Patent Publication Number: US-11395564-B1

Title: Expanding infant bathtub

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     The disclosed technology relates generally to a infant to toddler bathtub, and more specifically to a bathtub with an expandable structure for growing infants. including multiple water level plugs to control the maximize level of water allowed into structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The purpose of using a baby bath tub is that they prevent slippage from your baby, and come with a contoured head rest that allows your child&#39;s head to remain above water level. Most of these baby bath tubs also contain a newborn sling and a drain plug. avoid dangers of drowning. Also, baby bathtub makes bath time easier for moms who can stand over the kitchen sink rather than sit uncomfortably on the bathroom floor tub side. The kitchen and bathroom sink have to scrubbed before every bath, requiring more prep time. However, as infants mature, they outgrow the normal bath structure before they are large enough for a normal bathtub. Parents may thus be forced to purchase several infant bathtubs for a single infant, which may be unnecessarily expensive. 
     Thus, there is a need for an infant bathtub which may be resized to accommodate infant growth and have safety features to prevent drowning. This and other problems are solved by embodiments of the disclosed technology, as described below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     An expanding bathtub of embodiments of the disclosed technology includes a base, two end walls, two side walls, and an accordion structure within each of the two side walls. The two side walls are connected at either end to one of the two end walls. Each accordion structure within each of the two side walls includes at least two configurations: a first configuration, in which the accordion structure is collapsed, and a second configuration, in which the accordion structure expanded. The two side walls are water tight at the accordion structure in both configurations and the accordion structure expands to accommodate the growth of the infant and/or a person bath at one time. 
     The expanding bathtub may further include a plurality of portals on either side of the accordion structure of each respective wall of the two side walls. These portals, in embodiments, are arranged in horizontal rows such that each of the horizontal rows are at different heights relative to one another. In various embodiments, every portal of said portals is sealable with a plug and/or a slidable cover, forming a water-tight seal. 
     In various embodiments, each accordion structure is repeatedly removable and re-attachable by hand from at least one side of a respective side wall of the two side walls, creating a half tub open on one horizontal side when the accordion structure is removed therefrom. 
     In embodiments, the accordion structures are expandable and collapsible in a horizontal direction. 
     The expanding bathtub may further include a lower accordion structure, which forms a continuous and unitary piece with the accordion structure within each of the two side walls, the lower accordion structure being located within the base of the bathtub. The lower accordion structure may be collapsed in the first configuration and expanded in the second configuration. The base may be water-tight at the lower accordion structure in both configurations. 
     The base may further include at least one portal in the base, which may be sealable with a plug and/or a slidable cover. 
     The expanding bathtub may further include a pair of raised ridges within the base. Each ridge, in some embodiments, is adjacent to a respective side of, parallel to, the lower accordion structure. 
     The expanding bathtub, in some embodiments, includes a removably attachable seam between the base and the side walls and/or the end walls. It may further include a removably attachable seam vertically bisecting each of said end walls. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the lower accordion structure is removable, creating a seat comprising a side wall of the two side walls and a portion of the base. 
     Stated differently, an expanding bathtub of embodiments of the disclosed technology, has a base, two end walls, and two side walls. Each side wall has an accordion structure comprising at least two configurations, wherein the first configuration is with each accordion structure collapsed and the second configuration is with each accordion structure expanded. Each end wall may include two symmetrical portions. Each of these symmetrical portions, in some embodiments, is connected to another symmetrical portion at a first end thereof and to a respective side of a respective side wall at a second end thereof. 
     The base, in embodiments, includes two substantially identical side portions and a middle portion. The middle portion may include an accordion structure. The middle portion may further have two symmetrical portions. Each of a first end and a second end of each symmetrical portion may be parallel to a ridge of the accordion structure. 
     In some embodiments, each of the base, the portions thereof, the two end walls, the portions thereof, and the two side walls is removably attachable to the other components. 
     A method of using the above-described expanding bathtub includes steps of expanding the expanding bathtub into an expanded configuration by way of applying force along a horizontal axis thereof in a first direction, and condensing the expanding bathtub into a condensed configuration by way of applying force along the horizontal axis in a second direction. The second direction is substantially opposite of the first direction. 
     A separate method of using the above-described expanding bathtub includes steps of removably detaching a symmetrical portion of a first end wall, a contiguous symmetrical portion of the middle portion of the base, and a contiguous symmetrical portion of a second end wall; and then removably attaching the removed symmetrical portion of the first end wall, the contiguous symmetrical portion of the middle portion of the base, and the contiguous symmetrical portion of the second end wall. The method further includes the steps of removably detaching a first end wall, a contiguous side portion of the base, and the middle portion of the base; and then removably attaching the first end wall, the contiguous side portion of the base, and the middle portion of the base. 
     Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise or consist of that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a top and side perspective view of an expanding bathtub of embodiments of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a front elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a top plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a bottom plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a right elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a top and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration. 
         FIG. 8  shows a bottom and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration. 
         FIG. 9  shows a top plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration. 
         FIG. 10  shows a bottom plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration. 
         FIG. 11  shows a front elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration. 
         FIG. 12  shows a top and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
         FIG. 13  shows a bottom and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
         FIG. 14  shows a front elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
         FIG. 15  shows a top plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
         FIG. 16  shows a bottom plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
         FIG. 17  shows a right side elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
         FIG. 18  shows a left side elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     An expanding bathtub of embodiments of the disclosed technology includes a base, two side walls, and two end walls. Each of the two side walls and the base includes an accordion structure such that the expanding bathtub is expandable between a first, horizontally-compressed configuration and a second, horizontally-expanded configuration. A plurality of sealable and unsealable plugs are located within the side walls, the end walls, and/or the base. Each of the accordion structures, side walls, and end walls is removably connected to various adjacent components of the expanding bathtub. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become more clear in view of the following discussion of the figures. 
       FIG. 1  shows a top and side perspective view of an expanding bathtub of embodiments of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 2  shows a top and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  shows a front elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 . An expanding bathtub  1  includes two sidewalls  20  with accordion structures  10  connected to a first side thereof and with an endwall  30  connected to a second side thereof. One and/or both of the endwalls  30 , in various embodiments, includes a handle. Each accordion structure  10  is opposite the other. Each of the accordion structures  10 , sidewalls  20 , and endwalls  30  are connected at a bottommost edge thereof to an edge of a base. The base includes a lower accordion structure  40 . The lower accordion structure  40  is connected at a first pair of opposite edges thereof to respective edges of two base portions  50 , and at a second pair of opposite edges thereof to a lowermost edge of a respective accordion structure  10 . In various embodiments, each of the accordion structures  10  and the lower accordion structure  40  form a unitary structure. In other embodiments, Each accordion structure  10  forms a unitary structure with a portion of the lower accordion structure  40 . 
     In other embodiments, the expanding bathtub  1  has two removably attachable sidewalls and a base. Each of the two removably attachable sidewalls includes, in order, a first wall portion  25 , an accordion structure  10 , and a second wall portion  25 . Each of the two removably attachable sidewalls is connected to the other at two outermost, opposite edges thereof. Each of the two removably attachable sidewalls is furthermore connected at a bottommost edge thereof to a portion of the base. Each of the first wall portion  25  and the second wall portion  25  of each respective removably attachable sidewall is attached at a bottommost edge thereof to an edge of a respective base portion  50 . Each respective accordion structure  10  of each respective removably attachable sidewall is connected at a bottommost edge thereof to an edge of the lower accordion structure  40 . 
     In various embodiments, the expanding bathtub  1  includes some, all, or none of a plurality of sealable plugs  60 ,  70 ,  80 . The plugs  60 ,  70 ,  80  are sealable, in embodiments, by way of caps, plugs, or any other cover which may be removed and replaced at least 1000 times without being substantially damaged. The plugs  60 ,  70 ,  80 , when sealed, are substantially water-tight, such that substantially no water passes there-through unless punctured. 
     The plurality of sealable plugs  60  are located within at least one sidewall  20 , and some sealable plugs  60  of the plurality of sealable plugs  60  are located at various vertical heights therein. The sealable plugs  60  are designed such that when the expandable bathtub  1  is at rest on its base for a substantial amount of time (at least 1 hour) and only sealable plugs  60  are unsealed, a water level within the bathtub  1  is equal to or lower than a height of a lowest unsealed plug  60 . 
     The plurality of sealable plugs  70 , which includes, in various embodiments, one or more sealable plugs  70 , is located within at least one endwall  30 . In some embodiments, the sealable plugs  70  of the plurality of sealable plugs  70  are located at various vertical heights within the at least one endwall  30 . The sealable plugs  70  are designed such that when the expandable bathtub  1  is at rest on its base for a substantial amount of time (at least 1 hour) and only sealable plugs  70  are unsealed, a water level within the bathtub  1  is equal to or lower than a height of a lowest unsealed plug  70 . 
     The plurality of sealable plugs  80 , which includes, in various embodiments, one or more sealable plugs  80 , is located within at least one base portion  50 . The sealable plugs  80  are designed such that when the expandable bathtub  1  is at rest while flat on its base for a substantial amount of time (at least 1 hour) and sealable plugs  80  are unsealed, substantially no water remains within the bathtub  1 . 
