Abstract:
A movable apparatus for bathing infants and small children therein which includes a tub section having a cavity for supporting an infant during bathing and a storage section, a filling means in fluid communication with the cavity for introducing water into said cavity, a drain in fluid communication with said cavity for removing water from the cavity the tub section further including a separator separating the cavity and the storage section a seat removably mounted to a bottom portion of said cavity the seat designed to securely hold an infant during bathing legs pivotally secured to a bottom portion of the tub section the legs extending downwardly from the bottom portion of the tub section and supporting the tub section at a height such that a person using said apparatus does not have to bend over to bathe an infant in the tub section.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to infant bathtubs provided with legs so that the user does not have to bend over to wash a child or infant. The bathtub is also provided with a removable seat so that the user does not have to hold the infant while bathing the infant. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An infant&#39;s muscles are not strong enough to support its body, so it is important that a parent or caregiver carefully hold and support the infant when giving the infant a bath. When giving the infant a bath the parent must hold the infant in one arm and bath the infant with the other, so that the infant is protected and water is prevented from entering the infant&#39;s eyes, ears, mouth or nose. In many instances the infant is not comfortable and is wiggling or squirming. This is very difficult if the infant is being bathed in a conventional bathtub. Another problem with bathing an infant is the ready access to the necessities such as soap, shampoo, towels, clean cloths, etc. There needs to be provisions made for the ready access of these necessities so that the parent or caregiver does not have to reach too far and lose their grip on the infant. 
         [0003]    A small child is also not able to bathe themselves and therefore an adult or caregiver must bathe the child. This task is usually preformed in a conventional bathtub. The adult must get down on their knees and bend over the side of the bathtub to bathe the child and make sure that the child does not slip and hurt themselves. This task becomes very difficult when the adult has physical problems, such as knee or back problems, is obese or elderly. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0004]    The use of infant bathtubs with removable seats is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,917 discloses an infant bathtub with a removable seat. The removable seat is attached to the rear wall of the bathtub in a manner so that the infant is placed in a seated upright position during the bathing process. There is also a securement member to retain the infant in the seat. The bathtub is usually placed near a source of water to fill the tub. After the tub is filled with water the infant is placed in the seat in the tub and bathed. The infant is then removed from the tub, dried off and dressed. Since there is no drain in the tub it must be tipped over to remove the water. As a result it is most likely that the infant tub will be placed within a conventional bathtub to promote filling and draining of the infant tub. When the infant bathtub is placed within a conventional bathtub the parent or adult that is bathing the infant is required to get down on their knees and bend over to bathe the infant. The instant invention overcomes this problem by raising the infant bathtub to a height wherein an adult can bathe a child while standing. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,866 discloses a bathtub for a baby which includes a support net in the bathtub for the baby. The bathtub is filled with water and the baby is bathed. The water may be drained from the bathtub into a water pot prior to the baby being removed from the bathtub. The water pot can then be taken to a sink or tub and the water dispensed of. The entire baby bathtub does not have to be moved to drain the water therefrom. While the baby bathtub has wheels to provide for ease of movement from one location to another, the height of the bathtub still requires an adult to bend over to bathe a baby or child. The instant invention overcomes this by raising the tub to a height at which an adult can bathe a child comfortably. Also, a filling connection and a drain are provided on the instant invention so that the bathtub can be filled and drained without moving the bathtub or carrying water to the tub. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,890 discloses a bathtub for babies which includes a pad or seat for supporting the baby during the bathing procedure. The bathtub is also provided with removable legs to support the bathtub at various heights conforming to the height of an adult bathing the baby. These legs comprise members of differing lengths. The members are assembled to provide the desired height and then the assembly is attached to each corner of the bathtub to support the bathtub at the desired height. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The instant invention is designed to overcome problems associated with bathing an infant or child in a conventional bathtub. Although a small bathtub or infant holding device may be used to bathe infant, these devices are normally placed inside of a conventional bathtub. There are many instances when an adult is unable to bend over a conventional bathtub to bathe an infant or child because of physical problems such as knee or back problems. In addition, the instant invention is designed for elderly grandparents, pregnant women, obese persons, and any other persons who find it difficult to get down to the level of a conventional bathtub. The instant invention overcomes these problems by raising the infant bathtub to a height at which an adult is able to bathe an infant or small child while standing. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide a bathtub for infants and children which enables a person to bathe the child in a substantially upright position. 
         [0009]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide a bathtub for infants and children which can be readily set up for use, taken down and stored away. 
         [0010]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a bathtub for infants and children which is provided with a removable seat to hold an infant during the bathing process. 
         [0011]    It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a bathtub for infants and children including foldable legs which enable the bathtub to be stored easily. 
         [0012]    It is yet a further objective of the invention to provide a support frame which enables the bathtub to be hung on a conventional door. 
         [0013]    It is still a further objective of the invention to provide a belt securable to the bathtub to assist in holding a child in the bathtub. 
         [0014]    It is still yet another objective of the invention to provide a bathtub with an impeller to assist in draining water from the bathtub. 
         [0015]    Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a cut away portion of the impeller housing; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a retention belt; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the invention with the child support seat installed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the child support seat; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the present invention mounted on a support which is supported on a door; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the present invention illustrated in Gig.  6 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an attachment device; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a pair of leg members including a hinge mount; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the present invention illustrating an alternative embodiment for mounting the leg members; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the support mounted on a door; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a front view of a door illustrating the attachment means for the support; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a front view of another child support seat usable with the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the seat illustrated in  FIG. 13  and 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    With reference to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1-15 , a new collapsible bathtub for infants and small children embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
         [0032]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-15 , the portable, collapsible bathtub  10  includes a tub section  12  and a storage section  14 . The tub section  12  has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and defines a cavity  16  for supporting an infant or a small child during bathing operations. The cavity  16  includes an inlet  18  for the introduction of water or other fluid into the cavity. Inlet  18  is connected to a filling hose  20  which has an adapter  22  located at the other end thereof. Adapter  22  is constructed and arranged to be attached to a faucet of a sink in a house. The sink may be located in a bathroom, the kitchen, or laundry room. The adapter  22  fits over the faucet in a fluid tight manner to allow water from a faucet to be utilized to fill the bathtub. The adapter may also be a threaded fluid tight fitting which replaces the aerator of a faucet or is connectable to a faucet which is provided with a threaded fluid connection. Any conventional adapter can be employed to connect the filling hose  20  to a source of water. Connecting the filling hose to a sink in a house permits the introduction of both hot and cold water into the bathtub so the temperature of the bath water may be regulated. The inlet  18  can also be provided with an open/close valve  19  to permit or restrict the flow of water into the cavity  16 . A flange  15  is located along the top portion of the tub section  12  and storage section  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . This flange extends perpendicularly outwardly from the tub and storage sections and includes an upper and lower surface. This flange is used to hold the bathtub in its storage position as will be described hereinafter. 
         [0033]    The water is drained from the tub section utilizing an impeller or paddle wheel  24  which is mounted in housing  25 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 15 . A drain opening  26  is located in the bottom surface  28  of the cavity adjacent the housing  25  and fluidly connected to the impeller  24  mounted in the housing  25 . A hose  30  is connected to an outlet of housing  24  to convey the water, which has been drained from the cavity, to a drain connected to the plumbing system of a house or business and away from the premises. Clips or snaps  31  are attached to the outside portion of the bathtub and secure hose  30  adjacent the bathtub when it is not in use. Crank  29  is connected to the impeller and permits a person to turn the impeller  24  and drain the water from the cavity  16 . The bottom surface  28  of cavity  16  is preferably sloped downwardly toward the drain opening  26  to enable all of the water in the bathtub to be drained therefrom. An alternative type of drain is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment drain valve  32  is connected to the outlet  26  of the cavity. The drain valve is provided with an open/close valve  34  which maintains the water in the tub or permits it to be drained therefrom through hose  30 . 
         [0034]    Alternatively, hose  30  could be connected to a supply of water and the cavity could be filled with water supplied from the tube  30  through housing  25  and opening  26 . 
