GB2316312A

GB2316312A - Bathtub water saving unit

Info

Publication number: GB2316312A
Application number: GB9617331A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Bradley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-08-17
Filing date: 1996-08-17
Publication date: 1998-02-25
Also published as: GB9617331D0

Abstract

A water saving unit for the bathtub comprises a triangular prism that sits between the bathers legs. This displaces a volume of water that would otherwise be used to keep the level of water in the bath at a sufficient level. The unit can be free standing and held in place with ballast or suckers or be incorporated into the shape of the bathtub. If the unit is free standing it may be made of a single piece or of multiple parts. Certain cutaways may be taken from the unit to allow for access to the bathplug and to allow a channel for the hot and cold water to mix.

Description

@@@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ his invention relates to a hot water saving unlit ior the cath.

hen lying in the bath the most comiortable position, generally, is to have the legs spread apart with the knees resting against the vertical sides of the bathtub. This leaves basically a triangular shape between the legs. dhis portion of water serves no real purpose than to fill the bath up to a level that will keep the bather suitably submerged. The purpose of this invention is to displace this portion of water.

According to the present invention there is a bathtub water saving unlit that fits between the legs when lying in the bath, which is basically, a triangular prism with both triangular faces in the horizontal plane.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be describes by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Yigure 1 shows a perspective of the unit in position in the bathtub; igure 2 shows two halves of a multiple part unit separated.

Refering to the crawling of the unit is comprises of a top half 12 and bottom half 13. ?he unit is placed in the bathtub 11 so that the cutaway id allows access to the bathplug 1O. The cutaway 14 is to allow a channel for the hot and cold water to mix.

The bather sits in the bathtub with their legs between the vertical faces of the unit and the sides of the bath.

The bottom half 13 is placed on the bottom surface of the bathtub ii using the handles 15. '+he top half 12 is then placed on top of the bottom half' i3 using the handles 15. he two halves of the unit are prevented from horizontal relative movement by matching the catchment means 17 on the top half 12 with the mating catchment means id on the bottom half .

To remove the unit the steps above are carried out in reverse sequence.

The unit is held in place when water is added to the bath by means of ballasting.

Antoher specific embodiment of the invention will now be descibed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 3 shows a perspective of the unit in the bathtub; Figure 4 shows a perpective of the unit from the bottom.

Refering to the drawing the unit is a single piece 20 with suckers 19 on the bottom. The unit is placed in the bathtub 11 so that the cutaway 16 allows access to the bathplug 10. The cutaway 14 is to allow a channel for the hog and cold water to mix. The recess 22 in the top of the unit is for placing items used in the bath into.

The bather si+ ir the the bathtub with thei legs between tie rut cay faces of the unit and the sides of the bathtub.

The unit is placed in the bathtub 11 and pressed down until the suckers 19 take hold. The suckers 19 prevent the unit from moving when water is added to the bath.

To remove the unit the handles 15 are used to pull up on the unit 20 and release the suction on the suckers 19.

Another specific embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figuer 5 shows a perspective of the unit incorporated into the bathtub.

Refering to the drawing the unit 21 is now an integral part of the bathtub 11. It is molded into the complete bath at the manufacturing stage. The cutaway 16 allows access to the bathplug 10. The unit Is molded with a space 23 behind it to allow for a channel for the hot and cold water to mix.

The recess 22 on top of the unit is for placing bathing items into.

The bather places their legs between the vertical faces of the unit 21 and the sides of the bathtub 11. Since the unit 21 is now an integral part of the bathtub 11 it cannot be removed.

Claims

CLANK

I. Abathtub water saving unit that fits between the legs when sitting in the bath, which is basically a triangular prism with both triangular faces in the horizontal plane.

2. A bathtub water saving unit as claimed in clair 1, wherein the unit is separate from the actual bithtub.

bathtub water saving unit as claimea in claim 1, herein the unit is an integral part of the bathtub.

4. Abathtub water saving unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the unit is hollow.

5. A bathtub water saving unit as claimed in claim 4, herein the unit is made of plastic by rotational molding, injection blow molding, extrusion blow molding, or slurry molding.

6. Abathtub water saving unit as claimed in claim2, claim s, or claim 5, wherein suckers are used to hold the unit down when water is added to the bath.

7. A bathtub water saving unit as claimed in claim 2, claim 4, or claim 5, wherin ballasting is used to hold the unit in place when wits is access to the bath.

bathtub water saving unit as claimed in claim 2, claim 3, claim 6, or claim7, wherein an angled cutaway is taken IrOIF the rear ace of the unit to allow a channel for the hot and cold water to flix.

9. - bathtub ;rater saving unit as claimed in claim2, claim 3, claim , claim 7, or claim6, wherein a cutaway is taken from the rear face of the unit to allo for access to the tu̇lu.

10. t bathtub ater saving unit as claimed in claim 2, claim 7, claim t, or claim 9, wherein multiple parts are used.

11. A bathtub @@@@ @@ @ claim 10, wherein catch:ent means are provided to prevent any horizontal movement of the parts relative to each other.

12. . bathtub water saving unit as claimed in claim 2, claim 6, claim 7, claim d, claim 9, claim 10, or claim 11, wherein the unit is provided with at least one handle.

13. A bathtub water saving unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a recess is placed in the top of the unit for placing soap and other things used in the bath in.

14. A bathtub water saving unit substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-5 to the accompanying drawings.