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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to seating devices

and to bathtub mats. More particularly, the present invention relates to a

bathtub mat configured to prevent a person sitting in the bathtub from

undesirably slipping and sliding down into the tub.

It is well known that bathtubs are slippery and present a great risk of

injury to someone standing in the tub, especially in the presence of water

and soap. This is because bathtubs are generally made of a material, such

as acrylic, cast-iron porcelain, steel and polymer, etc., which does not have

a high enough coefficient of friction with human skin. In attempts to

compensate for this problem, various bathtub mats or strips are available

which provide an increased resistance to slipping while standing in the tub

and thus minimize the risk that someone standing in a bathtub will slip and

fall.

However, a problem which to the inventor's knowledge has not so

far been addressed is the slipping and sliding that occurs when sitting in a

bathtub. Sliding down into the water while sitting in the tub is both

uncomfortable and even potentially unsafe, especially when people fall

asleep in the bath.

When sitting in the tub, people usually lean their backs against the

side or wall of the tub on one end and support their bodies in place by

propping their feet up against the opposing side or wall. However, in many

cases people can not support their bodies with their legs and feet. For

example, shorter people and children may not have legs long enough to

reach the opposite end. Also, certain types of bathtubs, such as whirlpools

and Jacuzzis, are too large for people to sit on one side and reach the

opposite side. Furthermore, many tubs have faucets, drains and other

fixtures on one end which are uncomfortable to rest feet upon.

Because substantial lateral force is exerted on a person's body when

leaning against the back wall of the tub, conventional bath mats, designed to

minimize slipping when stood upon and thus when mostly transverse force

is applied, are inadequate to prevent slipping while sitting in the tub. Thus,

there is a need for an apparatus which prevents a person from slipping and

sliding down into the water in a bathtub while sitting in the bathtub, and

which helps keep the person in a stationary position within the tub.

Moreover, other circumstances exist in which it is undesirable for a

person sitting on a surface to slip and slide down the surface. For example,

a child sitting in a high chair tends to slip down and out of the chair, either

unintentionally or in a purposeful effort to escape the restraints of the high

chair. Similarly, many small children slide down and slip out of seats, such

as those in cars or buses, which are designed for adults and thus are too

large for children to sit comfortably and support themselves with their feet

on the floor. There is thus a further need for an apparatus which helps

support people when sitting on a seat and prevents them from slipping down

or out of the seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide support for a person

sitting on a surface and leaning their back against a wall or seat back to

prevent the person from sliding down the surface.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable

apparatus for securely retaining people in seated positions on slippery

surfaces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus

for preventing people from sliding down into the water in a bathtub during a

bath.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus

for preventing children from sliding out of high chairs or other seats in

which they can not support themselves with their feet on the floor.

The above and other objects are achieved by an apparatus for

preventing a person from sliding down when in a seated position on a

surface such as a bathtub floor or other seat, the undersurface of the

apparatus being supported on the surface. The apparatus comprises a

generally thin, flat back section upon which the person sits when the

apparatus is supported on the surface, a raised front section having a

thickness adequate to support all or part of the legs of the person in

response to a force component applied to the person's body in the general

direction in which the person's legs point, and retaining means for

releasably securing the apparatus to the surface such that the apparatus is

prevented from sliding in relation to the surface.

A person sits on the back section of the apparatus and rests part of

his or her legs on the front section, which thus prevents the person from

slipping or sliding down in the direction in which his or her legs are

pointing.

Although the size and relative proportions of the sections of the

apparatus may vary according the desired use of the apparatus, the back

section should be sufficiently large to support the person's buttocks and the

front section should be sufficiently high to support the person's legs and

resist movement of the person in response to a nonperpendicular force

component resulting, for example, when the person leans against the back of

the tub or other structure.

In some embodiments, the retaining means comprises at least one

suction cup coupled to the undersurface of the apparatus, and preferably

comprises a plurality of suction cups coupled to the undersurface of the

front section. The front section may have a cavity on the underside thereof

and the suction cups may then be positioned substantially or entirely within

the cavity. Alternatively, the retaining means may comprise a rubber

material composing at least the undersurface of the apparatus, which

produces friction between the undersurface and the surface such as the

bathtub floor. The retaining means may comprises further alternatives, such

as adhesive or Velcro coupled to the undersurface of the apparatus or rope

connected to the side or undersurface of the apparatus for tying the

apparatus to a stationary object such as the back of a chair.

When made for use in a bathtub, the apparatus is made of a water

proof material such as silicone rubber. This provides the added advantage

of flexibility, thus making the apparatus easier to fold or roll and carry.

When produced for other applications, the apparatus may be made of rubber

or other suitable materials such as wood or plastic.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a gradually sloping

transition area between the back section and the front section.

Alternatively, the apparatus may have a sharp abrupt junction between the

front and back sections.

Some of the above and other objects of the present invention are also

achieved by a bathtub mat comprising a generally planar rear portion of

generally uniform thickness, a front portion having a thickness substantially

greater than the thickness of the rear portion, a sloped transition area

between the rear and front portions, and retaining means coupled to the

undersurface of the mat for releasably securing the mat to the bottom

surface of a bathtub. In some embodiments, the rear portion of the mat has

a thickness of approximately one eighth of an inch and the front portion has

a thickness of approximately one inch, and the mat is approximately twelve

inches in length.. The bathtub mat is preferably made of a water proof

material such as silicone rubber, and may be molded as a single piece.

In some embodiments, the front portion of the mat has an indentation

in the undersurface thereof and the retaining means comprises a plurality of

suction cups coupled to the undersurface of the front portion and positioned

at least partly within the indentation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying

drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like

references refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus

of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 6 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the present

invention; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a person sitting in a bathtub and

using the apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figs. 1-5, one preferred embodiment of the seat

apparatus 10 of the present invention comprises a back or rear portion 12

which is generally flat and thin, a raised front portion 14, and a gradually

sloping transitional area 16 between the front portion 14 and rear portion

12. The rear portion 12 has a thickness of about one eighth (0.125) of an

inch and the raised front portion 14 has a height of about one inch.

In one embodiment for use by an adult of about average height, the

apparatus is about 12 inches in length, with the front portion 14 and

transition area 16 being about 2.5 inches long and the rear portion 12 being

about 9.5 inches long. The width of the rear portion 12 varies between

7.875 inches at the narrow end to about 9.875 inches at the point at which

the rear portion 12 meets the transition area 16. The raised portion 14 is

about 1 1.25 inches wide at the widest point on top and about 1 1.75 inches

wide at the widest point on the bottom.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the dimensions of the

apparatus 10 may be varied according to the desired need and use of the

apparatus. For instance, an apparatus for use by a child would require

smaller dimensions than those for an adult. Fig. 6 shows an apparatus 10',

which may be suitable for use by a child, having a smaller rear portion 12'

and which have a smaller front portion 14' and transition area 16'.

In addition, one skilled in the art will recognize that the apparatus 10

or 10' may have a different overall shape, e.g., may be square, rectangular,

triangular, etc., and that the relative proportions of the different sections

may be different depending upon the specific application and aesthetic

considerations. For example, aesthetic considerations factor into the design

of the embodiment shown in the drawings having, among other things, a

generally obround front section 14 and a gently tapenng back section 12.

When produced for use in a bathtub, the apparatus 10 is made of a

water proof material such as silicone rubber or other conventional material

used in the manufacture of bathtub mats. The entire apparatus may then be

produced as a single molded piece in a manner well known in the art. For

use in other applications, such as in a high chair, the apparatus may be made

of rubber, wood, plastic, or any other material which generally retains its

shape in the presence of a force, and may be coated with a layer of felt,

suede, or other material to increase the coefficient of friction between the

apparatus and human skin or conventional clothing materials such as cotton

and polyester, and to enhance the comfort of the person sitting on the

apparatus.

In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is held in place on

the floor of a bathtub when a person is sitting thereon by virtue of the

friction between the rubber undersurface of the apparatus 10 and the bottom

surface of the tub. Alternatively, as shown in Figs. 2-5, the apparatus 10

has a number of suction cups 18 coupled to the undersurface of the

apparatus 10. The raised front portion 14 has a cavity 20 (best seen in Fig.

5) in its undersurface, and the suction cups 18 are positioned within the

cavity 20 and extend partially beyond die lip 22 of the cavity 20 to be

releasably secured to the floor of the tub. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, one

preferred embodiment of the invention has two rows of suction cups 18, one

row with nine suction cups 18 and the other row having eight suction cups.

The suction cups 18 have diameters of about 1.25 inches and are located

approximately 0.25 inches apart from one another. The suction cups 18 are

made of silicone rubber or other convention material and may be molded

along with the apparatus 10 as a single piece.

As one skilled in the art will recognize, any number of suction cups

may be used depending upon the size of the apparatus and the desired level

of retention to the floor. Also, one skilled in the art will recognize that many

other types of devices may be used to secure the apparatus to a seat, such as

adhesive strips, Velcro, clips, rope, etc., depending upon the nature of the

use of the apparatus, the materials of which the apparatus and seat are

comprised, and the desired levels of retention, durability, and portability.

Fig. 7 shows the apparatus 10 as used by a person 2 sitting in a

bathtub 3. The apparatus 10 is placed within the tub 3 at an appropriate

location, and secured to the floor of the tub 3 by virtue of the suction cups

18 (not shown). The person 2 leans his or her back 4 against the back wall

of the tub 3 and positions his or her buttocks 6 on the rear portion 12 of the

apparatus 10. The person 2 then rests his or her thighs 8 against the front

portion 14 and/or transition area 16, thereby keeping the person 2 stationary

within the tub. The use of the apparatus for other applications, such as in a

high chair or other seat, will be clear from this exemplary illustration.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connection

with preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications as will be

evident to those skilled in this art may be made without departing from the

spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention is thus not to be limited

to the precise details of methodology or construction set forth above as such

variations and modification are intended to be included within the scope of

the invention.