U.S. patent application number 11/904810 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-02 for shower curtain closure system.
Invention is credited to Stewart A. Roston.
Application Number | 20090083904 11/904810 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40506536 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090083904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roston; Stewart A. |
April 2, 2009 |
Shower curtain closure system
Abstract
A shower curtain closure system cooperable with a shower curtain
rod, the shower curtain and shower curtain liner each being of two
piece construction, there being fitted over the shower curtain rod
at its distal ends, an L-shaped bracket being U-shaped in cross
section and having a plurality of depending finger hooks, one such
bracket at one end of the shower curtain rod fixedly securing a
portion of the shower curtain and shower curtain liner in fixed
relationship with the shower or tub, the opposing bracket partially
securing a second portion of the shower curtain and shower liner in
fixedly relationship with the shower or tub, the opposing end of
the second portion of the shower curtain and liner being secured to
a U-shaped slidable bracket having depending finger hooks which is
slidable on the shower curtain rod for engagement and disengagement
with the first L-shaped bracket, thereby opening and closing the
shower curtain and liner, the shower curtain and liner vertical
hems having a plurality of magnetic members deployed therein for
engagement in closure of the shower curtain and for engagement with
the walls of the shower or bath.
Inventors: |
Roston; Stewart A.;
(Piscataway, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CLIFFORD G. FRAYNE
136 DRUM POINT RD, SUITE 7A
BRICK
NJ
08723
US
|
Family ID: |
40506536 |
Appl. No.: |
11/904810 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/558 ; 160/330;
4/608 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/558 ; 160/330;
4/608 |
International
Class: |
A47K 3/38 20060101
A47K003/38; A47K 3/14 20060101 A47K003/14 |
Claims
1. A shower curtain closure assembly cooperative with an existing
shower rod and shower rod brackets for opening, closing, and
sealing a shower area, the shower curtain closure assembly
comprising: a shower rod having a first end and a second end, said
first end and said second end of said shower rod secured to two
opposing shower rod brackets secured on opposing side walls of a
shower area; a first stationary L-shaped bracket having a planar
first leg secured to said side wall of said shower area and a
second leg of inverted U-shaped cross section overlapping a portion
of said first end of said shower rod with an inner and outer
depending web, said planar first leg and said inner depending web
of said second leg having a plurality of upstanding support fingers
and said outer web of said second leg having a plurality of
upstanding support fingers; a second stationary L-shaped bracket,
said second stationary L-shaped bracket having a planar first leg
secured to said side wall of said shower area and a second leg of
inverted U-shaped cross section overlapping a portion of said
second end of said shower rod with an inner and outer depending
web, said planar first leg and said inner depending web of said
second leg having a plurality of upstanding support fingers and
said outer web of said second leg having a plurality of upstanding
support fingers; a movable bracket of inverted U-shaped
configuration having an inner web and an outer web, and slidably
positioned on said curtain rod, said inner and outer depending webs
having upstanding support fingers; a two piece shower curtain liner
having a plurality of apertures along its upper edge, said
apertures proximate a first end of said shower curtain liner
secured to said upstanding support fingers on said planar first leg
and said inner web of said second leg of said first stationary
L-shaped bracket, said plurality of apertures proximate said
opposing end of said shower curtain liner secured to said
upstanding support fingers on said inner web of said movable
bracket, intermediate apertures being secured to conventional
curtain rings secured on said curtain rod, said second piece of
said shower curtain liner being secured to said upstanding support
fingers on said second stationary L-shaped bracket on said planar
first leg and said inner web of said second leg, said second piece
of said shower curtain liner in a fixed position; a two piece outer
shower curtain, said first piece having a plurality of apertures
proximate said upper edge, said apertures proximate one end secured
to said upstanding support fingers on said outer web of said second
leg of said first stationary L-shaped bracket, said apertures
proximate said opposing end of said outer shower curtain secured to
said upstanding support fingers of said outer web of said movable
bracket, intermediate apertures being secured to conventional
curtain rings secured on said curtain rod, said second piece of
said outer shower curtain secured to said upstanding fingers of
said outer web of said second stationary L-shaped bracket.
