US20180263429A1

US20180263429A1 - Multiple Interactable Electronic Device Holding Curtain

Info

Publication number: US20180263429A1
Application number: US15/925,702
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric Tyler Haglund
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-19
Filing date: 2018-03-19
Publication date: 2018-09-20

Abstract

The device is a clear shower curtain liner, shower curtain, or similar device (“curtain”) that includes pockets. The pockets are designed with the specific purpose of holding the most popular portable electronic devices such as iPads and iPhones. The curtain acts to protect the device from water damage, while also allowing the user to view, listen to, and interact with the device, by both pressing physical buttons and touch activated screens. The curtain has a wide variety of pockets of various sizes and orientations to increase the likelihood that a person can find a pocket that is close to their eye level and that will snugly fit the device they own in either a vertical or horizontal position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/473,438 filed Mar. 19, 2017 entitled “Electronic Device Holding Shower Curtain Liner” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to shower accessories and specifically to holders for portable electronic devices attached to a shower curtain or similar device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's environment, people want to stay connected to their friends, family, and entertainment such as their music, movies, and social applications (“apps”) throughout their “waking” hours. People want to be able to view, listen to, and/or interact with their electronic tablet, smart phone or other portable electronic device (“portable electronic devices”) while they are in the shower without the device being exposed to or damaged by the water. Others have tried to solve this issue by creating a shower curtain liner, shower curtain, or similar device (“curtain”) that incorporates one or two poorly sized and poorly placed permanent pockets. The poorly sized pockets do not properly hold the electronic device tight or taut against the shower liner, curtain or other water barrier layer. Because of these poorly sized pockets interaction with the portable electronic device is very difficult or nearly impossible. In addition, the poorly placed pockets make viewing the screen very difficult or impossible for the vast majority of users due to the different heights of individual users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems by providing easy viewing and interaction with portable electronic devices for people of various heights while they shower. This is a shower curtain liner, shower curtain, or similar device (“curtain”) that features multiple pockets on the external facing (outside) side of the curtain. The pockets are designed to securely hold portable electronic devices such as tablets, smart phones, and similar devices without the portable electronic device being subject to excessive movement within the pocket. Before the user enters the shower, a portable electronic device is inserted into the pocket from the outside of the curtain so that the screen (if one is included with the portable electronic device) faces the inside of the shower. The pockets are designed and placed based on the curtain using three main criteria; namely (1) the pockets are the optimal size to hold the most popular smart phones, tablets, and other portable electronic devices, (2) to hold the portable electronic devices in both horizontal and vertical orientations; and (3) the pockets are positioned to provide a comfortable viewing angle while users of various heights shower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the relative dimensions and orientation of preferred pockets included with the shower curtain liner, shower curtain, or similar device (“curtain”) and the relative dimensions of an assortment of pockets specifically tailored to securely hold portable electronic devices in vertical or horizontal positions at eye level height for users of various heights;

FIG. 2 illustrates a hand holding open one of the pocket enclosures so that an iPad (trademark of Apple) tablet device (an example portable electronic device) can easily be inserted into the pocket area;

