US1691339A

US1691339A - Shower-bath protector

Info

Publication number: US1691339A
Application number: US243859A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Deming
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-12-31
Filing date: 1927-12-31
Publication date: 1928-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1945-11-13

Description

Nov. 13, 1928.

w.A l..` DEMING SHOWER BATH PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 151,y 1927 Numtel Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

.UNITED su PATENT; omics.-

l .WILLIAM LTDEMING, oF SALEM, 01110.

SHOWER-BATH PROTECTOR.

appii'caaon inea December' 31,1927. seal Nt. aliassa` This invention relatesto` a shower bath chamber curtain and thep'riniary objectifsk to provide "a curtain support "which Will yciiectively 'co'operate Withthe curtain in prevent-v ingY the escape ol Water frein theshower chamber propen A further object isto pirovide a device inclndingfslidable fastening niean's at two oppositeen'ds `of a curtain, `in

which the Various elements vare so associated Ythat the curtain may easily manipulated to A open and closeit `Witl'ioutbindung' at the iastening nieans.l n i u l Inmodern hotel and apartment buildings the shower bath'ls usually made an adpi'nct :oi a bathroonrproper by placingv the shower "appliances (spray Water feed controlaetc.)

in a recess or chamber openingl int-ofthe bathl rconi and adapted tobe atleastpartially shut oil from such rooin, when in use, by Ineansof a curtain suspended froina rail,` lSuch an ar-` ranoenient is only partially eli'ectite inpre-` venting Water troni splashing out of thefreM cess or chamber, because'there is usually no provision Whatever Afor securing the curtain its bottoni edge and in c `n`isequence,` nfateris splashed out onto the adjoining floorwh'ere it occasions obvious annoyancel'll believe` that one reason no adequate provision has heretoforeA been niad'e toprevent `the obje/etionablo escape of Water rorn the shower is because no 4fastening);- ineanshasdneen foiind which Will' perinit the curtain to be veasily moved to open and Closed position7 yet Vwhich will not considerablyobstrnct Lthe passage'Way into and out oit the chamber. c

Obviously the `'use of: therail `and slidinrej` ring arrangement commonly used'at the top of such curtains Would'be 'very inconvenient y because onewould not onlyfhfarve to step oVefrf such rail in entering and leaving; the chani- Iberybut such construction would notuaffordj sutlicient obstruction to `water splash because the rail Wouldfhare to be spacedfabotjfe the ioor to allow "free increment 'of the 'ringsly l There is a i'u'rthi" `pro`ble`1n fto overcome in attaching' a curl in at both ends, Vwhich arises because the cnitain is `flexible and llinip,` Wherefore sn'nply shovingl on the edge) ofthe curtain intermediate its attached ends Wouldw ordinarily cause the `fasteningr nien'ibers toi bind against the rails because snchshoving `maybe suspended frio the shower chaniber. y i The device shown ,1n the drawings consists kof the nsualupp'er rail from which the cnr-f tain is suspendedas rings', and fa remorf able bottone rail providing" afslidew'awhichu slidew'ay is engaged by a plulalityof rigid` and slidableksecuringiinengbe'rs 'attaclied td theV curtain at Variousjpointsnear its bottom edge, and there are stitfening bars .provided at the vertical edges of the curtain. A fur;

Vther raffinement consists in the provision ofv brackets4 for holdingrthe lower rail, `whichV bracketsniay beeasi'ly fastened to the Wallsy of the chanibereither atthetirne thexbnilding' is constructed or afterwardgas for installation in already existing buildings; vthis refinement affordingr a quick/and eafsyineans for detaching the curtain when it is desired toy re'niove and clean orreplace it.`

Inthe. drawing, Fig. lois 4a sectionalside elevation o a shover bath chamber With the curtain arrangement, etc. forining the subject matter of theprese'i'i't invention; Fig. 2

is" a detailed vlongitudinal sectional `view through the bottom rail and; showing the ineansfor'attachment of the rail toa Wall;l `Flg 1s a sectional View taken atright angles yto'Fhigfl asindicated by the' 'line 3--3 on Figa,

l; Fig. L tfis al detailed cross-sectionalView as indicated by the lineI 4r-4- onv Fig. 2, and

5 is a Across" section'alfdetail `ifiewas indicatedby the line on Figi.

