Bathtub Construction Set

Abstract

A toy that is comprised of diverse cylindrical tubes, channels, and spouts to provide entertainment and educational value for the user through engineering a route for the transfer of water and other objects. These tubes are positioned in manners of various directions and secured to a surface, likely a shower wall or bath tub, with rubber suction cups or other affixing mechanism, which are easily repositioned and moved by the user. The issue addressed with this invention is as follows: children become easily bored and unengaged in the shower or bath, and this toy would provide for not only entertainment, but engineering experience for the child, as they would be constructing an effective path for the water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A set of positionable tubes, suction cups, and further contraptions for arrangement adjacent to a surface as well as adherence to a surface, comprising: a multiplicity of internally hollow tubes, which when in cross section are orbicular in shape, that attach to formerly mentioned suction cups or other means of adherence, and direct the flow of fluid from the preceding tube or further contraption into the subsequent, each of referred to tubes having optional means of altering and/or advancing the route of the fluid, allowing for it to be stored or discharged in a modified fashion by cause of the current orientation of said tube. 
     
     
         2 . The set of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for establishment and the reliable ability to move said tubes into subjective or consistent reference including suction cups, magnets, glue, velcro, hooks, posts, trays, tacks, nails, screws, straps, stands, racks, sticky pads, or other means. 
     
     
         3 . The set of  claim 1 , said tubes including an expandable flexible hose or tube, a funnel-like apparatus fitted with or without an adherence apparatus, and an apparatus with an adaptable mouth fitted with an adherence apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The set of  claim 1 , further including use of materials and objects, excluding marbles, for means of traversing noted tubes and mechanisms with or without the aid of fluid. Materials include soap, light, sound, air, other gases, oil, dye, wood, and other viscous substances. Objects include but are not limited to bath toys, wheels, tumbling figures, sponges, round objects (excluding marbles), inflatable items, living creatures, towels, and cups. 
     
     
         5 . The set of  claim 1  wherein the apparatuses are rigid, flexible, expandable, removable, interchangeable, or able to be reshaped or disassembled. The apparatuses can be made of multiple parts which can be disassembled and reassembled for entertainment, variation, or cleaning purposes. 
     
     
         6 . The set of  claim 1  wherein the surface is planar, curved, jagged, or otherwise irregular 
     
     
         7 . The set of  claim 1  wherein the surface is vertical, horizontal, or otherwise positioned 
     
     
         8 . The set of  claim 1  wherein the noted surface is associated with a bath or shower 
     
     
         9 . The set of  claim 8  wherein an object that traverses said tubes is a marble. 
     
     
         10 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein the tube being non-linear so that it directs the flow of fluid and/or objects in a non-linear course, which is intended to allow for it to be guided to an additional planar or otherwise surface, including, but not limited to, where two walls meet in the tub. 
     
     
         11 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein the tube can be shaped, curved, bent or otherwise manipulated before or after attachment to a surface 
     
     
         12 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein the tube begins as a singular hollowed cylinder, and splits into two separate tubes to divert the fluid into independent passages, allowing for disjointed paths that can be manipulated separately 
     
     
         13 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is fitted with varying apertures including allowing limited discharge of the fluid and/or objects through said apertures and the remaining discharge to continue through specified tube and allowing complete discharge of the fluid and/or objects through said apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has varying cross sectional shapes including but not limited to J shape, the elongated uppermost section outwardly attaching to said suction cup or other means of adherence to said planar or curved surface, a U shape, possibly allowing for the user to interact with the fluid or other material as it traverses through the tube, a C shape, possibly allowing for some fluid to escape, or a V shape. 
     
     
         15 . The set of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more axles that move including axles mounted horizontally or vertically on which wheels or other devices are affixed, or axles on which a simulation of an animate being are affixed. 
     
     
         16 . The set of  claim 1 , further comprising an apparatus that cause an object to inflate or fill. 
     
     
         17 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein an apparatus stores fluid and including an apparatus that allows the remaining fluid to be expelled into the succeeding tube or mechanism or an apparatus that stores fluid until the apparatus reaches a set amount at which time the fluid is discharged. 
     
     
         18 . The set of  claim 1 , further including but not limited to variation with lights, sounds, color, material, shape, as well as themes. 
     
     
         19 . The set of  claim 1 , further including use of motors, pumps or other mechanisms which are intended to aid the flow of the fluid and/or other objects which are intended to navigate the system of tubes and other mechanisms. 
     
     
         20 . The set of  claim 1 , further including use of water wheels or other water-powered gyrating objects. 
     
     
         21 . The set of  claim 17 , further including use of water wheel or other water-powered gyrating object that moves small objects in a repeated motion suspended above said apparatus using a connector between noted wheel and object. 
     
     
         22 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein structure are manipulated or supported by hand. 
     
     
         23 . The set of  claim 1 , further including electronics that may generate light, sound, actuation, or movement. 
     
     
         24 . The set of  claim 1 , further including a remote control device to actuate an apparatus in the set of  claim 1   
     
     
         25 . The set of  claim 1 , further including a means of preventing unwanted splashes is included 
     
     
         26 . The set of  claim 1 , further including a means of positioning the apparatus is to use hooks to affix the tubes on, into or over a surface 
     
     
         27 . The set of  claim 1 , further including a means of positioning the set of apparatuses is a pre-made curved or planar surface on which the apparatuses can be positioned that may include suction cups, slots, pegs, holes, hooks, sticky surfaces, or other means of establishment 
     
     
         28 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein some or all apparatuses are pre-mounted on an object, surface, or other structure and the object, surface, or other structure can be outfitted with adherence mechanisms such as suction cups, slots, pegs, hooks, stick surfaces, or other means of establishment. 
     
     
         29 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein apparatuses, objects and/or fluid glow, reflect or emit light 
     
     
         30 . The set of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatuses and/or objects can be attached to each other for stabilization, support, manipulation, or for entertainment purposes