Abstract:
A method and system for reducing space in a standardized tub thereby reducing the amount of water needed to provide sufficient depth to give a bath to a child, small adult, or an animal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/503,062 filed Jun. 30, 2011 entitled “Tub Barrier”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth fully herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention is directed generally to a method and system for reducing space in a standardized tub thereby reducing the amount of water needed to provide sufficient depth to give a bath to a child, a small adult, or an animal. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Tubs in homes generally have fairly standardized shapes and sizes. Tubs are generally configured to allow a full size adult when sitting or reclining to be substantially immersed in the water. Today, most adults use showers instead of taking a bath in a bathtub. The most common use of a tub in a home is to give a child or an animal a bath. Given the size difference between adults and most children and animals, rarely does the complete length of a tub need to be used in bathing children and animals. However, the tub must still be filled to a sufficient depth of water across its entire length, which requires many gallons of heated water. In many areas throughout the world, the amount of water available for use is restricted or is very expensive, creating a desire to conserve water whenever possible. In addition, heated water is expensive. As to date, there has been no easy and convenient method and system to give children or animals bathes using less water, particularly less heated water while still maintaining a sufficient depth for an effective and pleasurable bath experience. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed generally to a method and system for reducing water volume in a standardized tub, required for bathing a child, small adult or an animal while still providing sufficient depth of water for a pleasurable bath experience. 
         [0007]    The present invention uses a barrier or tub wall that may be inserted at any point along the tub that forms to most shapes of standardized tubs. The barrier removably seals to the inner surface of the tub with a substantially waterproof seal thereby reducing the amount of length of the tub that will be filled with water. Such a reduction in length of the tub being filled with water also allows a reduction in the amount of water required to fill the desired portion of the tub with water to a sufficient desired depth. In many cases, the use of the present invention may allow a user to cut or reduce water usage by up to 70%. 
         [0008]    The present invention is further directed to a barrier for a tub having a seal having a lower cross portion, side portions, and an intersection portion located between said cross portion and each side portion and wherein said seal includes at least one integral cavity extending through one of said side portions, one of said intersection portions and at least partially into said lower cross portion; and a center portion having an outer extent and wherein said outer extent is bounded on at least three sides by said seal. The cavity may also extend without interruption through said lower cross portion, each of said intersection portions and each of said side portions, such that only a single cavity exists. 
         [0009]    The center portion includes an upper edge coupled to an upper support capable of extending beyond said side portions. The upper support is configured to engage the tub walls, and may be spring loaded. The upper support may include at least one of suction cups and bumpers, or other mechanisms capable of frictionally securing the barrier to the walls of the tub. 
         [0010]    The cross portion and side portions may be displaced from one another, along the longitudinal extent of the tub, to create a concave/convex shape. The seal may include a spout opening allowing said cavity to be filled with water or other materials by the user, and allows the barrier to be folded and packed away in a minimum amount of space. The spout opening may be sealable, and configured such that when inserted, the water is above the opening of the spout. 
         [0011]    The center portion may include an upper edge having an upper rib including a rib cavity and wherein said rib cavity is configured to float in water. In some examples, the seal includes a flat baffle extending therefrom and wherein the flat baffle is configured to engage the tub. The seal may include at least three flat baffles, such as at least one extending from each of the cross portion and the sides. In some examples, the flat baffle may include suction cups. 
         [0012]    The center portion and said seal may be integrally formed from a single sheet of material, or integrally formed from two sheets of material pressed together, with the cavity included. To prevent overfilling, the center portion may include overflow outlets. 
         [0013]    The spout opening on the side portions may be spaced a distance from the cross portion and wherein the overflow outlets are located within the distance on the center portion, between the spout openings and the cross portion. 
         [0014]    If the center section is not integrally formed with the seal, the seal may include one of a slot for receiving said center portion, or an attachment rib wherein the center portion is sealingly coupled to the attachment rib. 
