U.S. patent application number 13/177129 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-12 for shower curtain tension rods.
This patent application is currently assigned to Maytex Mills, Inc.. Invention is credited to David Baines.
Application Number | 20120005823 13/177129 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45437476 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120005823 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baines; David |
January 12, 2012 |
Shower Curtain Tension Rods
Abstract
Shower curtain tension rods comprising a stationary rod, movable
rod and adjustable end cap are disclosed. The movable rod may
telescope in the stationary rod and may be secured in an axially
extended position with respect to the stationary rod. The
adjustable end cap may be axially extended from the movable rod
and/or stationary rod to provide greater holding force for the
tension rod. The shower curtain tension rods may be installed
quickly and easily in various sizes of bath and shower stalls.
Inventors: |
Baines; David; (New Canaan,
CT) |
Assignee: |
Maytex Mills, Inc.
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
45437476 |
Appl. No.: |
13/177129 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61361735 |
Jul 6, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/610 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/610 |
International
Class: |
A47K 3/00 20060101
A47K003/00 |
Claims
1. A shower curtain tension rod comprising: a stationary rod having
an end cap adjacent an end thereof; a movable rod axially movable
with respect to the stationary rod having another end cap adjacent
an end thereof; and a locking mechanism for securing the movable
rod in a desired axial position with respect to the stationary rod,
wherein at least one of the end caps is axially adjustable and
comprises a contact member rotatably mounted on the at least one
end cap structured and arranged to contact a wall of a bath or
shower stall.
2. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 1, wherein the movable
rod telescopes inside the stationary rod.
3. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 1, wherein the
adjustable end cap is threadably mounted on the end of the movable
rod.
4. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 3, wherein the
adjustable end cap comprises a cap body and a threaded bolt fixedly
mounted thereon.
5. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 4, wherein the cap body
includes a recessed holder structured and arranged to hold a head
of the threaded bolt to thereby prevent rotation of the threaded
bolt with respect to the cap body.
6. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 4, wherein the
adjustable end cap comprises a retainer mounted in the cap body
structured and arranged to prevent axial movement of the threaded
bolt with respect to the cap body.
7. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 6, wherein the contact
member is rotatably mounted on the retainer.
8. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 1, wherein the contact
member is generally disk shaped.
9. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 8, wherein the contact
member comprises a support disk and an elastomeric contact disk
mounted thereon.
10. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 9, wherein the support
disk comprises at least one flexible mounting finger structured and
arranged for insertion into a central mounting hole in the
adjustable cap.
11. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 10, wherein the support
disk comprises at least two of the flexible mounting fingers, and
the central mounting hole is provided in a retainer mounted in the
adjustable cap.
12. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 1, wherein the end cap
of the stationary rod comprises an elastomeric contact disk
rotatably mounted on the end cap.
13. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 1, wherein the locking
mechanism comprises: a pin mounted on an end of the movable rod and
positioned inside the stationary rod; and a locking cam head
mounted on the pin structured and arranged to engage an inner
surface of the stationary rod to thereby secure the movable rod in
a selected axial position with respect to the stationary rod.
14. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 13, wherein the locking
cam head includes at least one cam surface and a locking cam sleeve
surrounding at least a portion of the at least one cam surface,
wherein rotation of the movable rod around a longitudinal axis
thereof causes the at least one cam surface of the locking cam head
to move the locking cam sleeve radially outward to thereby force an
outer contact surface of the cam sleeve against the inner surface
of the stationary rod.
15. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 13, wherein the pin is
fixedly mounted on the end of the movable rod.
16. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 13, wherein the pin is
reciprocally mounted on the end of the movable rod.
17. The shower curtain tension rod of claim 16, further comprising
a compression spring contacting the end of the movable rod and the
pin, wherein the compression spring forces the pin axially outward
from the end of the movable rod.
18. An adjustable end cap for a shower curtain tension rod
comprising: a cap body; a threaded fastener fixedly mounted on the
cap body; and a contact member rotatably mounted on the cap
body.
