CHILD BATHING ACTIVITY CENTER

Abstract

A child bathing activity center apparatus includes entertainment features for engaging a child's attention during a bathing, and safety features for preventing or reducing the risk of harm to such child during the bathing, such as from slipping on the floor thereof. The apparatus may be received within a standard bathtub, and one or more apertures disposed in the walls of the apparatus permit water to freely pass and flow between the apparatus the standard bathtub. In this way, the apparatus does not need to be separately filled with water in order to be used. The apertures obviate the need to refill the apparatus during a bathing by precluding water from being operatively displaced therefrom.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 under pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/810,702, filed on Apr. 10, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a child bathing apparatus, and more particularly, to a bathing apparatus for infants, toddlers, and small children having entertainment and safety features for use during a bathing.

BACKGROUND

Like everyone else, infants, toddlers, and small children must be regularly bathed as a practice of good hygiene. Generally, infants, toddlers, and small children (hereinafter collectively referred to as “child” or “children”) are too small and cannot provide themselves with the requisite level of support to use a standard bathtub (i.e. a full-sized bathtub for use by adults) and instead require a special bathtub that is smaller and shallower. In this way, a person providing the bathing is better able to manage the bathed child during the washing process of a bathing. These special child bathtubs are often self-contained in that they may be filled with water separate from a standard bathtub, sink, or other container, notwithstanding the fact that such separation can be highly inconvenient for at least the reason that it requires additional filling when water becomes displaced therefrom

However, the washing process itself is only one important aspect of a bathing. That is, for children, a bathing must be fun and engaging enough to distract them from the washing process (and thereby to permit the bather to act with minimal resistance from the child being bathed), and it must further be safe so as to protect the child being bathed from injury caused by slipping or contact with hard objects. In other words, a child bathing apparatus that fails to provide entertainment and safety features makes the bathing process more challenging for the bather and presents unnecessary risks of harm to the child.

A solution for providing a child bathing apparatus with safety features is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,392 as a tub basket for children. The disclosed tub basket includes a removable padding along the top edges of the housing structure thereof, which softens those edges and prevents or reduces the risk of harm from a bathed child coming into contact therewith. Regardless, this disclosure fails to recite any entertainment features and any safety features beyond the aforesaid padding, and requires the disclosed tub basket to be filled with water separate from another tub (e.g. a standard bathtub).

Similarly, a solution for a child bathing apparatus with entertainment features is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,551 as an infant bath tub with toys. This infant bath tub teaches a plurality of toys coupled to the top edges thereof via apertures within the toys and pegs disposed along such top edges. The bathed child my remove the toys therefrom and play with them during a bathing, after which point they may be replaced. While this disclosure teaches a child bathing apparatus having various entertainment features, it fails to teach any safety features, and, as with the above reference, also requires the disclosed tub to be filled with water separate from another tub.

Thus, while existing solutions show some entertainment or safety features, various drawbacks, including those mentioned above, remain.

Consequently, there exists a need for a child bathing activity center apparatus that fits within a standard bathtub and permits free pass through of water between the apparatus and the standard bathtub, and which includes various entertainment and safety features for engaging a child being bathed and preventing or substantially mitigating the risk of harm to the child during a bathing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art, a child bathing activity center apparatus configured to include all the advantages of the prior art and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein is provided. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a child bathing activity center apparatus that comprises various entertainment and safety features for engaging a child being bathed and preventing or substantially mitigating the risk of harm to the child during a bathing. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a child bathing activity center apparatus that may be received within a standard bathtub. It is further still an object of the present disclosure to provide a child bathing activity center apparatus that permits free pass through of water between the apparatus and the standard bathtub.

In an embodiment, a child bathing activity center apparatus comprises a container and at least one activity object. The container is comprised of at least one wall and a floor, which at least one wall forms an enclosure about the perimeter of the apparatus and which floor includes a slip resistant feature. The at least one activity object is coupled to the top surface of the at least one wall. The apparatus is capable of being received within a standard bathtub, and the at least one wall further comprises at least one aperture such that water may freely pass through the at least one aperture from the standard bathtub into the apparatus and from the apparatus back into the standard bathtub at an time and without any further action being required.

In a further embodiment, the at least one wall of the container is tall enough to prevent a child being bathed therein from exiting the container without assistance.

In a further embodiment, the at least one activity object comprises at least one of a squirting toy, a spinning toy, a squeaking toy, a slidable toy, a toy designed to resemble an animal, a spring-loaded toy, a rotating toy, and a compressible toy.