2. A shower curtain closure assembly cooperative with an existing
shower rod and shower rod brackets for opening, closing, and
sealing a shower area, the shower curtain closure assembly
comprising: a shower rod having a first end and a second end, said
first end and said second end of said shower rod secured to two
opposing shower rod brackets secured on opposing side walls of a
shower area; a first stationary L-shaped bracket having a planar
first leg secured to said wall of said shower, and a second leg of
inverted U-shaped cross section overlapping a portion of said first
end of said shower rod, said depending web of said inverted
U-shaped leg and said planar leg having a plurality of outwardly
upstanding fingers; a second stationary L-shaped bracket having a
planar first leg secured to a side wall of said shower area and a
second leg of inverted U-shaped cross section overlapping a portion
of said second end of said shower rod, said depending webs of said
inverted U-shaped leg and said planar leg having a plurality of
outwardly upstanding fingers; a movable bracket of inverted
U-shaped configuration having an inner web and an outer web, and
slidably positioned on said curtain rod, said inner and outer
depending webs having a plurality of upwardly upstanding fingers; a
two piece shower curtain and two piece liner, said first portion of
said two piece shower curtain supported by said outwardly
upstanding fingers of said outer web of said first stationary
L-shaped bracket, said first portion of said liner supported by
said outwardly upstanding fingers of said inner web and said planar
leg of said first stationary L-shaped bracket; said second portion
of said shower curtain supported by said outwardly upstanding
fingers on said outer web of said second stationary L-shaped
bracket, said outwardly upstanding fingers of said outer web of
said movable bracket and a plurality of shower hooks supported on
said shower rod positioned there between; said second portion of
said liner supported by said outwardly upstanding fingers of said
inner web of said second stationary L-shaped bracket and said
planar leg and said outwardly upstanding fingers on said inner web
of said movable bracket and a plurality of shower support rings
positioned between said movable bracket and said second stationary
L-shaped bracket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to closures for showers and bathtubs
and more specifically to a shower curtain closure assembly.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The device of the present invention is related to an
improved closure device for shower curtains. The device may also be
used in connection with tarps, curtains, and covers and other
related fields where a closing device for a curtain-like structure
is employed.
[0005] Utilization of shower curtains to try to prevent water from
the shower from going outside the shower enclosure at the edges is
well known. Shower curtains are often pulled away from the edge of
the shower or tub enclosure by the vacuum created by the velocity
of the water from the shower head according to well-known
phenomena.
[0006] Often the typical shower curtain does not adequately prevent
water from spilling onto the bathroom floor as the curtain moves
away from the shower walls due to the decreased pressure of air
entrained with the water spray. In addition, this effect can be due
to an open window or door blowing the curtain. A further problem
arises since household pets such as cats like to sleep in cool
places such as the shower.
[0007] Attempts have been made to keep shower curtains in place by
wetting the edge of the shower enclosure wall and sticking the
curtain to it. Other devices include magnets or suction cups at the
bottom of the shower curtain to keep the curtain against the inside
of the bathtub walls. These techniques do not prevent the water
escaping through the sides onto the floor. Also when it is
necessary to remove the curtain for cleaning or washing, the
magnets or suction cups would often break in the washing machine,
making the arrangement useless.
[0008] It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a
shower closure device for a curtain which is aesthetically
appealing with the curtain attached and which causes water to
remain inside of the tub instead of spilling onto the floor. The
curtain will not be blown aside drafts from open windows. The
device is easily installed and removed for cleaning of the curtain.
It gives the appearance of a sealed door enclosure without the high
cost of installing a conventional glass shower tub enclosure. In
addition it serves to keep pets out of the tub.
[0009] The closest prior art references of which the Applicant is
aware of are Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,425 and the
following:
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 2,761,140 to Kellogg discloses a shower
curtain unit for use with built-in bathtubs. Notable in this patent
is the utilization of a vertical tube 45 secured at each end by the
internal rods 47 and 48, and retained in brackets at the top and
bottom of the tube enclosure. The shower curtain 19 is hemmed at
the end, with an opening provided in the hem through which the tube
45 is fitted.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,324 to Cairns discloses a curtain
retainer apparatus which is noted for its method of retaining the
curtain 138 and flexible retainer means having beaded interlocking
heads as shown in the drawings. This is particularly useful for
shower curtains.
[0012] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,547 to Riekse a combination of
flexible retainer and locking strip 24 is shown in cross section in
FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,919 to White (See FIGS. 2 and 3),
wherein the end of a curtain is retained within the holder having a
resilient core 20 fitted into a hem of the curtain 19.
