GB2235881A

GB2235881A - Bath toy

Info

Publication number: GB2235881A
Application number: GB8920483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horacio Queiro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-11
Filing date: 1989-09-11
Publication date: 1991-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-11
Also published as: GB2235881B; GB8920483D0

Abstract

A bath toy comprises a hollow body shaped to represent a cloud and having an inlet through which bath water enters the body when the body is immersed in the bath, and an outlet comprising a fixed array of perforations through which bath water contained in the body is dischargeable in a distributed flow which simulates rain when the water-filled body is raised above the bath.

Description

Description of Invention "Bath toy" This invention relates to a bath toy.

There are many bath toys on the market, but few allow both a child and an attendant adult to interact with the water. Furthermore, many small children are fearful of water such as when they are having their hair washed.

The present invention aims to provide a bath toy which accustoms a child gradually to falling water in a play situation.

According to the present invention there is provided a bath toy comprising a hollow body shaped to represent a cloud and provided with means for introducing bath water into the body when the bod is immersed in the bath and with an inlet comprising a plurality of perforations through which bath water contained in the body is dischargeable in a distributed flow which simulates rain when the water-filled body is raised above the bath.

Conveniently the body is formed from a relatively rigid material, the means for introducing bath water into the body comprises an inlet aperture closeable by a user's hand to enable the hollow body to be raised above the bath without the bath water escaping from the hollow body, and bath water in the body is discharged through the perforations when the inlet opening is uncovered.

Alternatively the body is formed from a relatively resilient material and is deformable into a collapsed condition such that it may be immersed in bath water in the collapsed condition and released while immersed to allow bath water to enter the body through the introducing means, the plurality of permanently open perforations being dimensioned to allow the hollow body -to be raised above the bath without a substantial amount of the bath water escaping from the hollow body, the arrangement being such that when the water-filled body is raised above the bath and the body is deformed, bath water in the body is forcibly discharged through the perforations.

Conveniently the inlet is provided on one surface of the body and the outlet is provided on an opposite surface of the body.

Advantageously the perforations of the outlet are evenly distributed along a surface of the body.

Conveniently the aperture constituting the inlet is substantially 25 millimetres in diameter.

Advantageously the apertures of the outlet are substantially 1 millimetre in diameter.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a bath toy according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the bath toy of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the bath toy of Figure 1.

Referring now to the Figures, a bath toy according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a hollow body 1 generally in the form of a stylised miniature cloud. The hollow body 1 may be formed of a relatively rigid material, preferably plastics.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an upper surface 3 of the hollow body 1 is provided with a substantially circular inlet aperture 5. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the diameter of the aperture 5 is approximately 25 millimetres.

Figure 3 shows an underside 7 of the hollow body 1, the underside being provided with an outlet in the form of a fixed array of permanently open perforations 9. In the embodiment of the figures, the diameter of each of the perforations 9 is approximately 1 millimetre and the perforations 9 are evenly distributed along the underside 7 of the hollow body 1.

In use of the bath toy, the hollow body 1 may be submerged by a user in a bath so that water from the bath enters the hollow body 1 mainly via the aperture 5.

The aperture 5 in the upper side 3 of the hollow body 1 may then be covered by the user's hand, and the hollow body raised above the bath without the bath water escaping from the hollow body through the apertures 9 in the underside 7 of the body 1. The inlet aperture 5 can then be uncovered to permit the bath water to escape from the water-filled hollow body through the apertures 9 in the underside 7 of the hollow body in a distributed flow simulating rain, due to the configuration and dimensions of the array of the apertures 9.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, it is envisaged that the hollow body 1 may be formed of a relatively resilient material, preferably rubber, wherein the apertures 9 in the underside 7 of the body have a diameter of approximately 1 millimetre.

With such a toy, upon raising the body above the bath water, the water within the body will not flow through the apertures 9 until the body 1 is deformed, for example by squeezing the body in order to force the water through the apertures 9.

The above described bath toy accustoms a child gradually to falling water in a fun situation while also serving both an educational purpose illustrating the basic physical principle of rain and a functional purpose to rinse the child's hair or body. Later in the child's life, the bath toy may be used as a visual aid during storytelling.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A bath toy comprising a hollow body shaped to represent a cloud and provided with means for introducing bath water into the body when the body is immersed in the bath and with an outlet comprising a plurality of perforations through which bath water contained in the body is dischargeable in a distributed flow which simulates rain when the water-filled body is raised above the bath.

2. h bath toy according to Claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a relatively rigid material, the means for introducing bath water into the body comprises an inlet aperture closeable by a user's hand to enable the hollow body to be raised above the bath without the bath water escaping from the hollow body, and bath water in the body is discharged through the perforations when the inlet opening is uncovered.

3. A bath toy according to Claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a relatively resilient material and is deformable into a collapsed condition such that it may be immersed in bath water in the collapsed condition and released while immersed to allow bath water to enter the body through the introducing means, the plurality of permanently open perforations being dimensioned to allow the hollow body to be raised above the bath without a substantial amount of the bath water escaping from the hollow body, the arrangement being such that when the water-filled body is raised above the bath and the body is deformed, bath water in the body is forcibly discharged through the perforations.

A A bath toy according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the inlet aperture is provided on one surface of the body and the outlet is provided on an opposite surface of the body.

5. A bath toy according to any preceding Claim, wherein the perforations of the outlet are evenly distributed along a surface of the body.

6. A bath toy according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the inlet aperture is substantially 25 millimetres in diameter.

7. A bath toy according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the perforations of the outlet are substantially 1 millimetre in diameter.

8. A bath toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or combination of features herein disclosed.