Patent Abstract:
A tub defines a volume for receiving a child and holding water in a top side at least when oriented in a reclined position, the tub having a back side, head and foot ends, and first and second arms connected by a front cross member. The first and second arms are pivotally attached to the tub about an axis displaced from the foot end of the tub into at least first and second positions. The front cross member is disposed above, and displaced from, the top side of the tub when the arms are in first position. An elongated member is attached to the front cross member at a first end and extends from the front cross member to a second end having a foot disposed below the foot end of the tub and adapted to engage a smooth surface. The elongated member extends toward the foot end of the tub to provide a passive crotch restraint for a child received by the tub when the arms are in first position.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/120,934, filed Jul. 22, 1998, entitled “Bathtub-Bathseat”, which is hereby incorporated fully by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a bathtub and bathseat combination and in particular to an apparatus for use interchangeably in a bathtub configuration and a bathseat configuration. 
     Children&#39;s bathtubs allow persons to bathe a child in a manner in which the child is safe and comfortable. These bathtubs are typically adapted to fit within an adult-sized bathtub, or even a sink. Persons can place the children&#39;s bathtub into the adult bathtub or the sink, fill the children&#39;s bathtub with water, put the child into the children&#39;s bathtub, and bathe the child. 
     Bathseats can also be used to bathe the child, with the child positioned in a seated, upright position. Typically, these seats are used for children that are at least a few months old and have enough neck strength to support their heads. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, in one aspect, the invention features an apparatus including a tub adapted to receive a child and to hold water in a top side at least when oriented in a reclined position, the tub having a back side, a head end, and a foot end, a first arm portion and a second arm portion connected by a front cross member, the first and second arm portions each being pivotally attached to the tub about an axis displaced from the foot end of the tub into at least first and second positions, the front cross member being disposed above, and displaced from, the top side of the tub when the arm portions are in the first position, and an elongated member attached to the front cross member at a first end and extending from the front cross member to a second end having a foot disposed below the foot end of the tub and adapted to engage a smooth surface, the elongated member extending toward the foot end of the tub to provide a passive crotch restraint for a child received by the tub when the arm portions are in the first position. 
     Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The apparatus can further comprise a third arm portion connected to the first arm portion and a fourth arm portion connected to the second arm portion, the third and fourth arm portions extending from the first and second arm portions behind the back side of the tub and toward the head end of the tub when the first and second arm portions are in the second position. The apparatus can further comprise a rear cross member connecting the third and fourth arm portions to form a rear support. The rear support can include a pair of feet adapted to engage the bathtub floor. The front cross member can be disposed adjacent to the top side of the tub near the foot end when the first and second arm portions are in the second position. The tub can define a hole near the foot end for slidably receiving the elongated member. The apparatus can further comprise a coupling adapted to secure the first arm portion to the tub when the first arm portion is in the second position to prevent rotation of the first arm portion toward the first position when a torque less than a predetermined torque is applied to the first arm portion relative to the tub. The coupling can be further adapted to substantially prevent rotation of the first arm portion when the first arm portion is in the first position. The tub, the arm portions, and the elongated member can be arranged to be received by a kitchen sink or an adult-sized bathtub. 
     In general, in another aspect, the invention features an apparatus adapted to receive a child and to be pivoted between a bathtub position and a bathseat position, the apparatus including a tub having a front side and a rear side, the front side adapted to receive a child and to hold water, the tub further having a head end and a foot end and defining an opening near the foot end, a support including a pair of arm portions, a first cross member, and a second cross member, each arm portion being selectively pivotally coupled to the tub to a bathtub position and a bathseat position, the first cross member connecting arm portions above the front side of the tub when the arm portions are in the bathseat position, the second cross member connecting the arm portions behind the rear side of the tub in both the bathtub and bathseat positions, the support including a pair of feet disposed behind the rear side of the tub and adapted to be mounted to a smooth surface, and a leg depending from the first cross member and configured to be slidably received by the hole in the tub, the leg including a foot displaced from the first cross member and adapted to be mounted to the smooth surface, wherein feet of the support and the foot of the leg are adapted to be received by a kitchen sink. 
