GB2125288A

GB2125288A - Bath for a baby

Info

Publication number: GB2125288A
Application number: GB08322412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Joseph Dunne; Andrew Robert West
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-08-19
Filing date: 1983-08-19
Publication date: 1984-03-07
Also published as: GB8322412D0

Abstract

A bath for a baby comprising a rigid bowl (10) provided with a plughole (12) at the bottom thereof and a support rim (14) extending outwardly from the bowl (10) to allow the bath to span and be supported on the rim of a conventional full-sized bath (28) for an adult. The bath may have a lid 18, non-slip reinforcing surfaces and suction cups 36. The lid may be used as a changing surface for the baby. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bath for a baby The present invention relates to a bath for a.

baby.

Hitherto, such a bath has been- made to stand on the floor, or on a table or other top surface; and it has been relatively inconvenient to: use from the point of view of filling. and'draining. the. bath-.

The present invention seeks' two overcome this problem.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed ta a bath for a baby, comprising a rigid. bowl having.

drainage means at the bottom thereof and support means extending outwardly from the bowl to allow the bath to span and-be supported on the rim of a full-size conventional bath for an adult.

This affords the-advantages that the baby bath- can be readily filled with water from the taps of the full-size bath (with or without the use of a hose or hoses connected to the taps), that the baby bath can be readily emptied, the water draining into the full-size bath, and that the baby bath is at a convenient height for the washing of a baby. The presence of drainage means, for example, a plughole at the bottom of the bath avoids the need of a user to lift the bath in order to empty it. These advantages are particularly helpful in bathing a handicapped child. It is also believed that the draining. reduces risk of infection of the umbilical cord: in very young babies.

An example of a bath for a baby, the bath being made in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the bath together with a lid which is shown slightly raised from the bath for the sake of clarity; Figure 2 shows an end elevational view of the bath and lid shown in Figure 1, with the outline of a cross secton of a full-sized bath to show how the baby bath spans the full-sized bath; Figure 3 is a plan view of the bath shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the lid shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a partly cross-sectional view of parts of the baby bath shown in Figure- 2, drawn to a larger scale; and Figure. 6 is a cross-sectional view- of parts of the bath shown in Figure 1, drawn to a larger scale.

The bath shown in Figure 1 comprises a basin or bowl 10, a drain 12 at one end of the bowl 10, a wide upper rim 12 of the bowl 10, and four legs 1 6 (only two of which are shown in Figure 1) at respective corners of the rim 14. The bath is further provided with a lid 1 8, which is, substantially flat except for two ridges 20 at respective ends of the lid 18, and which has substantially the same dimensions as the rim 14 of the bowl 10. Thus the lid 1 8 fits neatly over the rim 14.

The bowl 10 is provided with an overflow aperture 21 at its rear end.

The various parts of the bath are all injection moulded or vacuum moulded form PVC plastics material orglass fibre material, or other material which may be-easy to clean, non-toxic, and lightweight. The bowl 10 and rim 14 are made as one piece, for simplicity of manufacture and to reduce likelihood of damage to fingers.

The drain end of the bowl 10 is slightly deeper than its opposite end, so that the bath- has a shallow fall towards the-drain. In addition, it may have a rear end 11 (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) sloping at approximately 25 degrees as a back support for the baby.

Each of the legs 16 has a flanged-foot 22. to reduce the likelihood of scratching. The legs. 1 6 thus enable the bath to be used as a free standing unit.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, each leg 1 6 is provided with an outwardly-extending outrigger 24, the end of which is provided with-a rubber suction cap 26. Alternatively, in place of the rubber suction cap, the end of each outrigger 24 could be provided with a simple rubber or plastics ball.

As shown in Figure 2, the wide rim 14 of the baby bath has a width sufficient to span the upper rim of a full-sized adult bath, the width of the latter being a substantially standard dimension. The rim 14 has a shallow fall towards the bowl 10, to drain splash water, and m-ay be formed with recesses for soap or other items. The rubber suction caps 26 of the outriggers 24 rest against the inside wall of the full-size bath to give the baby bath stability. Thus, the whole of the baby bath is supported on the rim of the full-sized bath 28.

Although the transverse spacing of the rims of a conventional full-sized bath tend to be substantially standard, the angle of the side walls of the full-sized bath may vary from one unit to another. This means that, to enable the baby bath to be properly supported in any of various types of conventional full-sized bath, the transverse spacing between the caps 26 should be adjustable. To this end, slide rails are tracks 30 extend transversely underneath the two ends of the wide rim 14. Each slide rail 30 comprises-a transverse strip 32 extending downwardly from the underside of the rim 1 4 and a wider portion 34 of the rail, which may be fused onto the strip 32 to enable the various parts to be properly moulded in plastics material, so that the rail has an inverted T-shaped cross section.An upper part 36 of each leg 1 6 extends transversely of the baby bath and has a groove or slot 38 extending along it having the same cross section as the inverted T-shaped rail 30. Thus the adjustment of the legs 16 can be brought about by sliding the upper parts 36 of the legs along the rails 30. They can be locked in position by means of a camlock 40 which has a cam 42 pivotable about an axis 44 just below the -slot 38. Thus, rotation of a lever 46 of the camlock 40 bring the cam 42 more tightly into contact with the slide rail 30 to lock the leg 1 6 into position.

Figure 6 shows the drain in greater detail. It comprises a- thickened part 48 of the wall at the bowl end, and a tapered plughole 50, the tapering being in the outward direction, which receives a similarly tapered plug 52. A bonded plastics flexible retaining strap 54 is fastened to the plug 52 and also the thickened part 48 of the bowl 10 to prevent loss of the plug. The strap 54 avoids the need for a chain which may obstruct or possibly harm the baby. Also, the fact that the plug is inverted, in the sense that the connection for the strap 54 is on the underside of the plug, reduces likelihood of injury to the baby's skin. It will be appreciated that the strap 54 passes through the plughole 50 when the plug 52 is removed therefrom.

Numerous modifications in the shape and parts of the bath unit illustrated in the drawings will readily occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the present invention. For example, the wide rim 14 is shown in Figure 3 as substantially rectangular, and has a substantially flat region 56 which has a shallow fall towards the bowl 10, and a downwardly curved lip 58. This could be replaced by struts or a frame fastened to the upper part of the bowl 10 and extending outwardly therefrom to allow the bath unit to span the rim of a full-sized bath.

It will be appreciated that the lid 1 8 can also be used as a changing mat for the baby, the ridges 20 inhibiting the baby rolling off the lid.

The bowl and wide rim of the baby bath may be moulded with ripples or a criss-cross reinforcing ribbing to give it added strength and rigidity, and reduce the likelihood of slipping of the baby.

In a modified simpler construction the legs 16, the outriggers 24 and the tracks 30 are dispensed with, and instead four rubber suction caps 70 (shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 2) are positioned under the wide rim 14 to contact directly on the rim of the conventional bath 28 to support the baby bath.

The bowl or basin may be positioned off-centre in relation to the rim, nearer to the side thereof intended to be closer to the user, to reduce likelihood of injury caused by over-reaching.

Claims

1. A bath for a baby, comprising a rigid bowl having drainage means at the bottom thereof and support means extending outwardly from the bowl to allow the bath to span and be supported on the rim of a full-size conventional bath for an adult.

2. A bath according to claim 1, in which the drainage means comprises a plughole.

3. A bath according to claim 2, in which the plughole tapers in a downward direction.

4. A bath according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the plughole is provided with a plug.

5. A bath according to claim 4 when appended to claim 3, in which the plug is tapered to conform to the plughole.

6. A bath according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the plug is attached to the bath by means of a part which is attached to an underneath part of the plug.

7. A bath according to claim 6, in which the part by which the plug is attached to the bath comprises a flexible strap fastened to the bowl at the plughole.

8. A bath according to any preceding claim, in which the support means comprises a wide rim of the bath.

9. A bath according to claim 8, in which the bowl and rim are made integrally as one piece.

10. A bath according to any preceding claim, in which the bowl is off-centre in relation to the support means, towards that side of the bath intended to be nearer to the user, to reduce risk of injury caused by over-reaching.

11. A bath for a baby, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, with or without the modifications shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 2.