A foldable bathtub injection molded in one piece of TPE (thermoplastic elastomers)

Abstract

A foldable bathtub injection molded in one-piece of TPE material comprising folding lines between the sides and bottom parts. The bathtub comprises a male / female lock component for holding the bathtub in a collapsed position and a raised outlet part.

Description

[0001] Description of the invention A foldable bathtub injection molded in a one piece of TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers) material

[0002] A foldable bathtub injection molded in one piece of TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers) material (1) e.g. , Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) and Styrene-Ethylene- Butadiene-Styrene (SEBS), Polyolefin Elastomers (POE), TPE foam, the material is flexible and rigid when made in different thickness, and made in variety of shores from 10 - 90 A shore is a versatile and innovative solution designed to make baby bath time a breeze while addressing the needs of modern, space-conscious families. Here's a detailed description of this foldable baby bathtub.

[0003] The foldable one-piece TPE bathtub features a smart, foldable design that effortlessly transforms from a compact, flat structure to a fully functional baby bathtub. Its frame is crafted from durable, TPE plastic, ensuring a sturdy yet lightweight construction. The bathtub unfolds with a simple opening movement, allowing parents to set it up quickly and fold it flat for easy storage after use.

[0004] Ideal for families with limited space, the foldable one-piece bathtub excels in its space-saving capabilities. When not in use, it can be neatly stored in small closets, under sinks, or even hung on a wall hook, making it a practical solution for apartments, small bathrooms, or homes with limited storage.

[0005] Perfect for families on the go, the foldable one-piece TPE bathtub is portable and travel friendly. Its lightweight design and compact fold make it an ideal companion for vacations or visits to relatives, ensuring that babies can enjoy a familiar and safe bathing experience wherever they are.

[0006] The foldable one-piece TPE bathtub is very simple to manufacture since it has no joints made of a secund material and therefore no- two component injection molding is needed which saves a lot of the costs since you normally see foldable bathtubs have a two-component solution. A two component inject molding solution that you see in most foldable bathtubs like; the invention EP 2 086 378 Bl and other inventions like; the invention CN204146926U this like the well-known harmonica TPE molded onto a rigid frame of PP- plastic, like the invention WO2012051762A1.

[0007] Common for all foldable bathtubs is that they are connected to a rigid part, typically a PP plastic part. This combination will take a two-component setup where you have two tools where you make a co-mold or over-mold, and this is an expensive solution since the tooling costs are very high.

[0008] Also, the production cycle time will be longer since the two-component solution needs two molds, saying, two parts molded together, and the two-component solution also needs a special cooling time since a normal two over-mold will be weak until the material has settled and cooled down again.

[0009] Since we have been working with TPE foam for other applications we realized that especially this material would be perfect for a bathtub in one piece, knowing how strong and durable the material is. We can go into a thin material and still have the wanted strength. The shore in TPE foam is also covering a wide range from 10 - 90 Shore A, and the greatest thing is that this material is 100% recyclable even when it is a foam. This one material bathtub will be very easy for the consumer to place in the correct recycle bin when it is worn out, not like other bathtubs where you have 2 materials. TPE and TPE foam is still a relatively new material and not used in many products.

[0010] TPE and TPE foams do not need to be vulcanized, cuting down on manufacturing time, and opening the use cases of the material. And because it doesn't need to be devulcanized, opening the possibilities for remolding and recycling. TPE recycling avoids the high heat and toxic chemicals required for devulcanization, speeding up the manufacturing timeline, cuting down on necessary energy, and offering an eco-friendlier option for your textile needs.

[0011] All these issues have we left out since we make the foldable one-piece TPE bathtub in one tool and in one material. One go, then the bathtub is made, and we also include a drain plug integrated and molded into the botom of the bathtub and in the same material.

[0012] This kind of production will give the manufacturer an easier production setup and lower costs in the production since we don't need the expensive two component mold solution for the bathtub.

[0013] This is possible since we make some lines (folding lines) inside the tub. The lines (folding lines) will not be visible from the outside of the tub only on the botoms outside. The folding lines will make the tub fold flat like you see it in other bathtubs and like the invention EP 2 086 378 Bl, but this invention only have one material TPE not PP and a TPE joint. The big difference is that when you produce the tub it will be easier and cheaper, but one of the other great benefits is that this tub can be 100% recycled without being forced to take the TPE and the PP part from each other. This new bathtub is made in one material in one-piece and still strong and watertight.

[0014] The integrated drainplug is also a novelty this new way of producing a foldable bathtub will also save costs and tools for the drain plug since it is made in the same move when you produce the one-piece foldable TPE bathtub. Normally the drainplug will be made in it's own tool and added to the tub afterwards. This is now all done in the molding process and again - same material and easier to reuse when recycled and it is a more efficient way of produce a smart one-piece bathtub.

[0015] The user of this bathtub will not have to think about a lost drain plug it is right where you need it - always.

[0016] When inject molding a bathtub like this in a one-piece design you can choose different materials. We have chosen TPE foam (TPS) and a lot of flexible materials like, Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) and Styrene-Ethylene-Butadiene-Styrene (SEBS), Polyolefin Elastomers (POE), could also be a solution, the main idea is that this foldable tub is made in one material and one material only. This one-material must be flexible enough to be able to fold just where we have placed the folding lines.

[0017] We have been working with TPE in other products and knows this material very well and that's the reason we use TPE / TPE foam since it can be folded many times without any significant weaknesses.

[0018] TPE and TPE foam can be manufactured in many shores, from 10 - 90 Shore A and we see a great balance between the wanted design with strong walls / sides in one thickness and still be very strong. At the same time this material can be thinner just where we wa nt it to fold, and this kind of material have no problems to just do this again and again and this is the main reason we choose TPE for this kind of product.

[0019] The nearest known invention prior our invention is EP 2 086 378 Bl. But back in 2007-2008 the TPE foam was not something you knew existed; many still don't.

[0020] This concludes the difference between our invention and the EP 2 086 378 Bl invention. We are describing a one-piece and a one material bathtub, the applicant EP 2 086 378 Bl describes a two- material bathtub, with the flexible joints, the joints made of TPE.

[0021] Looking into all the claims of EP 2 086 378 Bl we are not alike. The EP 2 086 378 Bl have bendable joints - we don't have joints.

[0022] We have folding lines, but no joints and we only have one material - not several like EP 2 086 378 Bl mention in the claims.

[0023] "Folded around said bottom flexible bendable joints." The EP 2 086 378 Bl mentions.

[0024] Joints definition =

[0025] "A bendable joint refers to a connection or articulation between two or more parts that allows movement, flexibility, or bending at the point of connection. This type of joint is designed to enable relative motion between the connected components, permiting them to bend or flex. Bendable joints are commonly found in various contexts, including mechanical and structural systems, as well as in the anatomy of living organisms.

[0026] They may involve hinges, pivots, or other configurations that allow for controlled bending or flexing. The goal of a bendable joint is to provide a connection that can withstand repeated movement while maintaining stability and structural integrity."

[0027] The EP 2 086 378 Bl defines two parts - We only have one part.

[0028] A bendable joint and a folding line refer to two different concepts, often used in various contexts.

[0029] A bendable joint typically refers to a connection or articulation between two or more parts that allows movement, flexibility, or bending at the point of connection.

[0030] But a folding line like the one we use in out one-piece bathtub refers to a designated or marked thinner material along which a material or object is intended to be folded. It's a predetermined line / thinner material that indicates where the fold should occur.

[0031] A bendable joint implies a more general ability for two parts to move relative to each other, allowing for bending or flexing. A folding line is a specific location or mark or thinner TPE material that indicates where an object should be folded, often in a predefined manner.

[0032] In summary, while both terms involve the idea of flexibility or bending, "bendable joint" is a more general concept associated with movable connections made of parts (more than one-piece), whereas "folding line" is a specific mark / thinner material in same and one-material or guide indicating where an object should be folded, often in a predetermined manner.

[0033] No inventions of mentioned applicants in this description have the solution we have brought to the world. This one-piece solution will provide a simpler way to produce a foldable bathtub, but it will also make it so much easier to reuse the material, now we don't mix two materials into one part. No hinges made of a different material; no frame made of a rigid material.

[0034] We simply use the same material all the way and make the walls thicker and the folding lines thinner and even the drain plug is now integrated into the material, this will all together make it easier for the user but also make it possible to manufacture the foldable tub in a more efficient way. We also have a nice lock integrated into the side of the bathtub this is also a flexible lock made thinner and this lock is stretchable and will not break of like a PP (rigid) lock would do when bumped into.

[0035] The one-piece TPE foldable Baby Bathtub is a thoughtfully designed, with a one-piece material design, practical, and safe solution for families seeking a space-saving, adjustable, and convenient baby bathing experience.

[0036] Inflatable bathtubs exist and they are also made of one and the same material, however, the inflatable products are not injection molded nor reusable and they must be burned or thrown away in landfill after worn out. The inflatable products like one material bathtubs are typically made of vinyl or some kind of PVC both materials that can be questioned when it comes to contact with children and people, and they cannot be recycled, which we must and should be demanding from products produced in 2024.

Claims

Claims.1 . A foldable bathtub (1 ), characterized by being injection molded in one piece of TPE (Thermoplastic elastomer) material e.g., Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), Styrene-5 Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) and Styrene-Ethylene-Butadiene-Styrene (SEBS), Polyolefin Elastomers (POE) or TPE foam, wherein said material is flexible and rigid when made in different thickness, and made in variety of shores from 10 - 90 A shore, and wherein said foldable bathtub comprises side-wall parts (2,5), end-wall parts (3, 4, 6, 7) and bottom parts (18,19,20,21 ,22,23), and wherein said foldable bathtub further comprises: a) folding lines (8,12,13,14,15,16,17,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41) which are made thinner than the side-wall parts and end-wall parts and bottom parts; and b) a Male / female lock component, wherein a Male-lock part (11 ,30,31 ) which is made thin and flexible so it can be stretched across the top side-walls and close and hold the tub together when the tub is not in use or during transport, wherein when folded the bottom parts (18,19) will fold up between the side-wall parts (2,5) and the end-wall parts (3, 4, 6, 7) will fold in towards the center of the tub and be folded between the side-wall parts (2,5), wherein said Male-lock part will go across the middle (24) of the folded tub and said Male-lock part (30,31 ) will fit into a female-lock part tap (32) on the side of the side-wall (2) underneath a grip (28) of the tub); and c) a water outlet drain (9) which is made inside the tub, at the bottom (18) wherein said water outlet drain further comprise a raised outlet material (26) on the bottom which is made thicker than the bottom such that said water outlet drain is raised above the floor surface so the water can leave the tub (1 );2. The foldable bathtub accordingto claim 1 , further comprising a handle (53) to hang up to dry the tub when not using the tub.

3. The foldable bathtub accordingto claims 1 and 2, further comprising non-tilting feet (54) wherein said non-tilting feet are injection molded into the material on the side-walls and the end-walls in the same TPE material as the rest of the bathtub.

Images