U.S. patent number RE32,806 [Application Number 06/885,521] was granted by the patent office on 1988-12-27 for sink mounted bathing device.
Invention is credited to Richard C. Gurolnick.
United States Patent |
RE32,806 |
Gurolnick |
December 27, 1988 |
Sink mounted bathing device
Abstract
An infant bathing device having the undersurface thereof
contoured for being removably received in resting position on a
double sink, the device having a first trough portion configured
and contoured for receiving the body of the infant, the first
trough portion adjacent one end of the device having an upwardly
extending back and head supporting portion extending above the
highest point of the first trough portion. The device includes a
second shallower trough portion adjacent the other end thereof for
receiving bathing articles such as soap and the like. Intermediate
the two trough portions is an overflow divider spaced below the
upper periphery of the main body of the device, the divider having
the undersurface thereof configured for resting on the divider of a
double kitchen sink with the back and head supporting portion
abutting one end of the sink. The back supporting portion may
optionally be provided with handle means with the entire device
being formed in an integral unit.
Inventors: |
Gurolnick; Richard C.
(Arlington Heights, IL) |
Family
ID: |
26671647 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/885,521 |
Filed: |
July 14, 1986 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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370690 |
Apr 22, 1982 |
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Reissue of: |
3342 |
Jan 25, 1979 |
04216552 |
Aug 12, 1980 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/572.1;
4/584 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K
3/034 (20130101); A47K 3/127 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47K
3/034 (20060101); A47K 3/02 (20060101); A47K
003/024 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/539,572,553,589,584,590,656,659 ;D23/52,54,60 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1236955 |
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Jun 1960 |
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FR |
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1439625 |
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Jul 1965 |
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FR |
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Primary Examiner: Phillips; Charles E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Netter; George J.
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/370,690,
filed Apr. 22, 1982. .Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A unitary device for infant bathing, said device being
configured for use on a double basin kitchen sink having a raised
partition between the basins; said device comprising:
substantially peripheral ridge means defining a top opening;
a first trough portion generally configured and contoured for
receiving the body of an infant therein, said first trough portion
including an upwardly extending back and head supporting surface
extending above the plane of said opening;
a second trough portion adjacent the end of said device opposite
said supporting surface, said second trough portion having a
shallower depth than said first trough portion; and
a divider portion between said first and second trough portions,
one end of said ridge means and the undersurface of said divider
portion adjacent said back and head supporting surface being
configured and dimensioned for setting said device over a double
basin sink with said one end of the ridge means resting on an edge
region of the sink and the undersurface at the divider portion
resting on and being retained in position by the partition of said
sink; said first trough portion includes horizontally disposed
ledge means mating, with said divider portion generally opposite
said supporting surface and configured for enabling the feet of the
infant to rest thereon.
2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said divider
portion has an upper surface thereof spaced from the plane of said
opening for permitting water in said first trough portion to
overflow into said second trough portion.
3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said second trough
portion includes drain means for permitting water therein to drain
into the sink.
4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said supporting
surface includes handle means on the undersurface thereof adjacent
the end thereof.
5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said ridge means is
a substantially peripheral outwardly extending flange configured
for providing rigidity to said device.
6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said device is
formed from a linear polyethylene plastic composition.
7. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said supporting
surface is generally planar.
8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said second trough
portion is provided with means for retaining accessory bathing
articles. .Iadd.
9. An infant bathing device generally configured for use in a
double basin kitchen sink having a raised partition between the
basins, comprising:
ridge means defining a top opening;
a first trough portion for receiving the infant therein, said first
trough portion including an uppermost part including an upwardly
extending back and head supporting surface extending above the
general plane of said top opening;
a second trough portion;
a divider portion located between the first and second trough
portions and having an upper substantially horizontal surface and
an outwardly directed surface substantially parallel to the general
plane of said top opening for being received on the upper edge of
the sink partition, said divider portion further including first
and second spaced apart side walls angularly intersecting said
outwardly directed surface each for extending into a respective
sink basin at each side of the partition to prevent translation of
the bathing device in a direction transversely of the
partition;
the inner wall surface of the divider portion first side wall being
integrally joined with the first trough portion and serving as a
footrest for the infant; and
portions of the ridge means extending generally parallel to the
divider portion horizontal surface and lying below the uppermost
part of the first trough portion to define a lip for being
restingly received on the sink immediately adjacent a sink basin.
.Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The background of the invention will be discussed in two parts:
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bathing devices, and more particularly to
a contoured infant bathing device for sink mounting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the bathing of infants, the kitchen sink is oftentimes employed
as the "bathtub," or alternatively, a baby bathtub formed of
plastic may be employed, such baby bathtubs ordinarily taking the
form of an elongated or oval shaped basin. In either event, with
the natural curiousity of the infant and the inordinate amount of
infant activity such as moving around, or reaching for objects, a
person bathing an infant is generally required to devote full
attention to the task at hand, and more often than not, with one
hand adjacent the infant's back or head to suitably restrain the
infant during bathing. Should any articles of bathing, such as baby
shampoo, soap or the like be out of reach of the person, usually
assistance is required from another person to obtain the required
bathing articles. Mishaps of a minor nature are frequently
encountered while bathing an infant in a sink or a bathtub, such
instances to the infant usually being more traumatic than
physically damaging. For example, with activity of the infant, the
infant's body when the person's hand is soapy, may slip thereby
resulting in a "dunking" or minor bump or the like.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved infant bathing device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved infant bathing device having a trough portion thereof
configured and contoured for generally restraining the body of the
baby in a somewhat natural position.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved infant bathing device having portions thereof
configured and contoured for elevating the feet slightly above the
buttocks with the back and head portion of the infant resting on a
support portion.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved infant bathing device configured for mounting on a
double sink.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished
by providing a unitary infant bathing device having a first trough
portion configured and contoured for receiving the body of the
infant, one end of the trough portion having an upwardly extending
back and head supporting portion with the other end of the trough
portion having a slightly elevated leg resting portion. A second
trough portion of shallower dimension is positioned adjacent the
other end of the device with an interconnecting overflow divider
between the two trough portions. The divider has the upper surface
thereof disposed below a peripheral flange for maintaining the
fluid level in the first trough portion to a height generally equal
to the divider height. The second trough portion is provided with
an overflow drain with the second trough portion being configured
for receiving bathing articles such as soap, shampoo and the like.
The undersurface of the divider portion is configured for resting
on the divider of a double sink with the support portion resting
against the other end of the sink. The support portion is provided
with a downwardly extending handle for enabling the device to be
suspended for drying purposes.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from a reading of the specification when taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which like referenced numerals
refer to like elements in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the infant bathing device according
to the invention with the device resting on a double sink with an
infant within the device;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the infant bathing device suspended
in a storage position;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the infant bathing device of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the infant bathing device; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 5--5 of
FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is
shown a bathing device generally designated 10 with the main
portion thereof suspended within one basin 12 of a double sink
generally designated 14, the double sink 14 being of the
configuration normally found in newer homes. The double sink 14
includes a first basin 12 and a second basin 16, the basins 12 and
16 generally being identically configured and separated by a
generally centrally disposed partition 18 which usually has a
planar upper surface, or slightly rounded, with the upper surface
being slightly recessed from the plane of the opening of the sink
14.
As shown in mounted position in FIG. 1, the infant bathing device
10 sets within one of the basins, basin 12, for example, with an
infant 20 positioned within the device 10. As will hereinafter be
described, the device 10 is configured and contoured for being
received in resting position on structural portions of the sink 14,
such as one edge 22 and the partition 18 which define opposite
sides of the basin 12.
Referring also to FIGS. 2-5, the device 10 is provided with a
peripheral ridge portion 24, all points of which generally define a
plane with an upwardly extending back and head supporting portion
inclined angularly upwardly and outwardly relative to the ridge 24
with the terminal end of the supporting portion 26 being formed
downwardly and inwardly to define a handle 28 with a transversely
extending recess 30 formed on the undersurface thereof, the recess
30 being suitably configured for suspending the device 10 from a
towel rack or shower curtain rod 32 in a shower stall 34 (FIG.
2).
The ridge 24 generally rectangular with the interior of the device
10 being divided within this rectangular perimeter into a first
trough portion generally designated 36 and a second trough portion
generally designated 38, each of the trough portions 36 and 38
being suitably separated by an intervening overflow divider portion
generally designated 40.
The device is provided with first and second side walls 42 and 44
which are downwardly extending from the ridge portion 24 and
generally perpendicular or slightly inwardly inclined relative to
each other and relative to the ridge 24. The first trough portion
36 is defined by a bottom portion intersecting the planes of the
first and second side walls 42 and 44 and intersecting the plane of
the supporting portion 26 with the bottom 46 being generally
parallel to the plane of the opening defined by ridge 24. At the
end opposite the intersection of the bottom portion 46 and the
supporting portion 26, an angularly disposed front wall 48 extends
upwardly in upwardly diverging relation relative to the plane of
the supporting portion 26 with the front wall 48 then terminating
in a ledge 58 generally parallel to the plane of ridge 24. From the
ledge portion 58 the contour of the inner bottom surface continues
upwardly at an angle relative thereto to form a first side 60 of
the divider portion, the top surface of which is generally parallel
to the plane of the opening defined by ridge 24. The second side 62
of divider portion 40 then angles downwardly to the bottom surface
64 of the second trough 38, the bottom 64 being generally parallel
to the plane of the opening defined by ridge 24. The second trough
portion 38 is defined by the bottom 64, the second side 62 of the
divider portion 40, the adjacent surfaces of the first and second
side walls 42 and 44 respectively, and an end wall 66 of the device
10, the end wall 66 being slightly angularly inclined relative to
the plane of the ridge portion 24.
As can be seen from the drawings and particularly FIG. 3, the first
trough portion 36 has a depth sufficient for receiving the infant
20 therein for bathing purposes while the second trough portion 38
is shallower in depth for retaining suitable bathing articles such
as soap, shampoo and the like. The upper surface of the divider
portion 40 is recessed from and generally parallel to the plane of
the ridge 24 to provide an overflow of water from the first trough
portion 36 to the second trough portion 38, this overflow then
being discharged through an aperture 68 formed in the bottom 64 of
the second trough portion 38. The bottom 64 may also be provided
with a plurality of ridge-like projections 70 extending upwardly
therefrom for assisting in retaining soap for example.
As illustrated in the drawings, the ridge portion 24 is essentially
a flange extending outwardly from the side walls 42 and 44 and, as
specifically illustrated in FIG. 3, the ridge 24 extends outwardly
beyond the surface of the head and back supporting portion 26 to
define a lip 72 on the undersurface thereof for resting on the edge
22 of the sink 14 (see FIG. 1). The spacing between the
undersurface of the ridge 24 and the undersurface of the divider
portion 40 is selected to generally coincide with the distance
between the upper surface of the partition 18 and the plane of the
opening of the sink 24 so that the infant bathing device 10 has the
plane of the ridge portion 24 generally horizontal when mounted as
shown in FIG. 1. The device 10 is a unitary device, formed, for
example, from linear polyethylene plastic. The second trough
portion 38 is essentially a utility tray with the dimensions of the
trough portions selected to control the water level within the
first trough portion 36 to a depth of approximately 2.75 inches. In
use, the device 10 is mounted in resting engagement on the sink 14
as shown in FIG. 1 with the lip portion 72 resting on the edge 22
of one basin 12 of the sink 14 with the generally horizontal
surface of the divider portion 40 resting on the upper surface of
partition 18, with the dimensions being so selected that, in this
position, the ridge 24 lies in a plane generally parallel to the
plane of the sink 14. After setting the device 10 within the basin
12 as illustrated, the articles of bathing such as soap and
shampoo, washcloths and the like may be placed in the utility tray
or second trough 38 for easy access by the adult. Water at the
proper temperature is then discharged into the first trough portion
36 by means of the handy faucet assembly 76 filling to a maximum
level consistent with the overflow level of the horizontal surface
of the divider portion 40, any overflow thus being discharged
through the outlet drain 68. With the infant 20 in position as
shown in FIG. 1, any water displaced by the infant 20 will likewise
be discharged through the outlet drain 68.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, the infant 20 is positioned in a
relatively normal position for bathing with the back and head
resting in an inclined position along the plane of the supporting
portion 26 with the buttocks of the child resting on the bottom 46
of the first trough portion 36. In this position, the heels of the
child are resting on the ledge 58 with the feet bottom comfortably
resting against the first side 60 of the divider portion 40. The
spacing between the side walls 42 and 44, in conjunction with the
inclination of the opposite sides of the first trough portion 36
suitably restrain the infant 20 while providing sufficient spacing
on both sides of the infant 20 for bathing purposes. With the
utility tray provided by the second trough portion 38, the adult
has access to all things required for bathing the infant 20. After
the bathing, the infant 20 can be suitably attended to and the
device 10 cleaned out by use of the faucet 76 of the sink 14. The
handle 28 with the adjacent recess 30 then enables the device 10 to
be suspended for storage or drying on either a towel rack or a
shower curtain rod 32 as illustrated in FIG. 2.
While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment it
is to be understood that various other adaptations and
modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *