Patent Application
20110010838
The present invention relates to a bathtub and more particularly a bathtub adapted for use in bathing toddlers.
Most toddler bathtubs are designed for infants and/or toddlers. The tubs have roughened bottom surfaces and a seat for the toddler to sit on while being bathed. The infant portion of the tub is usually a mesh or flexible sheet like structure that is removable once the baby is older. These tubs are small in size due to having an infant feature.
The problem with the seat is active toddlers will not sit there while being washed. The toddler likes to move around and play. The seat limits the toddler's bathing area and active toddlers may trip over the seating area.
There are toddler tubs without seats. Usually these toddler tubs are inflatable. However these tubs are susceptible to puncture. Also these tubs can slide around within a conventional bathtub.
Plus, the inflatable material is slippery when wet. Active toddlers tend to stand up and or place their hands on the sides of the tub when trying to stand. These tubs provide a severe slipping hazard.
There is a need for a larger and slip resistant tub that includes multiple surfaces for the toddler to engage without slipping. There is also a need for a tub fit within a conventional bathtub and that will not slip within the conventional bathtub when the active child is inside the toddler bathtub.
Further, there is a need for a portable, safe, sturdy toddler tub that limits the bathing area of the toddler but also allows for a large area to bathe.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable, self-contained bathtub for safely bathing active toddlers in a limited bathing area of a conventional bathtub.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a comfortable means for the bather to bathe the active toddler while having full access to all essentials needed in the bathing process.
A further object of the present invention is to provide slip-proof surfaces for the toddler, a frictional engagement between the toddler tub and conventional bathtub as well as a cushioned armrest for the bather, during the bathing process.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means to gauge the temperature of the water in order to safely and comfortably bathe the toddler.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following description and drawings.
The drawbacks discussed above have been solved in the present invention, which provides a portable, sturdy means for converting a conventional bathtub into a safe, contained, bathing area for active toddlers as well as a comfortable and user-friendly bathtub for the parent or the bath administer.
The present invention is a bathtub for active toddlers, herein referred to as the toddler tub. The toddler tub is a tub made of plastic material or the like with a rubber like flap that extends over the top of the rim of a conventional bathtub and hangs over the outside of the conventional bathtub. The flap is made of the mat like material where this same material coats the bottom and outside of the toddler tub. The mat-like material is roughened, suctioned, or grooved in order to create a friction engagement with the bottom and sides of the conventional bathtub. Therefore the rubber, mat-like material covers the toddler tub on both outer sides and the bottom and extends from at least one side of the tube in an elongated manner.
The bottom and outer surfaces of the toddler tub engage the bottom and inner surfaces of the conventional bathtub in a flush and fully engaged manner. The rubber mat-like material allows for tight engagement between the toddler tub and conventional bathtub. The flap and friction surfaces may be of any-type material that provides for a sturdy friction engagement with the conventional bathtub surface. The toddler tub is preferably configured as a square with rounded corners that will fit inside a conventional bathtub. The bathtub is approximately 25 inches in length in order to fit within the tub while leaving a gap between the ends of the toddler tub and the faucet area and the back area of the conventional bathtub. That way, the faucet and back wall of the conventional bathtub are not readily accessible to the toddler. However, the toddler tub may be of any configuration and length and fit within any style bathtub.
The toddler tub is frictionally engaged between the sides of the conventional bathtub. The bottom of the toddler tube is frictionally engaged with the inside of the conventional bathtub. The flap hangs over at least one side of the conventional bathtub and further enhances the engagement between the toddler tub and the conventional bathtub. The underside of the flap may also include a roughened surface to further enhance this engagement. The width of the toddler tub is approximately 24 inches wide or wide enough to snuggly fit within the width of a conventional bathtub. The toddler tub has a cavity where the toddler is bathed. The inner cavity is approximately 20 inches wide, thus leaving about 1-2 inches of thickness for the sides of the toddle tub. This thickness is uniformly around the perimeter of the toddler tub.
The flap includes at least one mesh pocket. The bather may store bathing essentials, such as shampoo, extra soap, toys, etc in order to have such items readily accessible. That way the bather will not be tempted to leave the tub side to get forgotten bathing items. Further the flap is a padded material in order to provide a comfortable platform in which to bath the toddler. The flap is also a non-slip rubber mat-like surface and will allow the toddler to engage the surface safely without slipping. Also, the bather may place the toddler on the side of the tube to dry the toddler on the non-slip surface that is also padded for comfort. The thickness of the flap is approximately 1-2 inches or any thickness that will perform the stated functions.
