US2536731A - Collapsible baby bathing device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1951 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,536,731

COLLAPSIBLE BABY BATHING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l Imn: NT can PEYTDN W. 1] cm GLAE ATTmmw Jan. 2, 1951 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,536,731

COLLAFSIBLE BABY BATHING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I-mzs NT DR PEYTunw. DOUGLAS ATT BEND;

Jan. 2, 1951 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,536,731

COLLAPSIBLE BABY BATHING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 12, 1947 INVEN'TDR FEYTDN W. DOUGLAS ATT CIRNE Y5 I Patented Jan. 2, 1Q51 UNITED PATENT FFICE GOLLA PSIBLEBABY BATHING DEVICE .Peyton W. Douglas, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application June 512, 1947, Serial No. 754,161

"This invention relates to a collapsible bathing and dressing device for use in connection with the careof infants. 7

Many attempts have been made to perfect a device for-bathing and dressing infants, and many types of such devices have been and :are available on the market. However, these devices are :so complicated, bulky, and costly, that in the average home they do not serve in the advantageous manner :ior which they were intended. also. many of these devices, while bulky, are :fiimsy and weak in coi'ls'truc'tion.

The general object of this invention is to pro-- vide a device of the type referred to embodying aparti-cularly simple and light structure which, in i'olded or collapsed condition, occupies a particularly small amount 01 space, and which can be most conveniently set up for use and when in use'is rigid and durable. This general object is to -the end that the device does not require any special arrangement for its support, but can be placed on the side rail of the infant's crib, or on the backs of two ordinary chairs. Due to its exceptionally compact form when in folded condition, it can be left on the side of the crib without in any way interfering with its normal use, or it can be stored in substantially the .same space as an ordinary card table. These features are of particular importance during existing housing conditions where many families are living in exceedingly cramped conditions, such as one and two room apartments, trailers, camps, etc.

More particularly the invention has :as an object a device of the type referred :to comprising a support in the form of a hat member adapted to be suspended :in vertical position, as being hung from the side trail of a crib, the backs of chairs, or the like, and including a frame 2member having a tub formed of sheet flexible material, and a cover member adapted to overlie the tub to form a surface on which the infant may be attended to and dressed. The tub and the cover member are adequately supported in horizontal operated position, and are readily moved from that position to a position against the support, whereby the entire device, in its folded condition, is a matter of two or three inches in thickness, all whereby it can be left on the side of the crib, or it can be conveniently handled for storage elsewhere,

The invention has as a further object a particularly simple structure which can be most oconomically manufactured and conveniently used.

The invention consists in the novel features and .37 iGlaims. (Cl. 4-177) in the combinations and construction herein-- aftersetiforth "and. claimed.

.In describing this invention, reference is had to theaccomp'anying drawings "in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

"Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bathing device embodying my invention illustrated as being supported on the side rail of a baby crib.

Figure 2 is an end elevational View of "the bathing device shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken on line 3-3. Figure '2.

Figure 4 is a view, similar to'Figure :3, taken on line '4-4 Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the cover and tub frame taken on line 5--5, Figure A.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6'fi Figure 2.

Figure 7 is .an enlarged perspective view of the center joint of the collapsible tub supporting braces.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view, similar to Figure '2, illustrating the device in its folded form.

The device consists-of a support I0 which may be in the nature of a flat vplatelike member, and is provided with hooks II attached to its upper edge, whereby the .support may be suspended in vertical position, as by being hung on the side rail .12 of a baby crib, or the like. Preferably, bumper members I3 of rubber, or other resilient material, are arranged in the hooks H and at the upper and lower edges of the plate ill to avoid .marring the structure on which the device is suspended.

vA. rectangular irame member is ,pivotally mounted along .one side to the support 2! adjacent the upper edge thereof, and has suspended from it a tub 15 formed of suitable flexible sheet material, such as sheet rubber.

This frame consists of end members in the form of rods 18 having the end portions ll thereof bent at right angles and extending into dowels, or rods 13. The end portions 17 extend through an aperture formed in a bracket 29 secured to the support In and in this manner the frame is pivotally mounted along the rear side to the support. The fabric forming the tub 15 extends over the side rods l8 and is supported thereby. A second frame of similar construction is likewise pivotal-1y mounted on the brackets 20 and consists of end rods 22 and side .rdds'23. .A covering of fabric material 24 is carried-11b? this upper frame, and the frame i supported by the forward side rail 28 engaging the forward side rail l8 of the lower frame.

The lower frame is supported in horizontal position by a collapsible stay brace consisting of bars 25, 26, pivoted at their ends respectively to the portions I! at the forward end of the side rods l6 and to brackets 28 mounted upon the support In near the lower edge thereof, see Figure 6.

The bars 25, 26, are pivotally connected at their opposite ends, as at 29, to form an overthe-center joint, the movement of which is lim-- ited by a projection 30, see Figure '7.

These stay braces are collapsible about the pivot 29 to permit the upper and lower frames to fold downwardly parallel to the support l and in close proximity thereto, as illustrated in Figure 8.

It will be observed that the top frame carrying the cover 24 is movable about its pivot upwardly past the vertical position, as indicated by dotted outline in Figure 2. to permit use of the tub portion !5. When this frame is moved to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, it serves as a support for dressing and attending to the infant.

Many. devices of this type have been made available on the market. However, they have not possessed proper strength and rigidity. or the construction has been of such a nature that the devices sell at a prohibitive price and are cumbersome and awkward to handle.

The device herein described, while of simple construction, is entirely rigid and durable in use, and by its arrangement it can be conveniently used at the crib of the infant, and when collapsed to folded position, as shown in Figure 8, does not interfere with the use of the crib due to the extremely compact arrangement in folded condition. However, in folded condition, it can be conveniently handled and stored when not in use.

The tub is provided with a suitable drain valve 34 and I have found that a series of pockets 35, suspended from the forward side rail l8 of the lower frame, provide a convenient receptacle for soap, powder, and other articles, usually used in connection with the care of the infant. These pockets do not have to be emptied when the device is folded to collapsed condition, the pockets assuming a position as indicated in Figure 8.

What I claim is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a support adapted to be suspended in vertical position, a pair of rectangular frames composed of rigidly spaced side members arranged one above the other and pivotally mounted along one side of said support adjacent the top edge thereof on horizontal axes, a tub member formed of flexible sheet material carried by said lower frame side members, a pair of collapsible stay braces attached to said support and the opposite side of said lower frame, and being operable in staying position to support said lower frame in horizontal position, said upper frame being supported by said lower frame, and said braces being 001-. lapsible to permit said frames to swing downwardly parallel to said support and in close proximity thereto.

2. A device of the class described comprising a support adapted to be suspended in vertical position, upper and lower rigid rectangular frames each composed of side and end members, each pivotally mounted along one side with respect to said support adjacent the top thereof on hori- 4 zontal axes, a tub formed of flexible sheet material carried by the members of said lower frame, a cover formed of sheet material carried by said upper frame, a pair of collapsible stay braces cooperable with said support and said lower frame to maintain the same in horizontal position, said lower frame being movable about its pivot to vertical position independently of the pivotal movement of said upper frame, said braces being collapsible to permit said frames to swing downwardly parallel to said support and in close proximity thereto.

3. In a baby bath, a tub frame composed of spaced longitudinally extending rods having end bores therein, and transverse rigid members having ends bent to project into said bores, a tub composed of flexible material suspended from said rods, a support frame, brackets on said support frame spaced substantially the length of one of said rods and having apertures, a bent end of each of said transverse members being threaded through a bracket aperture before projecting into a rod bore, and knee braces having one end pivoted to said support frame, and the other end apertured and threaded upon the opposite bent end of each of the transverse members.

4. In a baby bath, a frame composed of spaced longitudinally extending rods having end bores therein, and transverse members having ends bent to project into said bores, flexible material extending across said frame and secured to said rods, a second frame, and brackets associated with said second frame spaced substantially the length of one of said rods and having apertures, one bent end of each of said transverse members being threaded through a bracket aperture before projecting into its respective rod end bore.

5. In a baby bath, a substantially rectangular rigid frame, a flexible tub suspended from said frame, a Vertical support, means for pivotally mounting said frame upon said support along one side of the frame, brace means having their respective ends pivotally connected to said support in vertically spaced relation to the pivotally supported frame side and extending to and pivotally connected to the other frame side, and a second substantially rectangular frame pivotally supported along one edge on an axis adjacent to said pivotally supported frame side.

6. In a baby bath, a tub supporting frame composed of spaced longitudinally extending side rods and transverse end members, a tub of flexible material suspended from said rods, a support, means pivotally supporting one side of said frame upon said support, a second frame composed of spaced side rods, and end spacer members having bent ends projected into the ends of said rods, and bracket means threaded on the opposed bent ends projecting into one of said rods, said brackets being mounted with respect to said first frame to provide a pivotal axis for said second frame adjacent and parallel to the pivotal axis of the first frame, and brace means for said first frame extending to said support.

7. In a baby bath, a vertical support, an elon gated rectangular frame having side members and end members, pivotal means connecting one of said side members to said support for movement from a. vertical position parallel with said support to a horizontal position at right angles thereto, a tub composed of flexible material suspended from said frame when in horizontal position, knee brace means extending from said sup- 5 5 port well below said pivotal means and extend- REFERENCES CITED mg to Said other Side member in bracmg r813" The following references are of record in the tion thereto, brackets having parallel plate pori t tions mounted adjacent either end of said first filiof m 5 named side member, a rectangular frame com- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS posed of spaced side members having end aper- Number Name Date tures, one side member being adapted to exte d 547,830 Yates Oct. 15, 1895 between said plate portions, an aperture in each 1,395,624 Schneider J1me 1919 of said plate portions, and rod members having 2,985,901 DePuy at ,1, July 6, 1937 right angle bent ends connecting said side mem- 10 2,374,110 Lewis Apr. 17, 1945 bers, the bent ends secured in the respective end apertures, the bent ends extending into the apertures of said one member threading through the apertures of said plate portions to form a pivotal mount for said last named frame. 15

PEYTON W. DOUGLAS.

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