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  Bathing support and entertainment apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20070209107Title: Bathing support and entertainment apparatus Abstract: The present disclosure is related to bathing support and entertainment apparatus that include a plurality of elongated members and further includes entertainment elements. The apparatus and associated methods of use and installation provide for an entertaining and safe bathing area, particularly useful when bathing children. (end of abstract)
Agent: Claude L. Nassif - Los Angeles, CA, US Inventor: Claude Laurence Nassif USPTO Applicaton #: 20070209107 - Class: 004576100 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Tubs, Convenience Accessories, Support For User, Static, Body Type, Hand Grip The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070209107. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] Bathing support apparatus that incorporate at least one entertainment element, and associated mounting methods, are disclosed herein. BACKGROUND [0002] Bathing, while generally considered a relatively safe activity, can be a dangerous proposition for particular members of the population, particularly for the elderly as well as children. The typical mixture of water and soaps/detergents can render a previously safe bathing area into a virtual skid-zone. Under particular circumstances, for example, persons may be more apt to slip and fall while going through relatively simple bathing routines, either due to a lack of muscular control/motor skills, standing upon a slippery surface, a loss of balance or any combination thereof. In the case of young children that require supervision/help with bathing, the attraction of a faucet and/or water-flow controls provide a strong distraction and often entice the child to lunge for and attempt to grab the faucet and/or controls. As anyone who has bathed a child can attest to, such quick and lunging movements can be quite dangerous, particularly since the child is typically wet and/or soapy and as such quite difficult to grasp and control. [0003] Previously, in order to provide some measure of support and/or security for bathers, various grasping surfaces have been provided in bathing areas to provide a place where a secure hold may be obtained. For example, in many bathing areas, a grasping handle is provided as an integral part of wall mounted/installed soap dishes. These are typically ceramic and found in older residences mounted in a wall of the bathing area. In some newer residences, such handles are made of plastic/resin. While providing some measure of support/security, such grasping surfaces allow sufficient space for only one hand. Furthermore, a handle so provided is in such proximity to soap residing in the integral dish, that a soapy film often forms on the handle during the placing and removing of the soap to the dish, rendering the handle slippery and less effective as a grasping support. [0004] Other handles have been provided for mounting into bathing areas to provide grasping surfaces for a bather to hold onto for support while bathing or getting into or out of the bathing area. These have been provided having various lengths and diameters, mounted vertically, horizontally and even at varying sloping angles onto or even into various bathing area surfaces. Such handles are typically metallic or plastic and come in various colors to aesthetically match the bathing area to which they are to be mounted. Such handles are typically secured to their mounting surfaces via screws or other standard anchoring methods, depending upon the make up of the interior walls of the bathing surfaces and/or and the design of the handle. Suction cups have also been utilized to anchor handles to bathing area walls. Previously, such handles have been provided with suction cups to anchor ends of these handles to bathing area walls. If a bathing area is provided such handles, they are typically mounted such that their mounting surfaces are parallel planar surfaces, that is, ends of the handle are mounted on the same planar surface. As such, these handles do not span or traverse a bathing area, but rather run alongside the perimeter of the bathing area. [0005] Furthermore, such previously provided handles are of fixed dimensions and therefore are necessarily offered in differing, fixed sizes. [0006] In recent years, certain electronic devices, such as radios, compact-disc players, mp3 players, televisions or any combination thereof, have been introduced into the marketplace, designed specifically for use in bathing areas. Naturally, such devices are typically battery operated and water resistant/proof, providing a bather with an additional pleasant aspect to the bathing experience. [0007] Prior handles do not provide any entertaining elements which can render the bathing experience more enjoyable, particularly to children. An apparatus that provides support as well as entertainment for a bather, particularly a child, is needed in order to make the bathing experience safer as well as entertaining. SUMMARY [0008] A bathing support and entertainment apparatus, system and method for providing an entertaining and safe bathing area is disclosed. [0009] In one embodiment, a bathing support and entertainment apparatus is disclosed which comprises a first elongated member, the first elongated member having at a first terminal end a first securing element, the first securing element having a first securing contact area. The bathing support and entertainment apparatus further includes a second elongated member provided substantially perpendicular to the first elongated member, the second elongated member having at a second terminal end a second securing element. The second securing element has a second securing contact area, the second securing contact area and the first securing contact area are provided substantially perpendicular to one another. The apparatus further comprises at least one entertainment element disposed along at least one of either the first or second elongated member, and a junction portion opposite the first and second securing elements, at which the first and second elongated member portions meet. [0010] In a particular embodiment, the bathing support and entertainment apparatus further comprises at least one dimension adjusting portion, the at a least one dimension adjusting portion being axially located along at least one of the first or second elongated member. In some embodiments, the first elongated member of the bathing support and entertainment apparatus has disposed along its length at least one dedicated grasping area. [0011] In some examples, the bathing support and entertainment apparatus has as