Infant tub with multipurpose base
A height ajustable tub having a body that is disposed to retain fluids, and a base with a first end and an opposed second end, both ends being disposed to provide support to the body. The body and base are configured such that when the second end of the base is positioned adjacent a surface, the first end is disposed to support the body at a first height above the surface, and when the first end of the base is positioned adjacent the surface, the second end is disposed to support the body at a second height above the surface.
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTo cleanse an infant or young child, an adult or other caregiver will often use a small tub sized to accommodate the infant or young child. Such tubs are often placed in a full sized empty tub to contain water and soap that may be splashed out of the infant tub during washing. Unfortunately, the traditional infant tub can only be positioned at one height within the adult tub, and the traditional infant tub cannot be raised or lowered to accommodate different sized infants and children, and cannot be adjusted in height to accommodate a desired height for the comfort of the adult or caregiver washing the infant or child.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSIllustrative embodiments of the present invention are shown in the following drawings which form a part of the specification:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention (
Like the body 12, the base 16 is also tubular in shape with a generally oval cross-section. (
A pair of slots 42 are positioned on the wide-radiused sides of the base 16 near the first end 30, and a second pair of slots 44 are positioned on the wide-radiused sides of the base 16 near the second end 32. Both sets of slots 42 and 44 act as hand grips or handles to enable the carrying of the base 16. A pair of notches 46 are formed along the edge of the first end 30 in proximity to the slots 42, and a second pair of notches 48 are formed along the edge of the second end 32 in proximity to the slots 44. A pair of grooves 50 are formed on the inner surface at each of the tight-radiused ends of the oval cross-section of the base 16. The base 16 is thicker at these ends to accommodate the grooves 50. The grooves 50 are straight and parallel to each other, and extend the full length of the tub 16. A large hole 52 is formed generally in the center of the platform 34. A handle 54 is rotatably attached to the edges of the hole 52. The handle 54 hangs down into the cavity 36 when the cavity 36 is facing downward, and when the base is reversed and the cavity 38 is facing downward, the handle 54 swings through the hole 52 and hangs down into the cavity 38.
As can be seen from
The drain holes 28 are positioned on the bottom of the body 12 such that when the body 12 is properly placed within either the first or second cavities 36 or 38 of the base 16 (as shown in
As can be appreciated, when the base 16 is positioned such that the second cavity 38 is facing downward and placed on a surface S (
It will also be seen that a latch 50, positioned on the outer surface of the base 16 near the first end 30, is capable of releasably securing the body 12 to the base 16 within the first cavity 36. In this way, the handle 54 can be accessed through the second cavity 38 to carry the entire tub assembly A as a single unit. Similarly, a latch 52, positioned outer surface of the base 16 near the second end 32, is capable of releasably securing the body 12 to the base 16 within the second cavity 38. In this way, the handle 54 can be accessed through the first cavity 36 to carry the entire tub assembly A as a single unit. Of course, any number of attachment devices may be used other than the latches 50 and 52 to releasably secure the body 12 to the base 16, including but not limited to pegs and holes, elastic cords, screws, hooks, bolts, keys, clasps, ties, pins, clips, springs, snaps, clips, toggles, buckles and buttons, or any other such fastening device that would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of a preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the body 12 need not be oval in cross-section, but may be formed in any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes so long as the cavities 36 and 38 are shaped and sized to accommodate the body 12. Similarly, the base 16 need not be oval in cross-section, but may be formed in any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes so long as the cavities 36 and 38 are shaped and sized to accommodate the body 12. The cavities 36 and 38 need not be at opposite ends of the base 16, and the base 16 may have more than two cavities that are capable of accepting the body 12.
The infant rest 14 can be attached within the body 12, or the infant rest 14 may be an integral formation or feature of the inner surface of the body 12. The attachment of the infant rest 14 within the body 12 may be fixedly, releasably, rotatably or other forms of attachment without limit. The infant rest 14 may have a hole in the foot 22 to allow for draining through the rest 14. The incline 20 of the infant rest 14 can be formed at any variety of angles, and may even be vertical. The incline 20 may be curved or contoured in any variety of configurations as desired, or need not be curved or contoured at all. The infant rest 14 may be configured to be a partition only, used to divide the body into two or more regions.
The notches 46 and 48 may be formed in any variety of shapes and sizes so long as they allow for the relative free flow of fluids from the cavities 36 and 38 respectively. Further, the notches 46 and 48 may instead be formed as holes in the side of the base 16. The tub assembly A need not have any such notches 46 or 48, or may have any number of such notches from as few as one through any greater number.