[0014] The disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 2,897,889 to Kessler
illustrates a common way of retaining screening utilizing a ribbed
resilient cord.
[0015] Other patents of general interest in this area are U.S. Pat.
No. 2,712,354 to Margolies; U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,801 to Saling; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,366,161 to Barnett; U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,642 to Blitch;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,915 to Siewert; U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,741 to
Payne; U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,580 to Dyckow; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,339,884 to Angerman.
[0016] The present invention is a significant improvement over the
devices shown in the prior art patents individually and
collectively.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a
novel shower closure.
[0018] Another object of this invention is to provide a novel
shower closure which is aesthetically appealing and easily
installed and removed.
[0019] A further object of this invention is to provide a novel
shower closure which prevents water from spilling outside the
shower but is low cost compared to the prior art.
[0020] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide for a novel shower closure utilizing a two piece liner and
a two piece shower curtain.
[0021] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide for a novel shower closure in which the two piece liner and
two piece shower curtain are slidably, lockably, engageable to
provide a seal which prevents water from spilling outside of the
shower or bath enclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] A shower curtain closure system cooperable with a shower
curtain rod, the shower curtain and shower curtain liner each being
of two piece construction, there being fitted over the shower
curtain rod at its distal ends, an L-shaped bracket being U-shaped
in cross section and having a plurality of depending finger hooks,
one such bracket at one end of the shower curtain rod fixedly
securing a portion of the shower curtain and shower curtain liner
in fixed relationship with the shower or tub, the opposing bracket
partially securing a second portion of the shower curtain and
shower liner in fixedly relationship with the shower or tub, the
opposing end of the second portion of the shower curtain and liner
being secured to a U-shaped slidable bracket having depending
finger hooks which is slidable on the shower curtain rod for
engagement and disengagement with the first L-shaped bracket,
thereby opening and closing the shower curtain and liner, the
shower curtain and liner vertical hems having a plurality of
magnetic members deployed therein for engagement in closure of the
shower curtain and for engagement with the walls of the shower or
bath.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following
illustrations wherein:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first L-shaped bracket of
the closure system;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second bracket of the
closure system;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a slidable bracket of the
closure system;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shower curtain closure
assembly from the interior of the closure system;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the exterior of the shower
closure system from the exterior of the shower enclosure; and
[0029] FIG. 6 is a top view of the shower closure system positioned
in a bathtub with shower curtain and shower liner secured
thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are perspective views of the bracket
members which comprise the shower curtain closure system 10. First
bracket member 12 is generally L-shaped having a planar leg 14
which would be secured to a wall or to the end wall of a bath or
shower enclosure and have one or more upstanding fingers 15 to
engage an aperture or apertures on a shower liner. Perpendicular
leg member 16 to planar leg 14 has an inverted U-shaped channel 18
and is dimensioned to receive a portion of a shower curtain rod
within its inverted U-shaped channel 18. The depending legs 22 and
24 of perpendicularly leg member 16 are formed with a plurality of
outwardly and upwardly depending fingers 26 for receipt of
apertures or grommeted apertures formed along the upper peripheral
edge of a shower curtain and shower liner as described hereafter.
The number of outwardly upstanding fingers 26 on outer depending
leg 28 of L-shaped first bracket member 12 are more numerous and
are positioned closer together than those outwardly upstanding
fingers 26 formed on the inner depending leg 24 of L-shaped first
bracket member 12.
[0031] Second bracket member 40 of the shower closure system 10 is
again L-shaped having a first planar leg 42 which is secured to the
wall or wall of the shower or tub enclosure by a suitable means
such as adhesive and having one or more upstanding fingers 41 to
engage an aperture or apertures of a shower liner, the second leg
44 of second L-shaped bracket 40 defines an inverted U-shaped
channel 46 and is designed to receive a shower curtain rod within
its channel 46 similar to first bracket member 12, second bracket
member 40 has depending legs 50 and 52 which are formed with
outwardly upstanding fingers 54 to engage the apertures or
grommeted apertures formed in the upper peripheral edge of a shower
curtain and shower liner.
[0032] Third slidable bracket member 60 (FIG. 3) is linear having
an inverted U-shaped channel 62 designed to accommodate a shower
curtain rod within channel 62, third slidable bracket member 60
having depending legs 66 and 68 and having a plurality of outwardly
upstanding fingers 70 formed thereon to again accommodate and
cooperate with the apertures or grommeted apertures formed in the
upper peripheral edge of a shower curtain and shower liner.
