U.S. patent application number 12/185036 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for scented sower curtain liner.
Invention is credited to Julie Browning Galbiati.
Application Number | 20090071613 12/185036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40453215 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090071613 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Galbiati; Julie Browning |
March 19, 2009 |
Scented Sower Curtain Liner
Abstract
A device in the form of a scented or fragrant shower curtain or
shower curtain liner is disclosed that allows convenient periodic
replacement to reduce or eliminate the work and expense associated
with cleaning and maintenance thereof, as well as to ensure
continued release and dispersal of a selected scent or fragrance.
The device may additionally include quick-release attachment
structures to facilitate such periodic replacement. A method of
maintaining a bathroom or shower facility in a clean and fragrant
state is also disclosed using the device, especially for use in
hotels or the like.
Inventors: |
Galbiati; Julie Browning;
(Atlanta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Julie Browning Galbiati
2788 Cravey Lane
Atlanta
GA
30345
US
|
Family ID: |
40453215 |
Appl. No.: |
12/185036 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60963070 |
Aug 2, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
160/330 ;
4/609 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H 2201/02 20130101;
A47H 2201/01 20130101; A47K 3/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/330 ;
4/609 |
International
Class: |
A47K 3/38 20060101
A47K003/38; A47H 1/13 20060101 A47H001/13 |
Claims
1. A shower curtain comprising: a body formed as a generally thin
and flexible sheet, wherein said body includes means for attachment
and release for use with a support structure adapted to support
said body, and wherein said body is formed of a material including
a fragrant compound, said fragrant compound emanating from said
material and dispersing to provide a selected user-perceivable
scent.
2. A disposable shower closure barrier comprising: a first
waterproof film containing a volatile compound; and attachment
means for securing said first waterproof film to a curtain rod,
said attachment means enabling rapid engagement and disengagement
of said first waterproof film with said curtain rod, whereby said
first waterproof film may be removed from said curtain rod for
disposal at a time selected from the group consisting of a time
when said first waterproof film is soiled and a time when said
first waterproof film is substantially devoid of said volatile
compound, and whereby a second waterproof film containing a
volatile compound may be installed in the place of said first
waterproof film.
3. A method of maintaining a shower in a clean state comprising the
steps of: removing a first shower curtain at a time selected from
the group consisting of a time when said first shower curtain is
soiled and a time when said first shower curtain is devoid of a
fragrant compound; and installing a second shower curtain in the
place of said first shower curtain, said second shower curtain
being clean and containing a fragrant compound, thereby avoiding
cleaning said first shower curtain and providing a selected scent
to the shower.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to bath tubs and
showers, and more specifically, to a disposable scented flexible
closure therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Since the development of the shower, bathers and bath owners
or managers have been plagued by the need for a barrier device to
contain sprayed water, soap, and dirt within the bath tub or shower
stall, thereby preventing accumulation thereof on the floor of the
bathroom. A variety of different curtains, doors, or the like have
been implemented for such a purpose with more or less success.
Regardless of the design, however, such barrier devices suffer from
the development and/or accumulation of unsightly and unsanitary
water-spots, stains, soap-scum, mold, germs, bacteria, and the
like. This disadvantage is compounded by an unpleasant odor
accompanying such accumulation, which odor typically permeates the
shower and the bathroom, making each uninviting and unpleasant to
use.
[0003] Typically, to avoid such disadvantageous developments,
regular cleaning is required, wherein such cleaning requires large
amounts of time and effort, as well as special cleaning products.
Further, the task is unpleasant and difficult, and is therefore
frequently neglected, further promoting growth of mold, fungus,
germs, and/or bacteria on the barrier. The growth of mold is not
only unhealthy, potentially causing illness or allergic reactions,
but further causes the unpleasant odor. Thus, proper maintenance
and cleaning of shower curtains, or other shower closures, has been
critical in maintaining a clean, inviting, and healthy bathroom
facility.
[0004] The problems of mold, and the associated odors, are
multiplied many times for businesses, such as hotels, fitness
centers, spas, or the like, that provide numerous showering
facilities for clients or customers. In such business settings,
proper cleaning and maintenance of showering facilities can become
unmanageable and can involve large costs in terms of supplies and
time. In order to be profitable, these types of businesses must
find a cost-efficient solution to maintaining shower curtains in a
clean, pristine condition, or risk offending or harming their
customers or clients via unsightly accumulation of dirt,
water-spots, stains, germs, bacteria, and mold, including the
associated unpleasant odor.