19. The adjustable end cap for a shower curtain tension rod of
claim 18, wherein the threaded fastener comprises a threaded bolt
including a head mounted in the cap body, and further comprising a
retainer mounted in the cap body including a central mounting hole
in which at least one flexible mounting finger of the contact
member is rotatably mounted.
20. A locking mechanism for a shower curtain tension rod
comprising: a stationary rod; a telescoping rod axially movable
with respect to the stationary rod; and a locking mechanism for
securing the telescoping rod in a desired axial position with
respect to the stationary rod, wherein the locking mechanism
comprises: a pin fixedly mounted on an end of the telescoping rod
and positioned inside the stationary rod; and a locking cam head
mounted on the pin structured and arranged to engage an inner
surface of the stationary rod to thereby secure the telescoping rod
in a selected axial position with respect to the stationary rod.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/361,735 filed Jul. 6, 2010, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to shower curtain tension rods
for installation in bath and shower stalls.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] Conventional tension rods for shower curtains are very
clumsy to put up, requiring many rotations to twist them to the
desired length. Further, as they are tightenened, the rubber type
caps move from their intended position. This movement is often
referred to as walking. The shower curtain tension rods of the
present invention overcome the cumbersome installation associated
with conventional tension rods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides improved shower curtain
tension rods that are faster and easier to install in comparison
with conventional rods.
[0005] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a shower
curtain tension rod comprising a stationary rod having an end cap
adjacent an end thereof, a movable rod axially movable with respect
to the stationary rod having another end cap adjacent an end
thereof, and a locking mechanism for securing the movable rod in a
desired axial position with respect to the stationary rod, wherein
at least one of the end caps is axially adjustable and comprises a
contact member rotatably mounted on the at least one end cap
structured and arranged to contact a wall of a bath or shower
stall.
[0006] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable end cap for a shower curtain tension rod comprising a
cap body, a threaded fastener fixedly mounted on the cap body, and
a contact member rotatably mounted on the cap body.
[0007] A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a
locking mechanism for a shower curtain tension rod comprising a
stationary rod, a telescoping rod axially movable with respect to
the stationary rod, and a locking mechanism for securing the
telescoping rod in a desired axial position with respect to the
stationary rod, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pin
fixedly mounted on an end of the telescoping rod and positioned
inside the stationary rod, and a locking cam head mounted on the
pin structured and arranged to engage an inner surface of the
stationary rod to thereby secure the telescoping rod in a selected
axial position with respect to the stationary rod.
[0008] These and other aspects of the present invention will be
more apparent from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a shower curtain tension rod in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views of an adjustable end cap for a
shower curtain tension rod in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the components of an
adjustable end cap for a shower curtain tension rod in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an isometric view and FIG. 6 is a perspective view
of the body of an end cap in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an isometric view and FIG. 8 is an end view
showing the opposite side of the end cap body of FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0014] FIGS. 9 and 10 are end views, and FIG. 11 is a side view, of
a retainer that may be installed in an end cap in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIGS. 12 and 13 are end views, and FIG. 14 is a side view,
of a rotatable end disk that may be mounted on an end cap in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 15 is a side sectional view illustrating the rotatable
end disk of FIGS. 12-14 rotatably mounted on the retainer of FIGS.
9-11.
