FR2602966A1 - BATHTUB SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR NEWBORNS AND YOUNG CHILDREN - Google Patents

Abstract

IN A BATHTUB FOR INFANTS AND TOPS, A RAMP 12 INCLUDES AN EXTREME WALL 22 AND AN INCLINED REGION WITH A BACKWALL 16. A SITTING AREA 14 INCLUDES THE OTHER EXTREME WALL 24 AS WELL AS RESPECTIVELY HORIZONTAL 36 AND INCLINE REGIONS 38 OF THE BOTTOM WALL 16. THE INCLINED REGIONS OF THE BOTTOM WALL 16 ARE CONNECTED BY A TOP 40 LOCATED BELOW THE UPPER EDGES OF THE EXTREME 22, 24 AND SIDE WALLS 18, 20, AND FORM A PARTITION BETWEEN RAMP 12 AND THE SITTING ZONE 14. AT LEAST ONE RIGOLE 42, 44 COMMUNICATES THE RAMP 12 AND THE SITTING ZONE 14.

Description

Baianoire specially designed for newborns and

young children.

  The present invention relates to a bathtub specially designed for newborns and young children.

  Baths of this kind are known in the prior art. They are generally intended to be used only with infants, as in the 10 US patents No. 1,512,068, US No. 4,216,552 and in

  US models No. 236,000 and No. 274,167, or mainly with toddlers of older age, as in US Patent No. 1,797,777 and US model No. 181,634. Baths of this type are usually supported by one-piece legs or by another structure.

  On the other hand, US Patent No. 4,216,552 deals with a bathtub mounted on a base which, however, is designed

  to be used only with a double base.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a tub or tub which can be used for both

  newborns and older toddlers. The invention also aims to provide a bathtub of this type, which is self-supporting or can be supported by single or double bases with a wide dimensional range.

  In its general aspect, the invention provides a bathtub having a bottom, end and side walls, and provided with separate areas respectively inclined and seat. The inclined area includes one of the end walls extending upwards at a certain angle of inclination, as well as a region of the bottom wall which extends obliquely upwards and deviation from the aforementioned extreme wall. The seating area includes the other end wall extending upward in a vertical orientation, a region of the bottom extending horizontally away from said other end wall

  towards the first end wall, as well as another region of the bottom wall extending obliquely upwards from the horizontal region, away from the other end wall. The inclined regions of the bottom wall are connected by a top located below the upper edges of the end and side walls, and they form a partition between the respectively inclined and seat areas of the bathtub.

  In particular embodiments, the angle of inclination measured from the horizontal is between about 30 'and 50', and it is about 40 'in one of the embodiments; the vertical orientation angle is between about 70 'and 85', and measures approximately 77 'in one of the

embodiments.

  According to another aspect of the invention, at least one channel, and preferably two, extend between the ends of the bath and between the bottom and side walls 20, next to the partitioning thus establishing communication between the inclined area and the seating area beyond the bulkhead. A drain plug

  is formed in the bottom of one of the channels.

  According to another aspect of the invention, downward-facing support faces are provided at each end on the outside of the bath, above its bottom. Preferably, two sets of such support surfaces as well as support legs are provided at the bottom of the bathtub. One of the sets of support surfaces comprises recesses made in the bottoms of the side walls in the immediate vicinity and inside the legs at one end, and walls facing the edge at the other end. The other set of support surfaces includes downward facing surfaces of studs provided externally at one end of the bath, as well as the downward facing surface of a wall provided at the bottom. other end, The first set of support surfaces is inside and below the

second game.

  Thus, an infant can be placed on the inclined area of the tub, so that his head and back are supported by one of the end walls, and his rear and thighs are supported by the wall extending to the oblique upwards, at the bottom of the latter. A toddler of older age can be seated on the seating area in such a way that his back is supported by the other extreme wall, that his buttocks are supported by the region of the bottom wall that extends horizontally, and its thighs 15 are supported by the region of the bottom wall which extends upwards therefrom. The partitioning formed by the walls extending upwards, at the bottom of the bathtub, prevents a toddler accidentally sliding in this bathtub. The presence of multiple sets of support surfaces on the outside of the bath, as well as support legs, allows said bath to be supported in plinths of different widths, as well as on a shelf, a

table or other horizontal surface.