The inside of the toddler tub includes a roughened bottom surface and all four walls of the toddler tub are roughened. The roughened surfaces that cover the inside and bottom of the toddler tube comprise a thin mat like material. A temperature gauge means that functions as well known in the art is included preferably on the surface of the mat like material that coats the bottom of the tube.
Therefore, the bather places the toddler tube within a conventional bathtub. The bather extends the flap over the side of the conventional bathtub. The bather presses the bathtub bottom surface and flap firmly against the bathtub surfaces. The frictional engagement between the bottom and outer sides of the toddler tub, as well as the bottom of the flap extension, ensure a tight frictional engagement with the conventional bathtub.
The bather fills the toddler tub with water and visually checks the temperature gauge to ensure that the water is not too hot. The bather may fill the pockets with bathing essentials as needed. The toddler is placed in the tub for bath time.
These and further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
a and 4b is a bottom plan view of the toddler tub.
Toddler tub 10 includes vertical walls 14,24 and horizontal walls 13,23; the walls are relatively straight with curved edges as shown in
The present invention includes flap 11 that extends from vertical side 24 and hangs over a side of a conventional bathtub as shown in
The flap 11 extends from the outer side of vertical wall 14 to the outer side of the opposite vertical wall 24 and ends in an extension that hangs over the side of the tub. The flap 11 covers the outer surfaces of the tub including the bottom 15 of the tub 10. That way, the plastic tub 10 is wrapped in a rubber mat like material that is roughened on its outer side for frictional contact with the inside of the conventional bathtub. The flap 11 then extends over at least one side of the conventional bathtub for a tight fitting contact between the toddler tub 10 and the conventional bathtub. The flap 11 has a surface that is a rubber mat like surface that is adhered to the plastic tub and includes a roughened exterior.
The inner sides of the vertical walls 14 and 24 and horizontal walls 13 and 23 are covered with a roughened surface texture. This texture will keep the toddler from slipping while inside the toddler tub 10.
Another embodiment includes the inner sides of the tub wrapped in the same mat like rubber material and in the same manner as the outer sides of the tube. The mat like rubber material, coats the top and bottom of the tub, and ends in an extension that hangs over at least one side of the conventional bathtub. Further, the toddler tub may be one rigid rubber like material that functions as the described above.
In operation, the toddler tub 10 is placed inside a bathtub. The flap 11 is placed over the side of the bathtub. The roughened outer and bottom surface of the tub as well as the flap and its roughened surface allow for a tight engagement of the toddler tub 10 and the bathtub. The toddler tub 10 is configured to extend within a section of the bathtub, thus leaving a gap between the toddler tub 10 and the front and back of the bathtub as shown in
Warm water is used to fill the tube. A standard temperature gauge 17 in the mat like surface on the bottom 15 of the toddler tub 10 will read, “HOT” if the water reaches a temperature range that will scald a toddler.
The bather uses pockets 16 on the outside of flap 11 to place items that are needed for bath time. Some toddlers like to watch the tub fill with water. Therefore, they may safely place hands on the flap 11 that extends over the side of the tub without slipping due to the mat like rubber surface of the flap 11. Further once the toddler is placed in the tube, they may still safely place hands, even wet hands, on the side of the conventional bathtub due to the flap 11 extending over the side of the conventional bathtub. Also, the bather may lean arms or elbows on the side of the conventional bathtub in comfort due to the flap 11 extending over the side of the bathtub. Cushioning foam may be included in the flap 11 for added comfort.
The toddler tub 10 is sized and shaped to allow for a combined bathing and play area for the toddler. The roughened surface ensures that the toddler tub does not move during bath time. The roughened inner surface of the toddler tub 10 ensures that the toddler does not slip. The flap 11 allows for a comfortable bathing experience for the bather. The flap 11 provides a platform for drying the toddler after bathing. The material and placement of the flap 11 provides a non-slip surface for the toddler to lean on before, during, or after bathing. Lastly, the flap further enhances the frictional contact between the toddler tub 10 and the conventional bathtub due to hanging over the side of the bathtub and due to its rubber like material.
It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
