GB2272152A

GB2272152A - Shower curtain ring.

Info

Publication number: GB2272152A
Application number: GB9221994A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Perry Day
Original assignee: Bernadette Etheldreda Harris
Current assignee: Bernadette Etheldreda Harris
Priority date: 1992-10-20
Filing date: 1992-10-20
Publication date: 1994-05-11
Also published as: GB9221994D0

Abstract

A shower curtain ring includes a circular body portion 1 for sliding on a rail, and a depending U-shaped portion 2 for suspension of a shower curtain. An upstanding hook arrangement 10 is formed on one side of the main ring portion 1 to carry a decorative valance, the upper end of the hook being is provided with an inturned retaining nose 9. The suspension portion 2 is provided with a releasable connection 11 formed by a pair of overlapping plate elements 12 and 14. One of the plate elements 14 carries a projecting pin 15, which is frictionally inserted through a corresponding aperture in the opposed plate element 12. <IMAGE>

Description

SHOWER CURTAIN RING TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to rings for use in suspending a shower curtain from a rail.

BACKGROUND In many situations, particularly when a shower unit is installed above a bath, a shower curtain is suspended from a rail which is mounted in suitable position. For this purpose, a number of rings are slidably received on the rail for engagement with eyelets provided along the top edge of the shower curtain.

To some, this suspension arrangement of rail and rings is not aesthetically pleasing, and an aim of the present invention is to enhance the appearance of the suspension arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a shower curtain ring, which includes a hook element for hanging a valance thereon.

The ring will normally comprise a body portion for location about a rail, both being generally of circular section, and a depending portion for engagement with the shower curtain. In such cases the hook element is preferably in the form of a substantially straight limb, which is upstanding from one side of the portion. The free upper end of the upstanding limb preferably has a inturned nose to assist in retaining the valance thereon.

The depending portion will usually comprise a pair of arms which extend downwardly on opposite sides of a gap in the body portion, and the arms are joined at their lower ends. The ring will usually include. a releasable connection to enable the ring to be looped through an eyelet in the upper edge of the shower curtain. The releasable connection is preferably formed in the depending portion of the ring and may conveniently be in the form of a pair of overlapping plate elements, one of which is provided with a pin for reception in a corresponding aperture in the opposed plate element.

The pin may have a frictional or snap engagement in the aperture.

The curtain ring is conveniently moulded of a plastics material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a curtain ring of the invention, and Figure 2 is a side view of the curtain ring as viewed from the right hand side in Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The curtain ring is injection moulded of plastics material and comprises a generally circular body portion 1 and a depending suspension portion 2.

The main body portion 1 includes a gap 3 and leads on opposite sides of the gap into a pair of parallel downwardly extending arms 4 and 5, which are joined at their lower ends by curved portion 6. Thus, the depending suspension portion 2 is generally of U-shaped form.

On one side of the main ring portion 1, a short outwardly projecting nose 7 leads to an upstanding substantially straight limb 8, the upper end of which is provided with an inturned nose 9, which together form an upstanding hook arrangement indicated generally as 10.

One of the depending arms 5, which is the furthest from the hook 10, is provided with a releasable connection arrangement 11. This connection is formed by a pair of overlapping plate like elements 12 and 14, best seen in Fig. 2. One of the plate elements 14 carries a projecting pin 15, which is frictionally inserted through a corresponding aperture in the opposed plate element 12.

In use, a number of similar rings are slidably received on a curtain rail (not shown) of circular external section such that the suspension portion 2 hangs below the rail. By opening the connection 11, the lower portion of the arm 5 is fed through an eyelet in the upper edge of a shower curtain, and the connection is then closed so that the curtain is suspended from the rail. By sliding the rings along the rail the curtain can be opened out or drawn back into a gathered configuration in a conventional manner. However, a decorative valance of any suitable flexible material can be suspended from the hooks 10. Normally the valance will be provided with a tape secured to its rear face to form a series of pockets through which the hooks 10 are inserted. The tape will usually be positioned towards the upper edge of the valance so that the valance hangs under gravity and covers the rings and the portion of the rail above the curtain.

The valance will of course be gathered and drawn out with the shower curtain.

Claims

1. A shower curtain ring, which includes a hook element for hanging a valance thereon.

2. A shower curtain ring according to Claim 1, in which the ring comprises a body portion for location about a rail, and a depending portion for engagement with the shower curtain.

3. A shower curtain ring according to Claim 2. in which the hook element is upstanding from one side of the body portion.

4. A shower curtain ring according to Claim 3, in which the hook element comprises a substantially straight limb.

5. A shower curtain ring according to Claim 3 or 4, in which the free upper end of the hook element has an inturned nose to assist in retaining the valance thereon.

6. A shower curtain ring according to any of Claims 2 to 5, in which the depending portion comprises a pair of arms which extend downwardly on opposite sides of a gap in the body portion, and the arms are joined at their lower ends.

7. A shower curtain ring according to any preceding claim, which includes a releasable connection to enable the ring to be passed through an eyelet in a shower curtain.

8. A shower curtain ring according to Claim 7 as appended to Claim 2, in which the releasable connection is provided in the depending portion of the ring.

9. A shower curtain ring according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the releasable connection comprises a pair of overlapping plate elements, one of which is provided with a pin for reception in a corresponding aperture in the opposed plate element.

10. A shower curtain ring according to Claim 9, in which the pin has a frictional or snap engagement in the aperture.

11. A shower curtain ring according to Claim 2 or any preceding claim which is appended thereto, in which the body portion is of generally circular shape for location about a rail of generally circular transverse cross section.

12. A shower curtain ring according to any preceding claim which is moulded of plastics.

13. A shower curtain ring substantially as described with reference to the drawings.