[0005] Thus, it is readily apparent that there exists an unmet need
for a shower closure barrier that reduces or eliminates the need
for regular cleaning and/or maintenance thereof, and which prevents
or reduces the pervasion of unpleasant odors, especially those
associated with mold or the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present
invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the
recognized need for such a device by providing a disposable
flexible shower curtain including a selected volatile fragrance
included therewithin, and a method of use thereof.
[0007] The shower curtain is preferably formed of a sheet of
polymeric material impregnated with a volatile fragrant compound
that may escape and provide a selected desired scent. Such release
preferably occurs at a substantially steady rate over time, until
the polymeric material is substantially devoid of the fragrant
compound. At such a time, the shower curtain is preferably disposed
and a new shower curtain is preferably installed in its place to
replenish the supply of a selected scent in the shower or bathroom.
Additionally, the new shower curtain is preferably clean, whereby
the first shower curtain need not be cleaned due to its
replacement.
[0008] The volatile fragrant compound is preferably made of natural
and/or artificial compounds, such as essential oils and synthetic
fragrances. The fragrant compound preferably migrates through the
polymeric material, either in gas or liquid state, and escapes or
evaporates into the surrounding atmosphere, whereby it may provide
a scent that permeates a shower, bathroom, or the like, such as via
diffusion. The volatile fragrant compound is preferably selected to
provide the scent a flower, an herb, a tree, or other plant, a
fruit, a spice, or other food, or any other desired scent that a
user may find appealing, calming, inviting, or otherwise pleasing
to the user. Thus, a user, such as an owner of manager of the
shower facility may preferably select a shower curtain containing a
fragrant compound, and install the selected shower curtain to
provide the desired scent in the shower or bathroom. Furthermore,
the user may preferably change or replenish the scent by replacing
at least a portion of the shower curtain with a new portion having
the same or different fragrant compound.
[0009] The removal and installation of the shower curtain of the
present invention is preferably accomplished via quick-release
attachment means provided thereon for engagement with a support
structure, such as a shower curtain rod. Preferably, the
quick-release attachment means comprises a snap mechanism, a
magnet, a hook-and-loop fastener system, or the like, whereby an
installation time of the shower curtain may be greatly reduced,
thereby reducing the strain associated with attaching the curtain
at an elevated location, and thereby making replacement of the
shower curtain faster, easier, more convenient, and more cost
effective for an owner, housekeeping personnel, custodial
personnel, or the like. Most preferably, the shower curtain is
designed to attach to a conventional curtain rod using conventional
fastening systems, such as rings wherein a first portion of the
shower curtain remains attached to the shower curtain rod while
another portion, such as a lower portion, is removed and replaced
with a new lower portion of a shower curtain.
[0010] According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the
present invention, in its preferred form, is a scented shower
curtain for use in providing a selected scent to a shower,
bathroom, or the like, in order to maintain a fresh, clean, or
otherwise pleasing scent thereabout. Such scent may preferably mask
other unpleasant odors present in the shower or bathroom, or may
simply add a preferred scent where none would otherwise be
present.
[0011] Accordingly, one feature and advantage of the present
invention is its ability to provide an easily replaceable shower
curtain, or a portion thereof, to facilitate maintenance thereof in
a clean state.
[0012] Another feature and advantage of the present invention is
its ability to provide an easily replaceable scented shower curtain
to facilitate maintenance thereof in a fragrant state.
[0013] Another feature and advantage of the present invention is
its ability to indicate when the shower curtain needs to be
replaced via an exhaustion of the selected scent.
[0014] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in
the art after reading the following Detailed Description and Claims
in light of the accompanying drawing Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Accordingly, the present invention will be understood best
through consideration of, and with reference to, the following
drawing Figures, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed
Description referring thereto, in which like reference numbers
throughout the various Figures designate like structure and in
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scented shower curtain
according to the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative shower
curtain according to the present invention.
[0018] It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended
solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are,
therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the invention to
any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except
insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention
illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for
the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be
limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be
understood that each specific element includes all technical
equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a
similar purpose.
[0020] In that form of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention chosen for purposes of illustration, FIG. 1 shows shower
curtain 100 attached to shower curtain rod R in shower S of
bathroom B. Shower curtain 100 preferably includes flexible
polymeric sheet 110, formed with a desired length and width to
completely enclose an open portion of shower S, whereby water
sprayed from shower head H may preferably be contained within
shower S and not escape to the rest of bathroom B. Polymeric sheet
110 preferably has a thickness that allows shower curtain 100 to
flex easily, whereby a user may access shower S by opening and
closing shower curtain 100 via sliding along shower curtain rod R.
Additionally, flexible polymeric sheet 110 preferably includes a
selected fragrant compound, whereby shower curtain 100 preferably
disperses a selected scent through shower S and bathroom B.
[0021] Thus, any unpleasant odor in shower S or bathroom B, such as
a mold odor, a waste odor, the odor of soiled clothing, linens, or
the like, is preferably masked or eliminated by release of the
selected fragrant compound from polymeric sheet 110 at a
substantially steady rate. Furthermore, conventional shower
curtains typically include an unpleasant odor, especially when new,
due to off-gassing of volatile organic compounds of manufacture
from the curtain material. Such unpleasant odor may discourage
replacement of the shower curtain, whereby accumulation of dirt and
mold may occur. The release of the selected fragrant compound of
shower curtain 100 of the present invention preferably ameliorates
such unpleasant odor, whereby a new shower curtain 100 may
preferably be used to replace a soiled or worn shower curtain
without filling shower S or bathroom B with an unpleasant "plastic"
odor. As such, shower curtain 100 preferably enables frequent
replacement thereof to avoid accumulation of dirt, soap-scum,
water-spots, mold, or the like, and offsets or avoids the frequent
introduction of unpleasant vapors released from a new shower
curtain.
[0022] Shower curtain 100 preferably includes attachment means,
such as grommets 115, for attaching shower curtain 100 to shower
curtain rod R. Specifically, grommets 115 preferably facilitate
attachment of shower curtain 100 to shower curtain rod R via
quick-release attachment means 120. Quick-release attachment means
120 may be formed as clip 121, hook 123, strap 125, or the like,
whereby grommets 115 may be quickly engaged therewith to support
shower curtain 100. Strap 125 is preferably attached to shower
curtain 100 such as via grommet 115, by stitching, adhesive, or may
be formed as a unitary sheet therewith. Strap 125 preferably
includes a magnetic closure, a snap closure, a hook-and-loop
fastener, or the like, to encircle shower curtain rod R.
Quick-release attachment means 120 preferably reduce a time
necessary to attach shower curtain 100 to shower curtain rod R,
thereby reducing the cost and burden associated with replacing a
shower curtain, such as when the shower curtain has become soiled,
damaged, or otherwise requires replacement.
[0023] As will be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the
art, grommets 115 may be formed of metal, plastic, or the like.
Furthermore, grommets 115 may optionally be replaced by, or
bolstered by, reinforced sections, rivets, welds, or other
structures adapted to facilitate secure and durable attachment of
shower curtain 100 to shower curtain rod R, or other similar or
conventional support structure.
[0024] Alternatively, however, conventional shower curtain rings
140 may be used to attach shower curtain 100 to shower curtain rod
R via grommets 115. Preferably, when conventional shower curtain
rings 140 are used, shower curtain 200 is used whereby
quick-release attachment means 120 in the form of hook-and-loop
fastener system 210 may be used to connect first portion 201 to
second portion 202 of shower curtain 200. As such, conventional
rings 140 may preferably be used to attach first portion 201 to
shower curtain rod R, even though such conventional rings 140 do
not provide for quick release and/or attachment because
quick-release attachment means 120 allow first portion 201 to
remain attached to shower curtain rod R while continuing to allow
for quick replacement of second portion 202.
[0025] First portion 201 is preferably relatively small
dimensionally compared to second portion 202, whereby first portion
201 is preferably not disposed in a position where it is likely to
become soiled or wet, and whereby an amount of fragrant compound
carried therein may be small compared to an amount carried by
second portion 202. Thus, when second portion 202 becomes soiled,
damaged, and/or exhausted of the fragrant compound, second portion
may preferably be removed from first section 201, and thereby from
shower curtain rod R, for replacement via quick-release attachment
means 120. Meanwhile, first portion 201 may remain attached to
shower curtain rod R without adverse effect due to the avoidance of
any substantial accumulation of dirt, water-spots, germs, bacteria,
mold, or the like, due to its elevated placement. As will be
readily understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art, magnets,
adhesive, snaps, buttons, hooks, or the like may be used in place
of, or in conjunction with hook portion 210a and loop portion
210b.
[0026] As an alternative, shower curtain 100 may optionally be
formed as a woven sheet, instead of a solid sheet, such as a sheet
formed from natural fibers, synthetic fibers, treated fibers, or
coated fibers, without departing from the scope and spirit of the
present invention, so long as shower curtain 100 may be impregnated
with, covered with, or otherwise include, the fragrant compound,
such as a volatile compound. Such fragrant compound is preferably
selected from natural compounds, having a scent such as the scent
of one or more flower, herb, tree, bush, fruit, or the like, food
scents, but may be any desired compound, including artificial
compounds, whereby a user's preference of scent may be
accommodated. The fragrant compound is preferably formed as a
volatile liquid which is retained within polymeric sheet 110, or
within the fibers or coating of a woven sheet, whereby the volatile
liquid may preferably evaporate and diffuse out of shower curtain
100 into the surrounding atmosphere in shower S and/or bathroom B
at a substantially constant rate.
[0027] Although the rate of release of the fragrant compound is
described as substantially constant, it will be readily apparent to
one having ordinary skill in the art that the fragrant compound may
be selected such that the rate of release thereof from shower
curtain 100 and/or 200 may be affected by one or more various
factors, including, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, air
flow, ambient pressures, chemical or biological action, or the
like, whereby the rate of release of the fragrant compound may vary
with changing factors. Furthermore, the fragrant compound may be
selected to preferably release from shower curtain 100 and/or 200
at an increased rate during selected times. For example, the
fragrant compound may be selected to release at an increased rate
with increasing ambient temperature or humidity, whereby the rate
of release will increase during a time when a user is taking a warm
or hot shower, whereby the user will experience an increase
intensity of the selected scent during such times.
[0028] Preferably, an amount of the fragrant compound included in
shower curtain 100 is preferably selected such that the fragrant
compound is substantially exhausted or nearly exhausted, and
therefore no longer capable of providing the selected scent to
shower S or bathroom B, at a time when shower curtain 100 has
become soiled from normal use of shower S through the accumulation
of water-spots, soap-scum, mold, or the like. Thus, when shower
curtain 100 is ready for disposal as a result of soiling through
ordinary use, substantially no fragrant compound is wasted.
Likewise, when shower curtain 100 is ready for disposal as a result
diffusion of substantially all of the fragrant compound, shower
curtain 100 is nearing the end of its useful life without cleaning.
Thus, the substantially constant diffusion of the fragrant compound
to the atmosphere surrounding shower curtain 100 preferably
determines a lifetime thereof ending with the substantial
exhaustion of the fragrant compound. When shower curtain 100 has
not yet reached the end of the lifetime, the fragrant compound
preferably diffuses out from shower curtain 100, indicating that
shower curtain 100 does not need replacement. Furthermore, when the
supply of fragrant compound is substantially exhausted through
diffusion, or other release mechanism, the absence of the scent in
shower S and bathroom B preferably indicates that the end of the
lifetime has been reached, and that replacement of shower curtain
100 is necessary.
[0029] As stated above, shower curtain 100 is preferably supplied,
such as during manufacture thereof, with a selected amount of the
fragrant compound. The selected amount preferably determines the
lifetime of shower curtain 100, and is preferably selected such
that the arrival of the end of the useful lifetime of shower
curtain 100 preferably coincides with, and indicates, the need to
change shower curtain 100 due to the accumulation of dirt,
soap-scum, water-spots, mold, or the like.
[0030] As will be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the
art, the scented shower curtain of the present invention, and the
method of use thereof, may include, be combined with, or otherwise
incorporate or integrate materials or compounds, including
coatings, fluids, or the like, having anti-bacterial, anti-fungal,
and/or self-cleaning properties, as well as materials, such as
polymers or other materials, resistant to such materials, whereby
shower curtains including a selected fragrant compound may
additionally resist, inhibit, or otherwise prevent the unsightly or
unhealthy accumulation of dirt, water-spots, bacteria, germs, mold,
or the like.
[0031] Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the
within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other
alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the
scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, shower
curtain 100 and/or 200 may be formed having a dimension greater
than or less than any corresponding dimension of shower S, whereby
shower curtain 100 and/or 200 may not be capable of completely or
even partially containing water within shower S but may still be
capable of providing the selected scent, being quickly replaced,
and indicating a time for such replacement, and/or the time for
replacement of a water barrier device, via exhaustion of the
fragrant compound therefrom. Similarly, shower curtain 100 and/or
200 may be formed as a water-permeable member, whereby it would not
be suitable for water containment, but whereby the other benefits
of the invention may be enabled. Likewise, shower curtain 100
and/or 200 may be disposed adjacent to a separate water barrier
device, and may provide decoration for bathroom B, or may be
disposed between a separate decorative curtain and a water barrier.
These and various other alternative arrangements, shapes, sizes,
and the like, will be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the
art, and are deemed to be within the scope of the present
invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the
specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by
the following claims.
* * * * *