Foldable bathtub

Abstract

The present application relates to a foldable bath tub, formed by a container configured to contain water and allow a baby or toddler user to take a bath, wherein the bath tub is transportable and foldable, wherein said bath tub comprises one or more peripheral faces having folding lines between them and flexible edges to allow folding, but the bottom face corresponding to the base of the bath tub is free of intermediate folding lines, and said bath tub comprises elements for preventing the folding of two lateral faces opposite to each other with respect to a vertical folding line, and visual markers of the correct positioning of said preventing elements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a transportable and collapsible bathtub, which is positioned in an area for bathing and is opened to be at least partially filled with water and is suitable for bathing infants, children, or, in any case, users whose final size corresponds to that of the bathtub. Background Technology

[0002] Transportable and collapsible bathtubs are known, and therefore, transportable and collapsible bathtubs are part of the related technology, which allow the bathtub to be positioned in a folded (closed) configuration in a storage area, and to be positioned in an unfolded (open) configuration in an area for bathing when needed.

[0003] These known bathtubs have fold lines on their bottom surface, that is, fold lines on the surface that contacts the area used for bathing, which allows the bathtub to be folded up by joining the two larger sides together and reducing the storage space of the bathtub.

[0004] These bathtubs of the related technology have the following disadvantages: when the bathtub is supported by its base, the folded position is not very stable, and the bathtub must be rotated so that it rests on the side with a larger contact surface, thus posing a risk of spillage of the remaining water inside the bathtub.

[0005] On the other hand, the bathtub is partially unfolded in its unfolded position and before it is filled, which is also unstable.

[0006] Therefore, a new design for a foldable bathtub is needed to ensure proper stability without rotation when folded and proper unfolding when unfolded, thus avoiding the drawbacks of related technologies. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this application is to provide a foldable bathtub that solves the above-mentioned disadvantages and has other advantages as described below.

[0008] For this purpose, and in the first aspect, this application is based on a collapsible bathtub, wherein the bathtub is formed of a container configured to hold water and allow a user to bathe in the container, the bathtub having one or more peripheral faces having fold lines and flexible edges located between the peripheral faces to allow the bathtub to be folded.

[0009] Advantageously, this application is based on a bathtub that includes vertical fold lines on at least two opposite first side portions, the vertical fold lines starting from the upper edge of the side portion and being divided into diagonal fold lines and at least one horizontal fold line, the diagonal fold lines facing the corner shared by the first side portion and the bottom portion, and the horizontal fold lines of the first side portion facing at least one of the second side portions that are not opposite to the first side portion.

[0010] At least one of the second side portions included between opposite first side portions includes a horizontal fold line, which associates the fold of the opposite first side portion in the horizontal plane with the fold of the second side portion included between opposite first side portions in the horizontal plane.

[0011] In addition to this configuration, the bathtub has a bottom surface corresponding to the base, and the bottom surface does not have a middle fold line.

[0012] For the purposes of this application, it is advantageous that the bathtub includes a folding locking element on the edge of the opposite first side portion containing the vertical fold line, which is in the form of a locking element that prevents the position of the two portions of the edge relative to the vertical fold line from changing in the locked position of the locking element; and that the fold of the opposite first side portion is unlocked by other positioning of the locking element on the edge.

[0013] In the locked position, the locking element leaves a marking in the user's field of vision, which ensures the correct positioning of the locking element; when the positioning portion of the locking element is in a different position on the edge than the effective locking position, the locking element covers the marking for safe use, thereby leaving a visible second marking that is not recommended for use.

[0014] The described configuration advantageously allows the collapsible bathtub to have the same main fixed support base in its folded position as in its unfolded position, because the bottom surface forming the base is continuous and has no fold line.

[0015] Furthermore, since the locking element reinforces the upper edge of the first side portion, keeping the upper edge on the same axis, the final unfolded position is maintained without the need to fill the bathtub with water, thus fixing the unfolded position and providing a stable configuration.

[0016] Another advantage of the advantageous configuration of this application is that it has an element indicating the correct usage state, that is, an element indicating whether the locking element is in its unfolded position or in its folded storage position, so as to ensure that the user knows whether the use of the bathtub is recommended in that position of the locking element.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the first side portion containing the vertical fold line is a smaller side portion, and the second side portion is a larger side portion. It is understood that these positional variations do not alter the operational or advantageous configuration concept of this application.

[0018] According to one possible preferred embodiment of this application, the locking element is configured to be slidably connected to an edge, the edge being a displacement guide for the locking element, and the edge positioning the rigid body of the locking element on both sides of a vertical fold line in the locked position.

[0019] This configuration allows the locking element to be secured to the edge of the first side portion in a coupled and movable manner. Preferably, the locking element is secured to the edge of the first side portion by clamping, thereby preventing loss that could occur if the locking element were easily removed. Since the rigid body forming the locking element is positioned on both sides of the vertical fold line in the locked position, simple positioning of the locking element and effective coaxiality of the two portions of the edge are also achieved. This allows for reinforced engagement of the two portions of the edge of the first side portion at their junction with the vertical fold line, without allowing the two portions of the edge to pivot at the starting point of the vertical fold line.

[0020] Also preferably, though optional, the opposite first side portion containing the vertical fold line includes, in each of the first side portions, a handle-like opening that divides the corresponding vertical fold line into two parts.

[0021] This configuration allows for the inclusion of a bathtub gripping element, which facilitates the transport of the bathtub and its placement in the usage position.

[0022] Specifically, in the above embodiment, the handle-like opening includes a gripping periphery with a fold line corresponding to the vertical fold line. This allows for efficient folding of the first side portion, even when the fold line is separated at the location of the opening with the gripping periphery. The gripping periphery is configured to have curved or at least not thin edges to avoid a thin profile in the hand of a user placing the bathtub. The gripping periphery may have a different material than the surface of the bathtub or have a protective coating on the edges to avoid the effects of these edges. These coatings on the edges described (incident) are located not only on the gripping opening but also on the entire bathtub, including the edges of the fold line or the free edges of the bathtub surface.

[0023] According to another possible embodiment complementary to the above embodiments, the bathtub includes a fixing assembly for the folded position, the fixing assembly being formed of a retaining element, on which elements capable of being anchored are fixed, each of the retaining element and the anchoring element being located on each of the surfaces or edges corresponding to the outer surface and / or edge of the folded assembly, thereby allowing the folded assembly to be packaged.

[0024] The retaining element assembly and its anchoring elements ensure that the folded position is maintained, which would otherwise be partially unfolded. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To better understand the description herein, a set of accompanying drawings is provided, which illustrate the actual implementation in a schematic manner and by way of non-limiting example only.

[0026] Figure 1 These are top and side views of the bathtub in its unfolded / open position.

[0027] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional view of the bathtub in the unfolded / open position, looking up and from the side.

[0028] Figure 3a and Figure 3b These are two views of the bathtub in the folded / closed position; Figure 3a It is a side view. Figure 3b It is a detail of the area where the folded position is maintained. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figures 1 to 3b As shown, the bathtub 10 is formed of a prismatic container having a rectangular base that is open on the upper part of the container. The container is configured to hold water inside without water leaking out from between the surfaces of the container.

[0030] The bathtub 10 of this application can be folded in the vertical direction, thereby folding the larger side portion—one of the second side portions 17—onto the bottom portion or base, keeping the bottom portion 21 as the base without a middle partition or fold line.

[0031] Therefore, the bathtub 10 includes two opposing first side portions 11. In this preferred embodiment, the two opposing first side portions 11 are smaller side portions. The two opposing first side portions 11 have a vertical fold line 12 starting from the upper edge 13 of the face portion 11. The vertical fold line 12 then splits into two diagonal fold lines 14, which extend toward the corner 15 shared by the first side portion 11 and the bottom portion 21. The vertical fold line of each of the first side portions 11 also branches into a horizontal fold line 16 at the same point. The horizontal fold line 16 of the first side portion 11 extends until it coincides with another horizontal fold line 16 located on one of the side portions 17, which is a larger side portion in this embodiment.

[0032] This configuration allows one of the larger side sections to be folded onto the corresponding face of the base, thus achieving a stable fold on the bottom face 21 without flipping the bathtub 10. To maintain this folded position, a retaining element 24.1 in the form of a hook or similar is provided on the edge of the uppermost face that remains in the fold, and an anchoring element 24.2 that can be anchored is fixed to the retaining element 24.1 and fixed to the edge of the opposite bottom face 21, thereby allowing the element 24.2 to be packed in the folded position.

[0033] The bathtub has an opening 22 in each of the first side portions 11, which serves as a handle or grip to facilitate proper and comfortable transport of the bathtub. The openings are positioned to separate the vertical fold lines 12. These openings 22 include a gripping periphery 23 having a fold line 24 corresponding to the vertical fold line 12.

[0034] To prevent folding, the bathtub 10 includes a locking element 18 located at the edge 13 of the first side portion 11, which is fixed to the first side portion 11 in a displaceable manner. This allows the locking element 18 to be positioned in different locations without falling off the edge 13, thereby preventing the locking element from being lost or having to be placed on the edge after unfolding.

[0035] The locking element is a rigid element having a geometry configured to slide along the edge 13 that serves as a guide. These edges 13 of the first side portion 11 are separated by corresponding vertical fold lines 12, thereby allowing the edges 13 of the first side portion 11 to pivot relative to the fold lines 12. Thus, in the unfolded position of the bathtub 10, the locking element 18, with its rigid body, is positioned on both sides of the vertical fold lines 12, reinforcing the edges 13 and keeping the two portions of the edges 13 on the same axis.

[0036] When the bathtub 10 is to be folded, the locking element 18 slides on the edge 13 toward a position where the body of the locking element 18 is located on only one of the two portions of the edge 13, thereby allowing the face 11 to be folded.

[0037] To determine whether the locking element 18 is in the correct position and whether it is recommended to use the bathtub 10 in this position, a first marking portion 19 and a second marking portion 20 are provided. Depending on the position of the locking element 18, one or the other marking portion of the first marking portion 19 and the other marking portion 20 is displayed alternately. In the effective locking position, with the locking element holding the edge 13 in place, both parts of the edge 13 remain on the same axis and there is no possibility of folding. The locking element 18 exposes the first marking portion 19 to ensure the correct placement of the locking element and the proper preparation of the bathtub 10 for use without the risk of accidental folding. In a position different from the previous effective locking position, the locking element sliding along the edge 13 displays the second marking portion 20, indicating that this position is unsafe for use and therefore not recommended for bathing.

[0038] At the very least, all folded edges and gripping perimeter edges are constructed with a material different from the bathtub's surface or have a protective coating on the edges to prevent these edges from causing injury to the user operating it or someone taking a bath.

[0039] Although specific embodiments thereof have been referenced to, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the collapsible bathtub described herein can be varied and modified in many ways, and that all the foregoing details can be replaced by other technically equivalent details without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foldable bath tub wherein, The foldable bathtub is formed by a container configured to contain water and allow a user to bathe inside it, the foldable bathtub having one or more peripheral faces with folding lines between them and flexible edges to allow the foldable bathtub to be folded, characterized in that the foldable bathtub (10) comprises on the opposite at least two first side faces (11) vertical folding lines (12) starting from the upper edges (13) of the first side faces and divided into diagonal folding lines (14) towards the corners (15) shared by the first side faces (11) with the bottom face (21) and at least one horizontal folding line (16) towards at least one of the second side faces (17) not opposite to the first side faces (11); wherein at least one of the second side faces (17) comprised between the opposite first side faces (11) comprises a horizontal folding line (16) associating the folding of the opposite first side faces (11) in the horizontal plane with the folding of the second side faces (17) comprised between the opposite first side faces (11) in the horizontal plane; wherein the foldable bathtub (10) has a bottom face (21) corresponding to the base, the bottom face (21) being free from intermediate folding lines; wherein the foldable bathtub (10) comprises on the upper edges (13) of the opposite first side faces (11) containing the vertical folding lines (12) folding locking elements (18) in the form of locking elements which, in a locking position of the locking elements, prevent the position of the two parts of the upper edges (13) with respect to the vertical folding lines (12) from changing and, through other positioning of the locking elements (18) on the upper edges (13), the folding of the opposite first side faces (11) is unlocked; and wherein in the locking position the locking elements (18) leave a first marking (19) in the field of vision of the user which ensures correct positioning of the locking elements (18); while when the positioning of the locking elements (18) is in a position on the upper edges (13) different from the position of the active locking position, the locking elements cover the first marking (19) of safe use leaving a second marking (20) of non-recommended use visible.

2. The collapsible tub of claim 1 wherein, The opposite first side faces (11) containing the vertical folding lines (12) are smaller side faces, while the second side faces (17) are larger side faces.

3. The collapsible bathtub according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Said locking element (18) is configured to be coupled in a slidable manner to said upper edge (13), which is a displacement guide of said locking element (18), and said upper edge (13) positions the rigid body of said locking element on both sides of said vertical folding line (12) when in said locking position.

4. The collapsible tub of claim 1 wherein, Each of said first side portions (11) comprising said opposite vertical folding lines (12) comprises a handle-shaped opening (22) dividing the corresponding vertical folding line (12) into two portions.

5. The collapsible tub according to claim 4, wherein, Said opening (22) comprises a gripping perimetric portion (23) having a folding line (24) corresponding to said vertical folding line (12).

6. The collapsible tub according to claim 1, wherein, Said foldable bathtub (10) comprises a folding position fixing assembly formed by a retaining element (24.1) on which an anchorable anchoring element (24.2) is fixed, each of said retaining element and said anchoring element being located on each of the face portions or edges corresponding to the outer face portions and / or edges of the folded assembly, thus allowing the packaging of the folded assembly.

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