[0017] FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of the end portion of a
stationary end cap including a rotatable contact disk in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 17 is a side view, and FIG. 18 is an isometric view, of
a torsional locking mechanism for securing a telescoping rod in
position with respect to a stationary rod in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 19 is an isometric view, and FIG. 20 is an end view, of
a locking cam sleeve that is a component of the torsional locking
mechanism shown in FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a shower curtain tension rod 10 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The tension
rod 10 includes a hollow stationary rod 12 and a hollow telescoping
rod 14 having a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner
diameter of the stationary rod 12. The telescoping rod 14 is
axially movable with respect to the stationary rod 12. The
stationary and telescoping rods 12 and 14 may be made of any
suitable material, such as metal or the like. A cylindrical bushing
16 made of plastic or other suitable material is partially inserted
inside the end of the stationary rod 12 with a portion extending
therefrom and surrounding the telescoping rod 14. The overall
length of the tension rod 10 may typically range from 24 to 90
inches.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, an adjustable end cap 20 is mounted on
an end of the telescoping rod 14, while a stationary end cap 60 is
mounted on end of the stationary rod 12. Alternatively, the
adjustable end cap 20 could be mounted on the end of the stationary
rod 12. As more fully described below, each of the end caps 20 and
60 has a disk-shaped contact member 58 and 64, respectively, which
contact the walls of the bath or shower stall (not shown) in which
the shower curtain tension rod 10 is mounted.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the adjustable end cap 20 in a partially
extended position in which the threaded portion 34 of a bolt
secured in the adjustable end cap 20 is threadably engaged in a
threaded hole 18 at the end of the telescoping rod 14. In FIG. 3,
the adjustable end cap 20 has been disengaged from the telescoping
rod 14 by unscrewing the threaded portion 34 from the threaded hole
18. Although the adjustable end cap 20 is threadably mounted on the
telescoping rod 14 by means of the threaded bolt 34 in FIGS. 2 and
3, it is to be understood that any other suitable threaded
arrangement may be used in accordance with the present invention,
including a threaded portion integrally formed with the remainder
of the end cap 20, or the use of a threaded nut or threaded hole in
the end cap 20 and a threaded shaft extending from the end of the
telescoping rod 14.
[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the components of the
adjustable end cap 20. The adjustable end cap 20 includes a
generally cylindrical cap body 22, a threaded bolt 30, a retainer
40 and a rotatable end disk 50. The bolt 30 includes a head 32 and
threaded portion 34. Although a hex-head bolt is shown, it is to be
understood that any other suitable bolt or mechanical fastener
design may be used in accordance with the present invention. As
more fully described below, the bolt 30 is held in a stationary
position in relation to the cap body 22. The various components of
the end cap 20 may be made of any suitable materials such as
plastic, metal and the like. For example, the cap body 22 may be
made of polypropylene and the bolt 30 may be made of metal.
[0024] FIGS. 5-8 illustrate details of the cap body 22 of the
adjustable end cap 20. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the outermost end of the
cap body 22, while FIGS. 7 and 8 show the opposite end of the cap
body 22 that is located adjacent to the telescoping rod 14 when the
tension rod is assembled. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a hexagonal
bolt head holder 24 in the form of a recessed hexagonal pocket is
provided at the center of the cap body 22. The holder 24 includes a
central opening 25 through which the threaded portion 34 of the
bolt 30 passes. Support arms 26 extend between the interior surface
of the generally cylindrical cap body 22 to the exterior surface of
the holder 24. Three openings 27 are provided in corresponding
sides of the hexagonal holder 24 to provide engagement edges for
the finger clips 44 of the retainer 40. After the head 34 of the
bolt 30 mounted inside the hexagonal holder 24, the retainer 40 is
inserted through the outside end of the cap body 22 to thereby lock
the bolt 30 in place. This is accomplished by the finger clips 44,
wherein the arms 45 flex radially outward as the retainer 40 is
inserted in the cap body 22 until the locking tabs 46 of the finger
clips 44 snap into place in the openings 27 for engagement with the
holder 24. In this manner, the retainer 40 is held in a stationary
position and does not rotate or move in an axial direction with
respect to the cap body 22.
[0025] As shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 9-11, the retainer 40
includes a generally disk-shaped cylindrical body 42 with three
finger clips 44 extending from one surface thereof. Each finger
clip 44 includes a flexible arm 45 and a locking tab 46. As shown
most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 10, an annular projection with a
central hole 48 is located at the center of the cap body 22. The
annular projection and hole 48 are used to rotatably mount the end
disk 50 thereon, as more fully described below.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 1244, the rotatable end disk 50
includes a support disk 52 made of relatively rigid material such
as plastic or any other suitable material. For example, the support
disk 52 may be made of polypropylene, polyethylene or the like. A
mounting assembly 54 includes two flexible mounting fingers 56 that
extend from the surface of the support disk 52. An elastomeric
contact disk 58 is secured to one surface of the support disk 52 by
any suitable means such as adhesive. The elastomeric contact disk
may be made of any suitable elastomeric material such as natural
rubber, synthetic rubber, foam, resilient polymers and the like.
