Splash guard for bathtub showers

• US 4,765,001 A
• Filed: 08/20/1987
• Issued: 08/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William J. Smith
• Original Assignee: William J. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peters, L. J.
• Application Number:
  US07/087,467
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 4/609, 4/559, 4/610, 4/661, 4/558, 4/608, D23/304, D23/305, D23/306, D23/307, 24/462, 160/349, 160/350, 160/330, 160/DIG. 6, 49/50, 49/55, 49/52
• US Class Current: 4/609
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/38 Curtain arrangements curtains, curtain suspension devices A47H

Abstract

A splash guard for a bathtub provided with a shower curtain includes a first extruded plastic channel strip, which is fastened to the adjacent bathroom wall on each side of the bathtub. A second channel strip is positioned on the top wall of the bathtub. First and second support rods are positioned in a respective one of the first and second channel strips. A third support rod is attached to a top end of the first support rod. A flexible panel of material is held by the first, second and third support rods. The flexible material is secured to the support rods so that the top and bottom as well as the sides of the splash guard are supported. The channel strip may also be used as a snap-in lock rod support for holding a tablecloth material on picnic tables or for some other equivalent use.

Claims

1. A splash guard for a bathtub shower including a ledge, vertical enclosing walls, a shower curtain and a support rod therefor, comprising:

a first extruded plastic channel strip fastened to an enclosing vertical wall of the bathtub shower;

a second shorter plastic channel strip positioned on a front wall ledge of the shower tub;

two rod members received in the opening of each of said channel strips;

a horizontally mounted support rod resiliently attached to an upper end of one of said rod members; and

,

a flexible strip of vinyl material forming the splash guard and having openings on three sides thereof for receiving the respective two rod members and horizontally mounted support rod wherein said rods and strip of vinyl material are mounted in the channel strips and said strip is taut held by the support rod.

2. The splash guard of claim 1 wherein the channel strips include a base member and inwardly inclined side portions permitting the rod to be larger in diameter than the opening between the side portions.

3. The splash guard of claim 2 wherein the inclined sides each include an inwardly facing protrusion near the outer end thereof.

4. A splash guard adapted for use with a bathtub for preventing water from an adjacent wall mounted shower head from splashing between the bathroom wall and the adjacent side edge of a suspended shower curtain, comprising:

a first channel fastened to a first substantially vertical bathroom wall adjacent one end of the bathtub;

a first tube held in said first channel;

a second channel positioned on a substantially horizontal top wall of the bathtub and secured to said first channel;

a second tube held in said second channel;

a third tube resiliently mounted in a substantially horizontal direction to a top end of said first tube; and

,

a flexible panel of sheet material which is attached to said first, second and third tubes.

5. The splash guard of claim 4 wherein said first channel and first tube are substantially elongated.

6. The splash guard of claim 5 wherein said second channel and said second and third tubes are relatively short in relation to said first channel and said first tube.

7. The splash guard of claim 4 wherein said first and second channels are made from a plastic material.

8. The splash guard of claim 4 wherein said sheet material is made from a plastic material.

9. The splash guard of claim 4 wherein said flexible sheet material is looped around said first, second and third tubes.

10. The splash guard of claim 9 wherein said first and second channels each comprise:

a base wall, and

first and second side walls.

11. The splash guard of claim 10 wherein said first and second side walls of each of said channels are inclined toward each other so that the width of said base wall is larger than the distance between said first and second side walls at their free ends.

12. The splash guard of claim 11 wherein each of said first and second side walls is provided with a rib, said ribs and said channel base wall of said first and second channels contacting said sheet material looped around said respective first and second tubes.

13. The splash guard of claim 4 wherein said panel of sheet material is looped around a respective one of said first, second and third tubes and is secured to itself.