[0033] In all three brackets 12, 40, and 60, the outwardly
upstanding fingers 26, 54 and 70 formed on the outer leg 22, 50,
and 68 of the bracket would preferably be more numerous and closer
together in proximity than those outwardly upstanding fingers
formed on the inner leg 24, 52, and 68 of the bracket which are
designed to accommodate the shower curtain. The purpose for the
more numerous and proximate outwardly upstanding fingers 26, 54,
and 70 on the outer leg of the brackets is to accommodate the
shower curtain which would hang outside of the wall of the shower
stall or shower tub and to effect a pleated look to the shower
curtain in its installed embodiment.
[0034] The wider spaced outwardly upstanding fingers 26, 54, and 70
formed on the inner leg of the various brackets are to accommodate
the shower liner which would hang within the wall of the shower
stall or shower curtain where it would be desired that the shower
liner be held as taught as possible so as to engage the inner
surface of the shower stall or shower tub to prevent the egress of
water during operation.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shower curtain closure
assembly as viewed from the inside of the shower or bathtub. In
this configuration, first bracket member 12 and second bracket
member 40 are secured to the end walls 80 of the shower or tub
enclosure 82 by means of a planar legs 14 and 42 thereby
positioning perpendicular leg 16 and 44, with inverted U-shaped
channels 18 and 46 positioned over the curtain rod 84.
[0036] Slidably positioned on the curtain rod 84 between first
bracket member 12 and second bracket member 40, is third slidable
bracket member 60. A tub or shower liner 90 is formed of two piece
construction. A first portion 62 of liner 90 is secured to the
inner upwardly extending fingers 26 of first bracket member 12 and
to planar leg member 14 of first bracket member 12 secured to the
end wall 80 of the enclosure 82. This portion of the liner is
generally fixed in position and maintained by a plurality of
magnets 100 positioned in the lower hem 102 of the liner.
[0037] The second portion 104 of tub or shower liner 90 has one end
secured to the upwardly extending inner fingers 54 of second
bracket member 40 at the opposing end of the curtain rod 84. The
opposing vertical edge of second portion 104 of liner 90 are
secured to the upwardly extending fingers 70 on slidable third
bracket member 60 on curtain rod 84. The linear vertical edge 106
of the second portion 104 of liner 50 secured to the slidable third
bracket member 60 has a plurality of magnets 107 positioned along
its vertical periphery, cooperable with a plurality of magnets 108
on the vertical periphery of the first portion 62 of the shower
liner. In this configuration, by slidably moving third bracket
member 60 on curtain rod 82 from second bracket member 40 towards
first bracket member 12, the second portion 104 of liner 90 is
drawn across the opening to the shower or tub enclosure 82 such
that when third bracket member 60 is in contact with first bracket
member 12, the vertical edges of first portion 62 of the shower
liner and second portion 104 of the shower liner overlap such that
their respective magnets 106 and 108 engage in sealing
relationship.
[0038] FIG. 5 is an exterior view of the bath or shower enclosure
illustrating the manner in which the decorative shower curtain 120
is secured to first, second, and third bracket members 12, 40 and
60 by outwardly upstanding fingers 26, 54, and 70, and drawn across
the enclosure in a manner similar to that of the two piece liner.
The shower curtain, like the liner, is of two piece construction
with portion 122 being fixed and 124 being slidable.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a top view of the enclosure system in a partially
open orientation illustrating the manner in which first bracket
member 12 secured in fixed position, liner portion 62 and shower
portion 122 while the movable portions of liner 104 and shower
curtain 24 are fixably secured to bracket member 40 and sliding
bracket 60 which allows those portions of the liner 104 and shower
curtain 124 to be drawn back and forth.
[0040] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the additional hook members
130 which are invertedly U-shaped and have an upstanding outwardly
depending finger 132 on each downward leg. These members are
slidably mounted on the shower rod 84 between the slidable bracket
60 and the fixed bracket 40 so as to support that portion of the
shower liner 104 and shower curtain 124 extending there
between.
[0041] While the present invention has been described with respect
to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by
those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or
changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the
invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the
equivalence thereof.
* * * * *