     In general, in another aspect, the invention features an infant bathseat including a tub having a bottom surface and raised side, head and foot portions defining a volume for containing water when the tub is in a reclining position with the head and foot portions positioned above the bottom surface, an arm portion on each side of the tub extending toward the foot portion and extending below the tub adjacent the, each arm portion being pivotally connected to the tub between the foot and the head portions, whereby on rotation of the arm portions away from the tub, the tub is raised from a reclining to a seating position with the head portion elevated above the foot portion, a cross member connecting the arm portions near the foot portion, and a support member extending vertically downward from the cross member and with the tub in a seating position forming a passive restraint for a child when seated in the bathseat. 
     Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The arm portions can be disposed above the foot portion when the tub is in the seating position. The arm portion can be fixedly attached to a shaft having a generally dumbbell shape, and the tub can include a hub defining a slot in communication with a circular hole, the hole being adapted to rotatably receive the shaft, the slot being adapted to slidably receive the shaft when the length of the dumbbell shape is directed along the length of the shaft. The arms and the cross member are integrally connected. 
     Embodiments of the invention may provide one or more of the following advantages. A single apparatus can be used as both a bathtub and a bathseat. Accidental movement of an apparatus from a bathseat configuration to a bathtub configuration can be inhibited. An arm portion of a combined bathtub-bathseat can be selectively pivoted and locked. A single apparatus can adapt to changing needs of the child and the child&#39;s parents as the child grows. An apparatus can be stably mounted or attached to a bathtub. Other advantages will become apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bathtub-bathseat, in a bathseat position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bathtub-bathseat, shown in FIG. 1, in a reclining bathtub position. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the bathtub-bathseat shown in FIGS. 1-2. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the left side of a tub of the bathtub-bathseat shown in FIGS. 1-2. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a rod shown schematically in FIG. 3, as indicated by a line  5 — 5  in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an arm and a portion of the tub shown in FIG. 2 as indicated by a line  6 — 6  in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6A is a plan view of the left side of a tub of the bathtub-bathseat shown in FIGS. 1-2 with a portion of the tub removed to shown a vane of the tub. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a rod in a key-hole for the bathtub-bathseat in the position shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a rod in a key-hole for the bathtub-bathseat in the position shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 is a left side view of the bathtub-bathseat, shown in FIG. 1, in an assembly position. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a rod in a key-hole for the bathtub-bathseat in an assembly position shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a support and a portion of the tub of the bathtub-bathseat in the bathseat position. 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a support and a portion of the tub of the bathtub-bathseat in the bathtub position. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bathtub-bathseat shown in FIG. 1 mounted in an adult-sized bathtub. 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of the bathtub-bathseat shown in FIG. 2 mounted in a sink. 
     FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative shape of a rod of the bathtub-bathseat shown in FIGS.  1 - 2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention provides an apparatus that can be used as a bathtub for bathing an infant and converted for use as a bathseat for bathing a child. The apparatus can be locked into the bathseat configuration to help guard against the apparatus accidentally shifting from the bathseat configuration to the bathtub configuration. The apparatus can be securely attached or mounted to the floor or hubs  55  of an adult-sized bathtub or attached or mounted at least partially within a sink. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-2, a bathtub-bathseat assembly  10  includes a tub or basin  12 , a substantially rectangular (see FIG. 3) arm  14  including two sides  16  and  18  connected by cross members  20  and  22 , and a front support  24 . Assembly  10  can be positioned in either the bathseat position, shown in FIG. 1, or the bathtub position, shown in FIG.  2 . Assembly  10  is configured to be placed in a sink or placed within an adult-sized bathtub and mounted to the floor of the adult-sized bathtub. Rounded edges and corners of assembly  10  help prevent injury. 
