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Shower curtain support deviceRelated Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Tubs, With Movable Closure, Flexible TypeShower curtain support device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060085904, Shower curtain support device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application replaces and claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/618,176 filed on Oct. 14, 2004 and entitled "SHOWER CURTAIN SUPPORT DEVICE", hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a curtain supporting device and the components thereof, particularly for preventing a shower curtain from blowing inwardly against a person taking a shower ("billowing") and for associated hygienic reasons. Additionally, the supporting device holds the curtain in an outward displacement, effectively enlarging the showering area. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A familiar annoyance to a person showering in a tub or stall equipped with a conventional shower curtain (circular rod and circular rings) is the tendency of the curtain to be drawn inwardly into the shower space during shower use. [0004] A number of shower curtain supports, control devices and adapters have been made which provide supporting frames or arms mounted to a shower rod to hold the curtain away from the shower spray. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 2,878,487 (Foote); U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,520 (Tyconik); U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,120 (Annand); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,306 (Gummin). With these and similar arrangements, the curtain rod and rings holding the shower curtain are of conventional circular contour and the supporting means are pivotally or otherwise mounted to the shower rod independently of the circular shower rings. [0005] I have found that simple and effective shower control can be achieved by providing a shower rod of a non-circular cross-section and a plurality of likewise non-circular sliding rings, some of which are provided with integral arms or rib members to push the shower curtain outward. The non-circular rings are precluded, by their shape and fit over the curtain rod, from rotating about the rod axis, so that the curtain-holding ribs on selected of the curtain rings are held outward to support the curtain as desired. [0006] Use of a shower curtain support device according to my invention minimizes the need for skin contact with a shower curtain. Particularly with shower curtains in hotels, the wish to avoid touching the shower curtains is not mere fastidiousness. It has been established that the "soap scum" accumulated on vinyl shower curtains over time contain significant microbial populations, including potential opportunistic pathogens. A study published by Kelley et al, In Applied Environmental Microbiology, July 2004, pp. 4187-4192 concludes that the potential opportunistic pathogens harboured in shower curtains can threaten immune-compromised or otherwise ill patients in a hospital environment. More generally, for immune-compromised people any consistent exposure to sources of infection, such as shower curtains, constitutes a public health problem. While exposure can be minimized by regular cleaning or by changing shower curtains, that is often a matter out of the control of the shower user. [0007] Other features of the invention and the advantages resulting therefrom will become from the following description, and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The invention will now be described merely by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a shower curtain rod, with ribbed and unribbed sliding rings, in use supporting a shower curtain; [0010] FIG. 2 is a representation similar to FIG. 1, but with the rib-bearing rings removed, allowing the shower curtain to hang vertically; [0011] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 but depicting only the shower rod and the rib-bearing rings; and [0012] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show examples of non-circular contours which may be adopted for the shower rod and rings according to the invention. [0013] FIG. 5 illustrates the use of an adaptor sleeve which can be fitted over a conventional circular shower curtain rod to form a shower rod assembly having a non-circular contour for use in a shower curtain support device according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0014] Referring first to FIG. 1 it will be seen that a shower curtain 10 is removably attached to each of a plurality of non-circular curtain-hanging rings 12a which slide freely along a non-circular shower curtain rod 14. The attachment can be by the entirely conventional expedient of providing the rings with springy openings (not shown) for looping the curtain holes 10a onto the rings. At either end, rod 14 is mounted to the washroom walls or is otherwise supported by conventional means, not shown here. A few non-circular rings 12b are provided which include integral ribs 12c projecting downwardly and then outwardly to support adjacent portions of the curtain and hold the curtain as a whole out and away from the enclosure. [0015] The non-circularity of rod and sliding rings prevents the ribs from rotating about the rod and so resist the tendency of the shower curtain to be pulled inward when the shower is running. If the curtain pushing-out ribs 12b are removed before the curtain is attached to rings 12a, the shower curtain hangs vertically as in a conventional shower, as shown in FIG. 2. [0016] In FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4A, the cross-sectional contour of rod 14 and the circumscribing perimetrical contour of corresponding rib-bearing rings 12b is elliptical, but other non-circular cross-sections will work as well, such as inverted triangular (4B) and rectangular (4C). [0017] An assembly kit for a domestic bathtub/shower information for apparatus according to the invention could include one shower rod (non-circular aluminium or plastic), 3 curtain holding ring/rib supports; 12 hanging rings (non-circular) and two mountable end cups with non-circular cavities to receive the ends of the curtain rod. [0018] According to a further embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 5, the conventional shower rod 16 of an existing shower stall assembly with its circular cross-section 16a can be retrofitted into a non-circular shower rod for use in the invention by means of a snap-fit adaptor 18 having a central part-circular channel 18a therealong to receive rod 16 in close fit. In FIG. 5, the adaptor is of an overall elliptical shape having vertical long axis 19. The assembled "composite" shower rod has a non-circular, substantially elliptical overall shape, and ribbed and un-ribbed slider rings accommodating to the overall shape would be provided for use as described above. [0019] The lining of channel 18a may be advantageously provided with a rubberized or other high-friction surface 18b, to afford better gripping between the adaptor and the original shower rod. Continue reading about Shower curtain support device... Full patent description for Shower curtain support device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Shower curtain support device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Shower curtain support device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Bath and apparatus therefor Next Patent Application: Shower curtain holder Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Shower curtain support device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.16911 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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