GB2348601A - A plastic frame for supporting a bathtub for babies - Google Patents

Abstract

A bathtub for babies is formed by a pair of legs (1, 2) at each side where the legs (1, 2) in each pair are linked by a hinged connection (3) and where the pairs of legs (1, 2) are connected at top and bottom regions by longitudinal members (4, 5, 5'). Cross members (6, 6') which are attached between the lower longitudinal members (5, 5') limit the opening of the frame. The frame is foldable and made from blow-moulded plastic.

Description

A BATHTUB FOR BABIES The present invention refers to a bathtub for babies.

Foldable bathtubs for babies are already known which do generally comprise a metallic frame made of tubular elements forming the legs of the bathtub, said legs being formed at each side by two elements linked to each other in a hinged connection and in a mutually crossed arrangement and connected from side to side with upper longitudinal members supporting the rigid or flexible bathtub, and with longitudinal members at their lower region between which a flexible platform is fitted thus delimiting the opening of the legs and not preventing to fold them together as per a juxtaposed arrangement.

It is the object of this invention to simplify and lower the cost of the manufacture of this kind of bathtubs for babies with the added peculiarity that the frame of the bathtub is formed by several pieces that can be easily fitted to each other (with no need to use professional jigs and tools), which allows to store and transport the bathtub assembly in a dismantled condition thereby occupying a very reduced space, the bathtub being apt to be mounted by the purchaser when having to be used.

Another of the advantages lies in the fact that the pieces making up the frame, since they are made of plastics material, do not require any final painting and/or finishing operations, and can be easily washed thus being highly hygienic.

To achieve all this this bathtub for babies is characterized in that its frame comprises all of its components formed by respective pieces of blow-moulded plastics material, said components being apt to be detachably attached to each other by means of screws and nuts.

A very light and at the same time very strong bathtub for babies is thus provided, the longitudinal members ending at each of their ends in a threaded stem being integral with them.

When carrying out the moulding operation itself the legs are as well provided with the corresponding orifices for the connection of the ends of the longitudinal members, secured with the corresponding nuts, and with the orifices for the hinge pins linking said legs to each other in a hinged connection.

Also characteristic is the construction of the cross members connecting the lower longitudinal members to each other, said cross members being formed by two halves linked to each other in a hinged connection, provided with a stop to limit their opening, and linked at their ends to the lower longitudinal members.

Another of the characteristics lies in the fact that the longitudinal members do also comprise near to their ends an integral, peripheral protrusion acting by way of a stop in the assembly between components.

These and other characteristics will be best made apparent by the following detailed description whose understanding will be made easier by the accompanying sheet of drawings showing a practical embodiment cited only by way of an example not limiting the scope of the present invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 illustrates in a perspective view the assembly formed by the frame of the bathtub for babies; Figs. 2 and 3 do respectively show in a sectional detail the way the upper and lower longitudinal members are fitted to the legs; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one of the legs at the mutual linking point; and Fig. 5 shows in a perspective view one of the two halves making up the cross members.

According to the drawings the bathtub for babies comprises a frame formed by two legs 1 and 2 at each side, said legs being at each side linked to each other in a hinged connection by means of a pin 3, the legs of one side being connected to those of the opposite side by means of two upper longitudinal members 4 and two longitudinal members 5 and 5'provided at the lower region of said legs.

The frame is completed with two cross members formed by two halves 6 and 6'linked to each other in a hinged connection by means of a pin 7 and provided with a stop 8 to limit their opening.

All of these components of the frame are made of blow-moulded plastics material, the longitudinal members ending at each of their ends in a threaded stem 9 and having in the vicinity of this latter a respective peripheral protrusion 10 acting as a stop.

Each leg has three orifices 11,12 and 13 (Figs.

2,3 and 4), the corresponding end of the upper longitudinal member 4 being inserted into the first one of said orifices whereby the threaded stem 9 projects to the outside thus allowing to fit to it a manually operated blind nut 14, whereby the leg is then clasped between this nut and the stop 10 of the longitudinal member.

The threaded stem 9 of the lower longitudinal members 5,5'is inserted into the orifice 12, a housed blind nut 15 being fitted to said stem and having a transversal slot 16 in its outer surface allowing to actuate it by means of a coin or the like, the corresponding half 6 of the cross member being thus clasped between the leg and the protrusion 10 of the longitudinal member 5. In the case of the half 6'of the cross member a bushing 17 will be arranged on the longitudinal member between said half and the leg (Fig.

3), said two halves 6 and 6'being arranged in a hinged connection on the longitudinal members 5 and 5'by means of the orifice 18 provided at the ends of said halves.

The bathtub for babies will be completed by means of: a flexible lower tray B mounted from one cross member to the other and between the lower longitudinal members; the bathtub itself Ba which will rest on the upper longitudinal members 4 and can be flexible or rigid; and a dressing plate P provided to be arranged on the bathtub Ba.

Claims (7)

1.-A bathtub for babies comprising a frame formed by two legs at each side, said legs being at each side linked to each other in a hinged connection and being upperly connected and also connected at their lower region by means of two longitudinal members, said frame comprising between the lower longitudinal members cross members delimiting the opening of the legs and allowing to fold them up; characterized in that all of the components of the frame are formed by respective pieces of blow-moulded plastics material apt to be detachably attached to each other by means of screws and nuts.

2.-A bathtub for babies as per claim 1, characterized in that said cross members are formed by two halves linked to each other in a hinged connection, provided with a stop to limit their opening, and linked at their ends to the lower longitudinal members.

3.-A bathtub for babies as per claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal members end at their ends in threaded stems being integral with them.

4.-A bathtub for babies as per claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal members comprise near to their ends an integral, peripheral protrusion acting by way of a stop in the assembly between components.

5.-A bathtub for babies as per claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the orifices provided in the legs in order to allow to link them to each other in a hinged connection and in order to allow to fit the longitudinal member to said legs are obtained when carrying out the blow-moulding operation itself leading to the obtention of said legs.

6.-A bathtub for babies as per claim 1, characterized in that a distance bushing is arranged on the corresponding longitudinal member between the cross members and one of the legs of each side.

7.-A supporting frame for a bathtub substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.