FOLDABLE BATHTUB

Abstract

FOLDABLE BATHTUB The present invention relates to a bathtub (10) as a container configured to hold water for bathing a baby or child, wherein the bathtub (10) is portable and foldable, wherein said bathtub comprises one or more perimeter faces (11, 17) with fold lines (12, 14, 16) and flexible edges (13) between said perimeter faces to allow folding, but whose lower face, corresponding to the base, is free of intermediate fold lines and comprises locking elements (18) for locking the folding of the vertical fold lines (12) of two lateral faces (11) opposite each other, as well as visual markings (19) indicating the correct positioning of said locking element. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: FOLDABLE BATHTUB

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable and foldable bathtub, which is positioned in the area intended for bathing and opens in order to be filled with water, at least partially, and to be able to bathe a baby, a child or, in any case, a user corresponding to the final size of the bathtub. Background of the invention

[0002] Transportable and foldable bathtubs allowing positioning in a storage area in a folded (closed) configuration and, at the desired time, positioning in a bathing area in an unfolded (open) configuration, are known and are therefore part of the prior art.

[0003] These known bathtubs are equipped with folding lines at the level of their lower surface, that is to say at the level of their face in contact with the surface of the area intended for bathing, which allows the bathtub to be folded by joining the two largest lateral faces and reducing its storage space.

[0004] These prior art bathtubs have the disadvantage of not having a very high stability in the folded position, when supported by their lower base, these having to be turned so as to rest on their lateral face having a larger contact surface, with the consequent risk of spilling the remaining water inside.

[0005] In the unfolded position and prior to being filled, the bathtubs also remain partially unfolded and therefore also unstable.

[0006] A new folding bathtub configuration ensuring correct stability in the folded position, without the need to turn over, and correct opening in the unfolded position, is thus necessary in order to avoid the disadvantages of the known prior art. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a foldable bathtub which makes it possible to resolve the disadvantages stated, while presenting other advantages described below.

[0008] In accordance with this objective and with respect to a first aspect, the present invention is based on a foldable bathtub, where said bathtub is formed by a container, configured to hold water and allow a user to bathe inside it, said bathtub having one or more perimeter faces with fold lines and flexible edges between said perimeter faces, in order to allow folding.

[0009] The present invention advantageously relies on the fact that the bathtub comprises, on at least two first opposing lateral faces, a vertical folding line starting from the upper edge of said face and dividing, both into diagonal folding lines towards the very angles of said first lateral faces common to the lower face, and into at least one horizontal folding line towards at least one of the second lateral faces, not opposite the first.

[0010] At least one of the second lateral faces included between the first opposite lateral faces includes a horizontal fold line making the fold on this horizontal plane of the first opposite lateral faces communicate with the second lateral face included between them.

[0011] In addition to this configuration, the lower face of the bathtub, corresponding to the base, is free of intermediate folding lines.

[0012] Also advantageously for the present invention, the bathtub includes, at the edges of the first opposing side faces having vertical fold lines, folding locking elements in the form of elements which, in the locked position, prevent the change of position of the two parts of the edge relative to the vertical fold line, and whose alternative positioning on the edge allows the folding of said first opposing side faces to be unlocked.

[0013] In the locked position, the locking element displays, in view of the user, a mark guaranteeing the correct placement of said locking element, while a different position on the positioning section of the locking element on the edge, other than the effective locking position, causes the secure use mark to be covered by said locking element, in order to reveal a second mark indicating a non-recommended use.

[0014] The described configuration advantageously allows for a foldable bathtub which, in the folded position, presents the same main and secure support base as in the unfolded position, thanks to the continuous nature of the lower face forming said base, without fold lines.

[0015] The unfolded position also remains secure and has a stable configuration, thanks to the stiffening of the upper edges of the first lateral faces by the locking elements, keeping them on the same axis and, consequently, maintaining the final unfolded position without the need to fill the bathtub with water.

[0016] Another advantage obtained thanks to the advantageous configuration of this invention is that of having elements indicating the correct state of use, that is to say, the position of the locking elements in their unfolded use position or folded storage position, in order to ensure that the user is aware of the recommendation or not to use it in said position of the locking elements.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first opposing lateral faces, having vertical fold lines, are the smaller lateral faces, while the second lateral faces are the larger lateral faces. As can be understood, variations in these positions do not alter either the operation or the advantageous configuration principle of this invention.