     Tub  12  has a bottom wall  26  and side walls  28  and  30  (see FIG. 4) that provide a volume  32 . Volume  32  is configured for receiving a child. Bottom wall  26  is contoured to accommodate a child and includes a bottom/back rest  34 . Rest  34  includes a top portion  36  adapted so that an infant can sit on top portion  36 . Rest  34  also includes a front portion  38  adapted to provide back support to a child sitting on a surface region  40  (not shown in FIG. 2) of bottom wall  26 . Bottom wall  26  is integrally connected to side walls  28  and  30  such that tub  12  is adapted to hold water in volume  32 , especially when in the bathtub position. A drainage hole  33  is provided through bottom wall  26  (FIG.  3 ). 
     Referring to FIG. 3, tub  12  has a head end  42  and a foot end  44 . At foot end  42 , a ledge  46  provides a recess  48  and includes an upwardly directed tab  50 . Ledge  46  and a foot end portion of bottom wall  26  also provide a hole  52  through ledge  46  and bottom wall  26 . 
     Referring also to FIG. 4, tub  12  provides key holes  54  (only one is shown in FIG. 4) in exterior portions of each side of tub  12 . Key holes  54  do not extend through side walls  28  and  30  of tub  12 . Each key hole  54  has an upper circular hole  56 , centered along an axis  64 , and a lower slot  58  in fluid communication with hole  56 . As shown in FIG. 4, slot  58  has a width  60  relatively smaller than a diameter  62  of hole  56 . Key holes  54  are located along the sides of tub  12  closer to foot end  44  than to head end  42 . 
     Arm  14  includes two sets of discs  66  and  68  integrally connected by shafts  70  (schematically shown in FIG. 3) that are adapted to be received by key holes  54 . Discs  66  and  68  and shafts  70  are centered on an axis  72 . Shafts  70  are configured to be slidingly received by slots  58  of key holes  54  in tub  12  and to be rotatingly received within holes  56  in key holes  54 . As shown in FIG. 5, shaft  70  includes a plurality of ribs  76  arranged to effectively provide two flat sides indicated by lines  78  and two rounded ends  80 . Flat sides  78  are separated by a distance  82  approximately equal to, but slightly smaller than width  60  of slot  58  in tub  12 . Rounded ends  80  effectively provide the curvature of a circle  84  having a diameter  86  approximately equal to, but slightly less than, diameter  62  of hole  56  in tub  12  and larger than width  60  of slot  58 . Shafts  70  are schematically shown as rectangles with rounded ends in FIGS. 3,  7 - 8 , and  10 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, a ramp surface  74  is disposed adjacent the periphery of each disc  68 . Ramp  74  has a thin end  88  and a thick end  90 , with a flat top portion  92 . 
     Returning to FIGS. 1-2, arm  14  is pivotally connected to tub  12  for movement about axis  64 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, tub  12  includes vanes  94  (only one shown) forming part of key holes  54  (FIGS.  3 - 4 ). As shown in FIG. 6A (partially cut away with the portion of tub  12  shown in FIGS. 3-4 forming part of key holes  54  removed), vane  94  has a semicircular cutout  96  of the same diameter  62  as hole  56  (FIG. 4) and is centered along axis  64 . FIG. 6 shows the relationship of discs  66  and  68 , and shaft  70  of arm  14 , to tub  12 . As shown, side  16  of arm  14  is disposed adjacent to tub  12  and, in particular, to a wall  100  (see also FIGS. 3-4) of tub  12  forming part of key hole  54 . Disc  66  is disposed adjacent to an opposite side of wall  100  from side  16 . Vane  94  is disposed between discs  66  and  68 . Shaft  70  extends through hole  56  and cutout  96  (FIG.  6 A). Vane  94  has a rib  98  disposed and configured to interfere with ramp  74  (FIGS. 3 and 5) when arm  14  is pivoted about axis  64 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, arm  14  is shaped and connected to tub  12  such that cross member  20  is disposed in front of tub  12  and cross member  22  is disposed behind tub  12 . Side  16  has a somewhat “Z” shape when viewed from the left side of assembly  10  and side  18  has a somewhat “S” shape when viewed from the right side of assembly  10 . Cross member  20  includes posts  106  (only one is shown in FIG. 3) in a trough  102  for receiving a toy  104  (FIGS.  1 - 2 ). A hole  118  is provided in the bottom of trough  102  to allow liquid to drain. Forward of hole  118 , shown in FIG. 3 with a portion of cross member  20  cut away, are two posts  120  (only one of which is (schematically) shown). 
     Referring to FIG. 3, front support  24  includes a base  124  and a lever  126 . Two holes  122  (only one shown in FIG. 3) in base  124  are sized to pivotally receive posts  120  of arm  14 . Lever  126  includes two posts  125  (only one (schematically) shown in FIG. 3) adapted to be received by holes  127  in base  124 . Lever  126  has a top end  121  and a middle section  119  that are configured to be inserted through hole  52  in tub  12  and a bottom end  123  that is larger than hole  52 . Lever  126  is coupled to base  124  by a spring  128  and is pivotally received about holes  127  in an opening  130  in base  124 . Spring  128  is received by a tube (not shown) inside opening  130  of base  124  and receives a rod (not shown) extending from lever  126 . Spring  128  biases lever  126  to rotate about the center axis of holes  127 . Lever  126  includes an upwardly-extending tab  132  to interfere with an end wall  134  of opening  130  in base  124 . Lever  126  also includes a downwardly-extending tab  142  configured to be received by recess  48  in cross member  20  of tub  12 . Tab  142  extends downwardly further than tab  50  of tub  12  extends upwardly plus the depth of recess  48 . 
     Suction cups are attached to the bottoms of arm  14  and front support  24  for attaching to the floor of an adult-sized bathtub. Two suction cups  108  and  110  are mounted to the bottoms of junction  112  and  114  between cross member  22  and sides  16  and  18 , respectively. A suction cup  116  is mounted to the bottom of base  124 . The locations of the suction cups  108 ,  110 , and  116 , as shown, provides stability to assembly  10  when, e.g., mounted, attached, or rested on a surface such as a bathtub floor. 
     A plug  136  is received by drainage hole  33 . Tabs  138  interfere with a bracket  140  (see also FIG. 2) on the bottom of tub  12  to inhibit rotation of plug  136  when received by hole  33 . 
     Assembly  10  is assembled as follows. Front support  24  is assembled by placing spring  128  in the tube inside base  124  and inserting lever  126  into opening  130 . Lever  126  is inserted such that posts  125  are received by holes  127  and spring  128  is received by the rod extending from lever  126 . Suction cup  116  is attached to the bottom of base  124 . Suction cups  108  and  110  are attached to the bottoms of junctions  112  and  114  of arm  14 . The top of support  24  is inserted through hole  52  in tub  12  and base  124  coupled to arm  14  with holes  122  of base  124  receiving posts  120  of arm  14 . As shown in FIG. 9, arm  14  is rotated substantially perpendicular to tub  12  and slid over tub  12  as indicated by arrow  144  and up as indicated by arrow  146  such that shafts  70  have their flat edges  148  aligned parallel to the walls of slots  58 , allowing key holes  54  to receive shafts  70  as shown in FIG.  10 . Axis  72  of arm  14  thus is substantially aligned with axis  64  of holes  56 . Arm  14  is rotated as indicated by arrow  150  in FIG. 8 toward the bathseat position shown in FIG. 1, with shaft  70  rotating to its bathseat position as shown in FIG.  8 . Ramp  74  (FIGS. 3 and 5) ramps over rib  94  on disc  68 . Thick end  90  of ramp  74  inhibits rotation in a direction  190  opposite to direction  150 , thus inhibiting edges  148  of shafts  70  from realigning with slots  58 . Arm  14  is thus inhibited from being removed from tub  12 . Toy  104  is inserted into trough  102  with toy  104  being received by posts  106 . Plug  136  is inserted into drainage hole  33 . 
     In operation, assembly  10  can be positioned and used interchangeably in a bathseat configuration (FIG. 1) and a bathtub configuration (FIG.  2 ). 
