Abstract:
A multi-piece bathtub for children comprising at least two bathtub segments adapted to be assembled to provide one of a plurality of predetermined fluid retaining areas, where a first of the bathtub segments is operative to cooperate with a second of the bathtub segments to at least partially define one of the plurality of predetermined fluid retaining areas operative to resist fluid leakage by providing a sealed fluidic interface between the first and second bathtub segments.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to children&#39;s bathing areas and, more specifically, to an adjustable bathtub for bathing a child that is adaptable to the changing dimensions of a growing child. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Bathing systems for children are well known in the art. Among such bathing systems are inflatable bathtubs, as well as fully collapsible bathtubs relying on a preexisting full size bathtub for support. Such collapsible bathtubs are operative to restrict the area of the full size bathtub commensurate with the relative size of the child. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to children&#39;s bathing areas and, more specifically, to reconfigurable children&#39;s bathing areas comprised of two or more components that cooperate to define a bathing area. The invention generally includes two or more complimentary sections adapted to be mounted to one another to define a sealed fluid holding area. More generally, the invention utilizes the concept that multiple complementary components can hold a larger volume of fluid than the sum of the individual fluid holding volumes of the components. 
     The invention also makes available the opportunity to reconfigure the children&#39;s bathing area not only for disassembly and storage, but also to increase the bathing area as the child grows. To accomplish this reconfigurable functionality, one of the bathtub components includes a sealing surface that is adapted to interface with one of a plurality of complimentary sealing surfaces of a second bathtub component. For example, the first bathtub component may include a groove having a gasket seated therein, while a second bathtub component includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs. In such an exemplary embodiment, the ribs are laterally spaced so that by changing which rib interfaces with the gasket, the length (and resulting volume) of the bathing area may be changed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a segmented cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , taken along lines  3 - 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below to encompass bathing areas for children. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiment discussed below is exemplary in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, for clarity and precision, the exemplary embodiment as discussed below may include optional steps, methods, apparatuses, and/or features that one of ordinary skill should recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referencing  FIG. 1 , an exemplary assembled bathtub  10  in accordance with the present invention includes a first bathtub section  12  and a second bathtub section  14  providing a fluid holding area  16 . The fluid holding area  16  may include a cradle insert  18  and a cross member  20  each adapted to provide support for a child seated or partially lying in the bathtub  10 . A base  22  is optionally mounted to the sections  12 ,  14  to support and elevate the bathtub  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the base  22  includes a right side stand  24 , a left side stand  26  and a lateral support  28 . Each stand  24 ,  26  includes a raised tower  30  adjacent to a series of projections  32 . The projections  32  are laterally spaced apart and adapted to be received by a recess  34  of the lateral support  28  to effectively restrict lateral movement between the stands  24 ,  26  and thus mount the stands  24 ,  26  together. Each raised tower  30  includes a raised plateau  36  adapted to be received by a cavity  38  associated with each section  12 ,  14 . Each cavity  38  includes a pair of holes  40  adapted to receive a corresponding detent  42  of the plateau  36 , subsequent to the cavity  38  receiving the plateau  36 , in order to mount each section  12 ,  14  to its corresponding stand  24 ,  26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the second bathtub section  14  is substantially open at one end and includes a floor  44  transitioning into a raised sidewall  46  that includes a flange  48 . The flange  48  and sidewall  46  of the second bathtub section  14  cooperate to provide a depression  50  adapted for use as a soap receptacle. The floor also includes a drain  52  operative to selectively expel fluid from the holding area  16 . An interior surface  54  of the floor  44  and sidewall  46  includes two parallel raised ribs  56 ,  58  adjacent to a spacer  60 . A gasket  62  is positioned to interpose the raised ribs  56 ,  58  and, as will be discussed below, is utilized to provide a fluidic seal between the bathtub sections  12 ,  14 . 
     The first bathtub section  12  is substantially open at one end and includes a floor  64  transitioning into a sidewall  66  that includes a flange  68 . The floor  64  may be contoured to accommodate the bottom features of a child, which might include a depression  70  interposing a rear pad  72  and a hump  74 . An underneath surface  76  of the floor  66  and sidewall  62  includes a series of parallel ribs  78 - 88 . The underside of the hump  68  provides a concavity that at least partially protects the ribs  78 - 88 , however, it is not required that the ribs be protected by a concave topography or other protective feature. 
