Foldable, portable bed bath device

Abstract

A portable, foldable bath device for use on a bed or other support surface, includes: (a) a generally planar, flexible, water impervious bottom wall; (b) at least one flexible, water impervious side wall attached along one of its side edges to the periphery of the bottom wall; and (c) an aperture in one of the walls of the bath device, the aperture being occludable by a closure mechanism; wherein the side wall is convertible from a generally horizontal, planar, folded position adjacent the bottom wall to a generally vertical, erect, open position extending in an upward direction from the generally horizontal bottom wall.

1 . A portable, foldable, shower device for use on a support surface, the shower device comprising: 
 (a) a generally planar, flexible, water impervious bottom wall;    (b) at least one flexible, water impervious side wall attached along one of its side edges to the periphery of the bottom wall;    (c) an aperture in one of the walls of the shower device, the aperture being occludable by an openable and closable closure mechanism; and    (d) a water hose comprising a spray shower head attached to a first one of its ends, the water hose being attachable at its opposite, second end to a water source,    wherein the side wall is convertible from a generally horizontal, planar, folded position adjacent the bottom wall to a generally vertical, erect, open position extending in an upward direction from the generally horizontal bottom wall.    
   
   
       2 . The shower device according to  claim 1 , wherein the side wall is generally rectangular in shape and is comprised of four sections: two opposite, substantially parallel end side walls, one end of each of which is connected to an end of one of a set of opposite, substantially parallel longitudinal side walls.  
   
   
       3 . The shower device according to  claim 1 , which is one-piece and does not comprise a cover or a separate means of positional support.  
   
   
       4 . The shower device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a length of water impervious drainage hose, a hose member affixed to one end of the drainage hose, and a flange affixed to the wall of the shower device around the periphery of the aperture, the hose member corresponding to the flange.  
   
   
       5 . The shower device according to  claim 4 , wherein the second end of the water hose comprises a mechanism for connection to a water spigot of a sink.  
   
   
       6 . A portable, foldable shower device for use on a support surface the shower device comprising: 
 (a) a generally planar, flexible water impervious bottom wall;    (b) at least one flexible, water impervious side wall attached along one of its side edges to the periphery of the bottom wall;    (c) an aperture in one of the walls of the shower device, the aperture being ocludable by an openable and closable closure mechanism; and    (d) a length of water impervious drainage hose, a hose member affixed to one end of the drainage hose and a flange affixed to the wall of the shower device around the periphery of the aperture, the hose member corresponding to the flange;    wherein an outside surface of the flange is threaded, an inside surface of the corresponding hose member is correspondingly threaded, and both the flange and the corresponding hose member are generally cylindrical; and    wherein the side wall is convertible from a generally horizontal, planar, folded position adjacent the bottom wall to a generally vertical, erect, open position extending in an upward direction from the generally horizontal bottom wall.    
   
   
       7 . The shower device according to  claim 6 , which does not comprise any other apertures, or any rigid member supportable to the side wall for supplying rigidity to the side wall.  
   
   
       8 . The shower device according to  claim 2 , wherein in a folded position, the side walls are substantially coplanar with the bottom wall, and the bottom wall is folded in a plurality of folds along its longitudinal axis, so that the bottom wall folds are compressed between the two longitudinal side walls; and wherein the side walls are sealed to corresponding edges of the bottom wall.  
   
   
       9 . The shower device according to  claim 8 , wherein the folded shower device is further folded in two along its longitudinal axis, so that one longitudinal side wall is on top of the other.  
   
   
       10 . A bath device according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the longitudinal side walls is collapsible from a generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position, the other, opposite longitudinal side wall permanently remaining in a generally vertical position.  
   
   
       11 . A bath device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a strip of a flexible, water resistant metal or rubber material along an upper edge of the side wall, the strip having substantially the same length as the periphery of the bottom wall.  
   
   
       12 . A bath device according to  claim 11 , wherein the strip is aluminum, and the ends of the strip are fused together.  
   
   
       13 . A bath device according to  claim 2 , wherein each corner of the side walls comprises a corner pleat, and an openable pleat attachment mechanism; each of the pleats allowing the end of a longitudinal side wall when in a folded position to lie substantially flat over or under an end of an adjacent one of the end side walls.  
   
   
       14 . A bath device according to  claim 13 , wherein the pleat attachment mechanism is a snap.  
   
   
       15 . A bath device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a strap and at least two hook and loop strips; wherein one end of the strap is attached to an end portion of an outside face of one of the end side walls of the bath device, a first one of the hook and loop strips being attached to a lower face of an opposite end of the strap, a second one of the hook and loop strips being attached to an end portion of the outside face of an adjacent one of the longitudinal side walls.  
   
   
       16 . A bath device according to  claim 15 , having a matching, openable strap attachment at each of its four corners.  
   
   
       17 . A bath device according to  claim 15 , having a matching, openable strap attachment at either end of one of the longitudinal side walls, with the other, opposite longitudinal side wall remaining permanently erect.  
   
   
       18 . A bath device according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least two buttons, and a length of cord; wherein a first one of the buttons is attached to an outside face of an end portion of an end side wall, a second one of the buttons being affixed to an end portion of an adjacent one of the longitudinal side walls, a portion of the length of cord being wound around the first button, another portion of the cord being fastenable around the second button.  
   
   
       19 . A bath device according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least two pegs, and an elasticized band; wherein a first one of the pegs is attached to an outside face of an end portion of an end side wall, a second one of the pegs is affixed to an end portion of an adjacent one of the longitudinal side walls, a portion of the band is wrapped around the first peg, and another portion of the band is fastenable around the second peg.  
   
   
       20 . The shower device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a water hose and a portable water tank on a movable stand, the water hose comprising a shower head attached to a first one of its ends, a second end of the water hose being attachable to the portable water tank for showering a person in the shower device with water from the portable water tank.