voice guidance device 28 includes a speaker 29, a storage unit (ROM)30 that records a necessary guidance message in advance and stores the guidance message as a file, and a voice controller 31 that appropriately selects predetermined information from the storage unit 30 and outputs the selected information to the speaker 29. The voice controller 31 is connected to the operation guidance controller 27 that controls the light emission of the opening push button unit 3 and the closing push button unit 4, and causes the speaker 29 to emit a guidance message to the user by cooperating with the operation of each push button unit of the bathroom exterior door opening/closing switch 1 and the bathroom interior door opening/closing switch 2.

Further, an outdoor proximity sensor 32 for detecting a user in a non-contact manner is disposed outside the toilet 21 and inside or around the toilet outdoor door opening/closing switch 1, and the proximity sensor 32 is connected to the voice controller 31 via the operation guidance controller 27. Thus, when the user approaching the toilet room exterior door opening/closing switch 1 is detected by the proximity sensor 32, the voice controller 31 emits predetermined voice information from the speaker 29.

The proximity sensor 32 may be a capacitive sensor or the like, but an optical sensor for activation that is used in a general automatic door and can detect the position of the passer by subdividing the detection area may be used. Thus, since it is possible to distinguish between the approach of the passer to the door 22 and the approach of the toilet exterior door opening/closing switch 1, it is possible to sound more appropriate voice information.

Further, an indoor proximity sensor 33 for detecting a user in a non-contact manner may be disposed in the interior of the toilet room 21, in the interior of the toilet room door opening/closing switch 2, or in the periphery thereof. This makes it possible for the user in the toilet to send out the voice message at a more appropriate timing.

As shown in fig. 1, the

speakers

29a and 29b may be disposed in the toilet room exterior door opening/closing switch 1 and the toilet room interior door opening/closing switch 2, respectively, or in the vicinity thereof, but one speaker 29 may be mounted in a crosspiece above the opening 21a of the toilet room 21 so that guidance messages can be heard inside and outside the toilet room 21.

The storage unit 30 is a device that records and stores guidance messages in advance in a plurality of languages for each type of voice in accordance with the open/close state of the door 22, the operation state of the push buttons of the toilet door open/

close switches

1 and 2, the guidance purpose, and the like, as files.

The guidance message is stored in the storage unit 30 in a plurality of languages according to the status of distinction, and the language controller 31 cooperates with the operation guidance controller 27 to select the guidance message corresponding to the open/close state of the door 22, the operation status of the push button unit of the toilet door open/

close switches

1 and 2 or the emergency call switch 33, the detection status of the

proximity sensors

32 and 33, and the like from the storage unit 30, and to sound the selected guidance message through the speaker 29.

Next, the structure of the push button portion of the door opening/closing switch for

toilet

1, 2 according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 3, taking the door opening/closing switch for toilet outside as an example 1. The toilet room door opening/closing switch 2 has the same configuration, and when both are collectively referred to, it is referred to as a toilet room door opening/closing switch.

In fig. 3(a), the opening push button portion 3 and the closing push button portion 4 are disposed so that the state display portion 5 is provided in the middle. Further, since the thin frame portion 11 is disposed so as to surround the entire outer periphery of the door opening/closing switch in the toilet room and the two

push button portions

3 and 4 disposed vertically along the frame portion 11 are disposed so as to protrude from the frame portion 11, substantially the entire surfaces of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 become pressing portions that can be operated, and a configuration is provided in which even a person who is physically inconvenient can easily operate the switch.

An opening tactile symbol 8 is formed near the center of the pressing portion of the opening push button portion 3 so as to protrude from the peripheral surface of each tactile symbol, and a closing tactile symbol 9 is formed near the center of the pressing portion of the closing push button portion 4. The tactile mark is a mark that allows even a visually impaired person who cannot read braille to recognize whether the touched push button portion is open or closed by touching the mark with a fingertip. In fig. 3(a), two equilateral sets of two isosceles triangles each having the shape of an arrow that simulates the end point of an arrow mark are combined into two sets and opposed to each other in different directions, thereby forming different tactile marks depending on the opening and closing. Since the tactile symbol has a small number of strokes and a simple shape, it has such characteristics that it is easy to recognize and even a person who initially touches the tactile symbol intuitively understands it. However, the shape of the tactile symbol for identifying opening and closing is not limited to this, and for example, two sets of marks having axes may be combined as a whole, or two isosceles triangles or the like used for opening and closing doors of an elevator may be combined to form the tactile symbol.

Further, in addition to the two

tactile marks

8 and 9, braille portions 7 are formed on the pressing portions of the two

press button portions

3 and 4 so as to protrude from the peripheral surface. In order to avoid confusion of the visually impaired, the braille portion 7 is preferably provided at a position distant from the two

tactile marks

8 and 9. At least the braille portion should be arranged outside the rectangle circumscribing the tactile symbol, and more preferably, at a position spaced apart from the rectangle circumscribing the tactile symbol by 10mm or more. This can prevent confusion including erroneous confirmation and the like of the visually impaired.