     With assembly  10  in the bathseat position, shaft  70  is in the position shown in FIG. 8, and front support  24  is in the position shown in FIG. 11 (arm  14  not shown in FIG.  11 ). Front support  24  extends downwardly from cross member  20  through hole  52  of tub  12  to provide a passive crotch restraint for a child seated in volume  32  provided by tub  12 . As shown in FIG. 11, bottom end  123  of support  24  is not inserted up through hole  52  in tub  12 , bottom end  123  being unable to fit through hole  123 . This helps prevent arm  14  from being rotated such that edges  148  of shafts  70  realign with slots  58 , thus inhibiting disassembly of arm  14  from tub  12 . Downwardly-extending tab  142  is received by recess  48  in tub  12 . Cross members  20  and  22  are separated from tub  12 . 
     In the bathseat position, as shown in FIG. 13, assembly  10  can be mounted in an adult-sized bathtub  160  (shown schematically and out of scale). Suction cups  108 ,  110 , and  116  (FIG. 3) removably connect assembly  10  to the floor of the tub  160 , with sides  16  and  18  (not shown in FIG. 11) and cross member  22  providing support to assembly  10 . The tub  160  can be filled with water and a child placed in volume  32  as shown. The child sits on region  40  with the child&#39;s lower back resting against front portion  38  of rest  34  and the child&#39;s legs extending through openings  162  and  164  (FIG. 1) between front support  24 , cross member  20 , ledge  46  of tub  12 , and sides of the tub  12 . Front support  24  serves as a passive crotch restraint in this position. 
     Assembly  10  can be repositioned from the bathseat position to the bathtub position. The child in volume  32  should be removed, and water in volume  32  drained by opening plug  136 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 11, cross member  20  is separated from tub  12 , lifting tab  142  from recess  48  as indicated by arrow  166  in FIG.  11 . (The weight of a child in volume  32  will inhibit separating cross member  20  from tub  12 .) Front support  24  is squeezed to push lever  126  into opening  130 . Tabs  142  and  50  and a wall of recess  48  inhibit lever  126  from being pushed into opening  130  unless front support  24  is moved upward in direction  166  to remove tab  142  from recess  48 . Cross member  20  is brought close to ledge  46 , such that support  24  moves through hole  52  in tub  12  in direction  168  shown in FIG. 12, until arm  14  (shown schematically in FIG. 12) interferes with tub  12 . Shaft  70  rotates in direction  150  until it reaches its bathtub position shown in FIG.  7 . 
     In the bathtub position, as shown in FIG. 14, assembly  10  can be mounted in a sink  170  (e.g., disposed in a counter  174 ). Tub  12  can be filled with water and an infant placed in volume  32  as shown with substantially the infant&#39;s entire body, including legs, being received by volume  32 . The infant sits on top portion  36  and uses the portion of bottom  26  between top portion  36  and head end  42  as a back rest. In the bathtub position, cross member  20  is adjacent foot end  44  of tub  12  and cross member  22  is closer to head end  42  of tub  12  than when in the bathseat position (FIG.  1 ). 
     To move assembly  10  from the bathtub position to the bathseat position, cross member  20  is separated from tub  12 . The infant should be removed, and the water drained by opening plug  136 . Separating cross member  20  from tub  12  causes shaft  70  to rotate in direction  190  as indicated in FIG.  7  and causes lever  126  to rub against a wall  172  (FIG. 12) of hole  52 , causing lever  126  to be pushed into opening  130 . When tab  142  is disposed higher than tab  50 , spring  128  pushes lever  126  away from base  124 . Tab  132  on lever  126  hits wall  134  and stops pivoting of lever  126 . Support  24  is lowered such that tab  142  is received by recess  28 . Shaft  70  is again in its bathseat position shown in FIG.  8 . 
     Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, a dumbbell-shaped shaft  180  shown in FIG. 15 can be used instead of shaft  70 . Hole  56  can rotatably receive shaft  180  if the length of the shaft  180  is aligned with the length of slot  58 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 0