The contact disk 58 may have a relatively high friction coefficient
to help secure the tension rod 10 in position when it is installed
in a bath or shower stall.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a side sectional view illustrating the rotatable
mounting arrangement of the end disk 50 on the retainer 40. In the
position shown in FIG. 15, the flexible mounting fingers 56 of the
end disk 50 have been inserted into the central hole 48 of the
retainer 40 with their end tabs engaging the edge of the annular
projection. In this position, the interior surface of the support
disk 52 contacts the exterior surface of the retainer body 42.
However, the end disk 50 is rotatable around its central axis with
respect to the retainer 40 because the flexible mounting fingers 56
of the mounting assembly 54 have a sufficient tolerance with
respect to the central hole 48 of the annular projection of the
retainer 40, e.g., a clearance space is provided between the inner
surface of the central hole 58 and the fingers 56, or any contact
between the inner surface of the hole 58 and fingers 56 is of
relatively minor force which permits the end disk to rotate. Thus,
while the rotatable end disk 50 may be snap-fit onto the retainer
40, the fit is such that the end disk 50 is still able to rotate
with respect to the retainer 40. As will be appreciated, when the
assembled retainer 40 and rotatable end disk 50 as shown in FIG. 15
are installed inside the cap body 22, the retainer 40 is held in a
stationary position in relation to the cap body 22 while the end
disk 50 is free to rotate with respect to the cap body 22.
[0028] FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of the end portion of a
stationary end cap 60 that may be mounted on the end of the
stationary rod 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. The stationary end cap 60 includes a generally
cylindrical body 62 having an elastomeric contact disk 64 mounted
thereon. The elastomeric contact disk 64 may be held in a
stationary position in relation to the body 62. However, in a
preferred embodiment, the elastomeric contact disk 64 is rotatable
in relation to the body 62 of the stationary end cap 60. A mounting
projection 66 extends from the inner surface of the contact disk
64. A mounting disk 68 having a central mounting hole 69 is secured
to the body 62 of the stationary end cap 60. Sufficient tolerance
may be provided between the cylindrical outer surface of the
mounting projection 66 and the mounting hole 69 such that the
contact disk 64 is free to rotate with respect to the body 62 of
the stationary end cap 60. The elastomeric contact disk 64 may be
made of any suitable material such as natural rubber, synthetic
rubber, foam, resilient polymers and the like. The contact disk 64
may have a relative high friction coefficient to help secure the
tension rod 10 in position when it is installed.
[0029] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate a torsional locking mechanism 70
for locking the stationary rod 12 and telescoping rod 14 together
in a desired position in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention. Although not shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the torsional
locking mechanism 70 mounted on the end of the telescoping rod 14
is positioned inside the stationary tube 12 when the tension rod 10
is assembled. The torsional locking mechanism 70 includes a locking
pin 72 having a locking cam head 74 at the end thereof. The locking
pin 72 is mounted on the end of the telescoping rod 14 by means of
a support flange 76 having a central opening that receives the
locking pin 72. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the pin
72 may reciprocate slightly into the rod 14. A compression spring
78 surrounds the locking pin 72 and presses against the support
flange 76 on the telescoping rod 14 and an annular flange 80 of the
locking head 74. The compression spring 78 thus forces the locking
pin 72 axially outward from the telescoping rod 14 to provide
tension for the shower curtain rod. The locking pin 72 reciprocates
in the support flange 76 a relatively short distance, e.g., less
than about 0.5 inch, typically less than about 0.25 inch.
[0030] In another embodiment, the pin 72 is fixedly mounted at the
end of the telescoping rod, and the spring 78 is removed. Such a
non-reciprocating pin design provides a relatively rigid structure
that may increase the holding power of the tension rod 10. For
example, the tension rod 10 may hold greater than 25 pounds of
weight in comparison with prior spring designs that may hold only
15 to 18 pounds.