In the present invention, since the two

tactile marks

8 and 9 and the braille portion 7 are arranged on the pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4, when the user touches the touch panel with the tactile marks or the braille portion and confirms that the push button portion is the push button portion to be operated, the user can immediately press the tactile marks or the braille portion, and thus the product is easy to use for visually impaired people. In the related art, an example in which both tactile marks and braille letters are arranged on the pressing part has not been found, and for example, in the case where the braille letters are arranged on the outer side of the pressing part of the push button part, after the user confirms that the push button part is the push button part to be operated by the braille letter part, the user needs to search for the pressing part of the push button part again, which is hardly convenient for visually impaired people.

The base surfaces 3B and 4B of the pressing portions of the two

pressing button portions

3 and 4 may be flat surfaces or curved surfaces. The base surfaces 3B and 4B of the pressing portions are surfaces that serve as bases from which the braille portion 7 or the two

tactile marks

8 and 9 protrude. Fig. 3(B) is a sectional view a-a of the case where the basal surface 3B of the pressing portion of the opening push button portion 3 is a flat surface, and fig. 3(c) is a sectional view a-a showing an example of the case where the basal surface 3B of the pressing portion is a gentle convex curved surface to improve operability or design. Both

tactile marks

8 and 9 are formed to protrude from the peripheral surface, i.e., the base surface 3B of the pressing portion. In the example of fig. 3(b), the display surface of the state display unit 5 may be a flat surface together with the base surfaces of the pressing portions of the two

pressing buttons

3 and 4, or may be a convex curved surface together with the base surfaces of the pressing portions of the two

pressing buttons

3 and 4 in the example of fig. 3 (c). This improves the design. Further, the base surfaces of the pressing portions of the two

pressing button portions

3 and 4 and the display surface of the state display portion 5 may be formed substantially on a single surface as a whole. This further improves the design.

The pressing portions of the opening push button portion 3 and the closing push button portion 4 are formed with a relatively large guide portion 10 circumferentially protruding from the peripheral surface. The guide portion 10 has a diameter at least equal to or larger than a smaller half of the width of the pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 in the vertical direction, and is formed around the two

tactile marks

8 and 9 so as to surround the two

tactile marks

8 and 9.

When the base surfaces of the pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 and the display surface of the status display portion 5 are formed as a single surface as a whole, on the one hand, the design of a healthy normal person is improved when viewed, and on the other hand, since there is no difference in height between the pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 and the display surface of the status display portion 5, it is not easy for a visually impaired person to determine by the sense of touch that there are two

push button portions

3 and 4 at a certain place of the toilet door switch. On the other hand, since the guide portion 10 on the pressing portion of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 is disposed in the convex shape on the pressing portion, the guide portion 10 on the pressing portion protrudes high with respect to the display surface of the status display portion 5, even a visually impaired person can recognize the guide portion 10 as a protruding portion by the sense of touch, and if the two

push button portions

3 and 4 are further provided in the protruding guide portion 10 or a portion surrounded by the guide portion 10, the recognition can be relatively easily performed. Since the guide portion 10 is present on the pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4, it is needless to say that the

push button portions

3 and 4 can be operated by pressing the guide portion 10 or the inside thereof.

Further, the guide part 10 is provided, so that the visually impaired can recognize the presence of the

tactile marks

8 and 9 and can confirm the positions of the

tactile marks

8 and 9. That is, this is because there is a high possibility that the

tactile marks

8 and 9 formed protruding inside the guide section 10 are touched even when the guide section 10 protruding on the pressing sections of the two

push button sections

3 and 4 is confirmed by the tactile sense.

In fig. 3, the guide portion 10 is a circumferential projection, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an elliptical shape, an oblong shape, a rounded quadrangle shape, or the like may be selected according to the shape of the pressing portion of the push button portion where the guide portion 10 is formed, or the shape of the tactile symbol surrounded by the guide portion 10. However, the guide portion 10 is preferably shaped without continuity of the meandering portion so as not to be recognized as a tactile mark by itself.

Further, a texture portion 12 such as a point texture portion in which convex dots lower than the protrusions of the tactile marks are repeatedly arranged in the upper, lower, left, and right directions, or a line texture portion in which convex lines lower than the protrusions of the tactile marks are repeatedly arranged in parallel may be arranged at a portion where the protrusions of the

tactile marks

8 and 9 are not present inside the guide portion 10. The size, height, or interval of the dots constituting the tactile sensation portion 12, and the thickness or height of the lines need only be set so that the fingertip can contact the bottom surface when the fingertip touches the tactile sensation portion 12. This may make it easier to confirm the presence or shape of the tactile symbol.