at least one light emitting diode as its at least one entertainment element. In particular embodiments, the bathing support and entertainment apparatus includes a wire and a sliding element. The apparatus, or portions of the apparatus, are amendable to being manufactured from a wide variety of materials. In particular embodiments, the bathing and support apparatus's first and second elongated members are plastic and/or metallic and/or wooden, for example. In some embodiments, the at least one entertainment element or component thereof is made of plastic. In some examples, at least one entertainment element can be provided such that it is attached to and/or depends from a first or second elongated member. At least one entertainment element can also be provided so as to be removable from a first elongated member or a second elongated member. In some embodiments, the entertainment element is secured to at least one of the first or second elongated member by hook and loop fastening. [0012] In some embodiments, at least one of the first securing element or the second securing element of a bathing and support apparatus includes a suction apparatus. Suction apparatus can include a suction activation lever to activate suction to attach an elongated member to a support area such as a bathing area surface. In some embodiments, the bathing and support apparatus' first and second securing elements are provided with differing means for securing contact with their respective support surface area. [0013] In some embodiments, the bathing and support apparatus further comprises a third elongated member, the third elongated member being provided to be substantially perpendicular to the first and second elongated members, said third elongated member having at its terminal end a third securing element having a third securing contact area. Third elongated member meets up with said first and second elongation member at a junction portion of the apparatus. In some configurations, any one or more of the elongated members has along its respective axis a dimension adjusting portion. [0014] In still other embodiments, the second securing contact area of the second elongated member is adjustable to be sized to contact a water receptacle or its rim. [0015] A method for providing an entertaining and safe bathing area is also disclosed. In a particular configuration the method comprises providing a bathing support and entertainment apparatus, the apparatus including a first elongated member having at a first terminal end a first securing element, the first securing element having a first securing contact area; a second elongated member where the second elongated member is provided substantially perpendicular to the first elongated member and having at a second terminal end a second securing element. The second securing element has a second securing contact area, the first securing contact area and second securing contact area being substantially perpendicular to one another and at least one entertainment element disposed along at least one of the first or second elongated members, a junction portion located opposite the first and second securing elements, at which the first and second elongated members portions meet; and securing the bathing support and entertainment apparatus to bathing support areas via the first and second securing elements. [0016] In particular embodiments, the method includes utilizing a bathing support and entertainment apparatus having at least one dimension adjusting portion axially located along at least one of the first or second elongated member. The method can also include the step of adjusting at least one of a height, a width or a depth dimension of the bathing support and entertainment apparatus appropriately to fit into a bathing area. [0017] Other configurations include a bathing support and entertainment apparatus comprising a first elongated member having at a first terminal end a first securing element, the first securing element having a first securing contact area and a second elongated member provided substantially perpendicular to the first elongated member; the second elongated member having at a second terminal end a second securing element having a second securing contact area, where the first securing contact area and the second securing contact area are substantially perpendicular to one another and a third elongated member, the third elongated member being substantially perpendicular to the first and second elongated members and has at a third terminal end a third securing element, the third securing element having a third securing contact area perpendicular to the first and second securing contact area, where at least one of the first, second or third elongation members includes an axially disposed dimension adjusting portion and at least one of the members has a detachable entertainment element, which can dependant therefrom, and/or a battery/electrically operated entertainment element. [0018] In particular embodiments, at least one dedicated grasping area located along the first elongated member is provided and at least one entertainment element is provided and disposed along at least one of the first or second elongated members. Where the entertainment element is electronic in nature, at least one battery compartment located interiorly of any one of said first, second or third elongated members is provided. Whether two or three elongated members are provided, a junction portion located opposite the first and second or first, second and third securing elements is provided at which the first and second or first, second and third elongated members meet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment having two elongated members and securing elements and a plurality of illustrative entertainment elements; [0020] FIG. 2 is another illustration of an alternative embodiment having an exemplary removable entertainment element, an electrically operated entertainment element and dedicated grasping portions along an elongated member; and Continue reading... Full patent description for Bathing support and entertainment apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Bathing support and entertainment apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Bathing support and entertainment apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Shower rail assembly Next Patent Application: Sink accessory that is usable in a versatile manner, and also a sink including such a sink accessory Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Bathing support and entertainment apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 3.28784 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry |
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