In a further embodiment, the top surface of the at least one wall of the container further comprises a padding.

In a further embodiment, the slip resistant feature of the floor of the container comprises at least one of a textured surface, a surface coating, a synthetic mesh mat, and a friction element.

In a further embodiment, the at least one activity object is removably coupled to time top surface of the at least one wall of the container.

In a further embodiment, the container comprises one of a generally rectangular cross-section and a generally ovular cross-section.

In a further embodiment, the at least one wall of the container comprises a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a fourth wall.

In a further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises at least one aperture plug capable of being received within an aperture of the at least one aperture.

In a father embodiment, the slip resistant feature is resistant to water.

These together with other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description in which there are illustrated and described, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary depiction of the disclosed child bathing activity center apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary depiction of the disclosed child bathing activity center apparatus received within a standard bathtub in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The best mode for carrying out the present disclosure is presented in terms of its preferred embodiments, herein depicted in the accompanying figures. The preferred embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.

The present disclosure comprises a child bathing activity center apparatus within which a child may be seated during a bathing. The apparatus includes various entertainment features for engaging a child's attention during a bathing. For example, one or more toys or activity objects, such as a spinning toy or squirting toy, may be coupled to a portion of the apparatus accessible to the child. The apparatus further includes various safety features for preventing or at least significantly mitigating the risk of injury to such child during the bathing, such as a non-slip coating or friction element disposed along the floor of the apparatus for keeping the child from slipping therein during a bathing

The apparatus may be received within a standard bathtub (i.e., a full-sized bathtub for use by adults) that may transfer water into the apparatus when the standard bathtub is at least partially filled with water. That is, one or more apertures disposed in the walls of the apparatus permit water to pass through the walls of the apparatus and into the portion thereof within which a child is placed during a bathing, which water flows into and out from the apparatus with respect to the standard bathtub. In this way, the apparatus does not need to be separately filled with water in order to be used. The apertures further preclude the ability of the child being bathed to cause any amount of water to be displaced from within the apparatus, which obviates mid-bathing refilling of the apparatus.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, and in an embodiment, a child bathing activity center apparatus is shown at 100 as having a basket shape. The body of the apparatus is defined by a container 10 having a generally rectangular or ovular cross-section; however, it will be apparent that other geometries may be contemplated, provided that the apparatus remains capable of being, received within a standard bathtub. The container 10 comprises at least one wall 12 that fully surrounds a child placed within the apparatus, which at least one wall 12 is tall enough to prevent the child from exiting the apparatus 100 without assistance, and a floor 14 connecting the bottom sides of each at least one wall 12.

The floor 14 of the container 10 has disposed thereon a slip resistant feature 16 for preventing a child being bathed from slipping while standing or moving within the container 10. In an embodiment, the slip resistant feature 16 comprises a textured surface, such as a soft granulation or other tactile pattern. In an alternate embodiment, the slip resistant feature 16 comprises a surface coating, such as a synthetic resin, paint, or residue. In a still alternate embodiment, the slip resistant feature 16 may instead comprise a synthetic mesh mat or other friction element. Preferably, the slip resistant feature 16 will be integrated within the floor 14 of the container 10 and not require any action or adjustment on the part of the user. However, the slip resistant feature 16 may instead be placed on top of the floor 14 of the container 10, adjusted as necessary, and replenished or touched-up (e.g. wherein the slip resistant feature 16 is a resin, paint, or residue) as necessary. In an embodiment, the slip resistant feature 16 will also be resistant to water.

The at least one wall 12 has disposed therein at least one aperture 18 for permitting and facilitating the pass through and constant flow of water between the container 10 and the standard bathtub 200 within which the apparatus 100 is received when such standard bathtub 200 is at least partially filled with water. It will be apparent that the at least one aperture 18 may be of any size and shape, and further that each at least one aperture 18 may differ in size and shape from one another, so long as water remains capable of flowing freely therethrough at all times during a bathing. In an embodiment, only one or two walls of the at least one 12 may include at least one aperture 18. In a preferred embodiment, each wall of the at least one wall 12 includes at least one aperture 18. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the at least one wall 12 includes a plurality of apertures 18 rather than a single aperture 18.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at least one aperture plug 20 may be provided, which may be received within the at least one aperture 18 of the container 10. That is, each aperture 18 may receive an aperture plug 20 in order to preclude water from passing through such aperture 18 into and from the apparatus 100 with respect to the standard bathtub 200 in which it is disposed. When each at least one aperture 18 is stopped with an aperture plug 20, water is unable to flow into or out of the apparatus 100 from any direction.