     
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an exemplary assembled barrier having a center portion and a seal; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of the exemplary seal from  FIG. 1  for use with the barrier; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary barrier installed into a bathtub using suction cups; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary barrier; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary plug used in the barrier in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary sheet used in the barrier in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the barrier in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary seal used in the barrier in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary center position used in the barrier in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary barrier installed in a tub; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the barrier in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an exemplary barrier; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a partial cross sectional view of the barrier in  FIG. 12 , along lines  13 - 13  of the insert sheet in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an exemplar seal; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view of the seal in  FIG. 14 , along lines  15 - 15 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]    The present invention is generally directed to a tub wall or barrier  10  for insertion into a tub  2 . The tub  2  generally has a longitudinal extent along its length and a lateral extent along its width. The barrier  10  is configured to be installed in the tub  2 , aligned with the lateral extent. The tub  2  has a floor  4  and sidewalls  6  meeting at an edge  8 , having a radiused curve. The height of the sidewall  6 , width of the floor  4 , the curve of the edge  8 , angle of the sidewalls  6  relative to the floor  4  and to each other may vary between tubs  2 . However, substantially, all tubs  2  have dimensions that are sized within a desirable range to fit average sized adults and fit within standard spaces in residential construction. The barrier  10  is configured for easy installation in such tubs  2 . 
         [0031]    The barrier  10  generally has a center sheet  70  and a seal  20  that are substantially formed in the cross sectional shape of the tub  2 . The center sheet  70  and seal  20  may be formed in a variety of sizes, shapes and configurations as illustrated in the Figures. For example, the barrier  10  may be formed from an integral center section  70  and seal  20 , or a center section or sheet  70  that is inserted into a slot on a seal wherein the seal  20  engages the tub sidewalls  6  and floor  4  upon installation. 
         [0032]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the center sheet  70  may have a rib stiffener  72  at the upper end and may also have overflow outlets  74  as illustrated on the edges of the center sheet  70  near the seal  20  in  FIG. 1 . The rib stiffer  72  may be formed integrally with the center portion  70 , in part or in whole, or be separately attached member. 
         [0033]    The seal  20 , illustrated in  FIG. 1 , has a sealing edge  24  opposite the slot  22 . The sealing edge  24  may be configured in any desired configuration capable of sealing to the sidewalls  6 . The illustrated sealing edge in  FIG. 2  includes indentions  26  to improve sealing to the sidewalls  6 . The seal  20  may further include a cavity  28  that may be configured to allow the seal  20  to closely mold to the sidewalls  6 . 
         [0034]    The barrier  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  without the seal  20  to show an upper support  30 , holding at least the center portion  70  at the upper edge  76  to the tub walls  6 . The upper support  30  may not be needed, but is useful in some tubs  2  at ensuring the barrier  10  stays properly positioned, even at higher water levels, especially when there is an active child in the tub  2  creating waves of water. The upper support  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as having a support member  32  coupled to suction cups  34 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the center portion includes attachment features  36 , such as the illustrated rib or pocket in  FIG. 3 . The suction cups  34  may be provided in a variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations and may also be of the type that has ability to screw outward to provide additional pressure to hold the barrier  10  in place. 
         [0035]    As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the seal  20  may be formed out of a rubber or plastic flexible material that allows a bladder to be filled with water or a material denser than the water and be placed in the tub to create the desired barrier  10 . As with the static seal illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 , the more flexible seal being illustrated in  FIGS. 10-15  allows easier conformation to a variety of tubs  2 . By providing the spout opening  40 , which allows the cavity  28  and the seal  20  to be filled with water or some other material, the barrier  10  is held in place by a weight of water or other material filling the cavity  28  in the seal  20 . It has been surprisingly found that if only water is used to fill the cavity  28 , which has the same density as the water in the tub, this barrier  10  provides a surprisingly good seal to the tub walls due to its configuration. More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the seal  20  includes a lower cross portion  52  from which sides  50  extend upward. The sides  50  and lower cross portion  52  bound the center portion  70  and as stated above, may be integrally formed with the center portion  70 . By providing a spout opening  40  which is sufficiently high above the desired water line illustrated in  FIG. 10 , additional weight of the water may be added in the sides  50  to the cavity  28  that create a downward force, ensuring that the barrier  10  stays sealingly engaged against the floor  4  and sidewalls  6  of the tub  2 . In addition, the illustrated configuration, size, and shape of the seal  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 10-15  provides characteristics that are helpful in ensuring that the barrier  10  sealingly engages the tub  2 . 
         [0036]    More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the intersection  54  of the sides  50  and lower cross portion  52  of the seal illustrate that the sides  50  are longitudinally, relative to the tub&#39;s dimensions, displaced from the lower cross portion  52 . This displacement along the longitudinal extent of the tub  2  increases the ability of the barrier  10  to sealingly engage against the floor  4  and sidewalls  6  of the tub  2 . Although the water line is illustrated in  FIG. 10  as filling the concave portion of the barrier  10 , it may easily be turned around so that the water line engages the convex side of the barrier  10 . The barrier  10  illustrated in  FIG. 10  does not include a support member  32  engaging the upper rib  38 . Instead, the barrier  10  has been formed with a cavity which may be air tight causing it to float on top of the water if the water line is raised high enough. Therefore, while some movement in height of the barrier  10  may be possible, it will still stay sealingly engaged to the tub to prevent water from passing over the barrier in most circumstances. However, it is preferred that the water line be at least somewhat lower than the spout opening  40  so that the additional weigh to of the water in the cavity  28  of the sides  50  provides down force to the barrier  10  holding it sealingly engaged in place. It should be recognized that due to the angle of the spout when being filled and then capped, the water level in the cavity may be much higher than the spout opening when placed in the tub. 
         [0037]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the barrier  10  may include baffles  44  attached to the sides  50 , as well as the lower cross portion  52 . These baffles  44  may extend along outwardly from the barrier  10  along the surfaces of the floor and sidewalls in a single direction or both directions. The baffles  44  may be configured to further sealingly engage the sidewall  6  and floor  4  of the tub or to hold the barrier  10  in place. It is expected that these baffles  44  would engage the tub without the use of adhesive improving the usability of the barrier  10 . For example, the barriers  44  may be just static stuck to the tub floor and sidewalls  4 ,  6  or in some cases may include minor suction cups on the underside such that the barrier  10  remains sealingly engaged in place by the seal  20  even when a very active toddler is splashing large waves of water against the barrier  10 . More specifically, the baffles being suction cupped to the tub provide additional stability and support to the seal  20  even when it does not include an upper support member such as the upper support member  32  illustrated in the other Figures. The small suction cups  56  may be seen in  FIG. 11 , although the barrier in  FIG. 10  is formed without them. The suction cups are small and similar to that used in bath mats which provide easy attachment to the tub  2 .  FIG. 11  also illustrates in greater detail the cavity  42  in the upper rib  38 . The barrier illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11  may be formed out a single sheet of flexible material. For example, the barrier  10  may be formed out of a rubber, latex, polypropylene, polynitrile, nylon fabric, polyvinyl, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, elastomeric materials, or any other material capable of forming the barrier  10  and functioning to hold it sealingly engaged to the tub  2 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the seal  20  may be formed integrally with the center portion  70 . The seal  20 , specifically the cavity  28 , may come pre-filled from the factory with a material to create sufficient density in the cavity  28  illustrated in  FIG. 13 . Of course, the seal  20  may be opened at the upper ends  58  allowing easy filling and emptying of the cavity  28  and the seal  20 . The seal  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13  is formed integrally with the center portion  70 . The center portion  70  may be welded such as a hot melt weld to the seal  20  or may be molded as a single piece with the center portion  70 . The center portion  70  as illustrated in  FIG. 12  may be formed with stiffening ribs  84 . The center portion  70  at the upper edge  76  may include the rib stiffener  72  integrally formed therewith or otherwise coupled to the center portion  70 . The rib stiffener  72  is illustrated as having a cavity through which a spring loaded support member  32  extends. Instead of suction cups as illustrated in the prior exemplary barriers, the support member  32  includes soft bumpers  33  to engage the sidewalls  6  of the tub  2 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the overflow outlets  74  may be included. The overflow outlets  74  are configured in height to be less than the height of the upper ends  58  such that the when the seal  20  is filled, the water level will never extend above the height of the seal  20 . More specifically, if the seal is filled to the top of the upper end  58 , the weight of the water in seal, specifically the cavity  28  pressing downward, will always be greater than that of the water level pushing against the barrier  10  in the tub. Therefore, if the seal  20  is filled with water which will have approximately the same density as the water in the tub, the water extending above the overflow outlet  74  and the seal  20  will ensure that the seal will remain sealingly engage against the tub  2 . Likewise, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the overflow outlets  74  punched in the center portion  70  are located between the spout opening  40  and the lower cross section  52  to ensure that the cavity  28  in the seal may be filled with a water level that will maintain its height above the water level in the tub. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a barrier  10  in which the seal  20  is made separately form the center portion  70 . The barrier  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15  would have a similar center portion of that of  FIG. 12  or  FIG. 10 , however, the center portion  70  is made to be interchangeable or added later. It is expected that the center portion  70  is used with the seal  20  in  FIGS. 14 and 15  would sealingly engage the attachment rib  60 . A spout opening  40  may also be seen on the seal  20 . 
