Patent Application
20100151766
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to toys for bathtub play, and more particularly, to a toy kit for simulating a thematic food environment in a bathtub.
2. Description of the Related Art
Parents frequently use toys to amuse young children while in the bathtub and to make the experience more pleasant so as to make the child less resistant to bathing and/or to make the child look forward to the bath.
Floating toys, such as boats and rubber ducks, are well known. However, it has not heretofore been known to provide floating toys and bathing accessories, that create a food environment in the tub, in other words, that convert the tub to a giant bowl or soup, for example.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a bathing toy kit system for use in a bathtub, the bathing toy kit system. The system includes a bathing fluid that is provided by the user, and a plurality of decorative play elements for use in the bathing fluid. Each of the decorative play elements is structurally independent of each other such element, and has a subject matter relationship to one another to create a predetermined thematic environment in the bathing fluid.
In a practicable embodiment of the invention, the bathing fluid is water, and there is further provided a water tinting material for coloring the water to a color appropriate to the predetermined thematic environment in the bathing fluid.
In a further embodiment, wherein the bathing fluid is water, there is further provided an aromatic material for producing an aroma consistent with the predetermined thematic environment in the bathing fluid.
Preferably, the decorative play elements are arranged to be buoyant in the bathing fluid.
The decorative play elements are formed of a selectable combination of buoyant floating toys, soap, bubble bath, sponges, fizz-producing materials, and loofa.
In one embodiment of the invention, the decorative play elements are configured in the appearance of vegetables.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the decorative play elements are configured in the appearance of pasta. In this embodiment, there is optionally further provided a further decorative play element in the form of a ladle. There is further optionally provided a decorative play element in the form of a strainer. In some embodiments, the further decorative play element in the form of a ladle is non-buoyant in the bathing fluid. Similarly, the further decorative play element in the form of a strainer is non-buoyant in the bathing fluid.
In a still further embodiment of the invention, the decorative play elements are configured in the appearance of insects. This configuration of insect-shaped elements constitutes a witches' brew theme, and accordingly, there is optionally provided a further decorative play element in the form of a stirring stick. In some embodiments of the invention, the stirring stick is non-buoyant in the bathing fluid.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the decorative play elements are configured in the appearance of human organs.
In still further embodiments, the decorative play elements are configured in the appearance of alphanumeric characters.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a toy kit for simulating a thematic environment in a bathtub, and in particular, a thematic food environment. A plurality of toys and/or bathing accessories and products, related to the theme are packaged in a collectible, reusable and water-friendly container simulating a can, such as a soup can. Illustratively, the can is plastic, such as polystyrene. In some preferred embodiments, the can is also provided with openings to provide airflow so that wet toys and accessories can be stored in the container following play.
The thematic toys and/or bathing accessories and products include, without limitation, buoyant floating toys, soap, bubble bath, sponges, loofa, and the like, in the form of “ingredients” relating to the theme of the food product being simulated in the bathtub.
In one example, the theme is soup. In particular illustrative embodiments, the soup comprises chicken soup, clam chowder, vegetable soup or alphabet soup.
In a chicken soup embodiment, for example, the “ingredients” packaged in the can, comprise assorted toys, preferably buoyant, such as plastic vegetables, illustratively carrot and celery chunks, chicken, and noodles. Additional toy implements, that may or may not be buoyant, are also provided. These could include a soup ladle and a strainer. Of course, some or all of the toys could be made of sponge, or other materials suitable for use in a bath environment.
In addition to the foregoing, bath products, such as soap or bubble bath, can be provided that, for example, color the water yellow with a non-toxic, dye that does not stain skin and/or wash cloths or bath towels. In some embodiments, the bath products can be provided with a “soup” aroma relating to the theme.
Obviously, other themes can be created with thematically-related “ingredients.” For instance, vegetable soup can include a wider variety of “vegetables” and alphabet soup can include buoyant “pasta” letters. The alphabet soup embodiment of the present invention has additional play value insofar as sufficient alphabet letters can be provided in some embodiments to permit the child to form words.
In another example of a thematic environment, the theme is a witches brew. The “ingredients” packaged in the can of witches brew illustratively include assorted buoyant toys in the form of assorted insects, lizards, frogs, snakes, and eyeballs. Additional toy implements, that may or may not be buoyant, include a stirring stick. Of course, some or all of the toys could be made of sponge or other materials suitable for use in a bath environment. In this particular example, a sponge simulating the form of a brain, would fit well with the theme.
In the witches brew embodiment, the included bath products, could include products such as a such a “bug juice” bubble bath that is colored green and/or is fluorescent to fit into the theme. Fizzy tablets, of the type that include bath salts, can be included to color the water blue, yellow, or green, for example. Again, the coloration is accomplished with a non-toxic dye that does not stain skin and/or wash cloths or bath towels.
It is contemplated that the bath accessories and products that are consumable can be acquired individually for replenishment of the inventive kit.
Comprehension of the invention is further facilitated by reading the description above, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:
Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art may, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the invention described herein. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/191,832, filed Sep. 11, 2008. The disclosure of this provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61191832 | Sep 2008 | US |
