A FOLDABLE BABY BATHTUB

Abstract

The present invention refers to a foldable baby bathtub where the shape specifically been designed to benefit baby during bathing, comprises of a cup-like container with a flexible plastic material tube, used for holding liquids, wherein tube and its bottom are made up of thermoplastic elastomers. The tube is sealingly interconnected with the top rim, made up of a harder material than the bottom, eg., polypropylene. The top rim has a flat horizontal upper side and a lower side, where the two legs are placed/clicked on the lower side of the top rim into slats-locks, which prevents the legs from moving from the wanted locked position, thereby holding up the soft tube in a horizontal position. The system provides a flexible bottom that can fold in itself. The tub ensures the baby remains in an upright position and is fully supported by the sides of the flexible material tube.

Claims

1. A foldable baby bathtub made of plastics, comprising a tube with a bottom and a top rim and two legs, wherein the tube and its bottom are made of a soft flexible material, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), the tube is sealingly interconnected with the top rim made of a harder material than the tube and bottom, e.g. polypropylene (PP), and where the top rim has a flat horizontal upper side and a lower side, where the two legs are placed/clicked on the lower side of the top rim into slats-locks, which prevents the legs from moving from the wanted locked position, thereby holding up the soft tube in a horizontal position.

2. The bathtub according to claim 1, where the top rim is made from PP and comprises a notch, and the tube is made from TPE, and wherein the top rim and the tube is molded together such that the notch is covered by the TPE material of the tube.

3. The bathtub of claim 2, wherein the tub is injection molded in a two-step process, wherein the harder top rim are molded first and the flexible material for the tube (TPE) is added.

4. The bathtub of claim 1, having an Outlet and a drain-plug and said drain-plug is made of TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers) or other flexible material, wherein drain plug can be molded into the bottom or be a standalone plug.

5. The bathtub of claim 1, having a safety pressure lock (button) on the hard top rim to prevent the legs to move away from the hard top rim, wherein two locks are placed on the hard top rim and made and placed so the child cannot release them at any point.

6. The bathtub of claim 1, having rounded shape underneath the top rim such that the top rim constitutes ergonomic handles.

7. The bathtub of claim 1, wherein the tube having a shape that keeps the baby in an upright position fully supported by the flexible material sides (TPE) of the tube and the top hard rim.

8. The bathtub of claim 1, wherein the sides of the tube and its bottom is made from a non-slip TPE material and then it is safe to sit inside the flexible material tube, without slipping down.

9. The bathtub of claim 1, has a maximum filling line inside the flexible material tube.

10. The bathtub according to claim 1, comprises a notch at the PP part, this PP notch will be covered by the flexible material tube (TPE), the bathtub tube will appear as one piece, one part of flexible material and one piece as a hard plastic rim, wherein the notch is not visible when molded, (15, 16) illustrates the PP notch molded together with a flexible material (16), here the notch shows how it connect with a flexible material (03).

11. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the tub is injection molded in a two-step process, wherein the harder top rim are molded first and the flexible material for the tube (TPE) is added.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

[0037] FIG. 1 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub from the front.

[0038] FIG. 2 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub seen from above without drain plug design.

[0039] FIG. 3 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub, with drain plug in the center of the flexible material tube at the bottom, this seen from the bottom underneath/outside, and the balance foot is shown too.

[0040] FIG. 4 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub with the two legs clicked off.

[0041] FIG. 5 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub top rim PP plastic (Polypropylene), the Stop slats where to click the legs on and off.

[0042] FIG. 6 Illustrates the 3 parts of A foldable baby bathtub, two legs and the PP rim, with the 4 slats to lock the PP rim to the legs. One slat in the front and one in the back of the legs top side.

[0043] FIG. 7 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub, how to pack it when dissembled. The two legs fit into each other and the rim with the folded TPE flexible material tube folds along the rim and put on tub.

[0044] FIG. 8 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub, legs safe balanced points made of (PP). This shape will help avoid tipping situations.

[0045] FIG. 9 Illustrates the top hard PP rim of flexible material tube and the soft TPE able to fold to one side and go flat.

[0046] FIG. 10 Illustrates an alternative way to hold and fold the legs of A foldable baby bathtub and in different material like metal.

[0047] FIGS. 11a, b Illustrates alternative shapes of legs, which can be done in a variety of shapes.

[0048] FIG. 11 Illustrates the seam between the hard PP and the flexible material TPE.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] FIG. 1 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub (01) in an open position. The rim-top (02) are made of PP. (polypropylene) and the legs (04) is also made of hard plastic material. The PP. polypropylene rim is molded to the TPE (thermal plastic elastomers) flexible material tube (03) this flexible material will help the tub/tube to fold. The rim-top(02) is placed in the top of the flexible material tube (03), to make it possible to carry the tub and also to give the top of the tub stability.

[0050] The legs (04) on the outside this to stable and secure A foldable baby bathtub so it cannot fall when in use. The flexible material tube (03) hangs free between the two legs (04) when in use.

[0051] FIG. 2 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub (01) seen from above, at the bottom-tube (03) of the basin is the outlet/drain-plug (05) if one placed in the tub.

[0052] The bottom of the tube (03) is made of a thin layer of the flexible material injected plastic (TPE= thermal plastic elastomers). This bottom of the tube (03) will move up towards when pulled upwards holding the outlet/drain-plug (05).