In an embodiment, the top surface of the at least one wall 12 comprises a padding 22 for further protecting the child from injury caused by contact with the top of the container 10. The padding 22 may be of any thickness and is preferably disposed about the entirety of the top surface of the at least one wall 12 (i.e. about the entirety of the container 10). In any event, whether or not the apparatus 100 includes padding 22, at least one activity object 24 is disposed about the top surface of the at least one wall 12. The at least one activity object 24 may be permanently or removably coupled to the at least one wail 12 and is accessible to the child being bathed such that such child may entertain himself or herself with the activity object 24 during a bathing. The at least one activity 24 object is disclosed as at least one of a squirting toy, a spinning toy, a squeaking toy, a slidable toy, a toy designed to resemble an animal a spring-loaded toy, a rotating toy, and a compressible to however, it is contemplated that other types of toys may be utilized as activity objects 24 in connection with the apparatus 100.

In use, the various entertainment features of the disclosed child bathing activity center apparatus, provided as the at least one activity object, engage the child being bathed and thus allow the person doing the bathing to focus on bathing the child, and not spending time and energy trying to get the child to sit quietly so that he or she can be bathed. The various safety features of the disclosed, child bathing activity center apparatus, provided individually and jointly as the padding on the top surface of the at least one wall of the container and the slip resistant feature of the floor thereof, prevent a child from any harm caused by slipping on the floor of the container or coming into hard contact with the at least one wall thereof. The at least one aperture disposed within the at least one wall of the container permits water to freely pass through into and out from the container such that the apparatus need not be separately filled with water for use, and thus can operate using the water in the standard bathtub within which the apparatus is seated.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A child bathing activity center apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a container, said container comprising at least one wall and a floor, said at least one wall having a first end and a second end, said second end of said at least one wall terminating at said floor, said at least one wall extending along a perimeter of said floor, said floor further comprising a slip resistant feature; and

at least one activity object, said at least one activity object coupled to said first end of said at least one wall of said container,

wherein the apparatus is capable of being received within a standard bathtub, and

wherein said at least one wall of said container has at least one aperture therein, such that when the standard bathtub is at least partially filled with water, said at least one aperture permits the water of the standard bathtub to pass into and out of said container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one wall of said container is tall enough to prevent a child being bathed therein from exiting said container without assistance,

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one activity object comprises at least one of a squirting toy, a spinning toy, a squeaking toy, a slidable toy, a toy designed to resemble an animal, a spring-loaded toy, a rotating toy, and a compressible toy.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first end of said at least one wall of said container comprises a padding.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said slip resistant feature comprises at least one of a textured surface, a surface coating, a synthetic mesh mat, and a friction element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one activity object is removably coupled to said first end of said at least one wall of said basket.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container comprises one of a generally rectangular cross-section and a generally ovular cross-section.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one wall of said container comprises a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a fourth wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one aperture plug, each aperture plug of said at least one aperture plug capable of being received within an aperture of said at least one aperture.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said slip resistant feature of said floor of said container is resistant to water.

11. A child bathing activity center apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a container, said container comprising at least one wall and a floor, said at least one wall having a first end and as second end, said first end further comprising a padding, said second end of said at least one wall terminating at said floor, said at least one wall extending along a perimeter of said floor, said floor further comprising a slip resistant feature, said slip resistant feature being resistant to water; and

at least one activity object, said at least one activity object removably coupled to said first end of said at least one wall of said container,

wherein the apparatus is capable of being received within a standard bathtub, and

wherein said at least one wall of said container has at least one aperture therein, such that when the standard bathtub is at least partially filled with water, said at least one aperture permits the water of the standard bathtub to pass into and out of said container, and

wherein said container comprises one of a generally rectangular cross-section and a generally ovular cross-section.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one wall of said container is tall enough to prevent a child being bathed therein from exiting said container without assistance.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one activity object comprises at least one of a squirting toy, a spinning toy, a squeaking toy, a slidable toy, a toy designed to resemble an animal, a spring-loaded toy, a rotating toy, and a compressible toy.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said slip resistant feature comprises at least one of a textured surface, a surface coating, a synthetic mesh mat, and a friction element.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one wall of said container comprises a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a fourth wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one aperture plug, each aperture plug of said at least one aperture plug capable of being received within an aperture of said at least one aperture.