Abstract:
A child&#39;s bath seat having a base, a top shelf portion with a generally triangular aperture formed therein, a plurality of support members extending between the base and the top shelf portion. The base portion is sufficiently larger than the top shelf portion to provide added stability and discourage toppling. In addition, a plurality of clips may be connected to at least some of the respective support members. The clips extend partially over the base and exert a clamping force thereon. The clamping force urges any object positioned therebetween, such as a washrag, toward the base.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/639,447, filed Aug. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,592. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to bath seats and, more particularly, bath seat for a child or infant. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Infants and young children are typically incapable of sitting up and supporting themselves while getting a bath. Such support is important, since small children tend to be top-heavy and can easily topple over into their bath water. A caregiver bathing a small child must therefore provide not only cleanse the child, but also provide constant support to prevent the child from injury from falling over in the tub and/or from inhaling bath water. 
     One means for the caregiver to prove support is for the caregiver to continuously hold onto the child during the bathing process. This is usually difficult for a single caregiver to do, as wet, soapy young children tend to be slippery, all the more so if they squirm. Further, it is undesirable for an individual caregiver to have to constantly hold onto a child during bathing, since this leaves only one free hand with which to actually bathe the child. Bathing a child one-handedly increases the likelihood of introducing soapy water into the child&#39;s eyes, nose, and/or mouth, causing the child discomfort and actuating even more vigorous squirming. 
     Another means for supporting a small child at bath time is through the use of a support device. Such devices generally include a support ring or shelf supported by a plurality of support members attached to a base. Examples of such devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,460 issued Oct. 27, 1992 to Bernstein et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,433 issued Nov. 18, 1997 to Garner ct al. These devices typically include suction cups attached to the base to adhere the bath seat to the bathtub while a child seated therein is being bathed. The base portion functions as the seat while the support members and/or the ring or shelf functions as a front and rear support. The base may have a non-slip surface to prevent the child from sliding within the seat. 
     While these bath seat devices are adequate to provide some support to a child getting a bath in a tub having a smooth floor, the base-mounted suction cups are less effective in anchoring the seat to a tub having a textured floor. Further, the circular design of the support shelf necessitates a shelf ring having a diameter sized only slightly wider than the child in order to provide adequate support and restraint during the child&#39;s bath, making it difficult to insert, adjust, and remove the child from the seat. Also, the non-slip seat surface (in those seats having one) is typically a textured rubber coating, which is somewhat uncomfortable against the child&#39;s skin and may cause chafing or abrasion if the child squirms vigorously during bathing. 
     There is therefore a need for a bath seat capable of securely containing a child during bath time that can be securely anchored in a textured bath tub, that has a comfortable nonskid seat, and that is readily accessible to the care giver. The present invention is directed toward meeting this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a child&#39;s bath seat having a base, a top shelf portion with a generally triangular aperture formed therein, a plurality of support members extending between the base and the top shelf portion and at least one tether extending from a support member and terminating in a suction cup. In addition, a plurality of clips are connected to at least some of the respective support members. The clips extend partially over the base and exert a clamping force thereon. The clamping force urges any object positioned therebetween, such as a washrag, toward the base. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide an improved bathtub seat. Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment bath seat of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side plan view of a tether and support member of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a support member, clip, and base portion FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4A is a bottom elevational view of FIG. 1 having a textured undercoat. 
     FIG. 4B is a bottom elevational view of FIG. 1 having a plurality of suction cups attached thereto. 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the top portion of FIG. 1 having a plurality of shaped recesses formed therein. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment bath seat of the present invention, having an exaggerated base portion. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention, a diamond-shaped bath seat  10 . The bath seat includes a base portion  12  connected to a top portion  14  by a plurality of spaced support members  16 . The edges of the base portion  12 , top portion  14 , and support members  16  are preferably rounded. There are preferably four support members  16 , and the support members  16  preferably extend between the corners of the base portion  12  and the top portion  14 , although there may alternately be any convenient number of support members  16  positioned at any convenient locations on the bath seat  10 . The at least some of the support members  16  are preferably spaced such that a child may extend a leg therebetween. 
     The bath seat additionally includes at least one, and more preferably a plurality of, tether lines  18  connected thereto. The tether lines  18  each have an anchor device (such as a suction cup)  20  attached to their respective distal ends. The bath seat also includes one or more clips  24  attached to the top side of the base portion  12  for securing a washcloth thereto. Each clip  24  is adapted to exert an urging force downward onto the base portion  12 , or onto a washcloth positioned between the clips  24  and the base portion  12 . The bath seat  10  also preferably includes a textured rubber undercoat  26  for preventing unintentional movement of the bath seat  10  over the bathtub floor. 
     The bath seat  10  features a generally triangular aperture  30  formed in the top portion  14 . The aperture  30  is shaped such that a child may be easily passed therethrough. The generally triangular shape of the aperture  30  also limits the child&#39;s range of motion such that the child will be restrained while seated. The child is preferably seated such that the he is facing the apex of the triangle with his leg extending around the support member  16  positioned substantially therebeneath. The aperture  30  is positioned in the top portion  14  so as to leave a relatively spacious shelf area  31  behind a child occupying the preferred seating orientation. The shelf area  31  may be used to rest cleaning articles such as soap, shampoo, or the like while not in use. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the tether lines  18  are preferably removably connected to one or more of the support members  16 , although they may be attached to any convenient point on the bath seat  10 . FIG. 2 illustrates a tether line  18  encircling a support member  16  and fastened thereto by a fastener  32 . The fastener  32  is preferably of a convenient type known in the art, such as a metal or plastic clip or the like. The tether line  18  is preferably a flexible, substantially flat member and is preferably made of a tough material such as nylon, and is more preferably about forty-five centimeters in length. The terminal end of the tether line is connected to an anchor device  20  adapted to fasten to the side of the tub or to the wall. The anchor device  20  is preferably a suction cup. The suction cup  20  is preferably made of a pliable, resilient material such as rubber or plastic and is adapted to adhere to a relatively smooth, flat surface. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a clip  24  is shown holding the corner of a washcloth to the base portion  12 . There are preferably four clips  24  connected to the bath seat  10 , each clip  24  preferably extending inwardly from the joint of the base portion  12  and a support member  16 . The clips  24  are preferably leaf springs or the like, and may be easily lifted to insert or remove a portion of a washcloth thereunder. Each clip  24  preferably provides sufficient clamping force on a washcloth positioned between the clip  24  and the base portion  12  to securely hold a washcloth against the base portion while a child is sitting thereupon while being bathed, but not so much clamping force as to make removal of the washcloth for laundering difficult. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the bottom side of the base portion  12  is illustrated. FIG. 4A shows the base portion  12  having a textured undercoat layer  26  affixed thereto. The undercoat layer  26  is textured to prevent or minimize slippage against a slick surface, and is preferably formed from a resilient material such as rubber or plastic. FIG. 4B illustrates an alternate configuration of the bottom side of the base portion  12 , in which a plurality of suction cups  28  are affixed to thereto. The suction cups  28  may be of any type commonly known in the art. Referring back to FIG. 4A, it is also contemplated that the textured undercoat  26  include miniature suction cups or recesses formed therein. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a variation of the top portion  14 , wherein the aperture  30  has the general shape of a truncated triangle, such that a child seated therein in the preferred orientation is more restrained from forward movement, and has a small, flat area upon which to place bath toys. Likewise, a bath toy or toys could be permanently mounted thereto to provide distraction and amusement during the bath. Also, the top portion  14  further includes one or more shaped recesses  34  formed therein to accommodate bath supplies, such as soap or shampoo bottles. 
     The base portion  12 , top portion  14  and support members  16  are preferably formed from a substantially lightweight structural material having sufficient resiliency to at least partially elastically deform under impact, such as plastic. 
     FIG. 6 represents another embodiment of the present invention, a bath seat  10 ′ as described above, but with an exaggerated base portion  12 ′. The base portion  12 ′ is exaggerated in area, mass, or both to prevent toppling of the bath seat  10 ′. Preferably, the base portion  12 ′ has a surface area at least about 1.5 tines the effective surface area of the top portion  14 ′, such that the profile of the bath seat  10 ′ is generally that of a truncated cone. More preferably, the surface area of the base portion  12 ′ is at least twice the effective surface area of the top portion  14 ′. Also preferably, the top portion  14 ′ is centered over the base portion  12 ′. 
     Alternatively (or additionally), the base portion  12 ′ may be weighted to increase the stability of the bath seat  10 ′. Preferably, the base portion  10 ′ comprises at least about ½ the total mass and weight of the bath seat  10 ′. More preferably, the base portion  12 ′ comprises at least about ⅔ the total mass of the bath seat  10 ′. Generally, as the mass and/or surface area of the base portion  12 ′ increases relative to the rest of the bath seat  10 ′, the more stable the bath seat  10 ′ configuration. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are to be desired to be protected.