GB2452074A

GB2452074A - Magnetic shower curtain

Info

Publication number: GB2452074A
Application number: GB0716486A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antoni Harold Nikolas Gontar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-23
Filing date: 2007-08-23
Publication date: 2009-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-23
Also published as: GB2452074B; GB0716486D0

Abstract

A shower curtain 6 and a shower curtain retainer 10 are provided. At least one of the shower curtain 6 and the shower curtain retainer 10 has a plurality of magnetic components (14, figure 2) arranged for rotation, while the other has at least one further magnetic component. The shower curtain 6 may have a plurality of pockets along the bottom thereof, in each of which is provided a magnetic ball 14, while the shower curtain retainer 10 may have a magnetic strip 20. In use, when the shower curtain 6 is pulled open or closed, the magnetic balls 14 roll along the magnetic strip 20 facilitating movement of the shower curtain 6.

Description

Y nteUectuaI i Property Office ci: Li:.: CroIivutv nd nr.oUon Application No. GBO7 16486.6 RTM Date 14 Novcmbcr 2007 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro UK Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office A D1 SERVICE

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SHOWER CURTAIN

The present invention relates to a shower curtain to provide improved water retention in a shower area such as a shower tray, bath or wet floor area when a person is showering.

Known shower curtains have a tendency to either blow out of, or into, the shower area of the shower tray, bath or wet floor area over which they are provided. As a result, water can escape past the shower curtain out of the shower area.

This problem is usually solved by surrounding the shower area with a plastic or glass shower enclosure instead of using a shower curtain.

However, such enclosures are considerably more expensive, and require considerably more time to install, than a shower curtain.

The present invention has been made with this in mind.

According to the present invention, there is provided a shower installation having a shower curtain and a shower curtain retainer provided to retain the shower curtain, at least one of the shower curtain and the shower curtain retainer having a plurality of rotatable magnetic components spaced apart across the width thereof to act in cooperation with one or more magnetic parts provided in the other of the shower curtain and the shower curtain retainer to retain the shower curtain.

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By retaining the shower curtain using cooperating magnetic parts in this way, water is prevented from escaping under the shower curtain and out of the shower area.

Furthermore, movement of the shower curtain between the open and closed positions is facilitated because the rotatable magnetic components rotate, despite the magnetic attraction, when the shower curtain is pulled.

The present invention also provides shower installation kits and components for use in such a shower installation.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers designate like parts, and in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a shower area comprising a wet floor area together with a shower curtain and shower curtain retainer having the form of a magnetic ramp to retain water within the shower area in a first embodiment; Figure la shows a cross-section of the magnetic ramp in the direction X-X shown in Figure 1; Figure 2 shows the components of the shower curtain of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-section through a pocket of the shower curtain and the magnetic ramp of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a shower area comprising a bath having a shower curtain and a shower curtain retainer in the form of a magnetic strip to retain water in the shower area in a second embodiment; Figure 5 shows a cross-section to illustrate alternative positioning of the magnetic strip on the bath in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a shower curtain retainer in third and fourth embodiments; Figure 7a shows a shower curtain in the fourth embodiment; Figure 7b shows an alternative shower curtain in the fourth embodiment; Figure 8 shows a shower curtain in a fifth embodiment; Figure 9 shows a shower curtain retainer in a sixth embodiment; Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a shower curtain; and Figure 11 shows a cross-section of the magnetic ramp in the direction X-X shown in Figure 1 in an alternative embodiment.

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First Embodiment Referring to Figures 1-3, a shower installation of a first embodiment comprises a shower 2, a shower area (a wet floor area in Figure 1) generally designated as 4, and a shower curtain 6 suspended on a curtain pole 8 by means of curtain rings 9 above a shower curtain retainer having the form of a ramp 10 in this embodiment.

The ramp 10 prevents water running out of the shower area 4 on the floor, and is shaped to allow easy access by a wheelchair into and out of the shower area 4. In addition, as will be explained below, the ramps 10 acts to retain the shower curtain 6 to prevent it blowing into, or out of, the shower area 4, thereby improving water retention.

The shower curtain 6 has a plurality of pockets 12, each containing a magnetic ball 14 (best seen in Figures 2 and 3) As shown in Figure 2, each pocket 12 has a releasable flap 16 to permit the magnetic balls 14 to be removed from the pockets 12 in order to facilitate washing of the shower curtain 6. In this embodiment, each flap 16 can be closed and secured to the pocket 12 by means of Velcro 18 or any other form of releasable connector such as a press-stud, zip, etc. Referring to Figures la and 3, the ramp 10 includes a magnetic member 20 along its length.

In use, the magnetic member 20 attracts the magnetic balls 14 in the pockets of the shower curtain 6 so that the magnetic balls 14 and the shower curtain 6 are retained against the top of the ramp 10. In this regard, the shower curtain has a length in the vertical direction (drop) SO that the curtain contacts the ramp 10 as shown in Figure 3.

It should be noted that the member 20 is a magnet in this embodiment and that the balls 14 are formed from any material that is attracted to the magnet. However, the balls 14 may each be a magnet instead, and the member 20 may be formed from a material which is attracted to the ball magnets. Accordingly, the term "magnetic" used herein encompasses both a magnet and a material that is attracted to a magnet.

The spherical shape of the balls 14 permits the balls to roll along the top of the ramp 10 despite the magnetic attraction between the balls 14 and the member 20 when the shower curtain is moved to a closed position or an open position. Such movement would not be possible if a magnetic component in the shape of a strip or other non-rollable shape was provided in each of the pockets 12.

To assist the user in opening and closing the shower curtain 6, a handle 22 is provided.

The handle 22 connects to holes 24 provided at one edge of the shower curtain 6 by means of connectors (not shown) inserted through the holes 24 and corresponding holes 26 in the handle 22.

In this embodiment, the handle 22 is provided along substantially the whole edge of the shower curtain so that a horizontal force is applied near the curtain rings 9 and also near the pockets 12 when the user moves the shower curtain using the handle 22, thereby facilitating smooth movement of the curtain 6.

Second Embodiment Figure 4 shows a second embodiment in which the shower curtain 6 is used to retain water within a shower area 4 comprising a bath 28.

In this embodiment, a shower curtain retainer in the form of a magnetic member 20 is secured to the inside of a wall of the bath 28 and the magnetic balls 14 in the pockets 12 of the shower curtain 6 are retained against the magnetic member 20. As in the previous embodiment, the magnetic balls 14 roll along the magnetic member 20 when the shower curtain is pulled to the open position or the closed position, and retain the shower curtain 6 against the magnetic member 20 so that water cannot escape from the shower area 4.

In this embodiment, the shower curtain 6 extends below the pockets 12 to provide a splash flap 30 to further assist in the retention of water within the shower area 4. More particularly, the splash flap 30 assists in preventing water from escaping between the pockets 12 and over the edge of the bath 28.

Figure 5 shows an alternative arrangement to the one shown in Figure 4, in which the magnetic member 20 is provided on the top surface of the bath wall instead of on the inside of the bath wall. Again, a splash flap 30 is provided to enhance water retention.

In the present embodiment, the shower curtain 6 and magnetic member 20 are used to retain water within a bath. However, they can also be used to retain water within a shower tray in the same way.

Third and Fourth Embodiments In the embodiments described so far, magnetic components in the form of magnetic balls 14 are provided in shower curtain 6 and the shower curtain retainer comprises a flat magnetic strip 20. However, in a third embodiment, magnetic balls 14 may be provided in both the shower curtain 6 and the shower curtain retainer. Alternatively, in a fourth embodiment, magnetic balls 14 may be provided in the shower curtain retainer and flat magnetic strips (or magnetic components having other non-spherical shapes) may be provided in the shower curtain 6.

In both the third and fourth embodiments, the shower curtain 6 is retained by the curtain retainer but movement of the shower curtain is facilitated because at least one of the shower curtain 6 and the shower curtain retainer has magnetic balls 14 which roll when the shower curtain is pulled.

Figure 6 shows an example of a shower curtain retainer in the third and fourth embodiments.

Referring to Figure 6, the shower curtain retainer 40 S comprises a housing 42 made of a waterproof, flexible material such as rubber, etc. The housing 42 has a trough 44 along its length with a retaining lip 46 on each side.

Magnetic balls 14 are inserted into the trough 44 by pressing them against the lips 46, thereby causing the lips 46 to flex inwards, allowing the magnetic balls 14 into the trough 44.

When the magnetic balls 14 are in the trough 44, the lips 46 flex back to their original positions, retaining the magnetic balls 14 in the trough 44.

Trough 44 has a depth which ensures that the tops of the magnetic balls 14 protrude beyond the lips 46 when the magnetic balls 14 are retained in the trough 44.

Furthermore, trough 44 has a size which ensures that the magnetic balls 14 can rotate therein.

In the third embodiment, the shower curtain retainer 40 replaces the magnetic ramp 10 in the embodiment of Figure 1 at the edge of a wet floor area, or it replaces the magnetic member 20 in the embodiment of Figure 4 on the side of a bath or shower tray. The shower curtain retainer 40 may be attached to the wet floor area, the bath side or shower tray side using adhesive pads or the like (not shown) on the underside of the housing 42. In the third embodiment, therefore, the magnetic balls 14 in the shower curtain retainer 40 cooperate with the magnetic balls 14 in the shower curtain 6, preventing the shower curtain 6 from moving into, or out of, the shower area 4, but facilitating movement of the shower curtain 6 when the curtain is pulled open and closed.

In the fourth embodiment, the magnetic balls 14 in the pockets 12 of the shower curtain 6 are replaced with magnetic strips 50 (or magnetic components of other non-spherical shape) as shown in Figure 7a. Alternatively, the pockets 12 and magnetic balls 14 are replaced with a single strip of flexible magnetic material 52 which, for example, may be sewn into the shower curtain, as shown in Figure 7b.

Accordingly, in the fourth embodiment, the magnetic balls 14 in the shower curtain retainer 40 cooperate with the magnetic strips 50 or flexible magnetic material 52 in shower curtain 6, preventing the shower curtain 6 from moving into, or out of, the shower area 4, but facilitating movement of the shower curtain 6 when the curtain is pulled open and closed.

Fifth Embodiment In the embodiments described so far, magnetic balls 14 are used as the rotatable magnetic components in either or both the shower curtain 6 and the shower curtain retainer 40.

However, rotatable magnetic components of non-spherical shape may be used instead, as will now be described for

example.

Figure 8 shows a shower curtain 6 in a fifth embodiment which may be used, for example, in place of the shower w curtain 6 in the second embodiment described above with reference to Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 8, the pockets 12 and magnetic balls 14 of the shower curtain 6 are replaced with strips of waterproof material 60, each of which is threaded through a passage which runs along the rotation axis of a magnetic component 62. Accordingly, each strip 60 acts as an axle on which a magnetic component 62 may rotate. In this embodiment, the magnetic components 62 are barrel-shaped, but magnetic components of any shape which permIts rotation on the strips 60 may be used.

Each strip 60 is sewn, or otherwise secured, to the shower curtain at its bottom end and has a releasable connector such as a Velcro tab 64, at its upper end for releasable connection to a corresponding connector, such as a piece of cooperating Velcro (not shown) on the shower curtain 6. The releasable nature of this connection allows the magnetic components 62 to be removed from the strips 60 to facilitate washing of the shower curtain 6.

In use, when the shower curtain 6 is in the closed position, the magnetic components 62 contract the magnetic strip 20 shown on the side of the bath in Figure 4, thereby retaining the shower curtain 6 and improving water retention.

Furthermore, because the magnetic components 62 are arranged for rotation on the shower curtain 6, movement of the shower curtain 6 when it is pulled open (or closed) is facilitated because the magnetic components 62 rotate as they move along the magnetic strip 20.

Sixth Embodiment Figure 9 shows a shower curtain retainer 70 in a sixth embodiment, which may be used in place of the shower curtain retainer 40 in the third and fourth embodiments. The shower curtain retainer 70 may therefore be used on the side of a bath or shower tray, or as a ramp at the edge of a wet floor area.

Referring to Figure 9, the shower curtain retainer 70 comprises a housing 72 made of a waterproof material such as plastic or rubber. The housing 72 has a trough 74 along its length, within which magnetic components 76 are mounted for rotation on axles 78.

In this embodiment, each magnetic component 76 has a barrel shape, but magnetic components of any shape which permits rotation on the axles 78 may be used.

Each axle 78 comprises a rigid rod of waterproof material, such as plastic, which is retained in the sides of the housing 72.

In this embodiment, each axle 78 is retained in the housing 72 in a fixed, non-rotating configuration, and each magnetic component 76 is arranged for rotation around an axle 78.

However, instead, each magnetic component 76 may be rigidly connected to an axle 78 so that the magnetic component 76 cannot rotate relative to the axle 78, and each axle 78 may be mounted for rotation within the housing 72. a

Alternatively, both the axles 78 and the magnetic components 76 may be arranged for independent rotation.

In use, the magnetic components 76 contact the magnetic component or components in the shower curtain 6 (that is, the magnetic balls 14, magnetic strips 50 or flexible magnetic material 52), thereby retaining the shower curtain and preventing it from blowing into or out of the shower area. When the shower curtain is pulled open or closed by the user, the magnetic components 76 rotate, facilitating movement of the shower curtain 6.

Modifications and Variations It will be understood from the description above that, in all of the embodiments, the shower curtain 6 and the shower curtain retainer may be applied to existing wet floor areas, shower trays and baths, and may therefore be sold as a shower curtain installation kit.

Furthermore, many changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described above.

For example, referring to Figure 10, instead of providing the magnetic balls 14 in releasable pockets on shower curtain 6, the magnetic balls 14 may be retained within pockets 12 sewn, or otherwise formed, into the shower curtain 6. Similarly, in the fourth embodiment described above, instead of providing the magnetic strips 50 in releasable pockets, the magnetic strips 50 may be retained within pockets sewn, or otherwise formed, into the shower curtain 6.

Figure 11 shows an alternative arrangement for the ramp 10 in the first embodiment. More particularly, Figure 11 shows a cross-section through the alternative ramp 10 in the direction X-X shown in Figure 1. As will be seen from Figure 11, in the alternative ramp 10, magnetic members 20 are provided parallel to the sides of the ramp as well as parallel to the top surface. In this way, the magnetic balls 24 in the shower curtain 6 may be retained by the ramp along the top or either side. In a further variation, magnetic members 20 may be provided parallel to the top surface and a single side of the ramp (the side innermost to the shower area) . Similarly, in the third and fourth embodiments described above, a shower curtain retainer 40 may be provided with magnetic balls 14 along both the top and one or both sides, and in the sixth embodiment, a shower curtain retainer 70 may be provided with magnetic components 76 along both the top and one or both sides.

In the first embodiment described above, and in the modification of Figure 11, the magnetic member 20 is provided inside the ramp 10. However, instead, the magnetic member 20 may be attached to be on the outside on top of the ramp 10 (and on the outside on the side(s) of the ramp in the case of the Figure 11 modification).

In Figures 1 and 11, the magnetic member 20 is shown as a separate element from the ramp 10. However, instead, the ramp itself, or a portion thereof (such as the top or innermost side) may be made of magnetic material or impregnated with magnetic material. Similarly, instead of a separate magnetic member 20 attached to a bath or shower tray, the bath itself or the shower tray itself may have at least a portion made of a magnetic material or impregnated with magnetic material.

Other changes and modifications are, of course, possible.

Claims

1. A shower installation, comprising: a shower; a shower area in which a person may shower; a shower curtain to contain water within the shower area when a person is showering; and a shower curtain retainer provided at an edge of the shower area to retain the shower curtain; wherein at least one of the shower curtain and the shower curtain retainer has a plurality of magnetic components arranged for rotation and the other has at least one further magnetic component such that, in its closed position, the shower curtain is retained against the shower curtain retainer by the attraction between the magnetic components arranged for rotation and the further magnetic component(s).

2. A shower installation according to Claim 1, wherein: the shower area comprises a wet floor area; and the shower curtain retainer comprises a ramp arranged at an edge of the wet floor area to prevent water running out of the wet floor area on the floor.

3. A shower installation according to Claim 2, wherein the ramp has a top surface and two side surfaces extending along its length, and wherein at least one magnetic component is provided on both the top surface and the side surface innermost to the shower area.

4. A shower installation according to Claim 1, wherein: the shower area comprises a bath or shower tray; the shower curtain has a plurality of magnetic components spaced apart across the width of the shower curtain and arranged for rotation; and the shower curtain retainer comprises at least one substantially flat magnetic component provided on a side of the bath or shower tray.

5. A shower installation according to Claim 1, wherein: the shower area comprises a bath or shower tray; the shower curtain has a plurality of magnetic components spaced apart across: the width of the shower curtain and arranged for rotation; and the shower curtain retainer comprises at least a portion of the bath or shower tray which is made from magnetic material or impregnated with magnetic material.

6. A shower installation according to any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic components arranged for rotation comprise magnetic balls.

7. A shower installation according to any preceding claim, wherein the shower curtain has a handle along the whole, or substantially the whole, edge of the shower curtain to open and close the shower curtain.

8. A shower curtain having a plurality of pockets across its width in a lower portion thereof.

9. A shower curtain according to Claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of pockets has a releasable flap. 17 -

10. A shower curtain according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the shower curtain has a splash flap below the pockets.

11. A shower curtain according to any of Claims 8 to 10, further comprising a magnetic component for each of the plurality of pockets.

12. A shower curtain according to Claim 11, wherein each of the magnetic components comprises a magnetic ball.

13. A shower curtain having a plurality of magnetic components spaced apart across the width of the shower curtain at, or near, the bottom of the curtain.

14. A shower curtain according to Claim 13, wherein the shower curtain has a splash flap below the plurality of magnetic components.

15. A shower curtain according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein each of the magnetic components comprises a magnetic component arranged for rotation.

16. A shower curtain according to Claim 15, wherein each of the magnetic components comprises a magnetic ball.

17. A shower curtain having retaining means for retaining a plurality of magnetic components across the width of the shower curtain such that each magnetic component can rotate.

18. A shower curtain according to Claim 17, further comprising a plurality of magnetic components for retention on the retaining means.

19. A shower curtain having at least one piece of flexible magnetic material across at least part of the width of the shower curtain at, or near, the bottom of the curtain.

20. A shower curtain according to Claim 19, wherein the shower curtain has a splash flap below the at least one piece of flexible magnetic material.

21. A shower curtain according to any of Claims 8 to 20, further having a handle along an edge thereof.

22. A shower curtain according to Claim 21, wherein the handle is provided along the whole, or substantially the whole, edge of the shower curtain.

23. A shower curtain installation kit, comprising: a shower curtain having a plurality of magnetic components arranged for rotation across its width; and at least one shower curtain retainer for arrangement at an edge of a shower area over which the shower curtain is to be hung, the at least one shower curtain retainer being magnetic or having at least one magnetic component.

24. A shower installation kit, comprising: a shower curtain having retaining means across its width to retain a plurality of magnetic components such that each of the magnetic components can rotate; 19 -a plurality of magnetic components for retention by the retaining means of the shower curtain so that each of the magnetic components can rotate; and at least one shower curtain retainer for arrangement at an edge of a shower area over which the shower curtain is to be hung, the at least one shower curtain retainer being magnetic or having at least one magnetic component.

25. A shower installation kit according to Claim 24, wherein the retaining means of the shower curtain comprises a plurality of pockets.

26. A shower installation kit, comprising: a shower curtain having at least one magnetic component; at least one shower curtain retainer for arrangement at an edge of a shower area over which the shower curtain is to be hung, the at least one shower curtain retainer having a plurality of magnetic components arranged for rotation.

27. A shower installation kit according to any of Claims 23 to 26, wherein the plurality of magnetic components for rotation comprise magnetic balls.

28. A shower installation kit according to any of Claims 23 to 27, wherein the at least one shower curtain retainer comprises a ramp for arrangement at an edge of a shower area comprising a wet floor area to prevent water running out of the wet floor area on the floor.

29. A shower installation kit according to Claim 28, wherein the ramp has a top surface and two side surfaces

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extending along its length, and wherein at least one magnetic component is provided on both the top surface and at least one of the sides.

30. A shower installation kit according to any of Claims 23 to 29, further comprising a handle for the shower curtain.

31. A shower installation kit according to Claim 30, wherein the handle has a size to fit along a whole, or substantially a whole, edge of the shower curtain.

32. A shower curtain retainer, comprising a ramp for arrangement at an edge of a wet floor area to retain a shower curtain, the ramp being magnetic or having at least one magnetic component to attract one or more magnetic components in the shower curtain.

33. A shower curtain retainer according to Claim 32, wherein the ramp has a top surface and two side surfaces extending along its length, and wherein at least one magnetic component is provided on both the top surface and at least one of the sides.

34. A shower curtain retainer according to Claim 32 or Claim 33, wherein each of the magnetic components of the shower curtain retainer comprises a plurality of magnetic components arranged for rotation.

35. A shower curtain retainer according to Claim 34, wherein the plurality of magnetic components arranged for rotation comprise magnetic balls. r

36. A shower curtain retainer for arrangement at an edge of a shower area to retain a shower curtain, the shower curtain retainer having a plurality of magnetic components arranged for rotation to attract one or more magnetic components in the shower curtain.

37. A shower curtain retainer according to Claim 36, wherein the plurality of magnetic components arranged for rotation comprise magnetic balls. I0

38. A bath having a magnetic shower curtain retainer.

39. A bath according to Claim 38, wherein the magnetic shower curtain retainer comprises at least a position of the bath made from, or impregnated with, magnetic material.

40. A shower tray having a magnetic shower curtain retainer.

41. A shower tray according to Claim 40, wherein the magnetic shower curtain retainer comprises at least a portion of the shower tray made from, or impregnated with, magnetic material.