Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Convenience accessories
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-22
2001-07-03
Fetsuga, Robert M. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Convenience accessories
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253392
ABSTRACT:
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'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's bathtub into the adult bathtub or the sink, fill the children's bathtub with water, put the child into the children'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'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.
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Conforti Carl J.
Johnstone Scott A.
Nielsen Glen
Fetsuga Robert M.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
The First Years Inc.
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