  The invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an isometric view of a bathtub according to the invention, Figure 2 is in plan view of the bathtub illustrated in Figure 1, - Figure 3 is a bottom view of the bathtub according to Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the sides of the bathtub, showing by dashed lines the locations at which this tub can be supported, - Figure 5 is a side elevation of one end of the tub, - Figure 6 is a side elevation of the other side of the tub, - Figure 7 is a side elevation of the other end of the bath, FIG. 8 is a section of the bath, according to line 8-8 of FIG. 2, illustrating in phantom 10 a toddler of older age seated in this tub, - Figure 9 is a section along line 9-9 of Figure 2, - FIG. 10 is a section of the bathtub according to line 10-10 of FIG. 2, showing in dotted line the inclined posture of an infant resting in this bathtub, FIG. 11 is a section along line 11-11 of the Figure 2, - Figure 12 is a section along line 12-12 of Figure 8, - Figure 13 is a section along line 13-13 of Figure 8, - Figure 14 is a section along line 14 -14 of Figure 8, - Figure 15 is a section along line 15-15 of Figure 8, - Figure 16 is a section along line 16-16 of Figure 8, - Figure 17 is a section along line 17-17 of FIG. 8, - FIG. 18 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale, illustrating the opening of the drain for the bathtub, - FIG. 19 is a view from below of this drain opening, - Figure 20 is a section along line 20-20 of Figure 18, - Figure 21 is a section along line 21-21 of Figure 18, - Figure 22 is a view in plan of a plug intended to be introduced into the opening of the drain of the bathtub, FIG. 23 is a view from below of one of the sides of the plug, - FIG. 24 is a side elevation of the one side of the plug, - Figure 25 is a side elevation of the other side of the plug, rotated 90 relative to the position illustrated in Figure 24, - Figure 26 is a section along line 26-26 of FIG. 22, - FIG. 27 is a section along line 27-27 of FIG. 22, - FIG. 28 is a section showing the plug 20 occupying a closed position in the opening of the drain plug, and - Figure 29 is a section of the plug introduced in

  the opening of the drain and occupying an open position, taken by rotation of 90 'from the position illustrated in FIG. 28.

  As shown in particular in Figures 1 and 8 of the accompanying drawings, the tub or bathtub 10 consists of a single piece molded from plastic material and having, at opposite ends 30, an inclined area or ramp 12 intended for newborns, as well as a seating area 14 intended for

older children.

  As seen in more detail in Figures 2, 8, 9 and 11, the bath 10 includes a bottom 16 and! 35 of the side walls 18,20 and ends 22,24 which form a single piece with the bottom wall 16, of which they extend upwards around its periphery. At one end of the bath 10, a plate 26 extends substantially in the horizontal direction, towards the outside from the immediate vicinity of the upper region of the end wall 24. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11, the side walls 18,20 and ends 22,24 are folded outwards and downwards on their upper edges. Similarly, the plate 26 is hemmed upwards, outwards and downwards around its periphery. There is thus given rise to a bead or a stiffening frame 28 which has on its edge a surface facing downwards and which is formed around the periphery of the bath 10, including the plate 26; as well as a bead or a stiffening member 30 which has a surface facing downwards on its edge adjoining the plate 26, shaped across the upper region of the wall

extreme 24.

