Tub Assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tub for bathing infants or children. The tub includes a receptacle for containing water and for receiving an infant. The tub also includes a selectively removable insert, seat, or positioning member that can be used to change the bathing area inside of the tub. When the removable insert, seat, or positioning member is locked into the tub, the positioning member defines a smaller receptacle and an upright infant seating position within the tub. The positioning member is removable from the tub to allow the entire receptacle to be used. When the positioning member is removed from the tub a sling may be coupled to the tub to provide for a supine position suspended within the tub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bath tub assembly comprising:
 a tub body defining a receptacle, the tub body including a bottom surface, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion;   a positioner comprising a body including an inner wall, an outer wall, and a bottom, the bottom and inner wall defining an infant receiving cavity for receiving an infant in an upright seated position and the outer wall and bottom defining a surface configured to selectively engage the first end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion of the tub body; and   a sling for receiving an infant in a supine position, the sling and the positioner being configured to be interchangeably, releasably engaged to the tub body such that the infant may be positioned in either a supine or upright position within the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tub body includes at least one mounting portion and the positioner further comprises:
 an engaging portion including at least one coupling portion being configured to engage the at least one mounting portion, the positioner being coupled to the tub body when the at least one coupling portion engages the at least one mounting portion.   
     
     
         3 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein coupling the engaging portion to the mounting portion substantially partitions the receptacle by the positioner extending between the first and second side portions of the tub body. 
     
     
         4 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tub body includes a rim around at least a portion of the first end portion, the second end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion and the sling further comprises:
 couplers configured to engage the rim, the sling being coupled to the tub body when the couplers engage the rim.   
     
     
         5 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sling includes a body and the couplers further comprise:
 clips configured to frictionally engage the rim of the tub body;   straps including a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the body of the sling and the second end being coupled to the clips.   
     
     
         6 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bath tub assembly is reconfigurable between at least a first bathing configuration, a second bathing configuration, a third bathing configuration, and a fourth bathing configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first bathing configuration is provided when the sling, but not the positioner, is coupled to the tub body. 
     
     
         8 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second and third bathing configurations are provided when only the positioner is coupled to the tub body. 
     
     
         9 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second bathing configurations orient the infant in a supine position within the receptacle and the third and fourth configurations orient the child in an upright position within the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . A bath tub assembly comprising:
 a tub body defining a receptacle, the tub body including a bottom surface, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the tub providing a first bathing area;   a positioner engageable with the first end portion, and when engaged with the first end portion, the positioner defines an upright seat for an infant within the tub body portion adjacent the first end portion and partitions the tub body such that first bathing area is divided into a second bathing area within the positioner and a third bathing area adjacent the second end portion of the tub body;   a sling configured to receive an infant in a supine position within the tub body, the sling being engagable with the tub body to provide a fourth bathing area.   
     
     
         11 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth bathing area is disposed a distance above the bottom surface of the tub body. 
     
     
         12 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth bathing area may only be provided when the positioner is removed from the tub. 
     
     
         13 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the positioner further comprises:
 a body including an inner wall, an outer wall and a bottom, the bottom and inner wall defining an infant receiving cavity for receiving an infant in an upright seated position and the outer wall and bottom defining a surface configured to selectively engage the first end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion of the tub body.   
     
     
         14 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the tub body includes at least one mounting portion and the positioner further comprises:
 an engaging portion including at least one coupling portion being configured to engage the at least one mounting portion, the positioner being coupled to the tub body when the at least one coupling portion engages the at least one mounting portion, wherein coupling the engaging portion to the mounting portion substantially partitions the receptacle by the positioner extending between the first and second side portions of the tub body.   
     
     
         15 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first end portion has a first backrest and the second end portion has a second backrest, the first backrest defining an upright support and the second backrest defining a reclined support, such that the third bathing area positions an infant in a supine position and the first bathing area positions an infant in an upright position. 
     
     
         16 . A bath tub assembly, comprising:
 a tub body defining a receptacle, the tub body including a bottom surface, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, wherein the first end portion includes a first backrest and the second end portion includes a second backrest; and   an insert member selectively engageable with the tub body and extending between the first side portion and the second side portion when engaged with the tub body, wherein the tub assembly is reconfigurable between:   a first configuration for a first size of infants;   a second configuration for a second size of infants; and   a third configuration for a third size of infants, wherein the second size is larger than the first size and the third size is larger than the second size.   
     
     
         17 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a sling that is coupleable to the tub body in the first configuration and configured to support an infant in a supine position within the receptacle when coupled thereto.   
     
     
         18 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the sling is suspended within the receptacle at a position disposed a distance away from the bottom surface of the tub body. 
     
     
         19 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 16 , wherein in the insert member is positioned within the receptacle in the second configuration and configured to provide two bathing configurations, an upright bathing configuration within the insert member and a supine bathing configuration adjacent the second end portion. 
     
     
         20 . The bath tub assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the insert member is removed from the receptacle in the third configuration.