Shower Curtain Edge Retainer

Abstract

A shower curtain edge retainer for holding a marginal edge portion of a hanging shower curtain in contiguity with a bath cove wall, to prevent shower water spray from splashing outwardly between the shower curtain and the wall. The device includes a wall attachment bar which is vertically affixed to a bath cove wall, in alignment with a marginal edge of a hanging shower curtain. A connecting bar is detachably supported by the wall attachment bar. The lower portion of a marginal edge of a shower curtain extends lengthwise of and is detachably splined to the connecting bar which, when connected with the wall attachment bar, holds the curtain edge in line contact with the adjacent bath cove wall. The connecting bar may be easily detached by hand from the wall attachment bar, so that the hanging shower curtain may be moved laterally away from the bath cove wall, for convenient access to the bath cove.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates indirectly to shower stalls or bath coves, shower water sprays and hanging shower curtains; and specifically to apparatus for holding a side edge of a hanging shower curtain in line contact with an enclosure wall, to prevent shower water spray from splashing outwardly beyond the shower curtain.

It is common practice to equip a bath cove with an overhead horizontal shower curtain rod, to which a hanging flexible shower curtain is attached by means of curtain hook rings. Such rings are slidable along the curtain rod so that the shower curtain may be moved laterally by hand, for convenient access to the bath cove, and then permit sliding of the shower curtain to closed position across the open side of the bath cove.

Ordinarily, one vertical edge of the shower curtain is positioned adjacent a bath cove wall from which a shower water spray nozzle projects. When the shower water spray is turned on, the shower curtain usually billows inwardly and the edge thereof moves away from the said wall, leaving a gap through which sprayed water escapes. The relevant prior art discloses several devices intended for detachably holding an edge of a shower curtain against an adjacent bath cove wall, to prevent such shower water spray leakage. Such devices are generally inadequate or inefficient; sre not durable and long lasting; are unsuitable for the average homeowner to apply so as to function effectively; or are complex and costly to manufacture and market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one preferred embodiment, this invention comprises a wall attachment bar adapted to be attached vertically to a bath cove wall, in vertical alignment with a marginal edge of a hanging and laterally slidable shower curtain. A lower portion of the said curtain edge is splined longitudinally to a connecting bar, which may be attached to or disconnected by hand from the said wall attachment bar with facility. The connecting bar, when attached to the wall attachment bar, retains a lower portion of the curtain edge in line contact with the adjacent end wall of the bath cove, and prevents shower water spray from egressing past the retained edge of the shower curtain. The spline which fastens the marginal edge of the shower curtain to the connecting bar may be easily applied by hand and the curtain edge may be adjusted lengthwise of the connecting bar after the latter is interconnected with the wall attachment bar, so that the shower curtain will hang uniformly.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a retainer adapted for vertical attachment in part to a bath cove wall, and in part to a marginal edge of a hanging shower curtain, for holding the latter in line contact with the said wall, and whereby the shower curtain may be released by hand with facility from such closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shower curtain marginal edge retainer comprising a wall attachment bar adapted to be vertically affixed to a bath cove wall, and a curtain edge connecting bar adapted to overlay and mechanically interlock with the wall attachment bar, in such manner that the connecting bar may be attached to or disconnected from the wall attachment bar with facility, and without the use of hand tools.

An additional object is to provide novel, effective and practical means for fastening a portion of one marginal edge of the shower curtain to a connecting bar, in such wise that the said edge of the shower curtain may be slidably adjusted vertically by hand in relationship to the attached connecting bar, so that the shower curtain will hang uniformly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel spline means for detachably fastening a marginal edge of a shower curtain to a connecting bar, whereby the said marginal edge is interlocked lengthwise of and to the connecting bar, in such manner that shower water spray will not egress between the latter and the curtain.

The preceding object is further characterized in that the spline means may be removed by hand from the marginal edge of the shower curtain and the connecting bar, with facility and without the use of hand tools, so that the shower curtain may be easily and quickly detached for cleaning or replacement purposes.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the formation, arrangement and combination of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary pictorial elevation showing part of a side of a conventional bathtub, one end of which adjoins an end of a three sided wall cove, and a portion of a hanging shower curtain with the retainer of this invention applied thereto, the latter being shown in part in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a greatly magnified fragmentary sectional view, taken on the horizontal plane indicated by the arrowed line 2 -- 2 of FIG. 1, showing the retainer relative to a surface of a bath cove wall, and a portion of a marginal edge of a shower curtain retained thereby.