  The ramp 12 includes the end wall 22 which extends upwards from the bottom wall 16 at an angle of inclination between approximately 30 and approximately 50 ′, this angle being approximately 40 in the embodiment. illustrated, to support an infant. Viewed from above, the end wall 22 is concave in the transverse direction, as seen in FIG. 17, and has a slight concavity in the longitudinal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 8. This end wall 22 extends towards the top, from the bottom wall 16, a distance sufficient to support the back and head of an infant, i.e. it extends to a height greater than the height of the member 28, so that the head of the newborn is supported above the height of the bath over most of its volume, as illustrated by a dotted line in Figure 10. A fleece 32 , located on the end wall 22 a short distance above the bottom, extends to near the top, set back a short distance inward from the side edges of the wall 22. This fleece 32 consists of closed pore urethane foam. The ramp 12 also includes a region 34 of the bottom wall 16, which connects to the end wall 22 at the base of the latter from which it leaves upwards at a certain angle. This inclined region 34 of 10 the bottom wall supports the seat and the thighs of a newborn on the ramp 12, to prevent the latter from sliding along the bottom of the bath, as illustrated

in figure 10.

  The seating area 14 includes the end wall 24 which extends towards the end from the bottom wall 16, at a sitting angle in the upright position between approximately 70 and approximately 85 ′, this angle measuring approximately 77 in the illustrated embodiment, so as to support an older toddler able to sit. Considered above, the end wall 24 is concave in the transverse direction as illustrated in FIG. 2, and has a slight concavity in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. 8. The end wall 24 extends upwards, from the bottom wall 16, over a distance sufficient to support the back of an older toddler, as evoked by a dashed line in Figure 8; thus, it extends at least to the same height as the frame 28 on the ramp 12 of the bath, preferably a short distance 30 above the latter, as illustrated in the

Figures 1, 4, 8, 9, 12 and 14.

  The seating area 14 also includes a seating region 36 of the bottom wall 16, which connects to the end wall 24 at the base of the latter, from which it 35 leaves horizontally in the direction of the end wall 22; as well as another region 38 of the bottom wall 16, which connects to the region 36 from which it extends obliquely upwards. The seat region 36 supports the buttocks of a seated toddler, and the inclined region 38 supports his thighs and prevents him from sliding forward along the bottom of the tub. The inclined regions 34 and 38 of the bottom meet on a vertex 40 above the bottom wall, where it connects to the end walls 22, 24 and below the upper edges of the end and side walls, thus forming a partitioning. between the ramp 12 and the seating area 14. The bottom 16 is transversely concave, as shown in FIGS. 5, 7,

11, 14 and 15.

  The bottom wall 16 and the end walls 22,24 15 are separated from the side walls 18,20 by channels

  42 and 44 integrally molded, which extend along the side walls between the end walls, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17.

  These channels run continuously along the sides next to the partition, between the ramp and the seat area of the bath, allowing a free flow of water between these two areas. As optimally shown in Figure 10, the channels 42 and 44 decrease in depth downwards at their ends and have, between the bottoms 25 of the end walls 22, 24, a depth at least equal

  to that of the bottom wall 16 on its lateral edges.

  A drain plug 46 is formed in the channel 44, near the bottom of the end wall 22 and at least at the same depth. As shown in Figures 2, 8, 30 9, 14 and 16, the plate 26 extends transversely beyond the frame 30 behind this frame 30 formed at the top of the end wall 24, and it is inclined downward in the direction channels with which it communicates around the ends of the frame 30, which allows water, soap or the like to be discharged into the channels from the tray; ribs 48 are formed on the surface of the plate

26 to promote this flow.

  As shown particularly in Figures 3, 18, 19, 20 and 21, the drain plug 46 5 consists of a circular opening passing through the wall of the channel 44. Two curvilinear recesses 72 and 74, diametrically opposite 90 in the upper part of the wall of the channel 44, surround the opening of the drain. Below the wall of the channel 44 with which it forms an integral part, a wall 76 extends downward and around the opening of the drain 46. This wall 76 comprises two curvilinear sealing zones 78 and 80 diametrically opposite, the diameter of which is equal to that of the plug 46, except at their ends where ribs 82 and 84 are provided, engaging inwards. The wall 76 also has diametrically opposite extended zones 86 and 88, having radial dimensions greater than the diameter of the opening of

the plug.