     Referencing  FIGS. 2 and 3 , to assemble the bathtub  10 , the tub sections  12 ,  14  are oriented to overlap so that one of the ribs  78 ,  82 ,  86  on the underside  76  of the first tub section  12  is vertically aligned to fit between the raised ribs  56 ,  58  of the second tub section  14 . Compression of the tub sections  12 ,  14  toward one another is operative to wedge one of the ribs  78 ,  82 ,  86  within a groove  90  of the gasket  62 . The interface between the gasket  62  and the rib  78 ,  82 ,  86 , while the rib is wedged within the groove  90 , is operative to provide a fluidic seal between the two tub sections  12 ,  14  that subsists across the floor and along the raised walls. 
     Concurrent with the alignment of the rib  78 ,  82 ,  86  and gasket  62 , the spacer  60  is compression mounted within one of three gaps  92 ,  94 ,  96  on the underside  76  of the floor. The interaction between the spacer  60  and walls defining each gap  92 ,  94 ,  96  is operative to provide greater stability between the sections  12 ,  14  in the lengthwise direction when subjected to longitudinal forces attempting to increase or decrease the length of the bathtub  10  while the sections  12 ,  14  are mounted to one another. 
     The length of the bathtub  10  may be adjusted by vertically displacing the first section  12  from the second section  14  and aligning different corresponding features. For example, to provide a shorter length bathtub  10 , the rib  86  would be aligned and received within the groove  90  of the gasket  62 , while the spacer would occupy the gap  96 . In contrast, to provide a longer length bathtub  10 , the rib  82  would be aligned and received within the groove  90  of the gasket  62 , while the spacer  60  would interpose adjacent ribs  84 ,  86  and occupy the gap  94 . In sum, the exemplary embodiment provides three length modifications, however, it is within the scope of the invention that two or more modifications could be accommodated, such as by including additional ribs on the underside of the first bathtub section  12 . Those of ordinary skill will readily understand how to modify the exemplary bathtub  10  to fabricate these obvious alternatives. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the alignment between corresponding features of the bathtub sections  12 ,  14  is maintained by a fastener assembly  100 . The fastener assembly  100  includes an opening  102  through the flange  68  of the first tub section  12  that is adapted to be aligned with an opening  104  through the flange  48  of the second tub section  14  upon alignment the corresponding features of the sections  12 ,  14 . Each T-shaped handle  106  is adapted to pierce both openings  102 ,  104  and be rotated to compress the sections  12 ,  14  toward one another in the radial direction and effectively mount the sections together. A set of projections  108  protrude out from each handle  106  and cooperate with an incline and recess (not shown) on the underside of the circumferential flange  48  of the second bathtub section  14  to compress the sections together upon rotation of the handles. The compressive forces resulting from the rotation of the handles  106  are operative to retain the relative orientation of the sections  12 ,  14  with respect to one another. More specifically, the compressive forces are operative to maintain the rib  78 ,  82 ,  86  within the groove  90  of the gasket  62  and provide a fluidic seal between the respective sections. 
     The fastener assembly  100  may also be operative to mount the cross member  20  to the first bathtub section  12 . U-shaped ends  110  of the cross member  20  are adapted to accommodate the handles  106  so that rotation of the handles  106  to facilitate compression of the sections  12 ,  14  is also operative to compress and mount the cross member  20  between the handle  106  and first bathtub section  12 . It is also within the scope of the invention that the sections  12 ,  14  be compressed by an action other than actuation of the handles  106 . 
     To disassemble or reconfigure the bathtub  10 , the handles  106  are simply rotated to decrease the compressive forces between the bathtub sections  12 ,  14 . Thereafter, the first bathtub section  12  is vertically repositioned to disengage the second bathtub section  14 . If the user simply desires to reconfigure the fluid holding area  16 , the first bathtub section  12  is laterally repositioned and vertically lowered so that the corresponding features of the sections  12 ,  14  will interact upon compression to provide a sealed fluidic interface operative to hold a fluid body. This process may be repeated as desired until the desired bathing area is achieved. 
     It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a first bathtub section that includes a plurality of sealing surfaces incrementally spaced, and a second bathtub section that includes one or more corresponding sealing surfaces adapted to engage at least one of the sealing surfaces of the first bathtub section to provide a sealed fluidic interface between the bathtub sections and enable holding of a fluid body. 
     Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the invention contained herein is not limited to this precise embodiment and that changes may be made to the exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiment set forth herein are to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.