Abstract:
A two-piece bath squirting toy comprising two separable pieces of flexible material, with each piece forming a section of a toy or an animal such that when the pieces are combined, they form a complete toy or animal. Each piece includes a portion of a liquid fluid reservoir inside of the squirting toy, with an interior wall of the portion of each piece directly contacting fluid within the liquid fluid reservoir.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an easily cleanable bath squirting toy. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Bath squirting toys are used by children for fun and for squirting water in bath tubs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An aspect of the present invention is to provide a two-piece bath squirting toy comprising two separable pieces of flexible material, with each piece forming a section of a toy or an animal such that when the pieces are combined, they form a complete toy or animal. Each piece includes a portion of a liquid fluid reservoir inside of the squirting toy, with an interior wall of the portion of each piece directly contacting fluid within the liquid fluid reservoir. 
         [0004]    These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front exploded perspective view of the two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a generic two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a generic two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a generic two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view two two-piece bath squirting toys of the present invention with the sections of the two-piece bath squirting toys being mixed up. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention in a tub. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8A  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of filling the two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention with water. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of washing the two-piece bath squirting toy of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0016]    The reference number  10  ( FIGS. 1-2 ) generally designates a two-piece bath squirting toy embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  comprises a first section  12  including a first connection member  14  and a second section  16  including a second connection member  18 . The first section  12  and the second section  16  of the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  are removably connected together by the first connection member  14  and the second connection member  18 . The first connection member  14  and the second connection member  18  allow the first section  12  and the second section  16  to be separated to allow both an exterior  20  and an interior  22  of the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  to be cleaned. 
         [0017]    In the illustrated example, the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  forms a toy to be used in a bath  100  (see  FIG. 7 ). The two-piece bath squirting toy  10  includes at least one opening  24  for allowing water or other fluid to enter and exit the two-piece bath squirting toy  10 . The two-piece bath squirting toy  10  is formed of elastic material as is well known to those skilled in the art. The elastic material allows the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  to be squeezed to expel air and/or water from the interior  22  of the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  through the at least one opening  24 . Once the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  is released from its squeezed state, the elasticity of the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  will reform the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  into its original shape, thereby creating a partial vacuum within the two-piece bath squirting toy  10 . The partial vacuum will suck air and/or water into the interior  22  of the two-piece bath squirting toy  10 . If filled with water, the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  can be squeezed to expel the water within the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  through the at least one opening  24 , with the at least one opening  24  acting as a nozzle. The first section  12  and/or the second section  16  of the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  can be formed and/or coated with a viral and/or bacterial resistant or repellant material to prevent viruses and bacteria from forming or staying on the first section  12  and/or the second section  16  (as is well known to those skilled in the art). 
         [0018]    The illustrated two-piece bath squirting toy  10  is formed of the first section  12  and the second section  16  to allow the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  to be separated into two parts to allow both an exterior  20  and an interior  22  of the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  to be cleaned. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first section  12  and the second section  16  of the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  are removably connected together by the first connection member  14  and the second connection member  18 . In the illustrated example, the first connection member  14  includes a first press fit section  26  forming a ledge  26 ′ and the second connection member includes a second press fit section  28  forming a groove  28 ′. The ledge  26 ′ is pressed into the groove  28 ′ to connect the first connection member  14  to the second connection member  16 . 
         [0019]    Although the first connection member  14  and the second connection member  18  are illustrated as being press fit sections, it is contemplated that the first connection member  14  and the second connection member  18  can include any elements for removably connecting the first section  12  to the second section  16 . For example, the first connection member  14  and the second connection member  18  can comprise mating threaded sections, snaps, or buttons (see, for example,  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Furthermore, while the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as being in the form of a cat, it is contemplated that the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  can form any exterior shape. For example, the two-piece bath squirting toy  10  can form any animal (e.g., a fish (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), a vehicle or any person (real or fictional)). 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a generic two-piece bath squirting toy  10   a  having a first connection member  14   a  including a first press fit section  26   a  forming a ledge  26   a ′ and a second connection member  18   a  including a second press fit section a 28  forming a groove  28   a ′. The first press fit section  26   a  forming the ledge  26   a ′ and the second press fit section a 28  forming the groove  28   a ′ in  FIG. 3  is the same connection scheme as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 .  FIG. 3  is used to illustrated that the connection as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  can be used on a toy having any exterior and interior shape. The first connection member  14   a  can be formed out of the material used to directly form the first section  12   a  of the generic two-piece bath squirting toy  10   a  (e.g., molded in a unitary piece as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) or can be a member fit into or connected (e.g., by interference fit or adhesion) to the first section  12   a.    
