U.S. patent application number 11/560871 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for secure, impact resistant, tool free attaching bath spout cover.
This patent application is currently assigned to THORLEY INDUSTRIES, LLC. Invention is credited to RobertD Daley, HenryF Thorne.
Application Number | 20070130688 11/560871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38137793 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070130688 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thorne; HenryF ; et
al. |
June 14, 2007 |
SECURE, IMPACT RESISTANT, TOOL FREE ATTACHING BATH SPOUT COVER
Abstract
A slip on, securely fastened, tool free attaching, impact
resistant bathtub spout cover includes an impact resistant body
adapted to receive the spout for a bathtub therein, and at least
one attaching strap coupled to the body at a rearward end of the
body, wherein the strap is adapted to be secured around the spout.
The body may include a substantially open bottom. The body may also
include a high friction surface adjacent the spout and has at least
2 square inches of contact between the spout and the spout cover
when installed. The body may further include a diverter valve
access opening therein adapted to allow access to and operation of
a diverter valve of the spout when the spout cover is installed.
The strap may be an adjustable type strap with a buckle.
Inventors: |
Thorne; HenryF; (West View,
PA) ; Daley; RobertD; (Pittsburgh, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLYNN L. SHIDELER;THE BLK LAW GROUP
3500 BROKKTREE ROAD
SUITE 200
WEXFORD
PA
15090
US
|
Assignee: |
THORLEY INDUSTRIES, LLC
The Crane Building 40 24th St, 5th Floor
Pittsburgh
PA
15222
|
Family ID: |
38137793 |
Appl. No.: |
11/560871 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60750279 |
Dec 14, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/675 ;
374/E1.019 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 2001/0418 20130101;
G01K 1/143 20130101; A47K 3/005 20130101; E03C 1/0404 20130101;
G01K 2207/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/675 |
International
Class: |
E03C 1/04 20060101
E03C001/04 |
Claims
1. A slip on, impact resistant bathtub spout cover comprising a
body adapted to receive the spout for a bathtub therein, the body
having i) a front member adapted to engage a forward end of the
spout, ii) a top member attached to and extending in a rearward
direction from an upper end of the front member and adapted to
engage an upper surface of the spout, iii) a left side member
attached to and extending in a downward direction from the top
member and adapted to engage at least an upper portion of a left
side of the spout, the left side member further attached to the
front member, iv) a right side member attached to and extending in
a downward direction from the top member and adapted to engage at
least an upper portion of a right side of the spout, the right side
member further attached to the front member, and v) a substantially
open bottom between the left side member and the right side member
at distal lower ends thereof for a substantial length of the
spout.
2. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 further including
at least one attaching strap coupled to the body at a rearward end
of the body, wherein the strap is adapted to be secured around the
spout.
3. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 2 wherein the strap
is an adjustable strap with a buckle and hook and loop type
fastener elements.
4. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the body is
a foam body that includes a high friction surface adjacent the
spout and has at least 11/2 square inches of contact between the
spout and the spout cover when installed.
5. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the top
member includes a diverter valve access opening therein adapted to
allow access to and operation of a diverter valve of the spout when
the spout cover is installed.
6. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 5 wherein the top
member is higher than the diverter valve when the diverter valve is
in the off position.
7. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 5 further including
at least one attaching strap coupled to the body at a rearward end
of the body, wherein the strap is adapted to be secured around the
spout.
8. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 7 wherein the strap
is an adjustable strap with a buckle and hook and loop type
fastener elements.
9. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 7 wherein the body is
a closed cell foam and includes a high friction surface adjacent
the spout and has at least 2 square inches of contact between the
spout and the spout cover when installed.
10. A slip on, impact resistant bathtub spout cover comprising: A)
an impact resistant body adapted to receive the spout for a bathtub
therein; and B) at least one attaching strap coupled to the body at
a rearward end of the body, wherein the strap is adapted to be
secured around the spout.
11. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 10 wherein the body
includes a diverter valve access opening therein adapted to allow
access to and operation of a diverter valve of the spout when the
spout cover is installed.
12. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 10 wherein the strap
is an adjustable strap with a buckle and hook and loop type
fastener elements.
13. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 10 wherein the body
includes a high friction surface adjacent the spout and has at
least 2 square inches of contact between the spout and the spout
cover when installed.
14. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 10 wherein the body
is a foam body having i) a front foam member adapted to engage a
forward end of the spout, ii) a top foam member attached to and
extending in a rearward direction from an upper end of the front
foam member and adapted to engage an upper surface of the spout,
iii) a left side foam member attached to and extending in a
downward direction from the top foam member and adapted to engage
at least an upper portion of a left side of the spout, the left
side foam member further attached to the front foam member, iv) a
right side foam member attached to and extending in a downward
direction from the top foam member and adapted to engage at least
an upper portion of a right side of the spout, the right side foam
member further attached to the front foam member, and v) a
substantially open bottom between the left side foam member and the
right side foam member at distal lower ends thereof for a
substantial length of the spout.
15. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 14 wherein the foam
body is a closed cell foam and includes a high friction surface
adjacent the spout and has at least 2 square inches of contact
between the spout and the spout cover when installed.
16. A slip on, impact resistant bathtub spout cover comprising an
impact resistant body adapted to receive the spout for a bathtub
therein, wherein the body includes a diverter valve access opening
therein adapted to allow access to and operation of a diverter
valve of the spout when the spout cover is installed, wherein the
body at the position of the diverter valve access opening is higher
than the diverter valve in the downward off position.
17. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 16 wherein the body
is a foam body having i) a front foam member adapted to engage a
forward end of the spout, ii) a top foam member attached to and
extending in a rearward direction from an upper end of the front
foam member and adapted to engage an upper surface of the spout,
iii) a left side foam member attached to and extending in a
downward direction from the top foam member and adapted to engage
at least an upper portion of a left side of the spout, the left
side foam member further attached to the front foam member, iv) a
right side foam member attached to and extending in a downward
direction from the top foam member and adapted to engage at least
an upper portion of a right side of the spout, the right side foam
member further attached to the front foam member, and v) a
substantially open bottom between the left side foam member and the
right side foam member at distal lower ends thereof for a
substantial length of the spout.
18. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 16 further including
at least one attaching strap coupled to the body at a rearward end
of the body, wherein the strap is adapted to be secured around the
spout.
19. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 16 further including
at least one attaching strap coupled to the body at a rearward end
of the body, wherein the strap is adapted to be secured around the
spout.
20. The bathtub spout cover according to claim 19 wherein the strap
is an adjustable strap with a buckle and hook and loop type
fastener elements, and further including drainage grooves in the
body extending to the diverter valve access opening.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application bearing Ser. No. 60/750,279 filed Dec. 14, 2005
and entitled "Secure Impact Resistant, Tool free Attaching Bath
Spout Cover."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to safety products for a
bathtub water dispensing spout. More particularly the present
invention is directed to securely fastened bathtub water dispensing
spout cover designed for tool free attachment and designed to
prevent impact injuries among children and elderly associated with
bumping against the hard metal spouts common in bathtubs.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] The bathroom represents an area of the home having a
relatively higher risk of injury and, consequently many products
have been designed to help minimize these risks. As noted above,
the present application is directed to safety products for a
bathtub water dispensing spout, and unless otherwise noted the term
"spout" herein will reference a bathtub water dispensing spout, and
"spout cover" references products designed to fit over existing
bathtub water dispensing spouts.
[0006] Existing spout covers are typically designed to prevent
impact injuries among user's, such as children, disabled and
elderly, associated with bumping against the hard metal spouts
common in bathtubs. The existing spout covers are, most commonly,
simply soft plastic sleeves that slide over the existing spout and
have an opening that generally aligns with the spout opening. The
existing spout covers are often in child friendly shapes, such as
the form of a whale or a duck caricature. The existing commercially
viable spout covers essentially offer little more than impact
resistance, when they are left in place, and a child friendly
shape. The child friendly configuration can actually inhibit the
safety functions by enticing the child to pull off the spout cover
to play with in the bathtub and the safety function of the spout
cover is, of course, lost once it is removed from the spout. An
inflatable spout cover has also been developed that is inflated and
slid into place; however it also suffers from the disadvantage of
being generally easily removed by a child.
[0007] Spout covers lose their effectiveness for impact resistance
once they are removed from the spout. Consequently, a secure
attachment is be beneficial. However, consumers prefer to be able
to remove a protective spout cover at some point, without
significant difficulty. For example, in a shower/tub combination
many spouts have a diverter valve that must be accessed to utilize
the shower, and existing spout covers do not provide access to the
diverter valve, thereby requiring spout cover removal prior to use
of the shower. Further, consumers generally prefer to be able to
remove spout covers for simple aesthetic reasons as well.
Consequently, any child-proof or child resistant attachment
solution must be temporary and easily removable by adults, and not
by toddlers.