  A plug 90 illustrated optimally in Figures 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, is provided with a flange 92 intended to overhang the wall of the channel 44, projecting from the opening of the bung 46 and the recesses curvilinear 72 and 74 which surround it further. A handle 94 extends above the collar 92 and

  pins 96 and 98, which can be clicked together, are placed below the flange 92 so as to enter the recesses 72 and 74. The plug 90 has a central opening 100 extending axially, which communicates with orifices 102 and 104 diametrically opposite, facing each other radially. A recess 106 is formed below the orifices 102 and 104, for cooperation with the ribs 82 and 84.

  FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate the plug 90 35 fitted into the drain plug 46. As shown, this plug 90 is locked in the plug 46 by the

  ribs 82 and 84 entering the recess 106.

  The interlocking studs 96 and 98, housed in the recesses 72 and 74, allow a rotation of the plug of 90 'only between the ends of the recesses 72 and 5 74. In one of the positions taken by rotation, illustrated in FIG. 28, the orifices 102 and 104 of the plug 90 are located opposite the sealing zones 78 and 80, thereby closing the drain plug. After rotation of 90 ′ to the position illustrated in FIG. 10 29, these orifices 102 and 104 face the extended zones 86 and 88 of the wall 76, so that they are

cleared to open the drain 46.

  As shown in Figures 3 and 7, two uprights 50 and 52 spaced transversely are provided at the end of the bath opposite the tray 26, below the upper part of the end wall 22, and have surfaces of support turned down and aligned in a horizontal plane with a support surface 29, below the folded edges of the frame 28, at the end of the bath corresponding to the tray. The support surface 29 is materialized by a region, facing downwards, of a first support wall extending below the plate 26, from second support walls 62 and 64, and merging with the frame 28 on the outside of the tray 26, as shown optimally in FIG. 3. The walls 62 and 64 extend outward on either side of the bathtub, at a limited distance in the direction of the tray 26 , from the extreme walls delimits both the channels 42 and 44 at the end of the bath corresponding to the tray. The walls 29, 62 and 64 are integral with the lower side of the plate 26 and the walls 62 and 64 are integral with the walls defining the channels 42 and 44. The external distance between the end of the walls 62, 64 and 24 at level of the plane of the support surface 29 and the end wall 22 at

  level of the support surface of the uprights 50 and 52, is the predetermined minimum length of a single base identified by dashed lines II in FIG. 4, inside which the bathtub can be supported by the uprights 50.52 and by the support surface 29. The support surfaces of the uprights 50, 52, as well as the support surface 29, have in the longitudinal direction of the plate 26, a length allowing the bathtub to be supported in the notch d '' a slightly longer base 10.

  Below the end wall 24 and recessed inwards with respect to the uprights 50 and 52 on each side of the bath, legs 54, 56, 58 and 60 molded integrally below the ends 42 15 and 44 are provided in a plane slightly lower than the lowest regions of the bottom of the bath, to support this bath on a shelf, table or other horizontal surface materialized by dashed lines II-II in FIG. 4. The legs 58 20 and 60 are inwardly offset from the adjacent ends of the channels 42 and 44. The walls 62 and 64 are spaced overhanging and form support surfaces facing downwards above the bottoms of the legs 58 and 60, as shown in FIGS. 25 5, 6, 8 and 10. Internally with respect to the legs 54 and 56, in the immediate vicinity of the latter between the lower region of the end wall 22 and said legs 54, 56, the side walls 18 and 20 are indented es to form surfaces 66 and 68 facing downwards, which are illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 8 and, and are slightly lower than the support surfaces 62, 64 above the bottoms of the legs 54 and 56. The support surfaces of the walls 62,64, the support surfaces 66,68 and the height differences 35 between these surfaces allow the bathtub to be supported in a double plinth typically shorter than a single plinth , on one of the edges and on the slightly lower partition, identified by lines

III-III in Figure 4.

