Bathing aid for infants

Abstract

A soft floatation baby bath support for holding and supporting a baby during a bath. The baby bath support comprises a middle water-permeable basin through which water can pass freely and a peripheral padded region, surrounding the middle basin. The padded region comprises a covering filled with low-density buoyant particles.

1 . An ergonomic baby bath support for supporting a baby during a bath, the support comprising:
 an elongate non-padded middle basin made of water permeable elastic fabric;   a peripheral padded region, surrounding said middle basin, comprising a water permeable covering filled with low-density buoyant particles; and   wherein the peripheral padded region is divided into a head end section, a foot end section and two side sections, wherein said middle basin has a length greater than the length of said two side sections and is configured to at least partially support the baby, and wherein said two side sections are each hingedly attached to said head end section and said foot end section to thereby prevent the flow of the low-density particles from one section to another and to enhance the stability of the support by providing hinge points that do not coincide with the centerline of said two side sections.   
   
   
       2 . The bath support of  claim 1  wherein said middle basin and the covering are formed from at least two sheets of elastic fabric of a non-rectangular perimeter, said at least two sheets are joined together by a circumferential seam extending along said perimeter and by an inner seam of a closed-line shape, wherein said inner seam delimits said middle basin and wherein said covering is formed between said circumferential and inner seams. 
   
   
       3 . The bath support of  claim 2  wherein said fabric is a quick drying, non-absorbent, washable fabric. 
   
   
       4 . The bath support of  claim 2  wherein said fabric contains spandex fiber. 
   
   
       5 . The bath support of  claim 1  wherein said low-density buoyant particles are foamed plastic particles. 
   
   
       6 . The bath support of  claim 1  wherein said low-density buoyant particles are polystyrene foam beads. 
   
   
       7 . The bath support of  claim 1  wherein the support is made of 100% synthetic materials. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The bath support of  claim 1  constructed for supporting a baby in a sitting position wherein said middle basin is shaped to include two extensions extending outwardly and toward the said foot end section of the support for receiving the baby's legs. 
   
   
       13 . The bath support of  claim 1  constructed to have a toy appearance. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . The bath support of  claim 1  wherein said separating seams extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support. 
   
   
       16 . The bath support of  claim 2  wherein said basin is of a substantially oval shape. 
   
   
       17 . The bath support of  claim 1  wherein the height of the head end section is larger than the height of the foot end section and wherein the height of the foot end section is higher than the height of the side sections. 
   
   
       18 . An ergonomic baby bath support for supporting a baby during a bath, the support comprising:
 an elongate non-padded middle basin made of water permeable elastic fabric;   a peripheral padded region, surrounding said middle basin, comprising a water permeable covering filled with low-density buoyant particles; and   wherein the peripheral padded region is divided into a head end section, a foot end section and two side sections, wherein said middle basin has a length approximately equal to or greater than the length of said two side sections and is configured to at least partially support the baby, and wherein said two side sections are each hingedly attached to said head end section and said foot end section to thereby prevent the flow of the low-density particles from one section to another and to enhance the stability of the support by providing hinge points that do not coincide with the centerline of said two side sections.