1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to children's bathing areas and, more specifically, to an adjustable bathtub for bathing a child that is adaptable to the changing dimensions of a growing child.
2. Background of the Invention
Bathing systems for children are well known in the art. Among such bathing systems are inflatable bathtubs, as well as fully collapsible bathtubs relying on a preexisting full size bathtub for support. Such collapsible bathtubs are operative to restrict the area of the full size bathtub commensurate with the relative size of the child.
The present invention is directed to children's bathing areas and, more specifically, to reconfigurable children's bathing areas comprised of two or more components that cooperate to define a bathing area. The invention generally includes two or more complimentary sections adapted to be mounted to one another to define a sealed fluid holding area. More generally, the invention utilizes the concept that multiple complementary components can hold a larger volume of fluid than the sum of the individual fluid holding volumes of the components.
The invention also makes available the opportunity to reconfigure the children's bathing area not only for disassembly and storage, but also to increase the bathing area as the child grows. To accomplish this reconfigurable functionality, one of the bathtub components includes a sealing surface that is adapted to interface with one of a plurality of complimentary sealing surfaces of a second bathtub component. For example, the first bathtub component may include a groove having a gasket seated therein, while a second bathtub component includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs. In such an exemplary embodiment, the ribs are laterally spaced so that by changing which rib interfaces with the gasket, the length (and resulting volume) of the bathing area may be changed.
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below to encompass bathing areas for children. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiment discussed below is exemplary in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, for clarity and precision, the exemplary embodiment as discussed below may include optional steps, methods, apparatuses, and/or features that one of ordinary skill should recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the scope of the present invention.
Referencing
As shown in
Referring to
The first bathtub section 12 is substantially open at one end and includes a floor 64 transitioning into a sidewall 66 that includes a flange 68. The floor 64 may be contoured to accommodate the bottom features of a child, which might include a depression 70 interposing a rear pad 72 and a hump 74. An underneath surface 76 of the floor 66 and sidewall 62 includes a series of parallel ribs 78-88. The underside of the hump 68 provides a concavity that at least partially protects the ribs 78-88, however, it is not required that the ribs be protected by a concave topography or other protective feature.
Referencing
Concurrent with the alignment of the rib 78, 82, 86 and gasket 62, the spacer 60 is compression mounted within one of three gaps 92, 94, 96 on the underside 76 of the floor. The interaction between the spacer 60 and walls defining each gap 92, 94, 96 is operative to provide greater stability between the sections 12, 14 in the lengthwise direction when subjected to longitudinal forces attempting to increase or decrease the length of the bathtub 10 while the sections 12, 14 are mounted to one another.
The length of the bathtub 10 may be adjusted by vertically displacing the first section 12 from the second section 14 and aligning different corresponding features. For example, to provide a shorter length bathtub 10, the rib 86 would be aligned and received within the groove 90 of the gasket 62, while the spacer would occupy the gap 96. In contrast, to provide a longer length bathtub 10, the rib 82 would be aligned and received within the groove 90 of the gasket 62, while the spacer 60 would interpose adjacent ribs 84, 86 and occupy the gap 94. In sum, the exemplary embodiment provides three length modifications, however, it is within the scope of the invention that two or more modifications could be accommodated, such as by including additional ribs on the underside of the first bathtub section 12. Those of ordinary skill will readily understand how to modify the exemplary bathtub 10 to fabricate these obvious alternatives.
Referring to
The fastener assembly 100 may also be operative to mount the cross member 20 to the first bathtub section 12. U-shaped ends 110 of the cross member 20 are adapted to accommodate the handles 106 so that rotation of the handles 106 to facilitate compression of the sections 12, 14 is also operative to compress and mount the cross member 20 between the handle 106 and first bathtub section 12. It is also within the scope of the invention that the sections 12, 14 be compressed by an action other than actuation of the handles 106.
To disassemble or reconfigure the bathtub 10, the handles 106 are simply rotated to decrease the compressive forces between the bathtub sections 12, 14. Thereafter, the first bathtub section 12 is vertically repositioned to disengage the second bathtub section 14. If the user simply desires to reconfigure the fluid holding area 16, the first bathtub section 12 is laterally repositioned and vertically lowered so that the corresponding features of the sections 12, 14 will interact upon compression to provide a sealed fluidic interface operative to hold a fluid body. This process may be repeated as desired until the desired bathing area is achieved.
It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a first bathtub section that includes a plurality of sealing surfaces incrementally spaced, and a second bathtub section that includes one or more corresponding sealing surfaces adapted to engage at least one of the sealing surfaces of the first bathtub section to provide a sealed fluidic interface between the bathtub sections and enable holding of a fluid body.
Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the invention contained herein is not limited to this precise embodiment and that changes may be made to the exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiment set forth herein are to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20060143819 A1 | Jul 2006 | US |