Swivel Infant Bather

Abstract

An infant bather includes a base and a cradle. The cradle is mounted with the base. The base includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the base is connected to at least one engagement member that is adapted to engage a support surface, such as an edge or bottom of a sink or the edge or bottom of a bath tub. The second surface of the base further defines a cradle interface, which defines a vertical axis that may extend substantially perpendicular to the base second surface. The cradle also defines a cradle first surface and a cradle second surface. The cradle second surface is configured to support an infant in a reclined position. The cradle first surface includes a base interface that is engageable with the cradle interface of the base. The engagement of the cradle interface and the base interface allows the cradle to be horizontally rotated relative to the base so that the relative angle between the infant and the caregiver may be changed without having to lift and reposition the infant within the cradle. A method of bathing an infant that enables the caregiver reposition the infant relative to the caregiver and the water source without having to lift the infant is also provided.

1 . An infant bathing apparatus comprising:
 a base and a cradle mounted with the base;   the base comprising a base first surface and a base second surface, the base first surface including at least one engagement member, the at least one engagement member adapted to engage with a support surface, the base second surface defining a cradle interface, wherein the cradle interface defines a vertically extending axis;   the cradle comprising a cradle first surface and a cradle second surface, the cradle second surface configured to support an infant's entire body in a reclined horizontal position thereon, the cradle first surface comprising a base interface; and   the base interface engaging the cradle interface, and wherein engagement between the base interface and the cradle interface enables rotation of the cradle relative to the base about the axis.   
     
     
         2 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , the base interface comprising an annular rim, and the cradle interface comprising an annular lip configured to mate with the annular rim, and wherein each of the annular rim and the annular lip are coaxial with the axis. 
     
     
         3 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , the cradle second surface includes an infant support region, wherein the infant support region is angled between about 0 degrees and 30 degrees relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cradle second surface defines a convex surface. 
     
     
         5 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cradle comprises a frame and a flexible hammock extending over the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible hammock comprises a water permeable seating surface. 
     
     
         7 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible hammock comprises a water impervious seating surface. 
     
     
         8 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , the cradle interface circumscribing an aperture, the apparatus further comprising at least one guide member connected to the base interface and configured to engage the cradle interface and prevent lateral movement of the cradle interface relative to the base interface. 
     
     
         9 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , the cradle interface circumscribing an aperture, the apparatus further comprising at least one guide member connected to the cradle interface and configured to engage the base interface and prevent lateral movement of the cradle interface relative to the base interface. 
     
     
         10 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , at least one of the cradle interface and the base interface further including a guide member, the guide member configured to prevent lateral movement of the cradle interface relative to the base interface and further including a locking member adapted to lock the cradle to the base. 
     
     
         11 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , the cradle defining at least one aperture, the base defining at least one opening, wherein the at least one aperture and the at least one opening are in substantial vertical alignment. 
     
     
         12 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of engagement members, at least one of the plurality of engagement members defining an engagement portion comprising a ledge configured to mate with an edge of a sink. 
     
     
         13 . An infant bathing apparatus comprising:
 a base member comprising:
 at least one engagement member adapted to engage with a support surface; and 
 a circumferential cradle interface, the cradle interface defining an axis extending substantially perpendicular to a first surface of the base member; and 
   a cradle comprising;
 a cradle first surface having a base interface portion comprising at least one guide member configured to engage the cradle interface and prevent lateral movement of the cradle interface relative to the base interface, the base interface portion further configured to enable rotational movement of the cradle relative to the base member; and 
 a cradle second surface comprising an infant support region configured to support an infant's entire body in a substantially reclined horizontal position. 
   
     
     
         14 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the infant support region is angled between about 0 degrees and 30 degrees relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         15 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 13 , the base interface comprising an annular rim, and the cradle interface comprising an annular lip. 
     
     
         16 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the cradle comprises a frame and a flexible hammock comprising a water permeable portion, the hammock extending over the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the cradle second surface is water impervious. 
     
     
         18 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 16 , the frame defining an aperture, the cradle interface circumscribing the aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 13 , the at least one engagement member comprising at least one engagement portion configured to engage an edge of a sink. 
     
     
         20 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 13 , the cradle defining at least one aperture, the base defining at least one opening, wherein the at least one aperture and the at least one opening are in substantial vertical alignment. 
     
     
         21 . An infant bathing apparatus comprising:
 a base comprising a plurality of engagement members, each of the engagement members adapted to engage a support surface, the base further comprising a cradle interface portion opposite the plurality of engagement members; and   a cradle comprising an infant support, the infant support including a substantially horizontal portion configured to receive an infant's entire body in a reclined position, the cradle further comprising a base interface portion opposite the infant support, the base interface portion operatively connected to the cradle interface portion and configured to allow rotation of the cradle relative to the base and to prevent lateral movement of the cradle relative to the base.   
     
     
         22 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 21 :
 the base interface comprising a first track including arcuate portions, the cradle interface comprising a second track comprising arcuate portions, and the first track and the second track cooperating to provide an annular rotational track,   the apparatus further comprising at least one guide member on at least one of the base interface and cradle interface, and   the cradle further comprising a frame and a flexible hammock extending over the frame.   
     
     
         23 . The infant bathing apparatus of  claim 21 , the plurality of engagement members including a first group and a second group, the first group of engagement members cooperating to enable placement of the bathing apparatus with a first support surface in a first orientation, and the second group of engagement members cooperating to enable placement of the bathing apparatus with a second support surface in a second orientation.