The opening push button portion 3 and the closing push button portion 4 are provided with a light emitting portion 6, and when an LED or the like, not shown, disposed on the rear surface side of the pressing portion emits light, the light emitting portion 6 transmits light from the LED or the like to emit light. In order to make it easy to visually recognize the opening and closing during light emission, the light emitting unit 6 is arranged such that two isosceles triangles are combined and opposed to each other in different directions. In fig. 3(b) and 3(c), a circuit board to which an LED is fixed, a switch that is opened and closed by an operation of the push button portion, a return spring of the push button portion, and the like are disposed on the rear surface of the push button portion 3, but are not illustrated. Fig. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the light-emitting portion 6 that transmits light and the non-light-emitting portion that does not transmit light, and the configuration is not limited as long as these functions can be achieved. For example, the entire light-emitting portion may be formed of a light-transmitting resin, and only the non-light-emitting portion may be coated or printed so as not to transmit light therethrough, or the non-light-emitting portion may be formed of a non-light-transmitting resin and the light-transmitting resin may be attached to the light-emitting portion.

In this way, the light emitting portions 6 having different shapes are provided in the opening push button portion 3 and the closing push button portion 4, and the shapes of the light emitting portions 6 for opening and closing can be visually and easily recognized with high contrast by only emitting the light emitting portions 6 of the operable push button portions depending on the situation, so that even a person with low eyesight (a socially weak person) can relatively easily operate the operation.

The

tactile marks

8 and 9 on the two

push button portions

3 and 4 are formed on the light emitting portion 6 so as to protrude in such a manner that the entire tactile marks are included in the light emitting portion 6, and the

tactile marks

8 and 9 also serve as a part of the light emitting portion 6 that emits light by transmitting light from an LED or the like. Although the function as the tactile symbol is not required to emit light, the

tactile symbols

8 and 9 and the light emitting unit 6 are disposed at the center portions of the

push button units

3 and 4, are members for identifying whether the disposed push button units are open or closed depending on the shape, and need to be at least a certain size or more, and may be disposed so as to overlap each other depending on the situation. Although the

tactile marks

8 and 9 and the light emitting parts 6 can be made to match in shape and size, the

tactile marks

8 and 9 that are easily recognized by the sense of touch do not always match in shape with the two light emitting parts 6 that are easily recognized by the eyes, and it is often preferable to make one of the light emitting parts 6 have a large area. Therefore, it is preferable that all of the

tactile marks

8 and 9 be included in the light emitting portion 6, or at least a part of the

tactile marks

8 and 9 be included in the light emitting portion 6.

The size and shape of the

tactile marks

8 and 9 will be described below with reference to fig. 4, taking the tactile mark 8 for opening as an example, but the tactile mark 9 for closing may be considered similarly. When the size of the tactile symbol is represented by a rectangle circumscribed as shown in fig. 4(a), the length D of the long side of the rectangle is preferably 10mm to 60 mm. More preferably, the thickness is set to 15mm to 60 mm. The length of the short side is preferably 10mm or more, and preferably 15mm or more as much as possible. When the length D of the long side exceeds 60mm, it becomes difficult to confirm the whole tactile symbol, but in many cases, when the tactile symbol is set to be large in the above range, even a person with little tactile experience can easily feel the tactile symbol. Preferably, the length of the straight line constituting the tactile mark is 5mm or more, and if the length is shorter than the data, it is difficult to identify the straight line. Although the guide part 10 is formed so as to surround the tactile symbol 8, a gap of at least 1mm or more, preferably 2mm or more, is left between the upper surface of the guide part 10 and the upper surface of the tactile symbol 8 at a position closest to the tactile symbol 8.

Fig. 4(B) is a cross-sectional view B-B, and the height Ha of the tactile mark 8 from the peripheral surface is set to 0.3mm or more and 1.5mm or less, and more preferably 0.5mm or more and 1.3mm or less. The width Wa of the haptic portion above the tactile mark 8 is set to 0.5mm or more and 1.5mm or less, and more preferably, 0.5mm or more and 1.3mm or less. The cross-sectional shape may be rectangular, trapezoidal, or the like, but is not limited thereto as long as the height from the peripheral surface and the width of the upper portion are within the above ranges. In addition, even when the peripheral surface is not a flat surface but a curved surface, the height from the curved surface may be within the above range.

Similarly, the height Hb of the guide part 10 from the peripheral surface is preferably set to 0.3mm or more and 1.5mm or less, and more preferably 0.5mm or more and 1.3mm or less. The cross-sectional shape may be a rectangle, a trapezoid, or the like, but is not limited thereto as long as the height from the peripheral surface and the width of the upper portion are within the above ranges. In addition, even when the peripheral surface is not a flat surface but a curved surface, the height from the curved surface may be within the above range.

