Patent Application
20200390292
Various embodiments described herein relate generally to bath toy. More specifically, various embodiments herein relate to bath toy that supports bottles of fluid (e.g., shampoo, bath wash, etc.) or other accessories.
Young children who take baths often like to have toys in the bath with them. They also need access to accessories such as soap, shampoo, brushes, etc. Given the shape of a bathtub, the amount of space available to support toys and accessories is quite limited.
Various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
All drawings are to scale.
In the following description, various embodiments will be illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. References to various embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. While specific implementations and other details are discussed, it is to be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed subject matter.
Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” when utilized means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. The term “a” means “one or more” unless the context clearly indicates a single element. The term “about” when used in connection with a numerical value means a variation consistent with the range of error in equipment used to measure the values, for which ±5% may be expected. “First,” “second,” etc., re labels to distinguish components or blocks of otherwise similar names, but does not imply any sequence or numerical limitation.
As used herein, the term “front”, “rear”, “left,” “right,” “top” and “bottom” or other terms of direction, orientation, and/or relative position are used for explanation and convenience to refer to certain features of this disclosure. However, these terms are not absolute, and should not be construed as limiting this disclosure.
Shapes as described herein are not considered absolute. As is known in the art, surfaces often have waves, protrusions, holes, recesses, etc. to provide rigidity, strength and functionality. All recitations of shape (e.g., cylindrical) herein are to be considered modified by “substantially” regardless of whether expressly stated in the disclosure or claims, and specifically accounts for variations in the art as noted above.
Referring now to
Toy body 102 may be in the overall shape of an animal with a head 108 and a torso 110. A bottom surface of body 102 rests on a top support surface of base 104. Body 102 may be buoyant so body 102 floats on water, preferably with at least 80% of body 102 above the water line, and particularly with at least 90% of body 102 above the water line. This particular degree of buoyancy will allow body 102 when in water to emulate an animal floating in the water for purposes of use as a toy.
Body 102 has a cavity 112 in the bottom side of torso 110 and extends partially through torso 110. In the figures cavity 112 is shown as having an oval cross section in the horizontal plane, but the invention is not limited thereto and other shapes could be used.
Body 102 also has holes 114 that extend from the top of the torso 110 into the cavity 112; four holes are shown, although the invention is not so limited and any number of holes may be used. Each of the holes in combination with cavity 112 define an open pathway to insert an accessory, and as discussed in more detail below accessories such as bottles 150 may be inserted into holes 114 and through cavity 112; for brevity only bottles 150 are further discussed herein, although the invention is not limited to bottles and other accessories could be used. Holes 114 are shown having a common shape and size, but the invention is not limited thereto and other shapes or mixture of shapes could be used.
Support base 104 acts as a docking station for body 102. Support base 104 may have legs 116 extending downward at or near the edges to support the holder on a support surface (not shown), such as a bathtub or table. The legs define a clearance 118 there between so that water does not accumulate beneath support base 104. If feet 106 are present, they may be visible in a side external view through the clearance 118, thus complementing the overall animal shape of the body 102. As discussed in more detail below, base 104 may have suction cups or other types of attachment to secure base 104 to the support surface.
A first projection 120 shown as a uniform wall extends upward from a top surface of base 104. First projection 120 has a size and shape to match a lower portion of cavity 112 of body 102, such that body 102 can be mounted onto base 104 by aligning cavity 112 with first projection 120. Cavity 112 and first projection 120 may have sizes and shapes to collectively form a snug fit (a friction lock) to provide a measure of resistance against separation, particularly by a lateral force (e.g., a child swinging their arms in the bath tub and strikes the body 102). However, the invention is not so limited, and the fit may be loose, or simply the effect of gravity.
In the above embodiment, first projection 120 forms a contiguous wall. However, the invention is not so limited. First projection 120 may have holes, or even complete openings (such that first projection 120 may not fully define a closed area) that may prevent fluid from accumulating. First projection 120 may be a single projection (e.g., a single contiguous wall), or defined by several projections, either contiguous or spaced apart. Some or all of the first projection 120 may mate with the walls that define cavity 120. First projection 120 may include a bevel to facilitate attachment of toy body 102.
One or more second projections 122 shown as uniform walls extend upward from the top facing surface of base 104. Each second projection 122 is aligned with, and may have a size and shape to match, holes 114 of body 102, such that when body 102 is mounted onto base 104 and a bottle or other accessory is placed into a hole 114 the second projection acts as a receiving area to receive a base of the bottle 150. The walls of each of holes 114 and its aligned second projection 112 collectively define an accessory holding area.
In the above embodiment, each second projection 122 forms a contiguous wall. However, the invention is not so limited. Second projection 122 may have holes, or even complete openings (such that second projection 122 may not fully define a closed area) that may prevent fluid from accumulating. Second projection 120 may be a single projection (e.g., a single contiguous wall), or defined by several projections, either contiguous or spaced apart.
Feet 106 have an upper section 110 that attaches to a recess 124 in the underside of base 104. The attachment preferably resists removal, such as a releasable locking flange engagement, tight engagement, or other similar connection mechanism. The invention is not limited to the nature of the engagement between feet 106 and base 104.
Feet 106 may have a decorative and/or surface attachment function. The decorative aspect is literally as feet for an animal shape of the toy body as discussed above, such that the holder will have an overall appearance of an animal such as a duck. The functional aspect is to provide further support for holder 100 on the supporting surface; either or both of feet 106 may have suction cups 114 adapted to provide suction adhesions to a support surface, which in combination with the attachment to base 104 would secure holder 100 on the supporting surface. Two feet 106 mimic the two feet of the animal, although the invention is not limited to the number of feet.
In an embodiment of the invention, feet 106 are both in the shape of feet and have suction cups 114. In another embodiment, feet 106 are suction cups that do not mimic the shape of animal feet. In another embodiment, feet 106 mimic the shape of animal feet and do not have suction cups. In another embodiment, feet 106 are not provided. In another embodiment, multiple suction cups are provided on each of feet 106.
The above embodiments may be used as both a bath toy and an accessory holder.
When body 102 is mounted on base 104 as shown in
In embodiments where suction cups are present, the adhesion between feet 106 and the supporting surface (e.g., table, edge of bath) is preferably stronger than the resistance to separation from the friction lock between body 102 and support base 104. Thus if the bath toy 102 is lifted upward with sufficient upward force to overcome the resistance of the friction lock, bath toy 102 will separate while the support base 104 remains attached to the supporting surface.
The specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.
