Foldable bathtub

Abstract

A bathtub 10 as a container configured to receive water and allow bathing of a baby or infant user, the bathtub 10 being transportable and foldable and comprising one or more perimeter faces 11 with f

Description

The present invention relates to a transportable and foldable bathtub, which is positioned in the area intended for bathing and is opened to be able to be filled with water, at least partially and be able to carry out the bathing of an infant, child or, in any case, a user that corresponds to the final size of the tub. Background of the invention Transportable and foldable bathtubs are known and, therefore, are part of the state of the art, which allow the tub to be positioned in a storage area in its folded (closed) configuration and, at the desired time, allows the tub to be positioned in an area intended to perform the bath in its unfolded (open) configuration. These known bathtubs have fold lines on their bottom face, that is, on their face in contact with the surface of the area intended for bathing, allowing the tub to be folded by bringing together its two larger side faces and reducing the storage space of the bathtub. These bathtubs of the state of the art have the drawback of having a folded position that is not highly stable when supported by its bottom base, having to rotate it so that it rests on its side face with a greater contact surface, with the consequent risk of spilling remaining water from its interior. On the other hand, in its unfolded position and prior to filling it, the tub is partially unfolded, also being unstable. Thus, the new configuration of a foldable bathtub is necessary to ensure a correct stability in the folded position without the need to rotate it and a correct opening in its unfolded position, to avoid the drawbacks of the known state of the art. Description of the invention The aim of the present invention is to provide a foldable bathtub which resolves the aforementioned drawbacks, presenting other advantages to be described below. In accordance with this objective, and with respect to a first aspect, the present invention is based on a foldable bathtub, wherein said bathtub is formed by a receptacle configured to contain 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 to allow its folding. Advantageously, the present invention is based on the bathtub comprising, on at least two opposite first side faces, a vertical fold line that starts from the upper edge of said face and is divided, both into diagonal fold lines towards the corners of said first side faces in common with the bottom face, and into at least one horizontal fold line towards at least one of the second side faces, not opposite to the first ones. At least one of the second side faces comprised between the first opposite side faces, comprises a horizontal fold line that communicates the folding in that horizontal plane of the first opposite side faces together with the second side face comprised between them. In addition to this configuration, the bathtub has the bottom face, corresponding to the base, free of intermediate fold lines. Also advantageously for the present invention, the bathtub comprises, on the edges of the first opposite side faces containing vertical fold lines, folding locking elements in the form of elements which, in their locking position prevent the change in the position of the two parts of the edge with respect to the vertical fold line and, by alternative positioning of these locking elements on the edge, the folding of said first opposite side faces is unlocked. In the locking position, the locking element leaves in view of the user a mark that ensures the correct positioning of said locking element, while in a different position in the positioning section of the locking element on the edge other than the effective locking position, said locking element covers the safe use mark, to leave visible a second non-recommended use mark. This described configuration advantageously enables having a foldable tub that in its folded position has the same main and secure support base as in the unfolded position, thanks to the fact that the bottom face that forms said base is continuous without fold lines. In addition, there is an unfolded position that is secured and with a stable configuration, thanks to the locking elements that stiffen the upper edges of the first side faces keeping them on the same axis and, therefore, maintaining the final unfolded position without the need to fill the bathtub with water. Another advantage obtained from the advantageous configuration of this invention is that of having elements that indicate the correct state of use, that is, the position of the locking elements in their unfolded or folded storage position, in order to ensure that the user is aware of the recommendation or not of their use in that position of the locking elements. According to a preferred embodiment, the first opposite side faces, containing vertical fold lines, are the smaller side faces, while the second side faces are the larger side faces. As can be understood, variations of these positions do not alter the operation nor the concept of advantageous configuration of this invention. According to a possibility of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking elements are configured to be coupled in the edge in a sliding manner thereon, said edge being the displacement guide of the locking element and locating the rigid body of this locking element, in the locking position, on both sides of the vertical fold line. This configuration allows the locking elements to be fixed in a coupled and displaceable manner, preferably by clipping, on the edges of the first side faces, thus avoiding their loss if they were easily removable. An easy positioning of said locking element and an effective retention of the position of the two parts of the edge on the same axis is also achieved, since in its locking position, the rigid body forming said locking element is positioned on both sides of the vertical fold line. This makes it possible to stiffen the joint of the two parts of the edge of the first side face at its joining point with the vertical fold line, without allowing said two parts of the edge to pivot on the start of this vertical fold line. Also preferably, although optional, the first opposite side faces, containing vertical fold lines, comprise in each one of them, a handle-like opening dividing the corresponding vertical fold line into two parts. This configuration makes it possible to have tub gripping elements that facilitate the transport and placement of the bathtub in its position of use. Specifically for the above embodiment, the handle-like opening comprises a gripping perimeter with fold lines in correspondence with the vertical fold line. This allows the effective folding of this first side face, even if the fold line is divided by the location therein of said opening with gripping perimeter. This gripping perimeter is configured with a curved or, at least, not thin edge so as to avoid the incidence of a thin profile on the hand of the user placing the bathtub. This gripping perimeter can be of material other than the face of the bathtub or a protective coating of the edges, to avoid said incidence of these edges. These coatings of the incident edges are on the entire tub in addition to the grip opening, either edges of the fold lines or the free edges of the faces of the bathtub. According to another possible embodiment complementary to the above, the tub comprises a fixing assembly of the folded position, formed by a retaining element whereon an element capable of being anchored on the retaining element is fixed, each one of them located on each one of the faces or edges corresponding to the outer faces and / or edges of the folded assembly allowing its packaging. This retaining element assembly and its anchoring element thereon, enable guaranteeing a folded position that otherwise would tend to partially unfold. Brief description of the drawings For the better understanding of the description made herein, a set of drawings has been provided wherein, schematically and solely byway of a non-limiting example, a practical case of an embodiment is represented. Figure 1 is a top and side perspective view of the bathtub in its unfolded / open position. Figure 2 is a bottom and side perspective view of the bathtub in its unfolded / open position. Figures 3a and 3b are two views of the bathtub in its folded / closed position; figure 3a is a side view and figure 3b is a detail of the retention zone of the folded position. Description of a preferred embodiment In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as shown in figures 1 to 3, the bathtub (10) is formed by a prism-shaped receptacle with a rectangular base open on its upper face, configured to be able to contain water inside without leaking between its faces. The bathtub (10) of the present invention is foldable in a top-down direction, folding a larger side face, one of the second side faces (17), overthe bottom face or base, keeping the bottom face (21) as a base without intermediate divisions or fold lines. To this end, the bathtub (10) comprises two first opposite side faces (11), which in the present preferred embodiment are the smaller side faces, having a vertical fold line (12) starting from the upper edge (13) of said face (11) and then dividing, said vertical fold line (12), into two diagonal fold lines (14) carrying fold lines towards the corners of said first side faces (11) they have in common with the bottom face (21). The vertical fold lines of each one of the first side faces (11) are also divided, at the same point, into a horizontal fold line (16) which extends until coinciding with another horizontal fold line (16) on one of the second side faces (17), which in the present embodiment are the larger side faces. This configuration allows the desired folding of one of the larger side faces on the corresponding face of the base, achieving a stable folding on the bottom face (21) without having to turn the bathtub (10) over. To maintain this folded position, a retaining element (24.1) is disposed, in the form of a hook or the like, on the edge of the face that remains uppermost in the fold, whereon an element capable of being anchored (24.2) is fixed on this retaining element (24.1), fixed on the opposite edge of the bottom face (21) allowing its packaging in the folded position. The bathtub has an opening (22) in each one of the first side faces (11), as a handle or grip for its correct and comfortable transport, located so as 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). To prevent folding, the bathtub (10) comprises at the edges (13) of the first side faces (11) locking elements (18) which are fixed thereto (13) in a displaceable manner. This allows the locking element (18) to be positioned in different positions without coming off said edge (13), preventing its loss or having to be placed on the edge after unfolding. The locking element is a rigid element with a geometry configured to be able to slide along the edge (13), used as a guide. These edges (13) of the first side faces (11) are divided by the corresponding vertical fold lines (12), allowing pivoting with respect to this fold line (12), whereby, the locking element (18) in the unfolded position of the bathtub (10), is located with its rigid body on both sides of said vertical fold line (12), stiffening the edge (13) and maintaining its two sections on the same axis. At the time of wanting to fold the bathtub (10), the locking element (18) is slid on the edge (13) towards a position wherein the body of the locking element (18) is only on one of the two portions of said edge (13), thus allowing the folding of the face (11). To know if the locking element (18) is in its correct position and if, therefore, the use of the bathtub (10) in that position is recommended, a first (19) and second (20) mark is disposed, one or the other being in view alternatively, depending on the position of the locking element (18). In the effective locking position, with the locking element maintaining the edge (13) with its two sections on the same axis without the possibility of folding, the locking element (18) exposes the first mark (19) that ensures the correct placement of said locking element and the correct preparation of the bath tub (10) to be used without the risk of accidentally folding. In a position other than that of the previous effective lock, the locking element, which has slid along the edge (13) shows a second mark (20) indicating that this position is not safe for use, so its use for bathing is not recommended. At least, all the folding edges and edges of the gripping perimeter are configured with a material other than the face of the bathtub ora protective coating of the edges, to avoid the incidence of these edges charged by the user who handles it or the one who is performing the bath. Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident to a person skilled in the art that the foldable bathtub described herein is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the aforementioned details can be replaced by other technically equivalent details, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

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