FIG. 3 is a top end view of the shower curtain connecting bar, which is shown in cross section in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical elevation of the retainer, as viewed in the direction of arrow 4 of FIG. 2, the drawing scale of FIG. 4 being approximately half the size of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of the retainer, taken on the arrowed line 5 -- 5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

This shower curtain edge retainer may be applied to a bath shower stall and shower curtain, or to a bath tub enclosure wall and shower curtain. In the interests of brevity, the common definition "bath cove" is used in this disclosure, and is intended to generally designate any such bathing facility.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates part of an exposed side of a standard type bath tub, the two ends and opposite side of which are surrounded by a wall which defines a bath cove. An end 10a of the bath tub adjoins the wall 12 of the bath cove. The numeral 14 designates a standard type shower water spray nozzle, which is depicted in dotted lines, and is located adjacent to the wall 12. The numeral 16 designates a fabric or flexible plastic shower curtain of the standard hanging type, the top end 16a of which is carried by a plurality of ring type curtain hooks 16b, laterally slidable on an overhead curtain rod 16c. Ordinarily, the shower curtain 16 hangs with its lower end 16d near to and inside of the exposed side of the bath tub 10. The shower curtain 16, the curtain hooks 16b and the curtain rod 16c exemplify conventional shower stall or bath tub equipment.

This shower curtain marginal edge retainer includes two main components in the form of a wall attachment bar 18 and a connecting bar 20, which are schematically shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the surface of the aforesaid wall of the bath cove is represented by the solid line 12, and the bars 18 and 20 are drawn to a greatly magnified scale relative to FIG. 1. The overall length of the retainer and in turn the length of the bars 18 and 20 shall preferably be not less than 20 inches, and not more than 32 inches. A length of 24 inches has proven to be generally satisfactory.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the bar 18 may be in the form of an anodized or painted aluminum extrusion of channel profile, having a longitudinal recess 18a and an inside surface 18b. In the process of manufacture, a contact adhesive coated elastomeric tape 22 is bonded to the bar inside surface 18b and extends lengthwise of the recess 18a. The outside surface 22a of the said tape carries a contact adhesive coating covered by a peel off protective strip. The width of the tape 22 shall be sufficient to provide a durable bond to the related surface of the wall 12 of bath cove, and to hold the bar 18 against accidental dislodgement. A plurality of hooks 24 are lanced outwardly from the bar 18 and serve to support the detachable connecting bar 20.

The connecting bar 20 may be in the form of a rigid plastic extrusion such as P.V.C., and generally of channel profile. The web 20a is formed with lateral flanges 20b and 20c, which define a longitudinal channel shaped recess 20d, shown in FIG. 3. This recess overlays and straddles the wall attachment bar 18 when the connecting bar 20 is applied thereto. Apertures 26 are formed in the web 20a of the connecting bar 20 to receive and align with the hooks 24 of the wall attachment bar 18, as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The hooks 24 of the bar 18 and the apertures 26 in the bar 20 may be so formed and spaced that the bar 20 may be connected to the bar 18 as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, or the bar 20 may be turned end to end, for use at the right side or edge of a shower curtain. Accordingly, the retainer may be used at either side or edge of a shower curtain, and right and left hand retainers are not required.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, a flange 20e extends lengthwise of the bar 20 and in part defines a longitudinal groove 28 in the bar 20, in which the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain 16 is retained by a flexible and deformable spline 30 extending lengthwise of the groove 28. The flanges 20c and 20e have angular faces 20f, and shoulders 20g, which define part of the groove 28. The spline 30 may be of tubular cross sectional shape, and may be formed of flexible P.V.C., in the 60 - - 70 durometer range. The external diameter of the tubular spline 30 shall be slightly less than the internal width of the groove 28 at its approximate transverse center, which is exemplified by the location of the center of the said spline in FIG. 2. Bearing in mind that fabric or plastic shower curtains may vary in a gauge thickness range from 0.006 inches to 0.012 inches, the dimensional proportions of and the flexible and deformable characteristics of the materials forming the bar 20 and the spline 30 may be evaluated and selected, so that the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain 16, and the spline 30, may be pressed by hand into and longitudinally of the groove 28. As such insertion is made, the bar flange 20e flexes slightly and opens the groove 28.

It is preferable that the inserted spline 30 and the flange 20e shall be slightly deformed, to interlock the shower curtain marginal edge 16e and whereby the two shoulders 20g will impede dislodgement of the said curtain edge and the spline, and so that the connecting bar 20 may be shifted by hand under slight retractile effort along the said curtain edge, for subsequent hanging adjustment of the shower curtain 16. It is important that the frictional relationship between the curtain edge 16e and the connecting bar 20 be such that the latter will not drop off of the shower curtain 16 when the connecting bar is disconnected by hand from the wall attachment bar 18.