The tongues 18 need not extend the full length of the body 12, and may be formed in one or more smaller sections. The grooves 50 need not extend the full length of the cavities 36 or 38, but may be formed in one or more smaller sections. Alternatively, the other forms of alignment features may be incorporated into the tub assembly A in place of the tongues 18 and grooves 50, including but not limited to rail guides, pins, rollers, pegs and notches, and puzzle piece contours, or any other such guide device or system that would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Further, the embodiment of the tub assembly A as shown in
Further, the components of the tub assembly A may be constructed of a variety of materials, including but not limited to various metals, plastics, ceramics, wood, or any other suitable material that will provide sufficient structural integrity for the each component to perform its desired function as stated herein. Each dimension of the tub assembly A, and thereby all of its components, may be of varying sizes. Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that structural members may be added to strategic positions on or in the tub assembly A to allow the use of a variety of materials.
The detailed description above illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what I presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A height ajustable tub comprising:
- a. a body being disposed to retain fluids therein; and
- b. a base having a first end and an opposed second end, both ends being disposed to provide support to the body;
- wherein when the second end of the base is positioned adjacent a surface, the first end is disposed to support the body at a first height above the surface, and when the first end of the base is positioned adjacent the surface, the second end is disposed to support the body at a second height above the surface.
2. The tub of claim 1, further comprising a connector disposed to releasably attach the body to the base.
3. The tub of claim 2, further comprising a handle associated with the base, the handle disposed to lift the base and the body when the body is attached to the base.
4. The tub of claim 1, wherein the base defines a first open-ended cavity at the first end and a second open-ended cavity at the second end, each cavity disposed to receive the body therein.
5. The tub of claim 4, wherein the first and second cavities are positioned on opposite sides of the base and configured such that when the body is received in the first cavity the open end of the second cavity forms the bottom of the assembled adjustable tub, and when the body is received in the second cavity the open end of the first cavity forms the bottom of the assembled adjustable tub.
6. The tub of claim 4, further comprising a guide, the guide being disposed to align the body and the base when the body is received in one of said first or second cavities.
7. The tub of claim 6, wherein the guide comprises a groove formed in the base.
8. The tub of claim 7, wherein the guide further comprises a tongue on the body disposed to slide within the groove.
9. The tub of claim 7, wherein the guide further comprises a detent on the body disposed to slide within the groove.
10. The tub of claim 1, further comprising a partition for positioning within the body.
11. The tub of claim 10, wherein the partition divides the body into a first and second region when the partition is positioned within the body, at least one of the regions disposed to independently retain fluids.
12. The tub of claim 10, wherein the partition is disposed to provide support to a child or infant placed within the body.
13. The tub of claim 10, wherein the partition is removable.
14. The tub of claim 10, wherein the partition comprises an infant rest disposed within the body to provide support to an infant or child.
15. The tub of claim 14, wherein the rest is removable.
16. The tub of claim 4, further comprising a platform for separating the first cavity from the second cavity.
17. The tub of claim 16, wherein the platform has a drain hole formed therein.
18. The tub of claim 17, further comprising a partition positioned within one of said first or second cavities.
19. The tub of claim 18, wherein the partition has a drain hole formed therein, the partition drain hole being aligned with the platform drain hole.
20. The tub of claim 16, wherein said base has a notch therein along the first end, the notch disposed to allow fluids to escape the first cavity.
21. The tub of claim 16, wherein said base has a notch therein along the second end, the notch being disposed to allow fluids to escape the second cavity.
22. The tub of claim 1, wherein said base has a slot therein, the slot being configured to allow for the gripping of the base.
23. A height ajustable tub comprising:
- a. a body capable of retaining fluids; and
- b. a base having a first open-ended cavity and an opposed second open-ended cavity formed therein, both open ends disposed to receive the body, the first cavity disposed to provide support to the body at a first depth within the base, the second cavity disposed to provide support to the body at a second depth within the body;
- wherein when the open end of the second cavity is adjacent a surface, the body can be supported by the base at the first depth in the first cavity at a first distance above the surface, and when the open end of the first cavity is adjacent the surface, the body can be supported by the base at the second depth in the second cavity at a second distance above the surface.
24. A method of adjusting the height of a tub, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a body disposed to retain fluids;
- b. providing a base having a first cavity and a second cavity formed in opposite ends thereof, both cavities disposed to provide support to the body therein, the first cavity supporting the body at a first height above a surface when the second cavity is adjacent the surface, and the second cavity supporting the body at a second height above the surface when the first cavity is adjacent the surface;
- c. placing the base on the surface such that the second cavity is adjacent the surface;
- d. placing the body in the first cavity such that the body is positioned within the base at the first height;
- e. removing the body from the first cavity;
- f. inverting the base on the surface; and
- g. placing the body in the second cavity such that the body is positioned within the base at the second height.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 1, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2007
Inventors: Rochelle Smith (St. Louis, MO), Monica Thompson (St. Louis, MO), Lakesha Boyce (St. Louis, MO)
Application Number: 11/217,954
International Classification: E03C 1/244 (20060101);