Flexible folding infant bather

1. An infant bather having a head end and a foot end, comprising:

a) a frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the frame having a first support member and a second support member, the first support member being pivotally engaged to the second support member such that the first and second support members pivot relative to each other to open the frame from the closed configuration and to close the frame from the open configuration;

b) a flexible water bath engaged to the frame, the flexible water bath being watertight, the flexible water bath folding closed when the frame is closed from the open configuration to the closed configuration, the flexible water bath folding open when the frame is opened from the closed configuration to the open configuration;

c) wherein each of the first and second support members comprise first and second endless elongate support members, respectively, such that each of the first and second support members defines respective first and second endless loops, wherein the first endless support member passes through the second endless loop, and wherein the second endless support member passes through the first endless loop;

d) wherein the frame comprises a first pivot housing adjacent the head end of the infant bather and a second pivot housing adjacent the foot end of the infant bather, wherein said pivot housings engage the first and second support members, wherein at one of the pivot housings the first support member is disposed inwardly of the second support member, and wherein at the other of the pivot housings the second support member is disposed inwardly of the first support member;

e) wherein each of the first and second support members comprises upper and lower sections, wherein in the open configuration the upper section of the first support member confronts the lower section of the second support member and the lower section of the first support member confronts the upper section of the second support member, and wherein in the closed configuration the upper sections of the first and second support members confront each other and the lower sections of the first and second support members confront each other;

f) wherein each of the lower sections includes a horizontally running portion having an undersurface, wherein the flexible water bath includes a flexible underside with a lowermost portion, and wherein the lowermost portion of the flexible underside of the flexible water bath is disposed above a plane defined by the undersurfaces of the horizontally running portions of the first and second support members when the frame is in the open configuration;

g) wherein the lowermost portion of the flexible underside of the flexible water bath is disposed below each of the pivot housings when the frame is in the open configuration; and

h) wherein the flexible water bath supports both an infant and water;

i) wherein the infant bather further comprises first, second, third, and fourth feet, the first and second feet being engaged to the lower section of the first support member, the third and fourth feet being engaged to the lower section of the second support member, the lower section of the first support member being straight between the first and second feet and defining a straight first lower portion, the lower section of the second support member being straight between the third and fourth feet and defining a straight second lower portion, a distance between the straight first lower portion and the straight second lower portion defining a first width in the open configuration; and

j) the upper section of the first support member having an outermost curved first portion, the upper section of the second support member having an outermost curved second portion, a distance between an apex of the outermost curved first portion and an apex of the outermost curved second portion being greater than said first width.

2. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein the flexible water bath comprises a material that is watertight.

3. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein the flexible water bath is waterproof and comprises one or more of a polyamide, a nylon, and a ripstop nylon.

4. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein the flexible water bath comprises:

a) right and left flexible half-sections, wherein a vertical longitudinal plane defines the right and left flexible half sections and runs through the head and foot ends;

b) a back flexible section adjacent the head end of the infant bather;

c) a leg flexible section adjacent the foot end of the infant bather;

d) a butt flexible section between the back and leg flexible sections of the flexible water bath;

e) the flexible underside;

f) wherein the flexible underside includes a segment in the vertical longitudinal plane, the segment having a first length along the back flexible section and a second length along the leg flexible section, and wherein the first length along the back flexible section is greater than the second length along the leg flexible section; and

g) wherein said segment along said leg flexible section includes an inclination, wherein said segment along said back flexible section includes an inclination, and wherein the inclination along the leg flexible section is greater than said inclination along the back flexible section.

5. The infant bather of claim 4 , wherein said inclination along said back flexible section continually increases from the butt flexible section to the head end, and wherein said inclination along the leg flexible section continually increases from the butt flexible section to the foot end.

6. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein the flexible water bath includes a perimeter, and wherein the upper sections of the first and second support members engage a portion of said perimeter to open and close the flexible water bath.

7. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein the flexible water bath includes a perimeter and first and second ends, wherein the upper sections of the first and second support members engage a portion of said perimeter to open and close the flexible water bath, and wherein the upper sections of the first and second support members are spaced apart from each other at a greater distance at the first end than at the second end.

8. The infant bather of claim 1 , and further comprising a stop on the frame projecting transversely of at least one of the first and second support members to stop a pivoting of said at least one first and second support members.

9. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein one pivot housing nonrotatably engages the first support member and pivotally engages the second support member, and wherein the other of the pivot housings nonrotatably engages the second support member and pivotally engages the first support member.

10. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein said pivot housing includes a radially extending seat that engages one of the first and second support members to seat said support member when the frame attains the open configuration.

11. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein each of the lower sections comprises a foot for supporting the infant bather on a surface.

12. The infant bather of claim 1 , wherein the lowermost portion of the underside of the flexible water bath is disposed adjacent to and above the plane defined by the undersurfaces of the horizontally running portions of the first and second support members.

13. An infant bather having a head end and a foot end, comprising:

a) a first support member having an upper section and a lower section, the first support member being elongate;

b) a second support member having an upper section and a lower section, the second support member being elongate, the second support member being pivotally engaged to the first support member at each of the head end and foot end of the infant bather;

c) a flexible water bath engaged between the upper section of the first support member and the upper section of the second support member, the flexible water bath folding out to an open configuration when the first and second support members are pivoted one way, and the flexible water bath folding in to a closed configuration when the first and second support members are pivoted the other way;

d) the first and second support members defining a frame, wherein the frame comprises a first pivot housing adjacent the head end of the infant bather and a second pivot housing adjacent the foot end of the infant bather, wherein said pivot housings engage the first and second support members, wherein one pivot housing nonrotatably engages the first support member and pivotally engages the second support member, and wherein the other of the pivot housings nonrotatably engages the second support member and pivotally engages the first support member;

e) wherein each of the lower sections includes a horizontally running portion having an undersurface, wherein the flexible water bath includes an underside with a lowermost portion, and wherein the lowermost portion of the underside of the flexible water bath is disposed above a plane defined by the undersurfaces of the horizontally running portions of the first and second support members when the frame is in the open configuration; and

f) wherein the lowermost portion of the underside of the flexible water bath is disposed below each of the pivot housings when the frame is in the open configuration;

g) wherein the flexible water bath supports both an infant and water; and

h) wherein the infant bather further comprises first, second, third, and fourth feet, the first and second feet being engaged to the lower section of the first support member, the third and fourth feet being engaged to the lower section of the second support member, the first and third feet being adjacent to the head end of the infant bather, the second and fourth feet being adjacent to the foot end of the infant bather, the first and third feet being offset from each other in a lateral direction such that the third foot is closer to the head end of the infant bather than is the first foot, and the second and fourth feet being offset from each other in the lateral direction such that the second foot is closer to the foot end of the infant bather than is the fourth foot.

14. The infant bather of claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second support members is endless, wherein each of the first and second support members defines respective first and second loops, wherein the first loop passes through the second loop, and wherein the second loop passes through the first loop.

15. The infant bather of claim 13 , wherein the lowermost portion of the underside of the flexible water bath is disposed adjacent to and above the plane defined by the undersurfaces of the horizontally running portions of the first and second support members.

16. An infant bather having a head end and a foot end longitudinally spaced from each other, comprising:

a) a frame, the frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the frame having a first support member and a second support member, the first support member being pivotally engaged to the second support member such that the first and second support members pivot relative to each other to open the frame from the closed configuration and to close the frame from the open configuration; and

b) a flexible water bath supported by the frame and comprising:

i) right and left flexible half-sections, wherein a vertical longitudinal plane defines the right and left flexible half-sections and runs through the head and foot ends;

ii) a back flexible section adjacent the head end of the infant bather;

iii) a leg flexible section adjacent the foot end of the infant bather;

iv) a butt flexible section between the back and leg flexible sections of the flexible water bath;

v) a flexible underside;

vi) wherein the flexible underside includes a segment in the vertical longitudinal plane, the segment having a first length along the back flexible section and a second length along the leg flexible section, and wherein the first length along the back flexible section is greater than the second length along the leg flexible section; and

vii) wherein said segment along said leg flexible section includes an inclination, wherein said segment along said back flexible section includes an inclination, and wherein the inclination along the leg flexible section is greater than said inclination along the back flexible section;

c) wherein the flexible water bath includes a perimeter and first and second ends, wherein each of the first and second support members comprises upper and lower sections, wherein the upper sections of the first and second support members engage a portion of said perimeter to open and close the flexible water bath, and wherein the upper sections of the first and second support members are spaced apart from each other at a greater distance at the first end than at the second end;

d) wherein the frame comprises a first pivot housing adjacent the head end of the infant bather and a second pivot housing adjacent the foot end of the infant bather, wherein said pivot housings engage the first and second support members;

e) wherein each of the pivot housings comprises a stop projecting transversely of at least one of the first and second support members to stop a pivoting of said at least one first and second support members;

f) wherein each of the pivot housings includes a radially extending seat that engages one of the first and second support members to seat said support member when the frame attains the open configuration;

g) wherein one pivot housing nonrotatably engages the first support member and pivotally engages the second support member, and wherein the other of the pivot housings nonrotatably engages the second support member and pivotally engages the first support member;

h) wherein the flexible water bath supports both an infant and water;

i) wherein the infant bather further comprises first, second, third, and fourth feet, the first and second feet being engaged to the lower section of the first support member, the third and fourth feet being engaged to the lower section of the second support member, the lower section of the first support member being straight between the first and second feet and defining a straight first lower portion, the lower section of the second support member being straight between the third and fourth feet and defining a straight second lower portion; and

j) the upper section of the first support member having an outermost curved first portion, the upper section of the second support member having an outermost curved second portion.

17. The infant bather of claim 16 , wherein said inclination along said back flexible section continually increases from the butt flexible section to the head end.

18. The infant bather of claim 16 , wherein said inclination along the leg flexible section continually increases from the butt flexible section to the foot end.

19. The infant bather of claim 16 :

a) wherein each of the lower sections includes a horizontally running portion having an undersurface, wherein the flexible water bath includes the flexible underside with a lowermost portion, and wherein the lowermost portion of the flexible underside of the flexible water bath is disposed above a plane defined by the undersurfaces of the horizontally running portions of the first and second support members; and

b) wherein the lowermost portion of the flexible underside of the flexible water bath is disposed below each of the pivot housings.

20. The infant bather of claim 19 , wherein the lowermost portion of the underside of the flexible water bath is disposed adjacent to and above the plane defined by the undersurfaces of the horizontally running portions of the first and second support members.