     In the embodiment shown, a lowermost surface of the bathtub  1  includes a lowermost portion and/or portions of the lower accordion structure  40  and/or lower ridges  120  of the base  50  of the bathtub  1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a top plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  shows a bottom plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  shows a right elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1 . Each respective base portion  50  includes a respective base ridge  90 . Each base ridge  90  has an apex portion which is furthest from a floor of the respective base portion  50 . In the embodiment shown, each base ridge  90  is hollow. In various other embodiments, each base ridge  90  is solid and/or a bottom-most surface of each base portion  50  is substantially flat. An apex of a base ridge  90 , in the embodiment shown, is horizontally closer to an edge of the base ridge  90  which is adjacent to a closest edge of the base accordion  40 . 
     Each respective base portion  50  includes a respective base cushion  150 . In the embodiment shown, each base cushion  150  is substantially in a rounded triangular shape, where a “rounded triangular shape” is defined as “a shape with three substantially straight edges connected at ends thereof by rounded corners.” Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, a longest edge of each base cushion  150  is substantially of a same length as a most-adjacent edge of a closest base ridge  90 . In other embodiments, each base cushion  150  is of substantially any size and/or placement which fits onto a respective base portion  50  while leaving a respective base ridge  90  uncovered. 
     In the embodiment shown, each horizontal cross-section of the bathtub  1  is substantially in a shape of an oval, where “oval” is defined as “having a rounded and slightly elongated outline or shape.” In other embodiments, each horizontal cross-section of the bathtub  1  is in any substantially rounded shape. 
       FIG. 7  shows a top and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration.  FIG. 8  shows a bottom and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration.  FIG. 9  shows a top plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration.  FIG. 10  shows a bottom plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration.  FIG. 11  shows a front elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in an expanded configuration. 
     Each of the side accordions  10  and the base accordion  40  are expandable in a horizontal direction, where “expandable” is defined as “deformable in a horizontal direction, such that the accordion can be restored to its compressed structure.” 
     The lower ridge  120  of the expanding bathtub  1  includes two portions, substantially corresponding to a respective base portion  50 . Thus, in the embodiment shown, in the expanded configuration, the lower ridge  120  is divided into a right-side lower ridge and a left-side lower ridge. 
     Each end wall  30 , in the embodiment shown, includes an end cushion  100 . Each end cushion is rounded, but in other embodiments, each end cushion may be in any shape. 
     Each side wall  20  includes two side cushions  110  on a top edge thereof. Each side cushion  110  is on a portion of the top edge of the side wall  20  most-adjacent to a respective side of a respective side accordion  10 . Each side cushion  110  is on a portion of the top side, inner side, and outer side of a respective side wall  20 . 
     Each base cushion  150 , end cushion  100 , and side cushion  110  may be removably attachable and detachable. 
       FIG. 12  shows a top and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration.  FIG. 13  shows a bottom and side perspective view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration.  FIG. 14  shows a front elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
     A combination of two most-adjacent portions  25  of two opposite sidewalls  20 , an end wall  30  located there-between, and a base portion  50  located there-between are removable, where “removable” is defined as “capable of being detached and reattached in a same place at least 1000 times without being substantially deformed.” These portions may thus be removed to form a seat configuration. The bathtub  1  can thus be separated into at least three components: A first portion in a seat configuration (from a horizontally-rightward side of the bathtub  1 ), a second portion in a seat configuration (from a horizontally-leftward side of the bathtub  1 ), and a middle portion (including the two side accordions  10  and the base accordion  40 ). 
     Each end wall  30  of each respective seat configuration, in the embodiment shown, includes a cutout handle. Each end cushion  100  further includes a cutout handle in a corresponding location. In other embodiments, one and/or both end wall(s)  30  includes a handle, whether cutout or extruded. 
       FIG. 15  shows a top plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration.  FIG. 16  shows a bottom plan view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration.  FIG. 17  shows a right side elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration.  FIG. 18  shows a left side elevation view of the expanding bathtub of  FIG. 1  in a detached configuration. 
     The expandable bathtub  1  may further be detachable and reattachable at an edge between a perimeter of the base portion  50  and a lower edge of each respective side wall  20  and each respective end wall  30 . The expandable bathtub  1  may further be detachable and reattachable at a vertical seam bisecting each respective end wall  30 . The expandable bathtub  1  may further be detachable and reattachable at a seam bisecting each base portion  50  and the base accordion  40 . The expandable bathtub  1  may further be detachable and reattachable at an edge between a perimeter of the base accordion  40  and a lower edge of each respective side accordion  10 . 
     For purposes of this disclosure, the term “substantially” is defined as “at least 95% of” the term which it modifies. 
     Any device or aspect of the technology can “comprise” or “consist of” the item it modifies, whether explicitly written as such or otherwise. 
     When the term “or” is used, it creates a group which has within either term being connected by the conjunction as well as both terms being connected by the conjunction. 
     While the disclosed technology has been disclosed with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods and apparatuses described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention.