Foldable Bathtub

Abstract

A foldable bathtub, said tub consisting of a container designed to contain water and enable a user to bathe therein, said tub having one or more peripheral walls with fold lines and flexible edges between said peripheral walls to enable folding, characterized in that the bathtub (10) has, on at least two opposite first side walls (11), a vertical fold line (12) which starts from the upper edge (13) of said wall and is divided both into diagonal fold lines (14) towards the corners (15) of the first side walls (11), which coincide with the corners of the underside (21), and into at least one horizontal fold line (16) towards at least one of the second side walls (17) which is not opposite the first side walls (11); wherein at least one of the second side walls (17) lying between the first opposite side walls (11) comprises a horizontal fold line (16) which, in this horizontal plane, mediates the folding of the first opposite side walls (11) together with the second side wall (17) lying between them (11); wherein the underside (21) of the tray (10) corresponding to the base is free of any intermediate fold lines; wherein the bathtub (10) comprises, on the edges (13) of the first opposite side walls (11) containing vertical folding lines (12), folding locking elements (18) in the form of elements which, in their locking position, prevent the change in the position of the two parts of the edge (13) with respect to the vertical folding line (12), the alternative positioning of these locking elements (18) on the edge (13) removing the blocking of the folding of the first opposite side walls (11); and wherein the locking element (18) in the locking position reveals a first mark (19) visible to the user, which indicates the correct placement of the locking element (18), whereas in the case of a deviating position in the positioning section of the locking element (18) on the edge (13), which is not the position of the secure locking, the locking element covers the mark (19) indicating the secure use and reveals a second mark (20) as an indicator of a non-recommended use.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable and foldable bathtub that is positioned and opened in a designated bathing area so that it can be at least partially filled with water and used for bathing a baby, child, or a user for whom the bathtub is suitable due to its size. Background of the Invention

[0002] Portable and foldable bathtubs are known from the prior art, which allow the bathtub to be positioned in a folded (closed) state in a storage area and to be positioned in an unfolded (opened) state in an area designated for bathing at the desired time.

[0003] These well-known bathtubs have folding lines on their underside, that is, on the surface in contact with the surface of the area intended for bathing, which allows the tub to be folded by placing its two larger side walls against each other, thus reducing the space required for the bathtub

[0004] These well-known bathtubs have the disadvantage that they are not very stable when folded and resting on their bottom, so they have to be turned so that they rest on the side wall with the largest contact surface, which creates the risk of spilling any remaining water inside.

[0005] On the other hand, after unfolding and before filling, the tub is still in a partially unfolded and therefore unstable state.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a newly designed folding bathtub which offers sufficient stability in the folded state without the need to rotate it and ensures correct opening into the unfolded position. Description of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bathtub which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and offers further advantages which are explained below.

[0008] To achieve this object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable bathtub, wherein the tub is formed by a container configured to hold water and allow a user to bathe therein, the tub having one or more peripheral walls with fold lines and flexible edges between the peripheral walls to enable its folding.

[0009] In particular, the present invention is based on the fact that the bathtub has on at least two first opposite side walls a vertical fold line which starts at the upper edge of said wall and is divided into both diagonal fold lines towards the corners of said first side walls which coincide with the corners of the bottom, and at least one horizontal fold line towards at least one of the second side walls which is not opposite the first.

[0010] At least one of the second side walls between the first opposite side walls comprises a horizontal fold line connecting the fold of the first opposite side walls in this horizontal plane together with the second side wall enclosed between them.

[0011] In addition to this configuration, the bottom of the tub, which corresponds to the floor, has no intermediate fold lines.

[0012] Furthermore, it is advantageous according to the invention that the bathtub comprises, on the edges (margins) of the first opposite side walls containing vertical fold lines, locking elements influencing the folding in the form of elements which, in their blocking position, prevent the change in the position of the two parts of the edge with respect to the vertical fold line and, by the alternative positioning of these locking elements on the edge, remove the blocking of the folding of the first opposite side walls.

[0013] In the locked position, the locking element leaves a mark visible to the user, ensuring correct placement of the locking element, whereas in a deviating position in the positioning section of the locking element at the edge that does not represent the position of effective locking, the locking element obscures the mark indicating safe use and leaves visible a second mark indicating non-recommended use.

[0014] This described configuration advantageously makes it possible to provide a collapsible tub which, in its folded (collapsed) position, has the same main and secure support base as in the unfolded (unfolded) position, thanks to the fact that the bottom forming the base is continuous and has no fold lines.

[0015] Furthermore, a safe and stable unfolding position is ensured, as the locking elements stiffen the upper edges of the first side walls, keeping them on the same axis and thus maintaining the final unfolding position without the need to fill the bathtub with water.

[0016] A further advantage resulting from the preferred embodiment of the invention is that elements are present which indicate the correct state of use, ie the position of the locking elements in their unfolded use position or in their folded storage position, in order to ensure that the user can recognize from the position of the locking elements whether the correct position for use is given or not.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first opposing side walls, which have vertical fold lines, constitute the minor side walls, while the second side walls constitute the major side walls. It will be appreciated that variations in these positions do not alter the functionality or the concept of the advantageous configuration of this invention.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking elements are designed to be connected to and displaceable along the edge, the edge constituting the guide for displacing the locking element and arranging the rigid body of this locking element in the correct locking position on both sides of the vertical fold line.

[0019] This configuration allows the locking elements to be coupled and movably attached, preferably by clipping, to the edges of the first side walls, preventing them from being easily removed and thus easily lost. Furthermore, simple placement of the locking element and effective maintenance of the position of the two parts of the edge on the same axis are achieved, since the rigid body forming the locking element is positioned in its locking position on either side of the vertical fold line. This makes it possible to stiffen the connection between the two edge parts of the first side wall at their connection point with the vertical fold line, without the two edge parts being able to rotate at the beginning of this vertical fold line.

[0020] Preferably, although optionally, the first opposite side walls containing vertical fold lines each comprise a handle-like opening dividing the corresponding vertical fold line into two parts.

[0021] This design allows for the provision of handles that facilitate the transport and placement of the bathtub at its place of use.

[0022] Specifically, in the above embodiment, the handle-like opening has circumferential fold lines corresponding to the vertical fold line. This allows for effective folding of this first side wall, although the fold line is subdivided by the position of the opening with the circumferential grip. This circumferential grip is formed with a curved edge or at least is not thin, thus avoiding the presence of a thin profile on the hand of the user placing the bathtub. This circumferential grip can be made of a different material than the surface of the bathtub itself or can be made of a protective coating on the edges to prevent contact with the edges themselves. These edge coatings are present throughout the tub and also on the handle opening, both on the edges acting on the fold lines and on the free edges of the walls of the tub itself.

[0023] According to another possible embodiment, which complements the previous embodiments, the tray comprises a means for fixing the folded position, consisting of a support element to which an element is fixed that can be anchored to the support element, each element being arranged on each of the walls or edges corresponding to the outer walls and / or edges of the folded unit and allowing its packaging.

[0024] This device consisting of a holding element and its attached anchoring element makes it possible to ensure the folded position, which would otherwise tend to partially unfold. Short description of the characters

[0025] To facilitate understanding of the explanations, drawings are attached which schematically illustrate a practical application by way of non-limiting example. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective top and side view of the bathtub in its unfolded / open position. Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective bottom and side view of the bathtub in its unfolded / open position. Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b are two views of the bathtub in its folded / closed position, where Fig. Fig. 3a shows a side view and Fig. 3b shows a detailed view of the holding area of ​​the folded position. Description of a preferred embodiment

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is described in the Fig. 1 to 3, the bathtub (10) consists of a prism-shaped container with a rectangular base, open at the top and configured to contain water inside without leakage between the walls.

[0027] The bathtub (10) of the present invention is foldable from top to bottom, with a larger side wall, one of the second side walls (17), being placed on the bottom or base, the bottom (21) being formed as a base without subdivisions or intermediate fold lines.

[0028] To this end, the bathtub (10) comprises two first opposite side walls (11), which in the present preferred embodiment constitute the smaller side walls, which have a vertical fold line (12) starting from the upper edge (13) of the wall (11) and then subdividing into two diagonal fold lines (14) leading to the corners of the first side walls (11), which are common corners with the bottom (21). The vertical fold lines on each of the first side walls (11) also subdivide at the same point into a horizontal fold line (16), which runs so as to coincide with another horizontal fold line (16) on one of the second side walls (17), which in the present embodiment constitute the larger side walls.

[0029] This configuration allows for the desired folding of one of the larger side walls onto the corresponding surface of the underside, thereby achieving a stable fold on the underside (21) without having to invert the bathtub (10) itself. To maintain this folded position, a retaining element (24.1) in the form of a hook or the like is provided on the edge of the wall that lies on top in the folded state, with an anchorable element (24.2) attached to this retaining element (24.1), which is attached to the opposite edge of the underside (21) and enables packaging in the folded position.

[0030] The bathtub has an opening (22) on each of the first side walls (11) serving as a handle or grab handle for easy and convenient transport, arranged to divide the vertical fold lines (12). These openings (22) comprise a gripping perimeter (23) with fold lines (24) corresponding to the vertical fold line (12).

[0031] To prevent folding, the bathtub (10) has locking elements (18) on the edges (13) of the first side walls (11), which are movably attached to these edges (13). This allows the locking element (18) to be moved into different positions without leaving the edge (13), thus preventing it from being lost or having to be attached to the edge after unfolding.

[0032] The locking element is a rigid element designed to slide along the edge (13), using the edge as a guide. These edges (13) of the first side walls (11) are divided by the corresponding vertical fold lines (12), allowing pivoting relative to this fold line (12). In the unfolded position of the bathtub (10), the locking element (18) is located with its rigid body on either side of the vertical fold line (12), thus stiffening the edge (13) and keeping its two sections in position on the same axis.

[0033] When the bathtub (10) is to be folded, the locking element (18) is allowed to slide on the edge (13) into a position in which the body of the locking element (18) is located only on one of the two sections of the edge (13), thus allowing the wall (11) to be folded.

[0034] In order to determine whether the locking element (18) is in the correct position and therefore to recommend using the bathtub (10) in this position, a first (19) and a second (20) mark are provided, one or the other of which is visible to the user alternately depending on the position of the locking element (18). In the effective locking position, in which the locking element keeps the edge (13) with its two sections on the same axis, without any possibility of folding, the locking element (18) leaves the first mark (19) visible, indicating the correct placement of the locking element and the correct preparation of the bathtub (10) for use, without any risk of accidental folding.In the other position, which deviates from the above effective locking position, the locking element displaced on the edge (13) reveals a second mark (20) indicating that this position does not allow safe use for bathing.

[0035] At least all folding edges and edges of the handle circumference are made of a different material than the walls of the bathtub itself or there is a protective coating on the edges to prevent these edges from interfering with the user handling or bathing in the bathtub.

[0036] Although reference has been made above to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the bathtub described may be subject to numerous variations and modifications and that all the features mentioned may be replaced by other technically equivalent features without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

[1] A foldable bathtub, said tub consisting of a container designed to contain water and enable a user to bathe therein, said tub having one or more peripheral walls with fold lines and flexible edges between said peripheral walls to enable folding, characterized by that the bathtub (10) has on at least two opposite first side walls (11) a vertical fold line (12) which starts from the upper edge (13) of said wall and is divided both into diagonal fold lines (14) in the direction of the corners (15) of the first side walls (11), which coincide with the corners of the underside (21), and into at least one horizontal fold line (16) in the direction of at least one of the second side walls (17) which is not opposite the first side walls (11); wherein at least one of the second side walls (17) lying between the first opposite side walls (11) comprises a horizontal fold line (16) which, in this horizontal plane, mediates the folding of the first opposite side walls (11) together with the second side wall (17) lying between them (11); wherein the underside (21) of the tray (10) corresponding to the base is free of any intermediate fold lines; wherein the bathtub (10) comprises, on the edges (13) of the first opposite side walls (11) containing vertical folding lines (12), folding locking elements (18) in the form of elements which, in their locking position, prevent the change in the position of the two parts of the edge (13) with respect to the vertical folding line (12), the alternative positioning of these locking elements (18) on the edge (13) removing the blocking of the folding of the first opposite side walls (11); and wherein the locking element (18) in the locking position reveals a first mark (19) visible to the user, which indicates the correct placement of the locking element (18), whereas in the case of a deviating position in the positioning section of the locking element (18) on the edge (13), which is not the position of the secure locking, the locking element covers the mark (19) indicating the secure use and reveals a second mark (20) as an indicator of a non-recommended use. [2] A foldable bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the first opposite side walls (11) containing vertical fold lines (12) constitute the smaller side walls, while the second side walls (17) constitute the larger side walls. [3] Foldable bathtub according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking elements (18) are designed to be connected to the edge (13) and to be displaceable thereon, the edge (13) serving as a guide for the movement of the locking element (18), the rigid body of this locking element being arranged in the locking position itself on both sides of the vertical folding line (12). [4] A foldable bathtub according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first opposite side walls (11) containing vertical fold lines (12) each comprise an opening (22) as a handle which divides the corresponding vertical fold line (12) into two parts. [5] A foldable bathtub according to claim 4, wherein the opening (22) has a handle perimeter (23) with fold lines (24) corresponding to the vertical fold line (12). [6] Foldable bathtub according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tub (10) comprises means for fixing the folded position, consisting of a holding element (24.1) to which an element (24.2) anchorable to the holding element (24.1) is attached, the elements being respectively arranged on the walls or edges corresponding to the outer walls and / or edges of the folded arrangement, which enables packaging.

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