Next, the state display unit 5 of the toilet exterior door opening/closing switch 1 and the toilet interior door opening/closing switch 2 will be described with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5(a) and 5(b) are views illustrating the display of the toilet room exterior door opening/closing switch 1. Fig. 5(a) shows a state in which the toilet is in use, and the state display unit 5 emits light to show that the toilet is in use, and at this time, the opening and

closing push buttons

3 and 4 are not operated, and therefore, the light emitting units 6 on both the

push buttons

3 and 4 are in a non-light emitting state. Fig. 5(b) shows a state in which the toilet is empty and usable, and the state display unit 5 emits light to the characters of the empty room to show that the toilet is empty, and at this time, the opening push button unit 3 can be operated to open the door, so that the light emitting unit 6 on the opening push button unit 3 emits light, and at the same time, the closing push button unit 4 cannot be operated, so that the light emitting unit 6 on the closing push button unit 4 does not emit light. As described above, in the toilet room exterior door opening/closing switch 1 of the present invention, when the toilet room is a usable empty room, not only the characters in use of the state display unit 5 are made non-luminous, but also the characters of the empty room are made luminous and displayed, so that the user can use the toilet room by operating the luminous opening push button unit 3 to open the door with caution.

In contrast, in the conventional toilet external door opening/closing switch, when the same toilet as in fig. 5(b) is in a usable empty room, only the characters in use of the state display unit 5 are made non-luminous, and the characters in the empty room cannot be made luminous. Therefore, the character in use is either in a state of being invisible or hardly visible in an unlit state. Although a user who is familiar with the toilet is aware of the presence of the empty room when the light emitting portion 6 of the opening push button portion 3 is emitting light, if this is not the case, the presence of the empty room is determined to be lost, but by displaying the state display portion 5 not only in use but also clearly in the empty room as in the present invention, the user can use it with ease even for the first time.

Fig. 5(c) and 5(d) are views for explaining the display of the door opening/closing switch 2 for the toilet room. Fig. 5(c) shows a state in which the electronic lock 25 of the door 2 is locked, and in this case, when the state display unit 5 displays that the door 2 is locked by emitting a character in the lock, the electronic lock 25 can be unlocked and the door 2 can be opened by operating the opening push button unit 3, so that the light emitting unit on the opening push button unit 3 emits light, and the light emitting unit 6 on the closing push button unit 4 does not emit light because the closing push button unit 4 cannot be operated. Fig. 5(d) shows a state in which the toilet is unlocked and the state display unit 5 displays that the toilet is unlocked by lighting the unlocked character. At this time, the door can be opened by operating the opening push button portion 3, and therefore the light emitting portion 6 on the opening push button portion 3 emits light. On the other hand, the door may be locked by operating the closing push button unit 4 depending on the condition, and the light emitting unit on the closing push button unit 4 may emit light at this time. As described above, in the toilet room door opening and closing switch 2 according to the present invention, not only is the character in the locked state made non-luminous when unlocked, but also the character in the unlocked state is made luminous and displayed on the state display unit 5, so that the user can use the toilet room by operating the luminous closing push button unit 4 to lock the door without forgetting to lock the door.

In contrast, in the conventional toilet room door opening/closing switch 2, in the case of fig. 5(d), only characters in the locked state of the state display unit 5 are set to a non-light-emitting state, and characters in the unlocked state cannot be light-emitted. Therefore, the locked characters are invisible or hardly visible in a state where the characters are not emitting light. Although a user who is familiar with the toilet is aware that the toilet is unlocked when the light emitting unit 6 of the closing push button unit 3 is emitting light, it is difficult to determine whether or not the toilet is unlocked before the habit, however, as in the present invention, the state display unit is displayed not only in the locked state but also in the unlocked state as clearly displayed, so that even a user who is first used can use the toilet without forgetting to lock the toilet and without worry.

Next, the operation of the automatic door system for a toilet and the language guidance method will be described with reference to the flowcharts of fig. 6 to 8.

In fig. 6, first, it is determined whether or not the toilet 21 is in use (step 1), and when the toilet 21 is in use, it is determined whether or not the user approaches the vicinity of the toilet outdoor door opening/closing switch 1 and whether or not the outdoor proximity sensor 32 is ON (ON) (step 2), and when the proximity sensor is ON, for example, a voice (1) "in use" is sounded as a guidance message for communicating to the user that the toilet is in use (step 3). In the conventional automatic door system for a toilet, for example, there is a system in which a guidance message notifying a user that the toilet is in use is sounded when the user operates the opening push button portion 3, but if, for example, a visually impaired person knows that the toilet is in use before finding and operating the opening push button portion 3, the burden can be greatly reduced.

In the above example, the voice message is uttered when the proximity of the user is detected by the outdoor proximity sensor 32 when the toilet is in use, but the voice message notifying that the toilet is in use may be repeatedly uttered at predetermined time intervals when the toilet is in use without using the outdoor proximity sensor 32.

In addition, when a passer other than a toilet user passes near the toilet outdoor door opening/closing switch and continues detection for a predetermined time after the user is detected by the outdoor proximity sensor 23, voice information notifying that the toilet is in use may be sounded. This makes it possible to notify only a person who actually wants to use the toilet that the toilet is in use, and therefore, it is possible to suppress excessive sound emission.

Further, it is determined whether or not the toilet 21 is in use (step 1), and if the toilet 21 is in an empty room, it is determined whether or not the user approaches the vicinity of the toilet outdoor door opening/closing switch 1 to turn on the outdoor proximity sensor 32 (step 4), and if the proximity sensor 32 is turned on, for example, a voice (2) "when the upper button is pressed, the door is opened" is sounded as a guidance message for promoting the operation of the opening push button portion 3 (step 5). Although a guidance message such as "the door is opened when the door opening button is pressed" has been used in the conventional automatic door system for a toilet, for example, it is not always effective for a visually impaired person who cannot visually confirm the opening of the door opening button portion 3. In contrast, in the example of the voice (2), since the position or direction of the button to be operated can be notified, the burden on the visually impaired can be reduced.

In addition, as the guidance message, for example, a voice (2) "when a flashing button on the upper side is pressed, the door is opened" may be made to sound. In this example, in addition to the position and direction of the button to be operated, it is possible to communicate to the user that the button to be operated is emitting light, and therefore the burden on the low-vision person who is difficult to confirm the characters can be reduced.

When the opening push button portion is operated and turned on (step 6) by sounding a voice (2) that is a guidance message for promoting the operation of the opening push button portion 3 (step 5), the door 22 is opened (step 8) after sounding a "notice" sound (step 7) that is a guidance message for reminding that the door is about to open (step 3).

In fig. 7, after the door is opened (step 8), for example, a voice (4) "the door is opened and please enter the toilet from the front right door" is sounded as a guidance message for promoting the movement to the toilet (step 9). Although a conventional automatic door system for a toilet has been used with a guidance message such as "door open and request entry into toilet", it is not necessarily a highly effective guidance message for visually confirming the direction of the door 22 to the left and right of the outdoor door opening/closing switch 1 for a toilet. In contrast, in the example of the above-described voice (4), the position and direction of the opened door 22 are notified, so that the burden on the visually impaired person can be reduced. Then, the user moves into the toilet, determines whether or not the proximity sensor 33 for the room is on while the user reaches the vicinity of the door opening/closing switch 2 for the toilet room interior (step 10), and if the proximity sensor 33 is on, causes a guidance message such as a voice (5) to promote the operation of the closing push button part 4 to sound "when the lower button is pressed, the door is closed" or "when the lower flashing button is pressed, the door is closed" (step 11). According to these guidance messages, the burden on the visually impaired or low-vision person can be reduced as in the case of the voice (2).

When the voice (5) that is a guidance message for promoting the operation of the closing push button unit 4 is uttered (step 11) and the closing push button unit 4 is operated to turn on (step 12), for example, the voice (6) is sounded as a guidance message for warning that the door is about to be closed and that the warning is given (step 13), and then the door 22 is closed (step 14). When the closing operation of the door 22 is completed, for example, a voice (7) "door locked" is sounded as a guidance message notifying that the electronic lock 25 is locked and the door 22 is locked (step 15), and the toilet is used (step 16).

The indoor-side proximity sensor 33 may be omitted. In this case, for example, when a user reaches the vicinity of the door opening/closing switch 2 for the toilet room after a predetermined time has elapsed after the voice (4) "the door is opened and the toilet room is requested to be entered" is sounded, the voice (5) "the door is closed when the lower button is pressed", or "the door is closed when the lower flashing button is pressed" is sounded.

In fig. 8, when the toilet room is in use (step 16), it is determined whether or not the user has finished using the toilet room and approached the vicinity of the toilet room indoor door opening/closing switch 2 and the indoor proximity sensor 33 is turned on (step 17), and when the proximity sensor 33 is turned on, for example, a voice (2) "when the upper button is pressed, the door is opened", or "when the upper flashing button is pressed, the door is opened" is sounded (step 18). When the open push button portion 3 of the door opening/closing switch 2 for a toilet room is operated to be turned on (step 19), for example, after a voice (3) "open the door immediately before" and please note "is sounded as a guidance message for reminding the user (step 20), the door 22 is opened (step 21).

After the door 22 has been activated (step 21), a voice (8) "door opened, please go out from the right-hand door, and please close the door" sound, for example, as a guidance message to facilitate movement out of the toilet (step 22). Although the conventional automatic door system for a toilet has been used with a guidance message such as "door open, request to go outside, and close door", for example, it is not always a highly effective guidance message for visually handicapped people who cannot go to the left and right of the opening and closing switch 1 for the toilet exterior door 22. In contrast, in the example of the above-described voice (8), the position and direction of the opened door 22 are notified, so that the burden on the visually impaired can be reduced.

After sounding (step 22) a voice (8) "the door is opened, please go outside the right-hand door and close the door", for example, a voice (5) "the door is closed when the lower button is pressed, or" the door is closed when the lower flashing button is pressed "is sounded to prompt the user to perform a guidance message promoting the operation of the closing push button part 4 of the toilet exterior door opening and closing switch 1, waiting for a predetermined time (step 23) and at a timing when the user goes almost outside the toilet. Although this guidance message can be sounded when the outdoor proximity sensor 32 detects a user who has gone outside, the user who has gone outside may forget to close the door and may not be approaching the toilet outdoor door opening/closing switch 1, and therefore it is preferable to sound the voice (5) after waiting for a predetermined time after sounding the voice (8). Instead of the voice (5), a guidance message that strongly promotes the operation, such as "please press the lower button to close the door" or "please press the flashing lower button to close the door" may be sounded.

