Patent Application
20150305572
This relates generally to safety devices providing protection from bodily injury caused by fixed objects located near surfaces, such as bathtubs and showers, for example.
In areas such as shower stalls, bathtubs, or various other surfaces, fixed and often rigid objects, for holding materials or operating the flow of water, etc., may protrude from walls of such areas, for example. Such areas have a tendency to become slippery as they are exposed to moisture, and it is easy for one to lose his or her balance, which may result in inadvertently contacting or colliding with a fixed protruding object. Similarly, small children, for example, may be unstable and fall in such areas, which may cause a dangerous collision with the fixed protruding object. In conventional bathtubs or showers, for example, inadvertently contacting a fixed protrusion could result in significant bodily harm.
Moreover, in areas such as bathtubs and showers, certain protrusions may hold potentially hazardous materials or may operate the flow and temperature of water. Conventionally, a child, for example, could have easy access to such protrusions, which may result in contact with dangerous materials and/or potentially scalding water.
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to solving one or more of the problems presented in the prior art, as well as providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments described herein my directed to an apparatus for protecting against bodily harm caused by contacting a fixed protruding object, for example. According to an example, the apparatus can include a cover unit configured to substantially cover the protrusion, the cover including a front and one or more sides. The apparatus can further include at least one affixing element configured, if so desired, to removably affix the cover unit to a surface of the shower or bathtub.
As discussed herein, a hinge unit can be employed adjacent to at least one of the sides, such that the cover unit can swing open in order to allow access to the protrusion without completely detaching each of the at least one affixing element.
Further, a support unit can be included configured to further stabilize the cover unit from slipping or buckling if external pressure is applied to the cover unit while affixed to the surface of the shower or bathtub.
Various features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present disclosure, are described in further detail below.
The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following Figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosure and should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the disclosure. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.
In the following description of embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be used and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus configured to protect against bodily injury caused by falling, losing balance or otherwise striking protrusions in bathtub or shower areas, or any other surface on which one may slip, for example, and fall or wish to avoid contact with a protruding device, for example. Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to a protruding soap dish, faucet and/or faucet handles within bathtubs and showers; however, it should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the described features could be applied to various other objects which could cause injury around surfaces, such as a bathtub or shower, for example.
Accordingly, as shown in
The front portion 110 and/or any of the protective sides can be formed of an elastomeric material, for example, in order to provide a structurally strong cover unit 100, while being substantially softer than the protruding portion of soap dish 130 (e.g., porcelain or ceramic). In this manner, if one were to fall or otherwise inadvertently come into contact with cover unit 100, contacting cover unit 100 may result in significantly less injury (or no injury), as compared to contacting the protruding portion of soap dish 130, for example. One of ordinary skill in the art would realize that other materials could be used for portions of cover unit 100, including a foam-type substance, such as polyethylene or Styrofoam, for example. According to certain embodiments, waterproof materials may be preferable.
Cover unit 100 can be affixed to wall 170 via affixing element(s) 120. In the example shown in
As shown in
As shown in
According to an embodiment, front portion 110 of cover unit 100 can include an attachment unit 160, which can be configured to attach, either permanently or in a removable fashion, a mirror, picture and/or toy, etc. (not depicted), in order o provide entertainment for a bathing child, for example. Attachment unit 160 may include Velcro, for example, or any other adhesive (preferably waterproof) such that a mirror, picture, toy, etc. can be attached thereto.
The exemplary proportions of various elements of
Although the foregoing exemplary embodiments have been directed to providing protection from a protruding portion of a soap dish 130, various other protrusions may be covered with cover unit 100 using a similar concept. For example,
In
As a result of the foregoing configurations, an apparatus may be provided, which includes cover unit 100 capable of protecting against bodily injury caused by colliding with or otherwise contacting protrusions in bathtub or shower areas, or any other surface on which one may slip and fall or otherwise inadvertently come into contact with such protrusions. The apparatus may further protect a child, for example, from accessing and contacting any potentially hazardous materials that may be positioned on a covered protrusion (e.g., a soap dish), or from being able to access potentially scalding hot water, for example.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described. They instead can be applied alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
Terms and phrases used in this document, variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known”, and terms of similar meaning, should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period, or to an item available as of a given time. But instead these terms should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available, known now, or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to”, or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.
Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a single unit. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined. The inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also, the inclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply a limitation to this category, but rather the feature may be equally applicable to other claim categories, as appropriate.