A knob 32 may be attached by the screw 34 to the web 20a of the bar 20. The said knob provides for convenient hand engagement with the connecting bar 20, so that it may be pulled upwardly to disengage same from the hooks 24 of the wall attachment bar 18. The two attachment hooks 24 shown in the drawings will adequately support a connecting bar between 20 inches and 24 inches in length. For longer bars, an additional attachment hook may be provided and located midway between the said two hooks.

This shower curtain marginal edge retainer may be sold in a compact package container enclosing a subassembly comprising a wall attachment bar 18 with attached adhesive contact tape 22, a connecting bar 20 attached to the said wall attachment bar, and a pre-cut spline 30 extending lengthwise of the connecting bar groove 28. These components may be applied respectively to the wall of a bath cove, and to a marginal edge of a shower curtain, by hand without the use of tools.

Before applying the wall attachment bar 18 to the wall of a bath cove, the wall surface should be washed to remove any foreign matter. The connecting bar 20 shall be disconnected from the wall attachment bar 18, and the spline 30 shall be withdrawn endwise from the groove 28 of the said connecting bar. The peel off protective strip shall be removed from the contact adhesive coating 22a of the tape 22 on the wall attachment bar 18. The said bar shall then be affixed to the wall 12 of the bath cove, with the aforesaid tape adhesive coating 22a bonded thereto. The wall attachment bar 18 shall be applied vertically, in such manner that the flange 20e of the connecting bar 20 shall align substantially vertically with the hanging marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain 16, and the lower end 18c of the wall attachment bar 18 shall abut the underlying top 10b of the end of the bath tub 10. The connecting bar 20 may then be attached by hand to the wall attachment bar 18, and the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain may be pencil marked where one end of the said connecting bar aligns horizontally with the said marginal edge of the shower curtain, so that the relationship of the connection bar 20 may be identified.

The hanging shower curtain 16 may then be disconnected from its top end supporting hooks 16b. The connecting bar 20 may be supported on a table, with the groove 28 facing upwardly. The magrinal edge 16e of the shower curtain may then be placed over and aligned with the said groove, and the end of the connecting bar may be registered with the previously marked curtain marginal edge. The spline 30 may be placed on the said marginal edge over the groove 28, and then pressed firmly by hand into the said groove. The curtain edge 16e and the spline 30 should snap into the groove, but if difficulty is experienced, the spline may be pressed inwardly and seated by a blunt instrument, such as an end of a teaspoon. The inclined surfaces 20f of the connecting bar 20 serve as guide means to facilitate insertion of the said marginal edge and the spline.

The shower curtain 16 may then be attached to its top end supporting hooks 16b, and the connecting bar 20 may be attached by hand to the wall attachment bar 18. In such position, as is shown in FIG. 2, the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain 16 is in contact with the related surface of the wall 12. Note that the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain is in part wrapped around the spline 30, and also extends laterally across the flange 20e of the connecting bar 20, thus concealing the latter from view. The curtain edge hanging above the connecting bar 20 may be pressed laterally by hand against the adjacent surface of the wall 12, to close off any gap through which shower spray water might egress. If it is desired to move the shower curtain 16 away from the wall 12, the connecting bar 20 may be disconnected by hand from the wall attachment bar 18. When so disconnected, the connecting bar 20 remains attached to the shower curtain.

If the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain does not hang true and taut, it may be slidably adjusted up or down by hand relative to the attached connecting bar 20. After detachment of the connecting bar 20 from the wall attachment bar 18, and detachment of the shower curtain from its supporting hooks 16b, the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain, and the spline 30 may be withdrawn endwise by hand from the connecting bar groove 28, so that the shower curtain may be washed or cleaned free from encumberance.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the lower left corner of the shower curtain has been broken away, to show the relationship of this curtain edge retainer with the top end 10b of the bath tub 10 and the bath cove wall 12. When a standard type shower curtain with attached connecting bar 20 is applied, the lower left corner of the shower curtain abuts and lays over the top end 10b of the bath tub 10, generally conforms with its curvature, and extends downwardly a few inches into the bath tub.