[0031] The locking cam head 74 includes the annular flange 80 and
an end flange 86. The locking head 74 includes two cam surfaces 82
extending between the annular flange 80 and end flange 86 having
non-circular, helical surfaces. One of the cam surfaces 82 is shown
in each of FIGS. 17 and 18, with the other cam surface located
180.degree. around the circumference of the locking head 74. The
locking head 74 includes two stop surfaces 84 extending between the
annular flange 80 and end flange 86. Each stop surface 84 lies
substantially in a plane extending radially outward from the
central axis of the locking head 74 and defining an interruption or
transition between each of the cam surfaces 82.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 17, a locking cam sleeve 90 is mounted on
the locking head 74 between the annular flange 80 and end flange
86. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the locking cam sleeve 90 includes
two cam members 92, each of which has an inner cam surface 94, an
outer contact surface 96 and a stop edge 97. The cam members 92 are
connected together by a thin web 98. The locking cam sleeve 90 may
be made of any suitable flexible or elastomeric material such as
natural rubber, synthetic rubber, flexible plastic or the like. The
locking cam sleeve 90 preferably has a relatively high friction
coefficient in order to help secure the telescoping rod 14 in a
selected axial position with respect to the stationary rod 12, as
more fully described below.
[0033] The torsional locking mechanism 70 operates as follows. The
locking cam sleeve 90 is initially located in a radially retracted
position on the locking cam head 74 in which the stop edges 97 of
the sleeve 90 are in contact or adjacent to the corresponding stop
surfaces 84 of the locking head 74. The thicker portions of the cam
members 92 are adjacent to the radially recessed portion of the cam
surfaces 82. In this radially retracted position, the telescoping
rod 14 is free to move axially with respect to the stationary rod
12.
[0034] During installation, the telescoping rod 14 is extended from
the stationary rod 12 to a desired position in which the rotatable
end disk 50 and stationary end cap 60 are in initial contact
positions against the bath or shower stall walls. In this position,
the telescoping rod 14 is then twisted around its longitudinal
axis, which rotates the locking cam head 74 inside the stationary
rod 12. Upon such a twisting motion, the outer contact surfaces 96
of the locking cam sleeve 90 contact the inner surface of the
stationary rod 12 and frictional forces therebetween hold the
locking cam sleeve 90 in a stationary position with respect to the
stationary rod 12, i.e., the locking cam sleeve 90 does not rotate
inside the rod 12 with the remainder of the torsional locking
mechanism 70. As the locking cam head 74 rotates inside the
stationary rod 12 with the locking cam sleeve 90 remaining in
position, the inner cam surfaces 94 of the locking cam sleeve 90
slide in a generally circumferential direction on the cam surfaces
82 of the locking cam head 74. Due to this relative movement, the
cam members 92 move radially outward and press against the inner
surface of the stationary rod 12 with sufficient force to lock the
cam head 74 into position within the stationary rod 12. Thus, the
telescoping rod 14 and stationary rod 12 are held in position with
respect to each other, and the only axial movement therebetween
results from compression of the optional spring 78. This embodiment
permits a slight amount of axial movement between the telescoping
rod 14 and stationary rod 12 against the force of the spring 78.
Alternatively, in the embodiment in which the spring 78 is
eliminated and the pin 72 is fixedly attached to the end of the
telescoping rod 14, essentially no axial movement occurs between
the stationary and telescoping rods 12 and 14.
[0035] With the torsional locking mechanism 70 in the locked
position, the adjustable end cap 20 may be rotated with respect to
the telescoping rod 14, thereby extending the adjustable end cap 20
into the installed position in which the shower curtain tension rod
10 is securely mounted in a bath or shower stall.
[0036] The shower curtain tension rods of the present invention
overcome the cumbersome installation associated with conventional
tension rods. The rotatable end disk 50 on the adjustable end cap
20 prevents the tension rod from walking on the wall during
installation. The internal torsional locking mechanism 70 provides
improved stability.
[0037] An important benefit of the tension rods of the present
invention is much improved simplicity of installation. The result
is an installation time of about 10 seconds or less versus
approximately 1 minute with the existing products. Furthermore, the
present tension rods create a much quieter product due to the
elimination of the long spring and screw mechanism used in existing
products on the market. The present tension rods are also capable
of holding more weight than conventional tension rods. The rods are
suitable for residential use, hotels, hospitals and other
institutions.
[0038] Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been
described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to
those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of
the present invention may be made without departing from the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *