Four in one infant bath tub

Abstract

A bathing system includes an elongate tub with a first and second end, a circumferential sidewall extending from the rim to the bottom, and opposing first and second walls. Channels are formed in each wall near the rim. The system includes a convertible sling made of flexible material with three panels. The first and second panels are joined together and secured to the tub rim, while the third panel has leg holes and is attached to the second panel. A bar at the end of the third panel connects to the channels in the tub walls. In a first configuration, the sling cradles an occupant of the tub with the first panel facing upward. In a second configuration, the occupant's legs extend through the leg holes, and the second panel rests on the tub floor, supporting the occupant in a seated position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An infant bathing system comprising:
 an elongate tub having a first end and a second end, a circumferential sidewall of the tub downwardly extending from a rim of the tub to a bottom of the tub, the circumferential sidewall including a first wall and an opposed second wall, a first channel formed in the first wall to have an open upper end near the rim, a second channel formed in the second wall to have an open upper end near the rim; and   a convertible sling for supporting an infant, the sling comprising:
 a first panel formed of flexible material and having a first end and an opposed second end, the first panel having a first surface and an opposed second surface; at least one fastener connected to the first end of the first panel for fastening the first end of the first panel to the rim of the tub; 
 a second panel formed of flexible material and having a first end and an opposed second end, the second panel having a first surface and an opposed second surface, the first end of the second panel being joined to the second end of the first panel, the second end of the second panel being a free end; and 
 a third panel formed of flexible material and having a first end and an opposed second end, the third panel having a first surface and an opposed second surface, first and second leg holes formed in the third panel to be spaced apart from each other and to extend through the third panel from the first surface of the third panel to the second surface of the third panel, the first end of the third panel being joined to the second end of the first panel and being joined to the first end of the second panel, a bar connected to the second end of the third panel and having opposed first and second bar ends, each bar end adapted to be received in the first channel or in the second channel; wherein 
 in a first use configuration, the first surface of the first panel and the first surface of the second panel face upward to receive a body of an infant and the third panel is disposed below the second panel, and wherein, in a second use configuration, the second surface of the first panel faces upward to receive the body of the infant and the infant's legs are extended through the leg holes from the first surface of the third panel to the second surface of the third panel, the second panel then being disposed on the floor of the tub. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first channel is formed in the first wall to be closer to the second end of the tub than to the first end of the tub, the second channel being formed in the second wall to be closer to the second end of the tub than to the first end of the tub, and wherein
 in the first use configuration, the first end of the first panel is fastened to the first end of the tub, and wherein in the second use configuration, the first end of the first panel is fastened to the second end of the tub.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first channel is formed in the first wall to be closer to the second end of the tub than to the first end of the tub, the second channel being formed in the second wall to be closer to the second end of the tub than to the first end of the tub, each of the first and second channels having a bottom below the open upper end thereof, a third channel formed in the first wall to be disposed closer to the first end of the tub than is the first channel, a bottom of the third channel being below the bottom of the first channel, a fourth channel formed in the second wall to be closer to the first end of the tub than is the second channel, a bottom of the fourth channel being below the bottom of the second channel; and wherein
 in a third use configuration, the first and second bar ends are each inserted into a respective third or fourth channel.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are manufactured from a continuous piece of flexible material. 
     
     
         5 . An infant bathing system comprising:
 a tub having a bottom, a rim disposed at a predetermined height from the bottom, a sidewall of the tub extending from the bottom to the rim;   a support for supporting an infant; and   means for attaching the support to the rim or the sidewall in any of a plurality of use configurations, the use configurations including first and second use configurations, wherein
 in the first use configuration, a seat of the infant is supported in the tub by the support at a first depth from the rim, and 
 in the second use configuration, the seat of the infant is supported in the rub by the support at a second depth from the rim, the second depth being greater than the first depth. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the support is a flexible sling, the tub being elongate and having opposed first and second ends, the sidewall of the tub comprising opposed first and second sidewalls each extending from the first end of the tub to the second end of the tub, the sling having a first end for attachment to the rim of the tub at one of the first and second ends of the tub, a second end of the sling attachable to each of the first and second sidewalls of the tub, wherein in the first use configuration, the second end of the sling is attached to each of the first and second sidewalls at a third depth from the rim that is less than or equal to the first depth, and wherein in the second use configuration, the second end of the sling is attached to each of the first and second sidewalls at a fourth depth that is greater than the third depth and less than or equal to the second depth. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first depth is selected so that a water level in the tub will not cover a navel of a newborn infant being supported by the support in the first use configuration.