Retractable shower expander assembly

• US 20100170034A1
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David B. Bathurst, Veronica L. Bathurst
• Original Assignee: David B. Bathurst, Veronica L. Bathurst
• Inventors: Bathurst, David B., Bathurst, Veronica L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/610
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/30 Screens or collapsible cabinets for showers or baths A47K3/283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/38 Curtain arrangements curtains, curtain suspension devices A47H

Abstract

A shower curtain support system for a shower stall or tub enclosure is disclosed, comprising a support guide member having a center holding portion and two opposing ends, two holders, and an attached shower curtain. The support guide member is selectively adjustable in the middle. The two holders are fixedly attached to the two surrounding opposing end walls, directly abutting a shower stall or tub enclosure, and are usably adjoined, one on each end, to the support guide member. Each holder comprises a roller bracket having an appendage with rollers and spacers attached to the roller bracket by fasteners, and which appendage projects through the access opening into the shower stall or tub enclosure. The rollers and spacers contact and communicate with the hollow interior and slots on each of the two opposing ends of the support guide member. Retainers prevent the support guide member from disengaging the holder. The support guide member is rotatably movable, by means of the rollers and spacers contacting and communicating with the hollow interior and slots on each of the perpendicular ends of the support guide member, between a first extended position and a second retracted position. In the first position the support guide member, with an attached shower curtain, is extended out at the top, and the bottom of the shower curtain remains inside the tub, angularly, creating a maximum amount of increased space inside a shower stall or tub enclosure, near the top of the shower curtain, for the users upper torso and arm movements, along the entire length of a shower stall or tub enclosure. In the second position the support guide member is retracted, to conserve space outside of a shower stall or tub enclosure, with the shower curtain hanging straight within the access opening. An alternate embodiment of the roller brackets allows for the shower curtain support system to be mounted on the walls inside of a shower stall or tub enclosure, so as to retrofit and replace an existing straight or stationary curved shower rod.

Claims

1. A shower curtain support system adapted to temporarily increase the space inside of a shower stall or bathtub enclosure so as to not permanently intrude into the space surrounding said shower stall or bathtub enclosure and thereby being more aesthetically pleasing when not in use, said shower curtain support system comprising:

a support guide member having opposing ends and a center portion for supporting a shower curtain between at least two positions;

a pair of holders, one of each said pair of holders mounted to opposing walls of said shower stall or bathtub enclosure for holding said support guide member at said at least two positions;

means for rotatably moving said support guide member from a first position to a second position, said first position temporarily intruding into said space surrounding said shower stall or bathtub enclosure, said second position being within said space defining said shower stall or bathtub enclosure to provide increased space to the user of said shower stall or bathtub enclosure during use thereof.

2. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for rotatably moving said support guide member further comprises:

at least one holder having;

at least one roller bracket; and

at least one through aperture therein; and

at least one fastener for mounting said at least one roller bracket to each of said opposing walls of said shower stall or bathtub enclosure.

3. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for rotatably moving said support guide member further comprises:

at least one roller bracket having;

at least one appendage; and

at least one through aperture therein; and

at least one roller and at least one spacer, paired, having through adjoining apertures; and

at least one fastener for usably adjoining said at least one roller and said at least one spacer to said at least one appendage; and

said at least one roller communicating with the hollow interior surface of each of said opposing ends of said support guide member; and

said at least one spacer communicating with said at least one aperture on each of said opposing ends of said support guide member.

4. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for rotatably moving said support guide member further comprises:

at least one holder having;

at least one roller bracket; and

said at least one roller bracket configured for mounting to each of said opposing walls surrounding said shower stall or bathtub enclosure; and

at least one through aperture therein; and

at least one fastener for mounting said at least one roller bracket to each of said opposing walls surrounding said shower stall or bathtub enclosure.

5. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for rotatably moving said support guide member further comprises:

a least one roller bracket having;

at least one appendage which projects through the access opening into said space defining said shower stall or bathtub enclosure.

at least one through aperture therein; and

at least one roller and spacer, paired, having through adjoining apertures; and

at least one fastener for usably adjoining said at least one roller and said at least one spacer to said at least one appendage, and;

said at least one roller communicating with the hollow interior surface of each of said opposing ends of said support guide member; and

said at least one spacer communicating with said at least one aperture on each of said opposing ends of said support guide member.

6. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for rotatably moving said support guide member further comprises said roller fixedly adjoined to said spacer, having one through aperture.

7. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a holder configured so as to be interchangeable as right or left hand.

8. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support guide member further comprises:

a circumference being oval, round, other geometric shape or combinations thereof; and

a hollow interior; and

at least one aperture on each of the opposing ends; and

an adjustable center portion; and

a means for fixedly positioning said support guide member on said at least one holder at said at least two positions; and

a means for retaining said support guide member on said at least one holder.

9. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support guide member further comprises:

a center holding portion having;

at least one aperture for holding and traversing said shower liner by means of said attachments communicating within said at least one aperture; and

other said attachments for holding and traversing said shower curtain within said at least one aperture.

10. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support guide member further comprises:

two center holding portions having;

a first said center portion for holding and traversing said shower liner by means of said attachments; and

a second said center portion for holding and traversing said shower curtain by means of other said attachments.

11. The shower curtain support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support guide member further comprises a means for moving said shower curtain and said shower liner independently of each other on said support guide member.

12. A shower curtain support system adapted to temporarily increase the space inside of a shower stall or bathtub enclosure so as to not permanently intrude into the space surrounding said shower stall or bathtub enclosure and thereby being more aesthetically pleasing when not in use, said shower curtain support system comprising:

a support guide member having opposing ends and a center portion for supporting a shower curtain between at least two positions;

a pair of holders, one of each said pair of holders mounted to opposing walls surrounding said shower stall or bathtub enclosure for holding said support guide member at said at least two positions;

means for moving said support guide member from a first position to a second position, said first position temporarily intruding into said space surrounding said shower stall or bathtub enclosure, said second position being within said space defining said shower stall or bathtub enclosure to provide increased space to the user of said shower stall or bathtub enclosure during use thereof.