Referring in detail vtothe drawing, land 2 designate side Wallswolnachamber ory recess sistirrg,A for cnarnpldcffaspray nozzle 3, and

5 a nixilig. Valve L for controllingthe supplyf and teinperatureof `Waterto thenozzle.y 5

indicates the `loorjof rthe recess; Suspended across from one side Wall `to the other isa rall` 6 held in place asbyv brackets 7. The curtain nii-@Cay bel-0W the lmiie and @Sangiupon rn the rail 6 as by means icontainniglr the showerwbath appliancearonthe floor, I show a tubular rail which is a longitudinal rib 19 on the strip 16 and pressi sustain considerable weight; hence, there is little dangervofthe sheet metal .being bentv by brackets 45, each having an overlia'nging arm ing flat against the strip abovev the surfaces 18. The mutually engaging ribs prevent the rubber strip from slipping' Ysidewise with reference to the rail. Means to be lateiydef scribedii'iaintain vertical pressureon the tstrip.v AThe rail is adapted to be formedof sheet metal, the bottom portionhaving con-fl tiguoiis therewith side walls 23, each of which'r is folded inwardly as at 24 to provide" a.y

smooth slot 28 at the top ofthe rail, the inwardly' folded edge portions 25diverging as shown to provide overhangiug surfaces adJacent the slot and being; of such llength as toy rest on tl'ierbottomineinber 2O and serve asY vertical 'reinforcements lii'or the rail. The arrangement in the proportions shown will a person standing onthe rail.

The curtain@ as shown extends downwardthe rail. Near thebottom edge of the curtain as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are secured, a series4 of substantially rigid hook-like members 80,

the hooked. portions lrbeing attached las yby means of stitching` or small. staples 32, one at reach side of the hook.v At the lower end of each member 30 is a knob 34 lying within the coniinesof the inwardly folded edges k25 of the rail and retained against outward. movement by reason of the relative sizeof the knobs and the slot 28. Ther knobs are substantially sphericalat the top in order to presentsinooth surfaces to the rail members rigidity ofthe lliooksSO, and the two-point attachment thereof to the curtain, tlierewill" be no tendency for the hooks 8O to. become displaced in such manner as to stick and not move freely along therail., f

My preferred means for securing' thev rail 15 in place consists of a pair ofA Lshaped 47 positioned above respective ,ends` of the rail. These brackets may be secured to the wall of the chamber o rgrecess in any coiiven-` ientr manner, but preferably by means ofr ing. As shown iii Fig. 2 a machine screw 50 is shown as extending throughan opening 5l bracket, in threaded engagement with the voverhanging arm of the bracket, and having a 'reduced end 53 closely fitting the slot 28 and bearingagainst the rib 21. When both screws 'are tightened in place, the reduced ends 53 force therubber strip16 tightly `against the floor, while .the lat-eral engagement between the reduced ends and the slot prevent sidewise movement of the rail.v

lVhenevei it is desired to remove the cuii tiin,as in order to clean or replace it, the pro-` cedure is rto loosen one of the screws 52 until it is disengaged from the rail, then remove the i'ailsidewise from beneath the overhanging arm of the bracket, and finally Slide the.` curtain securing members 30 lout of one end of the slot 28. Infdoing this, it is ordinarily necessary to raisefbut one of the screws 52, since the end clearance between the rail and brackety may be such vas topermit one end of the rail to be swung out of engagement .with a bracket,.thereby permitting the rail to be slid off the'otherscrew end 53, without raisy f ing this screw.- ly beyond thef sides of the rail 15 asat C, Fig. 3, in order to deflect shower waterl away from Ordinarily, Awhen a curtain is attached at 'both ends. any shoving onthe edge of the curkhave providedkthe vertical edge reinforcing or stiffening members above 'mentioned ;These are preferably associated withboth vertical edgesof the curtain as sliownat 60.

-'Ilie,ii'ie'mbers 60 may comprise sheet metal strips formed as shown in Fig. 5 with a tubular bead 62 at one side adjacentthe substantially fiat'bodyportion 6.1. i

To secure thesereiiiforcing n 'embers to the curtaiinl preferably employ devices simify lar to glove fasteners, the female elements 63 ofv the fasteners being secured to the flat portions 61 of the members GOandthe male,

velements 65'to the. curtain. rlvhe female element of each fastener may comprise the usual A sheet metal eyelet (seeFig. 5) having aV wire spring 64incorporated inits construction for engaging a grove 66 onjthe male fastener elei'nent.l In oi'der that the reinforcing mem- Y, bers 6() may be formed exactly alike, thereby y `Aminimizing production cost. `while permit- .material topieventthe ferrules 'from turnting the members to be secured to thecurtaiii with the tubular portions 63 adjacent the re-l spec-tive edges ofthe `curtain in each case; the eyeletsare formedto receive the .projections 65 fromeitlier side In other ivords,

the arrangement ypernjiitsthe projections 65 to male members of the snap fasteners. In` such oase simple openings in the fiat portions 6l the members 60 would be used inplace of the eyelet construction illustrated.

. 'In order to direct the shower Water splash` inwardly toward theinterior of the shower chamber atthe vertical edges ofthe curtain enough margin of curtain extends beyond `the members GOto be against the adjacent Wall of the shower recess or chamber when the members 60 are brought tov curtain closing position, (see Fig. TheseI margins are indicated at Cf andC and aregiven Va tendency to curlr inwardly (toward the in terior of the chamber) by reason of the tub'uf lar portions 62 of the members 60, Fig. 5).

It is obviously desirable to Yprovide for maintaining oneof the'vertical edgesfofthe curtain in closed position at all time, I` have shown a simple device tov` elifectthis, which will permit eitherV edge to be moved t0 Open the passage into the shower chamber. This f is especially desirable since the curtain installationl may thus be the same for every shower chamber ofa given size Without regard to the position of the shower apparatus. IVith the shover apparatusplaced asshown in Fig. l with reference'to the chamber, it i 'will be more desirable to open the curtain at its left-li and edge, always leavingthe cur tain secured at the other .vertical edgeg' Ify the shower apparatus livereV located on the opposite wall it Would"tlie1ibe better to open` the curtain at the rightehand edge leaving the left-hand edge secured. rI "liis isbecau'sinv in the ma] ority of instances the user will not take the trouble to fasten the edge3of-,`theV curtain past which he enters the 4chamber.

even though a convenient fastening means provided, and because thatedge should left secured which, if unsecured, Would'ordinarily permit the escape of shower Water.

Vith the above in view I have rovided a f simple means associated with the reinforcing member 60 to effectv retention of either edge of the curtain. The upper ends `of therein forcing members 60 carry clasp' ringsl0"e"X-/ tending through openingsin' the {iatportions Vof themenibers 60 as showni'n Iig. VNear the ends the ul'aperrail or'curta'insupportf ing rod 6 are shown recesses" 67 and 67' which the clas) rings lO mafeneaffe ivhe'ii rthe `1 P) li i,

members 60 are adjacent the shower, cham-l (see berwall; `forexample, asat the right in Fig."`

l. Supported Vby the lower end of each memvv ber 60,as bya` curled-over portion 68 of the sheet*metal,. I have shown a member 30', sub` stantiallylA likethe hook members 30. The primary function of the members 30 isto `provide sliding engagement between of; the curtainI so held cannot` be displaced L fronr the vchamber Walluntil the ring is raised; hence, by the arrangement described, the curtain may be securely fastened atyone odge-:to the chamber Wall, Whilethe other edge maybetemporarily retained, While the shower is,occupied, simply by the engage-r mentr between the corresponding clasp ring 10r and4 the :recess 1671er 67. the shower Wishes more privacy than this will afford, he may, ,off course, see that Vboth rings 7() are in overlapping relation` to the y respective screivlieads.

{Claim-r* 1 p 1..In combinatioinan upper and lower rail, a curtaimspaced means `at the upper and lower edges of the curtain insliding' engagement With respective rails, andrigid means reinforcing one edge of the curtain and arranged to impart `movement to the spaced means When `manipulated to move the curtain to thereby prevent binding betweeny said' means and the rails. .i 25 In a device `of theclass described, apair" 'of' railsoneabove the otherand adapted to' support a ieXiblecurtain, means connecting the 'curtain Witheach rail, said means being slidably4 guided and retained by the rails, there beingv axsubstantially rigid member` slidably engaging Vboth said rails and at tially rigidinember `provided ivith `means `engaging the slideways, this mcn'iber being` attached Nto the curtain at or vertical edges.y o .v

4. IiiV combination, an upper and `a `lovver rail, aw'curtaiii movably suspended frourth'e upper rail, a plurality of substantially rigid members each having a two pointattachment to the curtain, said members .beingv re near one of its.

tained yby `the'loiver rail and in sliding relatinnthereta v i 75; Inadevice of the class described,apair OfsubstaHtially parallel rails, `one mounted over th'eother, a plurality of sets of members vsecured to `the curtain, -each set shdably engagingarespective rail, the loxvcrrrall ha'v-` Ifthe user of l li) ing water sealing means on its `lower side, and means to force the first named means againstk .the lower edge of the curtain and having enlargements slidably iiiterengagingwith the overhanging parts oi the rail, said curtain having its lower margin depending in overlapping relationto the rail to deflect water away from the rail ina given direction.

