Tub Barrier
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.
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 INVENTION1. Technical Field
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.
2. Related Art
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 INVENTIONThe 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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As illustrated in
The seal 20, illustrated in
The barrier 10 is illustrated in
As illustrated in
More specifically, as illustrated in
As further illustrated in
As illustrated in
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Claims
1. A barrier for a tub comprising:
- 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.
2. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said cavity extends without interruption through said lower cross portion, each of said intersection portions and each of said side portions.
3. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said center portion includes an upper edge coupled to an upper support capable of extending beyond said side portions.
4. The barrier of claim 4 wherein said upper support includes at least one of suction cups and bumpers capable of engaging the walls of the tub.
5. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said cross portion and said side portions are displaced from one another, along the longitudinal extent of the tub.
6. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said seal includes a spout opening allowing said cavity to be filed with water.
7. The barrier of claim 6 wherein said spout opening is sealable.
8. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said center portion includes an upper edge 76 having an upper rib including a rib cavity and wherein said rib cavity is configured to float in water.
9. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said seal includes a flat baffle extending therefrom and wherein said flat baffle is configured to engage the tub.
10. The barrier of claim 9 wherein said seal includes at least three flat baffles, at least one extending from each of the cross portion and the sides.
11. The barrier of claim 9 wherein said flat baffle includes suction cups.
12. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said center portion and said seal are integrally formed from a single sheet of material.
13. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said center portion and said seal are integrally formed from two sheets of material pressed together.
14. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said center portion includes overflow outlets.
15. The barrier of claim 14 further including at least one spout opening on said side portions and wherein said spout opening is spaced a distance from said cross portion and wherein said overflow outlets are located within said distance on said center portion, between said spout openings and said cross portion.
16. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said seal includes a slot for receiving said center portion.
17. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said seal includes an attachment rib and wherein said center portion is coupled to said attachment rib.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 2, 2012
Publication Date: Jan 3, 2013
Inventor: Paul John Gilleran (Macomb, MI)
Application Number: 13/540,215
International Classification: A47K 3/00 (20060101);