  The tub came from injection molding. 5 It is made of an organic plastic of high resistance, for example a high density polyethylene. The fleece 32 is placed on the wall 22 using a de-contact adhesive. To insert the plug 90 into the opening of the drain plug 46, the extreme lower region of

  this plug facing the ribs 82 and 84, until they snap into the recess 106 and thus lock the plug permanently.

  Once the fleece 32 and the plug 90 are in place, the bathtub is ready for use.

  In service, the bathtub with the closed drain is placed in a drainage base, either by bearing on the edges of this base by the support surface 29 at one end and by the uprights 20 50, 52 to the other end, either by resting on an edge and on the central partitioning of a double base, by means of the support surfaces of the walls 62,64 and the support surfaces 66,68. After a bath, the drain is opened to drain the water from the bathtub into the so25 key. Then, the bathtub can be removed from the base, then placed on a horizontal surface on which it is supported by the legs 54, 56, 58 and 60. Of course, if desired, a bath can be administered when the bathtub rests on a horizontal surface; nevertheless, this requires filling

  and an emptying of the bathtub away from the base, or an uplift and movement imprinted on this bathtub filled with water. After use, the bathtub can be stored on an easel, using the hole 70 35 provided for this purpose.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the bathtub described and shown, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (18)

  1. Bathtub for newborns and young children, comprising a bottom wall and end and side walls extending upwards from this bottom wall, bathtub characterized in that it is provided with separate sloping and seating areas respectively; in that the inclined area or ramp (12) includes one (22) of the end walls extending upward at a certain angle of inclination to support the back and head of a toddler in the inclined position and, at the bottom of said end wall, a region (34) of said bottom wall (16) which extends obliquely upward and away from said end wall, to support the buttocks and thighs of the bam15 bin in an inclined position; by the fact that said seating area (14) includes the other end wall (24) extending upwards in a vertical orientation, to support the back of a toddler in sitting position and, at the bottom of this other end wall, a region (36) of said bottom wall (16) extending horizontally away from said other end wall, in the direction of the first wall (22) mentioned above, for supporting the buttocks of the seated toddler, as well as another region (38) of said bottom wall which extends obliquely upward from said horizontal region (36), away from said other end wall, for support the thighs of the seated toddler; and by the fact that the inclined regions (34, 38) of said bottom wall (16) are connected by a vertex (40) situated above this bottom wall on the end walls and below the upper edges of said walls extreme (22,24) and lateral (18,20), and form a partition between said ramp (12) and said seating area (14). 2. Bathtub according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of inclination is included   between about 30 'and 50, the vertical orientation angle being between about 70' and 85 '.   3. Bathtub according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle of inclination is envi5 ron 40 '.   4. Bathtub according to claim 2, characterized in that the vertical orientation angle measures approximately 77 '.   5. Bathtub according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the angle of inclination measures approximately 40 '.   6. Bathtub for newborns and young children, comprising a bottom wall and end and side walls extending upwards from this bottom wall, bathtub characterized in that it is provided with separate inclined and seat areas respectively, between which at least one channel communicates (42,44); by the fact that the inclined area or ramp (12) includes one (2v) of the extreme walls extending upwards at a certain angle of inclination to support the back and the head of a toddler in the inclined position and, at the bottom of said end wall, a region (34) of said bottom wall (16) which extends obliquely upwards and away from said end wall 25, to support the buttocks and the toddler's thighs in an inclined position; by the fact that said seating area (14) includes the other end wall (24) extending upwards in a vertical orientation, to support the back of a toddler in a sitting position and, at the bottom of this another end wall, a region (36) of said bottom wall (16) extending horizontally away from said other end wall, in the direction of the end wall (22) mentioned first, to support the buttocks of the seated toddler, as well as another region (38) of said bottom wall which extends to   slanting upward from said horizontal region (36), away from said other end wall, to support the thighs of the seated toddler; in that the inclined regions (34, 36) of said bottom wall (16) are connected by a top (40) located above this bottom wall, on the end walls and below the upper edges of said walls extreme (22,24) and lateral (18,20), and form a partition between said ramp (12) and said seating area (14); and in that said channel (42,44) extends between said end walls (22,24) and between said bottom wall (16) and said side wall (18, 20), next to the partitioning, by establishing thus the communication between said ramp (12) and said seating area (14) beyond said partitioning.   