7. Curtain securing means for the bottom ol a depending curtain,comprising a rail, and means to attach the rail to abuilding adjacent thefloor thereof, including' means for forcing therail downwardly, slidable means on the curtain and cooperating means onthe rail tofslidably retain the irst named means, a eoii'ipressible strip underlying the vrail throughout substantially its entire length,

and interengaging means comprising' a rib on one oic the last twomentioned elements, and a' giooif'eiii the oth-er to maintain the relationthe rail having an upwardly facing recess shipof saidlelements, l

8. yin a device of the class described, means for inovably'retaining the lower end o a curtain, comprising a tubular member having afy bottom wall and side walls` the lattei' being formed to provide a slot, means onthe curtain engaging such slot, together with av cushion strip'in dovetailed relation to the tubular meinbenand means adapted to besecured to a vertical wall adjacent the floor of a building, andhaving removable means as sociated therewith arranged to enter the slot ,and press downwardly upon the bottom Wall or the tubular member to force the Cushion strip tightly against the floor to torm a water seal.

9. A detachable. rail adapted to serve as a retainer tor the bottom or" a depending 'curtain, saidrail comprising a Atubular member having an upwardly facing slot, means slidy' ably engaging the slot' and attached to the curtain, a bracket for securing the raillin place having a portion oveilianging the endv of thefrail, and removable means carried by said portioiiand arrangedY to enter the slot ltof hold the rail in place.` n y o l0. A retainer for acurtain, compri-sing a tubular member `'formed to provide a slot and overhanging surfaces inwardly from the slot.l a plurality of members attached to thefcurtain and arranged to slidev alongfsiich .slot and be retained by such overhanging .sun

races, and means for lioldiiig'tlie Vrail 'com-v prising a bracket, and removable. means as-k .'sociated therewith having a portioiiadapted 'to entertthexslot to prevent# sidewise movement ofthe rail and to press downwardly on the rail to hold the rail against the'ioor yor anadjacent surface v 11. In a' device of the class described, a sheet metal 'rail Ahaving a bottom portion and side walls curving toward each other and spaced apart to provide a slot, each kwall having a portion 'adjacent theslot folded inwardly and toward the bottomv portion to lform a vert-ical reinforcement for the rail, and means adapted to be secured to a curtain and slidably engaging'the rail at such slot.

12. A curtain retaining device `comprising a member formed into aftube', open at-the top to provide 'a slot and `overhai'iging sui'- t'aces, the side of the member opposite the slot beingdepressed to form ain inward rib and outwa d recess, and portions of the niembei' Abeing turned inwardly from the slot Aand engaging the said side'` adjacent the rib tov therein adapted to be engaged byonc of the said members as a detent to hold the curtain in a predetermined position. s

lflln a device rot the classdescribed,L a

curtain and means including rails and nienibers slidably engaging the rails for movably retaining the curtain at its opposite edges, ay

reinforcing bar l,associated with the curtain at orne-ar oneof its tree edges, and meansV carried bythe bar 'and' adapted 4to engage a recess in one of the rails for'holdiiig the curtain in closed position.

` i 15. In combination with a curtain adapted "to'close a chamber or recess, i'i'ieans for movably guidingthe curtain for ii'ioveinent across the recess including arail and means associated with thewall ol' the recess for holding the rail in place, there being a series of menibers on the curtain to slidably engage the rail,fa looped member carried byy one of the rfirst named members anctadapted to be brought into engagement with a lpart of said closed position.` i

16. In combination with a curtain adapted to close va chamber or recess, means for mov-` `rail `liol'ding*means to 'hold the` curtain in being means on the curtain to slidably eiigage the rail, a reinforcing member associated with the 'curtain and extending transversely to the rails, and means carried by the reinforcing member adapted to engage partv of one side thereof offset fromthe point oit' f1teziid bracket to hold the Curtain in Closed teehment to the curtain, for giving the ver` position. l i tical margin of the curtain a tendency to bend n 17. A closure for a shower beth chamber out of the plane of the curtain in a rdiree-` 6 or the like, comprising a. curtain, reilsut thel tion :1n-'ay from `the reinforcing member, to 15 top and bottom edge, of the enrtein respeel grovideawater deleetingmeans. t

tively for inombly supporting the curtain, In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my and a Vertical reinforcing member removably signature. l attac-hed near one edge of the curtain, the re- WILLIAM L. DEMING.

10 intere-ing member havingnn enlargement et