After the guidance message of the voice (5) is uttered, when the closing push button part 4 of the toilet outside door opening/closing switch 1 is operated and opened (step 25), for example, the voice (6) is "closed immediately before" and the attention is "uttered as the guidance message for warning (step 26), the door 22 is closed (step 27), and the toilet 21 is left empty (step 28).

Although the voice guidance device has been described as a device that sounds a guidance message with one voice in the above description, the voice guidance device is not limited to this, and guidance messages in a plurality of languages, including two or more languages, may be sequentially spoken. Further, the number of languages in which the utterance is made may also be changed according to the kind of the guidance message. Further, the number of repetitions of the guidance message or the time interval when the guidance message is repeated may be changed according to the kind of the guidance message.

(example 2)

Embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 only in the configuration of the toilet door opening/

closing switches

1 and 2, particularly the configuration of the guide portion 10 and the portions related thereto, and therefore, only the different configuration will be described, and detailed description of other portions having the same configuration as embodiment 1 will be omitted.

The structure of the push button portion of the door opening/closing switch for a

toilet

1, 2 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 9, taking the door opening/closing switch for a toilet outside as an example.

In fig. 9(a), the opening push button portion 3 and the closing push button portion 4 are disposed so that the state display portion 5 is provided at the center, and a relatively large guide portion 10 protruding in a cylindrical shape from the peripheral surface, that is, the base surface of the pressing portion is formed in the vicinity of the center of the pressing portion of the two

push button portions

3 and 4. Although the guide portion 10 is not formed in a circular shape but formed in a cylindrical shape, unlike embodiment 1, even in the case where the base surfaces of the pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 and the display surface of the status display portion 5 are formed in one surface as a whole, the columnar guide portion 10 on the pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 is in a state of protruding relatively high with respect to the display surface of the status display portion 5, and therefore even a visually impaired person can relatively easily recognize the two

push button portions

3 and 4 as the portion of the guide portion 10 protruding by the sense of touch, which is unchanged from embodiment 1.

In the vicinity of the center of the pressing part of the two

push button parts

3 and 4,

tactile marks

8 and 9 having different shapes for opening and closing are formed so as to protrude from the peripheral surface, that is, the upper surface of the guide part 10. That is, although the peripheral surfaces of the

tactile marks

8 and 9 are the upper surfaces of the guide portions 10 protruding from the base surfaces of the pressing portions of the two

press button portions

3 and 4, and are formed so as to protrude from the upper surfaces of the guide portions, unlike embodiment 1, when the visually impaired person confirms the guide portions 10 by tactile sensation, the

tactile marks

8 and 9 protruding from the upper surfaces of the guide portions 10 are likely to be naturally touched, and therefore the effect of confirming the presence and position of the

tactile marks

8 and 9 can be expected to be the same as embodiment 1.

The light emitting section 6 is also formed on the upper surface of the cylindrical guide section 10 protruding from the base surface of the pressing section, and is thus easily manufactured.

The diameter of the guide portion 10 is set to be at least half of the smaller one of the vertical and horizontal widths of the pressing portions of the two

press button portions

3 and 4, and is formed to have a size including the two

tactile marks

8 and 9. The shape of the guide 10 is not limited to a cylinder, and may be a column shape having a bottom surface in the shape of an ellipse, an oval, a square, or the like.

(example 3)

In example 3, only the structures of the toilet door opening/

closing switches

1 and 2 are different from those of example 1, and therefore, only the different portions will be described, and detailed description of the other portions having the same structure as that of example 1 will be omitted.

The structure of the push button portions of the toilet door opening/

closing switches

1 and 2 according to embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 10, taking the toilet exterior door opening/closing switch 1 as an example. Fig. 10 is a front view and a left side view of the toilet room exterior door opening and closing switch 1 according to embodiment 3, but the toilet room interior door opening and closing switch 2 according to embodiment 3 is also the same as fig. 10 except for characters displayed on the state display unit 5.

In fig. 10, the opening push button portion 3 and the closing push button portion 4 are disposed so that the state display portion 5 is provided in the middle. Although the

push button portions

3 and 4 of embodiment 3 are different from those of embodiment 1 or embodiment 2 in that the guide portions 10 protruding in a circumferential or cylindrical shape are not provided on the push portions, the entire push portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 are formed so as to protrude from the display surface of the status display portion 5 as shown in the left side view, and therefore, the visually impaired person does not change in that the visually impaired person can easily confirm the two

push button portions

3 and 4 by the sense of touch.