         [0021]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate another embodiment of a generic two-piece bath squirting toy  10   b , with the connection scheme employing a external threaded member  27  on one of the sections and an internal threaded member  29  on the other of the sections. In  FIG. 4 , the first connection member  14   b  is formed out of the first section  12   b . The second connection member  18   b  can be formed out of the material used to directly form the second section  16   b  of the generic two-piece bath squirting toy  10   b  (e.g., molded in a unitary piece).  FIG. 5  illustrates the first connection member  14   b  being formed out of a first separate member  52  that is fit into or connected to the first section  12   b  and the second connection member  18   b  being formed out of separate member  50  that is fit into or connected to the second section  16   b.    
         [0022]    In the illustrated example, it is also contemplated that only one of the first connection member  14 ,  14   a  or  14   b  and the second connection member  18 ,  18   a  or  18   b  can be a separate piece and that the other of the first connection member  14 ,  14   a  or  14   b  and the second connection member  18 ,  18   a  or  18   b  can be molded with their respective section. Furthermore, the connection members can be reversed on the sections of the toy  10 ,  10   a  or  10   b  (e.g., the second connection member  14  could include the first press fit section  26  forming the ledge  26 ′ and the first connection member  12  could includes the second press fit section  28  forming the groove  28 ′). 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates two two-piece bath squirting toys  10  and  10   c , with a first one of the two-piece bath squirting toys  10  being in the form of a cat and a second one of the two-piece bath squirting toys  10  being in the form of a fish. The sections of the two two-piece bath squirting toys  10  and  10   c  can be mixed such that the first section  12  of the first one of the two-piece bath squirting toys  10  is connected to the second section  14   c  of the second one of the two-piece bath squirting toys  10   c  and the first section  12   c  of the second one of the two-piece bath squirting toys  10   c  is connected to the second section  14  of the first one of the two-piece bath squirting toys  10 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrated a method  500  of using any of two-piece bath squirting toys described above. The method  500  includes a first step  502  of placing the two-piece bath squirting toy in a tub, a second step  504  of filling the two-piece bath squirting toy with water and a third step  506  of squirting water out of the two-piece bath squirting toy.  FIG. 8A  illustrates a first method  600  of the second step  504  of filling the two-piece bath squirting toy with water. The first method  600  includes a first step  552  of separating the first section of the two-piece bath squirting toy from the second section of the two-piece bath squirting toy, a second step  554  of filling one of the sections of the two-piece bath squirting toy with water and a third step  556  of connecting the sections of the two-piece bath squirting toy to enclose the interior  22  of the two-piece bath squirting toy. A second method of the second step  504  of filing the two-piece bath squirting toy with water includes squeezing the two-piece bath squirting toy under water as described above. 
         [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates a method  600  of cleaning the two-piece bath squirting toy. The method  600  includes separating the first section of the two-piece bath squirting toy from the second section of the two-piece bath squirting toy at step  602  and cleaning the sections of the two-piece bath squirting toy at step  604 . The separated sections of the two-piece bath squirting toy can be cleaned by hand or in a dishwasher (or in other similar manners). The separability of the sections of the two-piece bath squirting toy allow the two-piece bath squirting toy to be easily cleaned since the interior  22  of the two-piece bath squirting toy can be easily accessed once the sections of the two-piece bath squirting toy are separated. 
         [0026]    The foregoing detailed description is considered that of a preferred embodiment only, and the particular shape and nature of at least some of the components in this embodiment are at least partially based on manufacturing advantages and considerations as well as on those pertaining to assembly and operation. Modifications of this embodiment may well occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention after learning the nature of this preferred embodiment, and the invention lends itself advantageously to such modification and alternative embodiments. Therefore, It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.