         [0040]    It is expected that the seal  20  in most instances will be formed with a gradual rise from the center of the lower cross portion  52  to the outer edge such as where the lower cross portion forms the intersection  54  between the sides  50  and lower cross portion  52 . More specifically, in most instances there will be about a 5 to 15 mm rise from the center of the lower cross portion  52  to the start of the intersection  54 . The intersection  54  will typically then rise about 15 to 50 mm in an increasingly radiused curve which at its midpoint then declines to an extending curve. More specifically, extending from the junction of the intersection  54  and lower cross portion  52 , the curve tightens but then as it further extends to the sides, it expands. It is expected that the intersection portion  54  will have an approximate length of 90 to 110 mm. Of course, the above given measurements are exemplary to fit most tubs  2 , however special seals  20  having different sizes, shapes and configurations may be form-fitted to different tubs  2 . 
         [0041]    This durable barrier  10  that acts as a tub divider reduces the in-use area of a bathtub, making it more suitable for a variety of uses, including the bathing of infants and toddler. The barrier  10  is an environmentally sound conservation tool that reduces water consumption considerably—as much as 13 gallons each time an infant or toddler is bathed. While the barrier  10  was designed with a child&#39;s bath time in mind, it is also great for bathing dogs, washing clothing, or any other use for which a more moderately sized washtub might serve. 
         [0042]    To install the barrier  10 , the user would typically hold the barrier  10  over the tub perpendicular to the length of the tub and at a 45° angle. The barrier is lowered into the tub until the seal rests on the floor of the tub. If the barrier has a fillable seal, this should be filled prior to insertion. If the barrier  10  includes an upper support  30  that engages the tub  2 , this should be set after the seal  20  is firmly engaged to the tub  2 . 
         [0043]    To bathe a toddler, the tub in front of the barrier  10  is filled with water to a depth of about one to four inches below an overflow outlets  74 , depending on the size of the child, or to approximately less than an indicated maximum water level on the barrier. A mark may be included on the barrier indicating the proper water level for infant or toddler bathing before the infant or toddler is placed in the tub  2 . 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the center portion  70  may include drain outlets  78  that may include a drain plug  80 . The center section  70  may include a handle cut out  82  to allow easy assembly and disassembly. 
         [0045]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the barrier  10  may include an integral formed center portion  70  and seal  20 . The tub wall  10  may be formed from a single sheet of pliable material folded over on itself, or two or more individual pieces coupled together. More specifically, the barrier  10  is formed from two sheets of adjoining material with the integral seal portion having a cavity  28  that may be filled with water at the illustrated spout opening  40 . Of course, other materials, such as sand may be used to fill the cavity  28  to make sure the barrier  10  does not float. The center portion  70  generally includes an upper rib  38  to provide structural rigidity to the center portion  70 . The upper rib  38  is illustrated in  FIG. 11  as being sealed, such as with an air pocket, and may be configured to float. An optional baffle  42  may be added to include the water sealing capabilities of the tub wall  10 . The baffle  42  may be integrally formed with the seal  20 , and even with the center portion  70  in some configurations.  FIG. 10 , similar to some other Figures, includes a line labeled WL which symbolizes the water level.