A light emitting portion 6 that emits light by passing light when an LED or the like, not shown, disposed on the rear surface side of the pressing portion emits light is provided near the center of the pressing portion of the two

pressing button portions

3 and 4. Since the light emitting portion 6 of the opening push button portion 3 is formed by two arrow marks facing outward and the light emitting portion 6 of the closing push button portion 4 is formed by two arrow marks facing inward, the contrast of the light emitting portion 6 is high when emitting light, and therefore, not only healthy normal persons but also low-vision persons can easily visually recognize the opening and closing. Further, as shown in fig. 10, since it is easy to recognize when two arrow marks are separated by a small gap, the gap is at least 5mm or more, and preferably 10mm or more as much as possible. The line of the arrow mark emitting light is thick to a certain extent or more, and is easily visible to a low-vision person, and specifically, it is only necessary to be 5mm or more. Further, although the shape of the light emitting portion 6 is not limited to two arrow marks, the combination of two arrow marks does not require a large area in addition to being easy to understand, and therefore, the size and the arrangement freedom of other characters, braille portions, tactile marks, and the like are improved, and optimization of each is easy.

Although the description has been given of the manner in which the two arrow marks emit light, conversely, the two arrow marks may be opaque, for example, black, and the periphery of the arrow marks may be the light emitting portion 6. In addition, one of the light emitting portions 6 of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 may be defined as the light emitting portion 6 having two arrow marks, and the other may be defined as the light emitting portion 6 having two arrow marks around the other.

The

tactile marks

8 and 9 are formed on the pressing portions of the opening push button portion 3 and the closing push button portion 4, respectively, so as to protrude from the peripheral surfaces of the respective tactile marks. Although the

tactile marks

8 and 9 have the same shape as in examples 1 and 2, the

tactile marks

8 and 9 are not included in the light emitting unit 6 and are arranged on the lower side slightly apart from the light emitting unit 6, unlike in examples 1 and 2. However, the visually impaired person may touch the

tactile marks

8 and 9 with the fingertips and confirm the shape, and therefore the

tactile marks

8 and 9 do not need to be included in the light emitting unit 6. Since a healthy normal person or a low-vision person can recognize the opening and

closing push buttons

3 and 4 by the shape of the light emitting portion 6 having a high contrast, and a visually impaired person can recognize the opening and

closing push buttons

3 and 4 by touching the

tactile marks

8 and 9 with the fingertips, the

tactile marks

8 and 9 do not need to be recognized by visual observation, but are easily understood when not visible, and therefore, it is preferable that the

tactile marks

8 and 9 are formed in the same color as the background color. Further, even if the

tactile marks

8 and 9 are not included in the light emitting unit 6, since the

tactile marks

8 and 9 are arranged on the pressing portions of the two

push button units

3 and 4, it is not necessary to search for the pressing portions after the tactile marks identify whether the push button units are to be opened or closed, and the push button units can be operated by directly pressing the tactile marks or their surroundings, which is the same as in

embodiments

1 and 2. The size and shape of the

tactile marks

8 and 9 may be the same as those of embodiment 1.

The pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 are formed with braille portions 7 so as to protrude from the peripheral surfaces thereof in addition to the

tactile marks

8 and 9. In order to prevent confusion of the visually impaired, the braille portion 7 may be disposed at a position separated by 10mm or more from the rectangle circumscribing the

tactile marks

8 and 9. Further, preferably, the braille portion 7 and the

tactile marks

8 and 9 are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the vertical direction as compared with the left and right. Although

tactile marks

8 and 9 are arranged below light emitting portion 6 and braille portion 7 is arranged above light emitting portion 6 in fig. 10,

tactile marks

8 and 9 may be arranged above light emitting portion 6 and braille portion 7 may be arranged below light emitting portion 6 in the opposite manner. Further, since the braille portion 7 is arranged on the pressing portions of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 in embodiment 3, it is not necessary to search for the pressing portion after the braille portion 7 identifies whether the push button portion is for opening or closing, and the push button portion can be operated by directly pressing the braille portion or its periphery, which is the same as embodiment 1 and embodiment 2.

In example 3, the guide portion 10 protruding in a circumferential or cylindrical shape is not provided on the pressing portion, and it is not necessary to provide a large area for the two arrow marks of the light emitting portion 6 in addition to having a degree of freedom in the arrangement of the light emitting portion 6,

tactile marks

8 and 9, braille portion 7, characters, and the like as a whole, so that the character arrangement such as "OPEN" and "OPEN" can be made larger than in example 1 or example 2, and can be easily seen even by a low-vision person. In order to make the characters more easily visible, the characters may be a part of the light emitting portion and may be caused to emit light. Conversely, the characters may be opaque, for example, black, and the surroundings of the characters may be the light emitting portion 6. Further, the light emitting colors of the light emitting portions 6 of the two

push button portions

3 and 4 may be different from each other, so that the buttons can be easily recognized.

Description of the symbols

1: the toilet is an outdoor door opening and closing switch;

2: a door opening and closing switch for the toilet room;

3: a push button for opening;

3B: a pressing part base surface of the pressing button part for opening;

4: a closing push button part;

4B: a pressing part base surface of the pressing button part for closing;

5: a state display unit;

6: a light emitting section;

7: a Braille section;

8: a tactile sign for opening;

9: a tactile indicium for closure;

10: a guide section;

11: a frame portion;

12: a texture part;

21: a toilet;

22: a door;

23: a drive device;

24: a controller for driving;

25: an electronic lock;

26: an electronic lock controller;

27: operating a guidance controller;

28: a voice guidance device;

29. 29a, 29 b: a speaker;

30: a storage unit;

31: a voice controller;

32: an outdoor proximity sensor;

33: an indoor proximity sensor;

34: an emergency call switch;

35: safe light.

Claims

1. A toilet door opening/closing switch is characterized in that,

a status display part and two push buttons for opening and closing,

tactile marks having different shapes corresponding to the opening and closing are formed on the pressing portions of the two pressing button portions in a convex shape from the peripheral surface,

different braille characters corresponding to the opening and closing are formed in a convex shape from the peripheral surface on the pressing part of each of the two pressing button parts,

a light emitting portion corresponding to the opening and closing and formed by two arrow marks facing outward and inward is disposed near the center of each of the two push button portions,

the tactile symbol is formed in a gap of the two arrows on one of lower or upper sides of the two arrow marks, and the braille is formed in a gap of the two arrows on the other of lower or upper sides of the two arrow marks.

2. The opening and closing switch for a toilet door according to claim 1,

the two arrows of one of the light emitting portions configured by the two arrow marks facing outward and inward corresponding to the opening and closing are designated as light emitting portions, and the peripheries of the two arrow marks of the other light emitting portion are light emitting portions.

3. The opening and closing switch for a toilet door according to claim 1,

different characters corresponding to the opening and closing are formed on the upper and lower end portions of the pressing portion of each of the two pressing buttons.

4. The opening and closing switch for a toilet door according to claim 3,

characters corresponding to the opening and closing are "open" and "closed" and are disposed on the upper end portions of the pressing portions of the two pressing button portions.

5. The opening and closing switch for a toilet door according to claim 3,

characters corresponding to the opening and closing characters are "OPEN" and "CLOSE" disposed at the lower end portions of the pressing portions of the two pressing button portions.

6. The opening and closing switch for a toilet door according to claim 3,

characters in the characters corresponding to the opening and closing are light emitting parts, or the peripheries of the characters are light emitting parts.

7. The opening and closing switch for a toilet door according to claim 1,

the braille is arranged at a position spaced apart by 10mm or more from a rectangle circumscribing the tactile symbol.

8. The toilet door opening/closing switch according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the entire pressing portion of each of the two pressing button portions protrudes from the display of the state display portion.

9. An automatic door system for a toilet, comprising:

a door configured at an entrance and an exit of the toilet;

two toilet door opening/closing switches that are disposed outdoors and indoors in the toilet, respectively, and that operate to open and close the doors;

a driving controller for controlling the driving device to open and close the doors based on an opening signal and a closing signal from the two toilet door opening and closing switches,

the toilet door opening/closing switch is provided with a state display part and two push buttons for opening and closing, and tactile marks having different shapes corresponding to the opening and closing are formed on the pressing parts of the two push buttons in a protruding manner from the peripheral surface,

10. The automatic door system for toilets according to claim 9,

light emitting parts are further arranged on the two push button parts,

the toilet control device further includes an operation guide controller that promotes the operation of the user by causing only a light emitting portion of the push button portion operable by the user to emit light in accordance with a state of the toilet.

11. The automatic door system for toilets according to claim 10,

further comprises a voice guidance device connected to the operation guidance controller,

the voice guidance device sends a guidance message to the user according to the state of the toilet.

12. The automatic door system for toilets according to claim 11,

when the toilet is empty, the voice guidance device issues a guidance message for notifying the user of the position of the opening push button portion of the toilet door opening/closing switch outdoors and promoting the user to operate the opening push button portion.

13. The automatic door system for toilets according to claim 11,

when the user operates the opening push button part and opens the door by the control of the driving controller when the toilet is in a vacant room, the voice guidance device issues a guidance message informing the position of the door and promoting the user to enter the toilet through the door.

14. The automatic door system for toilets according to claim 11,

when the toilet is used indoors, the voice guidance device repeatedly sends out guidance messages informing that the toilet is in use at predetermined time intervals.

15. The automatic door system for toilets according to claim 11,

and a proximity sensor for detecting a person approaching the toilet door opening/closing switch outdoors,

when the proximity sensor detects the proximity person in use of a person in the toilet in the room, the voice guidance device issues a guidance message notifying that the toilet is in use.

16. The automatic door system for toilets according to claim 15, wherein,

when the proximity sensor detects the proximity person for a predetermined time, the voice guidance apparatus issues a guidance message notifying that the toilet is in use.