Patent Publication Number: US-8966677-B1

Title: Baby bath station

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to infant accessories, and particularly to a baby bath station that provides a mobile bathing/washing and changing station for a baby. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Cleaning and bathing an infant can be an arduous task. Heretofore, this task has been performed in a conventional bathtub, a conventional bathroom basin, or a plastic container (tub) especially designed for bathing and cleaning an infant. These devices have proven to be less than adequate, since their use often requires the caregiver to bend or stoop in an awkward position, thereby making it difficult for the caregiver to maintain adequate control of a wiggling infant. Also, hygienic problems persist because there is no provision to separate infant excreta from the bath water. There are many apparatuses in the related art that have attempted to alleviate the aforementioned problems. None of the related art apparatuses, however, have proven to adequately solve these problems. The art would certainly welcome a mobile bathing apparatus that would effectively and efficiently address and alleviate the inadequacies of the related art. Thus, a baby bath station solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The baby bath station is a mobile bath and changing station for an infant. The station comprises a wheel-supported housing having a bathtub therein. The tub has a downward sloping floor, which has a relatively large drain at the bottom thereof. The drain empties into a wastewater holding receptacle. The receptacle is provided with converging, funnel-shaped walls. A valve is positioned to control flow from the bottom of the wastewater holding receptacle. The bottom of the holding receptacle is designed to be positioned over a conventional toilet for emptying. A bath water holding tank is positioned above the tub for containing warm bath water therein. A thermometer is mounted on the bath water tank to monitor the temperature of the bath water. A dispenser in the form of a shower head is attached to the bath water tank. The changing station is adapted for secure attachment to a kitchen sink cabinet for convenience and stability. 
     Accordingly, the invention presents a unique bath and changing station that facilitates efficient bathing and changing of a baby. The bath and changing station is mobile to allow quick and easy movement thereof. Provision is made to effectively supply warm, clean water for bathing and to remove soiled water and possible baby excrement to enhance hygiene. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a baby bath station according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view in section of a baby bath station according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is front view in section of a baby bath station according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the baby bath station is generally indicated at  10 . The bath station  10  comprises a housing  12  mounted on legs  14  reinforced by braces  14   a . Swivel casters  14   b  are mounted to the lower end of the legs  14 . The legs  14  and braces  14   a  are preferably fabricated from steel. The housing  12  includes peripheral walls  16  that define an open area  18  having a bottom wall  20 . The open area  18  functions as a tub for bathing or cleaning a baby. Although fiberglass or other plastic is preferred, it should be noted that the housing  12  may be fabricated from any suitable, non-toxic material. The bottom wall  20  slopes from side to side for reasons explained below. A removable air mattress  22  or the like rests on the upper surface of the bottom wall  20  to provide a comfortable support surface for the baby. A drain  24  is disposed at the one side of the bottom wall  20 , the lateral slope of the bottom wall  20  directing wastewater to the drain  24  for removal by pulling a conventional drain plug. The drain  24  opens into a funnel-shaped receptacle  26 . The receptacle  26  is suitably mounted to the housing  12  and receives wastewater from the tub via the drain  24 . The drain  24  is sized (at least 2″ diameter) to handle waste bath water and the baby&#39;s excreta. The receptacle  26  has an outlet opening  26   a  that can be opened or closed by manipulation of a valve  28 . The bath station  10  is designed so that the outlet opening  26   a  is at least 16″ above a horizontal surface or floor. This provides the outlet opening  26   a  with enough clearance to be positioned over a conventional toilet to dump wastewater therein. An opening  30  is disposed adjacent the tub area  18  and is separated therefrom by a transverse wall  16   a . The opening  30  is closed by a removable panel  32 . The opening  30  provides access to the wastewater receptacle  26  when the panel  32  is removed so that the receptacle  26  can be cleaned. Upstanding walls  32   a  are mounted on a portion of the upper surface of the removable panel  32 , forming a tray for soap, towels, sponges, etc. 
     A shelf assembly  34  is removably positioned on the upper surface of the panel  32 . The shelf assembly  34  is adapted to hold baby-bath paraphernalia (lotion, talc, oil, etc.). Mounted atop the shelf assembly  34  is water holding tank  36 . The tank  36  contains warm, clean water for bathing the baby. A hose and shower head  38  are attached to the tank  36  and are adapted to provide gentle spray of water therefrom for bathing. A thermometer  40  is mounted on the tank  36  for monitoring the temperature of the water in the tank  36 . 
     In use, the bath station  10  is moved to a position opposite a kitchen sink cabinet or the like (shown in phantom lines). A clamp mechanism  42  is employed to secure the bath station  10  to the kitchen sink cabinet, providing stability for the bath station  10 . A rubber bumper  44  cushions the contact between the bath station  10  and the kitchen sink cabinet. Warm water is provided for the bathwater tank  36  by any suitable means. The thermometer  40  is utilized to insure that the water in the tank  36  is at a comfortable temperature for the baby. The valve  28  at the opening  26   a  is moved to a closed position and the mattress  22  is disposed on the bottom wall  20 . The baby is now placed in the tub  18  for bathing utilizing spray from the tank  36  via the shower head  38 . Wastewater flows through the drain  24  into the receptacle  26 . After the baby is cleaned, dried and secured in a bassinette or the like, the bath station  10  can be wheeled to a position wherein the outlet  26   a  is disposed over a toilet. The valve  28  is opened and the wastewater flows from the receptacle  26  into the toilet. Removing the panel  32  will provide access to the receptacle  26  for cleaning. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.