         [0035]    The portable bathtub  10  is supported by leg members  36  and  38 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  10  and  15 . Each of the leg members preferably comprise two leg elements  40  which are connected by a transverse member  42  ( FIG. 3 ). The leg members  36 ,  38  are attached to the bottom of the bathtub  10 , extend downwardly therefrom and provide support for the bathtub. While the leg members are shown as being attached to the bottom of the bathtub by hinges they could also be secured to the bathtub by other well known attachment means such as being removably attached to protrusions extending from the bottom of the bathtub or inserted into apertures in the bottom of the bathtub (not shown). The leg members could also be telescoping and attached to the bottom of the bathtub (not shown). They could also be secured to the bottom of the bathtub by screws or other fastening means (not shown). The length of the leg members permit the bathtub to be elevated from the ground to a height which allows a person to comfortably bathe an infant or child without having to bend over. When the bathtub is to be stored away, the leg members are folded up adjacent the bottom of the bathtub, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Normally the length of the leg members is such that they can be both folded adjacent the bottom of the bathtub without overlapping each other. However, in certain circumstances, the height of the bathtub needs to be raised above its normal operating height. For example is the person bathing the infant is very tall. In this situation the leg members must be longer than normal. This does not allow the leg members to both fold up adjacent the bottom of the bathtub without overlapping each other. To overcome this problem one of the leg members,  38  in  FIG. 10 , is mounted on a spacer  44 . The height of the spacer is equivalent to the thickness of the opposing leg member  36 . This arrangement allows leg member  36  to be first folded upward adjacent the bottom of the bathtub and then leg member  38  folded up towards the bottom of the bathtub and a lower portion of leg member  38  to rest on top of a portion of leg member  36 . This arrangement permits both leg members to be parallel to the bottom portion of the bathtub when in the storage position. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates the preferred embodiment for mounting the leg members  36 ,  38  to the bathtub  10 . A hinge  46  is mounted on the bathtub and the leg members are also attached to the hinge. Portion  48  of hinge  46  is secured to the bottom of the bathtub  12  or to spacer  44  ( FIG. 10 ). Leg members  36  and  38  are then secured to portion  50  of the hinge  46 . This arrangement permits the leg members to be swung from their position supporting the bathtub, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  10  and  15 , to a storage position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Hinges  46  are provided with a means to lock them in their full open position and in a position wherein portions  48  and  50  are substantially perpendicular to each other. This enables the leg members to be locked in the operative position ( FIG. 3 ) and in their storage position ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0037]    A removable seat  52  allows a person to bathe an infant without having to hold the infant. The seat  52  is constructed so that an infant can be placed on their back in an inclined position. The infant&#39;s back rests against back rest portion  54  of the seat  52 . A seat member  56  is positioned substantially perpendicular to the back rest portion and provides a seat for the infant. Securing straps  58  are attached to the seat and are securable around the infant the help hold the infant in the seat  52 . The bottom of the seat is provided with “T” shaped slides  60 . The bottom surface  28  of cavity  16  is provided with a plurality of slots or tracks  62  therein. These slots are constructed and arranged to mate with the slides  60  on the bottom of the seat member  56  and secure the seat to the cavity. Each of the slots or tracks  62  is provided with an enlarged portion  64  at one end thereof. This enlarged portion enables the slides  60  to be inserted into the tracks  62 . Each of the slides  60  are formed with a wide portion  66  and a narrow portion  68 . The wide portion  66  of the slides is passed through enlarged portion  64  of the slot  62 . The narrow portion  68  of the slides engage slot  62  and prevents movement of the seat from one side  70  of the tub to the other side  72  thereof ( FIG. 4 ). The upper portion of the wide portion  66  of the slides  60  engage the bottom of the tracks  62  and prevent the seat from disengaging the bottom of the bathtub. With this construction the infant seat  52  can be readily attached to the bathtub when necessary and removed from the bathtub for storage. The seat is positioned in the bathtub such that the infant faces one side,  70 , of the tub or the other. In a preferred embodiment the height of the seat member is such that it does not extend above the top of the sides of the tub section  12 . 
         [0038]    When the seat is not being used a mat  74  is placed on the bottom of the cavity providing a cover for the tracks  62 . The mat prevents water from entering the tracks. The mat  74  also provides a surface on which a small child can sit or stand without the danger of possibly slipping on the bottom surface  28  of cavity  16 . 
