Shower expander

• US 6,845,525 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David B. Bathurst
• Original Assignee: David B. Bathurst
• Inventors: Bathurst, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US10/659,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/8, 460/7, 460/8
• US Class Current: 4/608
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/38 Curtain arrangements curtains, curtain suspension devices A47H

Abstract

A shower expander assembly for a shower stall having an access opening includes a flexible plate on a shower curtain. The flexible plate has a flexible line connected to a center portion of the plate. At the opposing end of the flexible line is a ring or loop for hooking over a hook secured to an opposing wall outside of the shower stall. When the ring or loop is pulled away from the access opening and connected to the hook, the shower curtain bows outwardly to increase the usable space in the shower stall.

Claims

1. A shower expander assembly for a shower stall having an access opening comprising:

an expander plate connectible to a shower curtain;

a flexible line attached to a planar surface of the plate at one end; and

a looping means attached to the opposing end of the flexible line.

2. The shower expander assembly of claim 1 further comprising a hook for attaching on a stationary object located opposite the access opening of the shower stall, said hook positionable for securing the looping means when the shower expander assembly is in an operable position.

3. The shower expander assembly of claim 1, wherein the plate has one of an oval and rectangular configuration.

4. The shower expander assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for removably attaching the plate to the shower curtain.

5. The shower expander assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for permanently attaching the plate to the shower curtain.

6. The shower expander assembly of claim 1, wherein the looping means includes a ring.

7. The shower expander assembly of claim 1, wherein the looping means includes a loop formed by the flexible line.

8. The shower expander assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve securely attached to the shower curtain and having at least one open end for receiving the plate therein.

9. The shower expander assembly of claim 8, wherein the sleeve has a through aperture therein for receiving the flexible line therethrough.

10. The shower expander assembly of claim 1 further comprising a base plate having at least one projection extending from one planar surface and the expander plate having at least one aperture positioned for receiving the one projection of the base plate through a hole in the shower curtain for connecting the expander plate and base plate with a portion of the shower curtain therebetween.

11. The shower expander assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one projection has means for securing one end of the flexible line thereon.

12. The shower expander assembly of claim 1, wherein the expander plate is sealed into or onto the shower curtain.

13. A shower expander assembly for a shower stall having an access opening comprising:

a shower curtain located in the access opening;

a flexible line communicating with the shower curtain for applying a pulling force thereto, for moving a portion of the shower curtain through the access opening and away from the shower stall to form an expanded area in the shower stall; and

means for selectively maintaining the expanded area in the shower stall.

14. The shower expander assembly of claim 13 wherein the means for selectively maintaining the expanded area in the shower stall includes a first attachment means on a free end of the flexible line and a corresponding second attachment means secured to a stationary item positioned across from the access opening, wherein the first attachment means is selectively connectible to the corresponding second attachment means.