[0008] Spout covers will have no effectiveness for impact
resistance if they are never installed onto the spout. An overly
complex spout cover attachment system will result in few consumers
that take the time to install the spout cover. This design
consideration is adequately solved in the most common prior art
designs that simply slip onto the spout, requiring no significant
skill, tools or time for attaching the spout cover. Care must be
taken in addressing the easy child removal problems with the prior
art slip on spout cover designs that an attachment system is not
created that is too complex or time consuming for users to bother
to install.
[0009] In addition to the ineffectiveness of spout covers that are
inadvertently pulled off, or never put on by the consumer, spout
covers that remain on the store shelf are likewise ineffective. A
spout cover that is deemed to be unduly expensive by the consuming
public will simply stay on the store shelf, regardless of how
efficient the design. Consequently the design must be cost
effective from the consumer's viewpoint. Of course, what is cost
effective varies greatly from consumer to consumer, but the general
concept of perceived value in the product remains a critical design
criterion for a successful commercial product, and hence the cost
effective aspect is critical to all features incorporated into a
safety bath spout cover.
[0010] Incorporating elements into a bath spout safety cover that
addresses these safety issues will greatly increase the utility of
the spout cover and the relative safety of the users.
[0011] Other issues to be addressed in bath spout designs are
universal acceptance to the largest variety of commercially
available bath spouts; minimizing germs, mold, mildew and other
bacterial growth in what is commonly a warm wet environment that
may be very conducive for such growths; and providing easy
attachment and removal by adults. Finally it needs to be stressed
that any technological solution to these issues that are
incorporated into a spout cover must be cost effective solutions,
or they will not be used at all.
[0012] It is the objects of the present invention to address the
deficiencies of the prior art bath spout covers discussed above and
to do so in an efficient cost effective manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is noted that, as used in this specification and the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include
plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one
referent.
[0014] For the purposes of this specification, unless otherwise
indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients,
reaction conditions, and other parameters used in the specification
and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances
by the term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary,
the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification
and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon
the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present
invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the
application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the
claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in
light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying
ordinary rounding techniques.
[0015] All numerical ranges herein include all numerical values and
ranges of all numerical values within the recited numerical ranges.
Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting
forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the
numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as
precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently
contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard
deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
[0016] The various embodiments and examples of the present
invention as presented herein are understood to be illustrative of
the present invention and not restrictive thereof and are
non-limiting with respect to the scope of the invention. According
to one embodiment of the present invention addressing at least one
of the above stated objects, a slip on, tool-free attaching,
securely fastened, adhesive free, impact resistant bathtub spout
cover includes an impact resistant body adapted to receive the
spout for a bathtub therein, and at least one attaching strap
coupled to the body at a rearward end of the body, wherein the
strap is adapted to be secured around the spout. The body may
include a substantially open bottom. The body may also include a
high friction surface adjacent the spout and has at least 11/2, and
preferably at least 2, square inches of contact, and more
preferably at least 5 square inches, between the spout and the
spout cover when installed. The body may further include a diverter
valve access opening therein adapted to allow access to and
operation of a diverter valve of the spout when the spout cover is
installed, and wherein the body is higher than the diverter in the
lower (off--or faucet) position. Drainage grooves may be provided
in the body extending from the diverter valve access opening to
prevent standing water within the opening. The strap may be an
adjustable type strap with a buckle.
[0017] The slip-on feature of the spout cover references the
ability to slide or push the spout cover, into a final operative
position, e.g. onto the spout. The tool-free attaching aspect of
the spout cover references that the spout cover is constructed so
that an adult operator can attach, and indeed remove, the spout
cover to the spout using his hands only, using no separate tools.
The spout cover is securely fastened in that when attached to the
spout, the spout cover cannot easily be pulled off by small
children using the bath. The spout cover is impact resistant in
that it is soft or cushioned, and it is preferred if the body has a
Shore hardness of at least 20 (OO scale) to be of acceptable impact
resistance. There are a number of acceptable ways to form the spout
cover, including forming the body from soft rubber, flexible foam,
or even inflatable members.
[0018] These and other advantages of the present invention will be
clarified in the description of the preferred embodiments taken
together with the attached figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a bath spout cover
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of the safety spout cover
of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of a bath spout cover
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of the safety spout cover
of FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic side section view of a safety spout
cover according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective top view of a bath spout cover
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the bath spout cover of
FIG. 6;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the bath spout cover of
FIG. 6 with a final water guide removed for clarity;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the bath spout cover of
FIG. 6;
[0028] FIG. 10 is top plan view of the bath spout cover of FIG.
6;
[0029] FIG. 11 is rear plan view of the bath spout cover of FIG.
6;
[0030] FIG. 12 is bottom plan view of the bath spout cover of FIG.
6; and
[0031] FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of the bath spout of FIG. 6
with the associated faucet removed for clarity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] FIGS. 1-4 illustrates two embodiments of a slip on,
tool-free attaching, securely fastened, adhesive free, impact
resistant bathtub spout cover 10 according to the present
invention. FIGS. 6-13 illustrate in detail an embodiment of the
slip on, tool-free attaching, securely fastened, adhesive free,
impact resistant bathtub spout cover 10 according to the present
invention. The spout cover 10 includes a foam body 12 having a soft
exterior for impact resistance and user safety. Impact resistance
within the meaning of this application refers to material that is
softer than conventional metal or hard plastic, and will be
understood by those in the child proofing art. Preferably the foam
body has a Shore hardness of at least 20 on the OO scale. A wide
variety of materials can be used to form the body 12 and the soft
exterior, including rubber, soft plastics (low durometer plastics),
and the like. Acceptable foams for the foam body 12 include closed
cell expanded polyurethane, vinyl viton, silicon, neoprene or
coated polyimide or polyethylene. In the illustrated embodiment the
body is a closed cell foam, such as expanded polyurethane. The
closed cell construction will make the body 12 non-absorbing. The
non-absorbing feature is important in the bathroom environment such
that no standing water is maintained by the body 12, i.e. the foam
body 12 should not act as a sponge. For similar reasons the body 12
is designed to have no areas in which water can collect or pool.
The exterior of the body 12 can have any desired shape, including
child friendly animal shapes. The body 12 is preferably a molded
one piece assembly, for ease of manufacturing.
[0033] The body 12 of the spout cover 10 is adapted to receive the
spout 14, or faucet, for a bathtub therein. As illustrated in FIGS.
1-4 the spout 14 is generally extending forward from the wall
essentially at the top surface of the bathtub. The spout cover 10
is not intended to cover sink faucets or shower heads, which do not
present similar safety concerns. For the sole purpose of better
explaining the construction and operation of the spout cover 10,
the front of the spout 14 and spout cover 10 will be at the distal
end of the spout 14 spaced from the wall, forward is the direction
away from the wall, the back or rear is the end of the spout 14 and
spout cover 10 adjacent the wall, rearward is the direction
extending toward the wall. The left and right sides of the spout 14
and spout cover 10 are conventional once the front and back have
been defined. The top or upper end and the bottom or lower ends are
conventional and well understood even without the front and rear
designations.
[0034] The body 12 has a front closed cell foam member 16 adapted
to engage a forward end of the spout. The body 12 has a closed cell
top foam member 18 attached to and extending in a rearward
direction from an upper end of the front foam member 16 and adapted
to engage an upper surface of the spout 14. The foam body 12 has a
left side closed cell member foam member 20 attached to and
extending in a downward direction from the top foam member 18 and
adapted to engage at least an upper portion of a left side of the
spout 14. The left side foam member 20 is further attached to the
front foam member 16. In a similar fashion, the body 12 includes a
right side closed cell foam member 22 attached to and extending in
a downward direction from the top foam member 18 and adapted to
engage at least an upper portion of a right side of the spout 14,
with the right side foam member 22 further attached to the front
foam member 16. The body 12 further includes a substantially open
bottom between the left side foam member 20 and the right side foam
member 22 at distal lower ends thereof for a substantial length of
the spout 14 as shown in the figures.
[0035] The body 12 is essentially a three sided, open bottom cover
around the spout 14. The body 12 should have the general shape of
the spout 14 but should be flexible, or malleable, enough to be fit
tightly onto a variety of spout configurations. A "thick"
compressible foam construction for the members 16, 18, 20 and 22
will accommodate this, with the "thick" being relative to the
general wall thickness of the spout walls. Preferably the body 12
will be at least 0.375'' and preferably at least 0.6'' thick. This
thick compressible foam construction provides the desired impact
resistance and the secure engagement with the surface of the spout
14.
[0036] The spout cover 10, as shown, also includes a temperature
display 24 which will receive a temperature signal from a sensor
(not shown) in the water stream of the spout 14 to quickly and
easily display water temperature to the operator.
[0037] The bathtub spout cover 10 further includes one attaching
hook and loop type strap 26 coupled to the body 12 at a rearward
end of the body 12 as shown. The strap 26 is adapted to be secured
around, i.e. encircling, the spout 14, generally as shown. The
strap 26 is preferably an adjustable strap and may include a buckle
30 and hook and loop type fastener elements to secure the strap 26
once tightened, as known in the strap art. In operation the leading
end of the strap 26 is fed through the buckle 30, pulled to a taut
position and folded back on itself to a secured position with the
hook and loop type fasteners. Other strap configurations are
possible, such as an elastic band, ratchet type tightening member,
a tie down strap, or the like. The secure attachment of the strap
26 is believed to increase the frictional engagement between the
body 12 and the spout 14, making premature or unintended removal of
the spout cover 10 less likely.
[0038] The foam body 12 includes a high friction surface adjacent
the spout 14 and has a relatively high area of contact between the
cover 10 and the spout 10, namely a minimum of at least 11/2 square
inches, preferably at least 2 square inches, and more preferably at
least 5 square inches of contact between the spout 14 and the spout
cover 10 when installed. Preferably the foam body 12 has a static
coefficient of friction on the spout 14 of at least 0.7 and more
preferably at least 0.9. The body 12 is designed to essentially
conform to the spout 14, whereby the area of contact between the
body 12 and the spout 14 is close to the surface area of the top of
the spout 14, the front of the spout 14 and the portions of the
side covered by the left and right side 20 and 22. Increasing or
maximizing the area of contact between the spout 14 and the body 12
will increase the frictional engagement therebetween, particularly
when the strap 26 is tightened, and will securely hold the spout
cover 10 in position.
[0039] The bathtub spout cover 10 according to the present
invention includes a diverter valve access opening 32 in the top
member 18 adapted to allow access to and operation of a diverter
valve 34 of the spout 14 when the spout cover 10 is installed. The
top member 18 is higher, at least at the opening 32, than the
diverter valve 34 with the valve 34 in the lower (off--or faucet)
position as shown. In view of the engagement between the body 12
and the spout 14, drainage grooves 36 may be as shown in FIG. 5
provided in the body 12 leading to the opening 32 to prevent
standing water from accumulating in the opening 32.
[0040] The spout cover 10 of the present invention as described
thereby provides a tool-free attaching system in that the operator
need only slide on the spout cover 10 onto the spout 14 and tighten
the strap 26 about the spout 14 when the spout cover 10 is fully
engaged with the spout 14, i.e. when there is maximum contact
between the body 12 and the surface of the spout 14. The tension
provided by the strap 26 when secured will increase the frictional
engagement between the body 12 and the spout 14, such that no
further attachment component, such as adhesive, is needed. Adhesive
could, of course, be used to further secure the spout cover 10 of
the present invention, in that nothing in the current design
prevents such use. The use of such adhesive is not required and
makes removal of the spout cover 10 by the operator (an intended or
authorized removal) more difficult and is generally less preferred
by consumers. In this regard the present invention provides an
adhesive free and tool free attachment.
[0041] Another embodiment of the present invention is to form the
body 12 as inflatable sections wherein the body is slid into place
in a non-inflated condition and the diverter opening 32 is aligned
and then the spout cover body 12 is inflated by the operator
through an accessible valve. In this embodiment the inflation
pressure of the body provides the securing frictional engagement
and the strap 26 will mainly keep the spout cover 10 from coming up
off of the spout 14. In such an inflatable embodiment, an inflation
nozzle extension can be provided for the ease of the user due to
the awkward location of the spout 14 relative to inflation of the
body 12.
[0042] In view of the temperature display 24 there may be a need to
place a sensor (not shown) within the water flow to achieve
accurate measurements of the water temperature. The embodiment in
FIGS. 6-13 provides a water guide 40 in the form of a triangular
ramp (best shown in FIG. 8). The water from the faucet 14 will
engage the water guide 40 and assure that water is flowing over the
sensor. Further, below the water guide 40 is a flow guide 42 that
will act to effectively create a laminar water flow (i.e. prevent
splatter) for a more desirable flow pattern. Other configurations
for the guides 40 and 42 are of course possible.
[0043] Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been
described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to
those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of
the present invention may be made without departing from the
invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, as noted
the bath spout of the present invention is not limited to children,
it can be useful for elderly or others with special needs. The
scope of the present invention is intended to be defined by the
appended claims and equivalents thereto.
* * * * *