7. Bathtub according to claim 6, characterized in that two channels (42,44) are provided, one on each side.   8. Bathtub according to claim 6, caracté20 laughed by the fact that a drain (46) is formed in the bottom of the aforementioned channel (44), at a location located at least at the same depth as   the location of the adjacent bottom wall (16).   9. Bathtub according to claim 1 or 6, ca25 characterized by the fact that support surfaces (66,   68) facing downwards are provided at each end, outside and above the bottom wall (16) of the bathtub, to support this bathtub on the edges of a drainage base and partially at the 'interior of this base.   10. Bathtub according to claim 9, characterized in that two uprights (50,52) extend downward over the upper external region of the first end wall (22); in that a first support wall (29) extends in the immediate vicinity and around the upper region of the other end wall (24); and in that a set of said support surfaces comprises surfaces (66,68) of said uprights which face downwards, as well as a surface, face downwards, of the first support wall 5 (29) , said support surfaces of this game being in a plane adjacent to the upper region of the other extreme wall (24).   11. Bathtub according to claim 10, characterized in that support legs (54, 10 56,58,60) are provided at each end at the bottom (16) of the bathtub, internally with respect to the support surfaces, so to support this bathtub (10) on a horizontal surface.   12. A bathtub according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that support legs (54,56, 58,60) are provided at each end at the bottom (16) of this bathtub (10); in that the side walls (18,20) are notched in the upper part and inwards, in the immediate vicinity of said legs at one end of said bath; and by the fact that, at the other end of this bath, second support walls (62, 64) are provided outside and above said legs, a set of said support surfaces comprising surfaces, turned 25 downwards, said side walls (18,20) in their indented regions, as well as said seconds support walls (62,64).   13. Bathtub according to claim 9, characterized in that two sets of support surfaces 30 are provided at the aforementioned ends, the support surfaces of one of the sets being located below the support surfaces of the other set , which are spaced inwardly and relative to which they are closer together, so that said bathtub (re) (10) can be supported in drainage bases of different dimensions.   14. Bathtub according to claim 13, characterized in that two uprights (50,52) extend downward over the upper external region of the first end wall (22); in that a first support wall (29) extends in the immediate vicinity and around the upper region of the other end wall (24); and by the fact that the other set of support surfaces comprises surfaces (66,68) of said uprights which face downwards and a surface, face downwards, of said first support wall (29), the support surfaces of this other set lying in a plane adjacent to the upper region of said another extreme wall (24).   15. Bathtub according to claim 14, carac15 terized in that the support legs (54, 56,58,60) are provided at each end at the bottom (16) of the bathtub (10); by the fact that the side walls (18,20) are notched in the upper part, inwards in the immediate vicinity of said legs at one of the ends of said bath; by the fact that, at the other end of this bathtub, second support walls (62, 64) are provided outside and above said legs; and by the fact that one of the sets of support surfaces comprises surfaces, facing downwards, of said side walls (18,20)   in their indented regions, as well as said second support walls (62,64).   16. Bathtub according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one channel (42,44) extends between the end walls (22,24) and between the wall   bottom (16) and the side wall (18,20), next to the partition, thereby establishing communication between the ramp (12) and the seating area (14) beyond said partition.   17. Bathtub according to claim 16, characterized in that two channels (42,44) are provided, one on each side.   18. Bathtub according to claim 17, charac5 terized by the fact that a drain (46) is   formed at the bottom of the above-mentioned channel (44), at a location situated at least at the same depth as the location of the adjacent bottom wall (16).