It is noteworthy that the connecting bar 20 holds the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain in line contact with the related surface of the bath cove wall 12, as is shown in FIG. 2. After the connecting bar 20 is attached to the wall attachment bar 18, the upper part of the marginal edge 16e may be pushed laterally into closed contact with the adjacent wall 12 of the bath cove, to close off any gap through which shower water spray might egress. Frictional contact of the connecting bar 20 with the marginal edge 16e of the shower curtain 16, and with the hooks 24 of the wall attachment bar 18, serves to hold the upper part of the marginal edge of the shower curtain taut and in line, thus impeding water spray splash out.

Claims

I claim:

1. A shower curtain edge retainer for holding a marginal edge portion of a hanging shower curtain in contiguity with a surface area of a bath cove wall, comprising:

a wall attachment bar adapted to be vertically attached to a bath cove wall;

a connecting bar adapted to extend lengthwise of, and in overlying lateral relationship with the wall attachment bar;

means adapted to extend lengthwise of the connecting bar and along a portion of a shower curtain marginal edge, to retain same in overlying relationship with a portion of the connecting bar including a groove opening toward said bath cove wall and a spline to engage said shower curtain marginal edge in said groove with a length of shower curtain exposed to engage said bath cove wall when the connecting bar is secured to the wall attachment bar;

and means for detachably securing the connecting bar to the wall attachment bar.

2. A shower curtain edge retainer for holding a marginal edge portion of a hanging shower curtain in contiguity with a surface area of a bath cove wall, comprising; a wall attachment bar adapted to be vertically attached to a bath cove wall; a connecting bar adapted to extend lengthwise of, and in overlying lateral relationship with, the wall attachment bar and having a groove extending lengthwise thereof; a spline adapted for engagement with said shower curtain marginal edge portion within said groove to retain said connecting bar in association with the shower curtain; and means for detachably securing the connecting bar to the wall attachment bar in said overlying lateral relationship with the groove extending parallel to the length of said wall attachment bar and the shower curtain in vertical line contact with said bath cove wall.

3. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 2, wherein said wall attachment bar is of a thickness to have a face at a distance from the bath cove wall, and said connecting bar being of channel profile to have lateral flanges which extend alongside said wall attachment bar and a web adjacent said wall attachment bar face.

4. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 3 wherein said groove extends along said connecting bar to one side of said connecting bar web and with one side of said groove formed by a flange on the connecting bar, and with at least one of said spline and last-mentioned flange being yieldable to permit insertion of the spline and shower curtain marginal edge portions within said groove.

5. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 4 wherein said groove has opposed angular faces and shoulders engageable with the spline positioned in the groove to impede dislodgement of the spline.

6. A shower curtain edge retainer for releasably holding a marginal edge portion of a hanging shower curtain relative to a bath cove wall, comprising:

a wall attachment bar adapted to be vertically and permanently attached to a bath cove wall;

a connecting bar adapted to extend lengthwise of, and in overlying lateral relationship with the wall attachment bar;

means defining a groove extending longitudinally along an edge of the connecting bar;

a curtain edge attachment spline adapted to extend lengthwise of the connecting bar in said groove and along part of a marginal edge of a shower curtain to retain same relative to the connecting bar and support the connecting bar when the latter is released from the wall attachment bar;

and releasable interconnecting means supported by one said bar adapted to contact and hold the other said bar to maintain the shower curtain closed.

7. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 6, wherein the releasable interconnecting means comprises connecting members on the wall attachment bar which extend through apertures in and hold the connecting bar in overlying relationship to the wall attachment bar.

8. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 6, wherein the releasable interconnecting means comprises hooks extending from the wall attachment bar through slots in and supporting the connecting bar.

9. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 6, wherein said groove opens toward said bath cove wall to place the shower curtain in line contact with said bath cove wall.

10. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 6, wherein the spline is flexible and deformable.

11. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 6 wherein the spline is in the form of an elastomeric tube.

12. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 6, wherein the spline is interlocked with and is detachable from the connecting bar.

13. A shower curtain edge retainer as defined in claim 6, wherein the connecting bar is in the form of an extrusion of channel profile, adapted to extend lengthwise of and straddle the wall attachment bar.

14. A shower curtain edge retainer for holding a marginal edge portion of a hanging shower curtain relative to a bath cove wall, comprising:

a wall attachment bar adapted to be vertically attached to a bath cove wall;

a connecting bar adapted to extend lengthwise of, and in overlying lateral relationship with the wall attachment bar;

interconnecting means supported by one said bar adapted to contact and hold the other said bar including hooks extending from the wall attachment bar through slots in and supporting the connecting bar; and

a curtain edge attachment spline adapted to extend lengthwise of the connecting bar and along part of a marginal edge of a shower curtain to retain same relative to the connecting bar.