[0018] According to one possibility of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking elements are configured to remain coupled to the edge in a sliding manner along it, said edge constituting the movement guide of the locking element and placing the rigid body of said locking element in the locking position itself, on either side of the vertical folding line.

[0019] This configuration allows the locking elements to be fixed in a coupled and movable manner, preferably by clip-on interlocking, onto the edges of the first lateral faces, thus preventing their loss in the case of easily removable elements. It also provides easy placement of said locking element and effective retention of the position of the two parts of the edge on the same axis, the rigid body forming said locking element being positioned on either side of the vertical fold line, in the locked position. This makes it possible to stiffen the junction of the two parts of the edge of the first lateral face at their point of junction with the vertical fold line, preventing these two parts of the edge from pivoting at the start of this vertical fold line.

[0020] Also preferably, although optionally, the first opposing side faces, having vertical folding lines, each include an opening in the form of a handle, dividing the corresponding vertical folding line into two parts.

[0021] This configuration allows for the provision of gripping elements for the bathtub, which facilitate its transport and placement in the position of use.

[0022] Specifically in the preceding embodiment, the opening serving as a handle includes a gripping perimeter with fold lines corresponding to the vertical fold line. This allows the first side face to be effectively folded, although the fold line remains divided by the positioning of said opening with gripping perimeter on it. This gripping perimeter is configured with a curved, or at least not very thin, edge to prevent a thin profile from impacting the hand of the user placing the bathtub. This gripping perimeter may be made of a different material than the face of the bathtub itself or of a protective edge coating to prevent such impact from these edges. These edge coatings are found throughout the bathtub and the gripping opening, whether they are the edges of the fold lines or the free edges of the faces of the bathtub itself.

[0023] According to another possible embodiment complementary to the previous ones, the bathtub includes a folding position fixing assembly, formed by a retaining element on which is fixed an element that can be anchored to the retaining element, each being located on each of the faces or edges corresponding to the external faces and / or edges of the folded assembly to allow its packaging.

[0024] This assembly, consisting of a retaining element and its anchoring element on it, ensures a folding position which, otherwise, would have a tendency to partially unfold. Brief description of the figures

[0025] To facilitate understanding of what has been presented, drawings are attached representing, schematically and solely as a non-limiting example, a practical case of an embodiment.

[0026] [Fig-1] The [Fig. 1] is a top and side perspective view of the bathtub in the unfolded / open position.

[0027] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a lower and lateral perspective view of the bathtub in unfolded / open position.

[0028] Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b are two views of the bathtub in the folded / closed position. Fig. 3a is a side view and Fig. 3b is a detail of the retention area in the folded position.

[0029] Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the invention and as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the bathtub (10) is formed by a receptacle in the shape of a rectangular prism base open at its upper face, configured to be able to contain water inside, without leakage between its faces.

[0031] The bathtub (10) of the present invention is foldable in the top-to-bottom direction, by folding the larger side face, one of the second side faces (17), onto the lower face or base, while maintaining the lower face (21) as the base, without intermediate divisions or folding lines.

[0032] To this end, the bathtub (10) comprises two opposing first lateral faces (11), namely the smaller faces in the present preferred embodiment, which have a vertical fold line (12) originating from the upper edge (13) of said face (11), said vertical fold line (12) then dividing into two diagonal fold lines (14) having fold lines towards the corners of said first lateral faces (11) which they share with the lower face (21). The vertical fold lines of each of the first lateral faces (11) also divide, at the same point, into a horizontal fold line (16) which extends until it coincides with another horizontal folding line (16) on one of the second lateral faces (17), namely the larger lateral faces in the present embodiment.

[0033] This configuration allows one of the larger side faces to be folded onto the corresponding face of the base, resulting in a stable fold on the lower face (21), without the need to turn the bathtub (10) over. To maintain this folded position, a retaining element (24.1), in the form of a hook or similar, is provided at the edge of the face remaining above the fold. An anchorable element (24.2) is fixed to this retaining element (24.1), which is attached to the opposite edge of the lower face (21) to allow it to be packed in the folded position.

[0034] The bathtub is provided with an opening (22) on each of the first lateral faces (11), serving as a handle or grip to allow for proper and convenient transport, these openings being positioned so as to divide the vertical folding lines (12). These openings (22) include a gripping perimeter (23) having folding lines (24) corresponding to the vertical folding line (12).

[0035] To prevent folding, the bathtub (10) includes locking elements (18) at the edges (13) of the first side faces (11), fixed to them (13) in such a way as to be movable. This allows the locking element (18) to be positioned in different positions without coming off said edge (13), thus preventing it from being lost or having to be replaced on it after unfolding.

[0036] The locking element is a rigid element whose shape is configured so as to be able to slide along the edge (13), which is used as a guide. The edges (13) of the first lateral faces (11) are divided by the corresponding vertical fold lines (12), which allows pivoting about said fold line (12). With the tub (10) in the unfolded position, the locking element (18) is thus located with its rigid body on either side of said vertical fold line (12), stiffening the edge (13) and keeping its two sections on the same axis.

[0037] For folding the bathtub (10), the locking element (18) is slid on the edge (13) to a position where the body of the locking element (18) is only on one of the two portions of said edge (13), thus allowing the face (11) to fold.

[0038] To determine whether the locking element (18) is in the correct position and whether the use of the bathtub (10) is therefore recommended in this position, a first (19) and a second (20) mark are provided, one or the other appearing alternately to the user, depending on the position of the locking element (18). In the effectively locked position, with the locking element holding the edge (13) and its two sections on the same axis without any possibility of bending, the locking element (18) reveals the first mark (19), ensuring correct placement. said locking element and the proper preparation of the bathtub (10) for use without risk of accidental folding. In a position other than the previous effective locking position, the locking element, having slid on the edge (13), has a second mark (20) indicating that the position is not safe for use and that its use for bathing is therefore not recommended.

[0039] All the folding edges and the edges of the gripping perimeter are at least configured in a material different from that of the face of the bathtub itself or in a protective coating of the edges, in order to avoid the impact of these edges on the user who handles it or performs the bath.

[0040] Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to an expert in the field that the described bathtub can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by others that are technically equivalent, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Demands - Folding bathtub, where said bathtub is formed by a container configured to hold water and allow a user to bathe inside it, said bathtub having one or more perimeter faces with fold lines and flexible edges between said perimeter faces, in order to allow folding, characterized in that the bathtub (10) comprises, on at least two first opposing lateral faces (11), a vertical fold line (12) starting from the upper edge (13) of said face and dividing, both into diagonal fold lines (14) towards the same angles (15) of said first lateral faces (11) common to the lower face (21), and into at least one horizontal fold line (16) towards at least one of the second lateral faces (17), not opposite the first (11); where, at least one of the second lateral faces (17) included between the first opposite lateral faces (11), includes a horizontal fold line (16) making the fold on this horizontal plane of the first opposite lateral faces (11) communicate with the second lateral face (17) included between them (11); where the inner face (21) of the bathtub (10), corresponding to the base, is free of intermediate folding lines; where the bathtub (10) comprises, at the edges (13) of the first opposing side faces (11) having vertical folding lines (12), folding locking elements (18) in the form of elements which, in the locked position, prevent the change of position of the two parts of the edge (13) relative to the vertical folding line (12), and whose alternative positioning (18) on the edge (13) allows the folding of said first opposing side faces (11) to be unlocked; and where, in the locked position, the locking element (18) displays, visible to the user, a first mark (19) guaranteeing the correct placement of said locking element (18), while a different position on the positioning section of the locking element (18) on the edge (13), other than the effective locking position, results in the first mark (19) of secure use being covered by said locking element, in order to allow a second mark (20) to appear indicating use not recommended.

2. - Folding bathtub, according to claim 1, wherein the first opposing side faces (11), having vertical folding lines (12), are the smaller side faces, while the second side faces (17) are the larger side faces.

3. - Folding bathtub, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking elements (18) are configured to remain coupled to the edge (13) in a sliding manner along it, said edge (13) constituting the movement guide of the locking element (18) and placing the rigid body of said locking element in the locking position itself, on either side of the vertical folding line (12).

4. - Folding bathtub, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first opposing side faces (11), having vertical folding lines (12), each comprise an opening (22) as a handle, dividing the corresponding vertical folding line (12) into two parts.

5. - Folding bathtub, according to claim 4, wherein the opening (22) includes a gripping perimeter (23) having folding lines (24) corresponding to the vertical folding line (12).

6. - Folding bathtub, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bathtub (10) comprises a folding position fixing assembly, formed by a retaining element (24.1) on which is fixed an anchorable element (24.2) on the retaining element (24.1), each of them being located on each of the faces or edges corresponding to the external faces and / or edges of the folded assembly to allow its packaging.

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