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Protective bathtub cover assemblyRelated Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Tubs, Convenience Accessories, Protective Liner Or CoveringProtective bathtub cover assembly description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060236450, Protective bathtub cover assembly. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of protective covers. More specifically, the present invention concerns a protective bathtub cover assembly with a cover that is removably attached to a bathtub for protecting a person within the bathtub from inclement weather. [0003] 2. Discussion of Prior Art [0004] People who live in areas that experience violent weather such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail, or other storms that can cause property damage have a need to seek shelter from those storms. Storms are often unpredictable because they can develop quickly, move quickly, and change direction. People in the path of such storms often have no access to a basement, cellar, or other below-ground space that is insulated from high winds and debris. Those without a basement or cellar, due to the unpredictability of storms, often do not have time to seek shelter outside of their home. Therefore, people have a need for protection from violent weather in an above-ground room. [0005] It is known in the art for people, during inclement weather, to seek shelter in an above-ground structure, especially in a room that has no windows, doors, or walls that are part of an external wall of the structure. Local and state government authorities often recommend taking protective steps in the event of a storm, such as sheltering in an internal room, sheltering under a sturdy table, or covering one's self with a mattress, sheet or blanket. These prior art above-ground structures, covers and methods are problematic and all suffer from undesirable limitations. One limitation of the prior art covers is that a mattress, sheet or blanket must be held in place by a person protected by that cover. Such a limitation is problematic if a violent storm breaches the room because the person must overcome forces that would otherwise tend to displace the cover, such as high winds or falling debris. These external forces are often strong enough that a person cannot keep a cover from being displaced. A related limitation of these improvised covers is that they do not keep a person secured within the room. Often, winds from a violent storm are strong enough to displace the person from a room that has been breached. In some instances, an entire room or house may be displaced by a storm such that the person is thrown within or out of the room. Another limitation of these above-ground methods is that the room itself is subject to breach. Glass windows, doors, and walls constructed of wood, siding, and plasterboard are often breached by debris thrown by the high winds of a violent storm. On the other hand, reinforcing these structures to resist high winds would be complicated and expensive, as would adding a below-ground structure to an existing house. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved protective cover assembly that does not suffer from these problems and limitations. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention provides a protective cover assembly that does not suffer from the problems and limitations of the prior art detailed above. The inventive cover assembly enables a cover that may be removably secured to a bathtub in a protective position without requiring the user to hold the cover in place. [0007] A first aspect of the present invention concerns a protective bathtub cover assembly for installation on a bathtub including a basin with an open top. The assembly broadly includes a vented cover configured to span the open top of the basin when in a protective position relative to the bathtub, and a selectively releasable attachment mechanism configured to secure the vented cover to the bathtub in the protective position. When in the protective position, the vented cover prevents basin ingress and egress while permitting venting between the basin and ambient environment. The attachment mechanism includes a manual operator that is operable to release the attachment mechanism to permit the vented cover to be removed from the protective position. The manual operator is located to be accessible from the basin and thereby manually controllable from within the basin when the vented cover is in the protective position. [0008] A second aspect of the present invention concerns a protective bathtub assembly. The assembly broadly includes a bathtub including a basin with an open top, and a protective bathtub cover assembly for installation on the bathtub. The protective bathtub cover assembly includes a vented cover that spans the open top of the basin when in a protective position relative to the bathtub, and a selectively releasable attachment mechanism that secures the vented cover to the bathtub in the protective position. When in the protective position, the vented cover prevents basin ingress and egress while permitting venting between the basin and ambient environment. The attachment mechanism includes a manual operator that is operable to release the attachment mechanism to permit the vented cover to be removed from the protective position. The manual operator is located to be accessible from the basin and thereby manually controllable from within the basin when the vented cover is in the protective position. [0009] A third aspect of the present invention concerns a method for a user to take shelter in a bathtub from inclement weather, where the bathtub includes a basin with an open top. The method broadly includes the steps of placing one's self into the basin of the bathtub, arranging a vented cover overhead to span the open top, and securing the vented cover to the bathtub in a protective position to prevent basin ingress and egress. The step of securing the vented cover to the bathtub occurs while occupying the basin. [0010] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0011] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective bathtub cover assembly with a vented cover disposed above a bathtub but not in a protective position; [0013] FIG. 1a is a sectional schematic view of the protective bathtub cover assembly of FIG. 1 with the vented cover in the protective position; [0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the protective bathtub cover assembly of FIG. 1 with the vented cover in the protective position; [0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the protective bathtub cover assembly showing a portion of the vented cover and the attachment mechanism adjacent to a spout of the bathtub; [0016] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the protective bathtub cover assembly showing a portion of the vented cover and the attachment mechanism adjacent the end of the tub opposite from the spout; [0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the protective bathtub cover assembly taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 2; [0018] FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the protective bathtub cover assembly taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 2; [0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the protective bathtub cover assembly with an alternative vented cover in the protective position; [0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the protective bathtub cover assembly of FIG. 7, showing a portion of the alternative vented cover and a second alternative attachment mechanism adjacent to the spout; [0021] FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the protective bathtub cover assembly of FIG. 7, showing a portion of the alternative vented cover and the second alternative attachment mechanism adjacent the end of the tub opposite from the spout; Continue reading about Protective bathtub cover assembly... 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