[0053] 02 Illustrates the top rim handles, here you place your fingers underneath when moving A foldable baby bathtub around. 04 illustrates the top part of the legs holding the flexible material tube (03), when in use.

[0054] FIG. 3 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub from underneath at the outside bottom the tube (03), looking up. 06 shows the two wide feet on the two legs made to keep in in a good balance, when in use. These two legs can be made of a variety of shapes, but all to ensure that the tub stays steady when in use. 07 show the locks-slats where the legs (04) are clicked into, so the legs (04) stay into place and secure A foldable baby bathtub (01) when in use.

[0055] FIG. 4 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub (01) in a separated position where the two legs (04) are clicked off the hard top rim (02). The drain-plug (05) if wanted is again inside the flexible material tube (03) and at the bottom placed in the center of the flexible material tube (03). 06 shown the safe balance feet (06) of the legs (04), this shape can be made in several shapes.

[0056] FIG. 5 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub’s top hard rim (02) upside down and without the flexible material tube (03) 07 shows the locks-slats, where to place the two feet (06), when using A soft tub for children.

[0057] FIG. 6 Illustrates a top hard rim (02) on its way down onto the legs (04) The slats-locks (07) are placed on the legs (04) top piece, one right and one left, to ensure the legs to stay in place when in use.

[0058] FIG. 7 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub (01) folded as flat it can go in this design. The flexible material tube (03) is between the legs (04) and on top the hard top rim (02) is placed.

[0059] FIG. 8 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub (01) from the front where the hard PP top rim (02) is taken off the two legs (04). 06 shows the balance shape of the two legs (04) bottom foot (06)

[0060] FIG. 9 Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub (01), without the two legs. Here the hard top rim (02) is placed upside down and the flexible material tube (03) is coming up into the air, but because the flexible material tube (03) is flexible it collapses and will naturally fall to one side. The drain plug (05) will stay in the center of A foldable baby bathtub (01) When pressed down the flexible material tube (03) will finally lay almost flat down and only be connected to the hard rim top (02) in the top of the flexible material tube (03)

[0061] FIGS. 10 & 10a Illustrates A foldable baby bathtub (01) with an alternative legs system, like an aluminum frame (10), holding up A foldable baby bathtub (01). 11 illustrates the legs of this type of frame-legs. 12 is the lock for the frame legs, to prevent it from collapsing, when in use. FIG. 10a show how the frame legs (10) can fold close together, when the flexible material tube (03) and the hard top rim (02) is removed.

[0062] FIG. 11a Illustrates an alternative leg supporting of A foldable baby bathtub when in use. The legs (04) can be made of several different hard materials and be done in a variety of shape, same for all; they should be able to hold the water and child in the same lifted position when bathing.

[0063] This leg is made with two frames screwed together with a plastic or metal nob (18) into a hole (19) in the other leg. At the top rim (02) some holes are made (20) so the legs click into them and stay safe locked when in use.

[0064] FIG. 11b Illustrates another alternative leg supporting of A foldable baby bathtub in use. (04) Shows the legs (04) that will be placed underneath the hard rim (02) On this kind of legs there is also a balance foot (06) to keep the flexible material tube (03) in place when in use.

[0065] FIG. 11 Illustrates the PP rim (15) from the top rim (02) where and how it injects mold together. The hard part (15) have a notch and the soft TPE (16) a likewise in part, so the two parts mold together sealingly interconnected as one soft/hard part.

SUMMARY

[0066] The invention of A foldable baby bathtub is a cup-like container with a flexible plastic material tube, used for holding liquids, demands waterproof plastic materials, like TPE (thermal plastic elastomers).

[0067] The shape of A foldable baby bathtub has specifically been designed this way to benefit your baby during bathing. The shape mimics the womb allowing less stressful bathing experience for an infant. A foldable baby bathtub is made of plastic and have a hard top rim with a flexible tube and bottom made of a soft flexible material, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), the flexible material tube is connected with the top rim, wish is made of a harder material than the tube and bottom, e.g. polypropylene. Two legs are placed/clicked on the lower side of the top rim into slats-locks, which prevents the legs from moving or tilting or collapse when you put liquids and a child into it.

[0068] The parts are manufactured by plastic injected molding. It is a flexible material tube in one piece only, and the added two separately PP legs. If wanted a drain plug can be added and molded and integrated into A foldable baby bathtub.

[0069] The flexible material bottom said tube is strong and thin and very flexible and it can be folded without tearing, and this can be folded for many times, and A foldable baby bathtub with the hard PP rim on top and the two legs clicked off, this ensures that A foldable bathtub for children takes no room, when not in use.

[0070] Foldable bathtubs for children are well-known in the market, but this foldable baby bathtub for is the only baby bathtub to provide a flexible bottom that can fold in itself. A foldable baby bathtub have a one-piece flexible material as the bottom material (TPE) A foldable baby bathtub also has two legs mounted in the hard horizontal top rim, where other known bathtub techniques have 4 legs in 4 corners, A foldable baby bathtub only have two legs, placed into sluts underneath/inside the top rim handle.

[0071] A foldable baby bathtub ensures the baby remains in an upright position and is fully supported by the sides of the flexible material tube.

[0072] The water stays warm for a longer time due the design of the tub in because it has less of a surface area at the top. Also A soft tub for children only needs about few liters of water to cover 80% of a baby body, which is better than most ordinary baby bath tubs. Therefore, quite organic (if made of bio plastic) and energy efficient baby bath tub as it saves water too.