         [0039]    An adjustable waist belt  76  is available to help prevent small children from standing up falling out of the bathtub during the bathing process. The waist belt would normally be placed around the waist of a small child and the ends thereof would be secured with hook and loop type fasteners  78 . A tether  80  is attached to a portion of the waist belt. The tether is provided with a plurality of branches  82 . Each of the branches is provided with a hook or clip  84  at an end thereof. Each hook  84  is provided with a retainer  85 . The retainer  85  is resiliently held in a normally closed position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The bottom  28  of the cavity is provided with anchors  86  for the hooks  84 . The anchors are preferably slots with a pin secured across the slot. The hooks  84  are attached to the pins and the retainers  85  prevent the hooks from releasing from the pins. 
         [0040]    The storage section  14  of the bathtub  10  is preferably divided into two separate bins  88  and  90 . The storage section is separated from the cavity by a wall  92 . The wall is fluid tight so that the storage section remains dry. Another wall  94  divides the storage section  14  into two separate bins  88  and  90 . These bins are utilized to hold items which are used during the bathing process such as soap, shampoo, wash cloths, towels, toys, etc. The open tops of the bins  88  and  90  may be closed by a net  96 ,  FIG. 3 , which is placed over the open tops and secured to the sides of the bathtub and wall  92 . The net helps to retain the items placed in the bins when the bathtub is placed in its vertical storage position as will be described hereinafter. In place of the net, other equivalent devices could be used to close the open tops of the bins. 
         [0041]    The bathtub  10  is additionally provided with a towel rack  98  for hanging a wet or dry towel thereon. This places the towel within easy reach of the person bathing the infant or small child. Clothing for the child may also be placed on the towel rack  98 . A thermometer  100  is built into the side of the bathtub. This enables the person filling the bathtub with water to control the amounts of hot and cold water supplied to the bathtub so that the bath water temperature will not be too hot or cold for the infant or small child. 
         [0042]    When the bathtub is not is use it can be stored be stored on a door  101  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . After the water is emptied from the bathtub the leg members  36  and  38  are folded up against the bottom of the bathtub. The leg members are held in place by hinges provided with means to maintain the hinges in a substantially 90 degree position. A storage rack  102  is hung over the top of a door  101  and rests along a surface thereof ( FIG. 11 ). The bathtub is then placed onto the storage rack with the upper portion of the tub section  12  and the flange  15  adjacent the door. The storage rack  102  is held in position adjacent the door by the use of hook and loop fasteners  104  which are attached to one side of the door and the storage rack. The lower portion of the storage rack is provided with a flange  105  which engages a portion of the flange  15  at one end of the bathtub. The flange  105  provides vertical support for the bathtub and retains the bottom end portion against the support rack. Two retention clips  106  are positioned on opposite sides of the storage rack adjacent an upper portion thereof. When the retention clips are not in use they are retained in grooves  108  ( FIG. 7 ). Springs  110  attached to the clips  106  and support rack  102  resiliently retain the clips against the support rack and against the lower surface of the bathtub flange  15 . These grooves position the clips so that the bathtub can be placed on the support rack without interfering with the clips. Once the bathtub is in position on the support rack the clips are pulled outwardly from the groove  108 , turned 90 degrees and placed against the lower surface of the flange  15  of the bathtub. This secures the upper portion of the bathtub to the support rack  102 . When the bathtub is to be placed in use, the clips  106  are disengaged from the flange  15  of the bathtub and the bathtub is lifted up and free from flange  105  thus enabling the bathtub to be removed from the storage rack and the door. Since the seat member  52  does not extend above the height of the tub section  12  it can be placed into the tub section during storage of the bathtub. 
         [0043]    In an alternative embodiment the bathtub  12  can be provided with a screen  112  which substantially surrounds the outer perimeter of the bathtub ( FIG. 15 ). Means are provided for readily attaching the screen  112  to the outer perimeter of the bathtub and removing it therefrom. In this embodiment a small pet can be bathed in the bathtub without splashing water all over the surrounding area. 
         [0044]    All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0045]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
         [0046]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.