FIG. 3 is a simplified figure which illustrates a person using the curtain while he is taking a shower. The user is interacting with the touch screen, hearing any sounds the portable electronic device is presenting and the user is able to view the screen of the portable electronic device while water is flowing from the shower head onto the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems by providing easy viewing and interaction with portable electronic devices for people of various heights while they shower. This is a shower curtain liner, shower curtain, or similar device (“curtain”) that features pockets on the external facing side (in other words the side that is not in the path of the water) of the curtain. The pockets are designed to securely hold portable electronic devices such as tablets and smart phones so that the portable electronic device inserted in the pocket does not move around inside the pocket thereby allowing the user to interact with the portable electronic device while the user is taking a shower. A portable electronic device is inserted into the pocket such that the screen (or controls) faces the inside of the shower. The curtain is constructed using any material that is flexible, transparent, waterproof and allows touch interaction when placed between a user and a portable electronic device. Possible materials include: ethylene-vinyl acetate (“EVA”), polyethylene vinyl acetate (“PEVA”), polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) or similar materials. The pockets are affixed to the outside of the curtain using one of several methods: heat sealing or bonding, glue other epoxy, or using similar methods. The screen or the portable electronic device is visible through the clear material of the curtain while it is also protected from the water and moisture of the shower. The material is both waterproof and conducts touch interaction with the portable electronic device. In some embodiments this curtain is entirely transparent, while in other embodiments the portion of the curtain on the inside of the pockets is transparent and the rest of the curtain is not transparent. It is far easier and more cost effective to produce the present invention over prior art shower curtain liners because there are fewer materials being used. The pockets do not require closures (i.e., that the top portion of the pocket remains open) because the pockets are properly sized to very closely fit popular portable electronic devices when the portable electronic device is inserted into respective pockets in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation. The device is manufactured with a wide assortment of pockets of varying sizes, dimensions and positions. The pockets are designed and placed based on three main criteria, namely (1) the pockets are the optimal size to hold the most popular portable smart phones, tablets, and devices; (2) individual pockets are designed to hold the portable electronic device in either a horizontal or a vertical position; and (3) the pockets are positioned to provide a comfortable viewing angle (approximately at eye level) while showering for users of various heights.
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the curtain 100 contains multiple pockets to hold a variety of portable electronic devices in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation, and at various heights to accommodate users of various heights. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, seventeen (17) pockets are included. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that curtains with other numbers of pockets, and other orientations are within the scope of the invention. The first column 105 of pockets are dimensioned to hold an iPad or a tablet in a vertical orientation at various heights. The second column 110 of pockets are dimensioned and positioned to hold an iPhone (trademark of Apple) (or similar device) in a horizontal orientation at various heights. The third column 115 of pockets are dimensioned and positioned to hold an iPad or tablet in a horizontal orientation at various heights. The fourth column 120 of pockets are dimensioned and positioned to hold an iPhone (or similar device) in a vertical orientation at various heights. The height of the first row of pockets is placed at the highest point possible (for tall adults) while still leaving enough room for the portable electronic device to be inserted below the shower curtain rings. The height of the bottom row of pockets is designed to be at approximately eye level for children. Each pocket (for example pocket 125) includes a left side 130, a bottom 135, a right side 140, and a top opening 145. Left side 130, bottom 135, and right side 140 of each pocket is affixed to the curtain 100 to securely hold an appropriate portable electronic device within it. Top opening 145 is appropriately configured to allow the passage of the appropriate portable electronic device to be positioned within the pocket in the proper orientation (either in a vertical orientation or in a horizontal orientation). The curtain includes an “inner” surface 150 which faces the user and is hit by the water when the shower is turned on and an “outer” surface 155 which is the side of the curtain to which the various pockets are affixed.
FIG. 2 illustrates a hand holding open the top opening 145 of pocket 125 such that portable electronic device 205 may be positioned within pocket 125 in a vertical orientation. Left side 130, bottom 135, and right side 140 are securely affixed to the shower curtain to hold and support portable electronic device 205. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that pocket 125 may be configured so that a portion of portable electronic device 205 extends through top opening 145 (see FIG. 3). One of ordinary skill in the art would also appreciate that the size of pocket 125 may be dimensioned so that the entire portable electronic device 205 fits within pocket 125. Additionally, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that while the preferred embodiment does not include a flap or top closure, other embodiments of the invention can include a flap or top closure.
FIG. 3 illustrates a person using the curtain of the present invention while he is taking a shower. The user is interacting with the touch screen, hearing any sounds the portable electronic device is emitting and the user is viewing the screen of the portable electronic device while water is flowing from the shower head onto the user. The curtain illustrated in FIG. 3 has been simplified (to include a single pocket rather than multiple pockets) to clearly illustrate the user's interaction with a portable electronic device contained within pocket 125 attached to the curtain.
In another embodiment, this device includes additional pockets in the lower area to accommodate users while they are taking a bath in the bathtub rather than showering. The device can also be placed in the pockets “backwards” or in a way so that the screen of the device is facing away from the inside of the shower. This would allow comfortable viewing, listening, interaction and protection while users are engaged in activities in the bathroom that do not take place in the shower. For example, and without limitation, a portable electronic device could be placed in the pocket with the screen facing outside the shower while the user is shaving or applying makeup at the sink. That would permit the user to easily interact with the portable electronic device after the shower is over. In another embodiment, the device includes a small pad or sponge that could be placed between the portable electronic device and the outside facing wall of the pocket. This small pad or sponge would further minimize any gap between the screen of the portable electronic device and the interior facing wall of the pocket, thereby making a touch screen of the portable electronic device even more responsive and reliable because of the smaller gap.
Possible uses of the present device include: listening to steaming music services, skipping songs, selecting playlists or channels, disliking or liking selections etc.; watching YouTube and Netflix videos, interacting with menus; playing games; using baby Monitor Apps; keeping an eye on your baby while you shower; checking the weather on weather apps; reading the news on news apps; texting; interacting with Snapchat; taking selfies in the shower; making or answering emergency calls, viewing individuals at the front door via front door security camera applications, listing to lectures or study materials and/or recording yourself in the shower (singing songs etc.).
In yet another embodiment, one or more weights may be included in the bottom portion of the curtain to reduce or eliminate any sideward deflection of the curtain (deflection towards the outside of the shower) when a user interacts with the portable electronic device. The inclusion of these one or more weighs may be helpful or necessary with lighter portable electronic devices.
In another embodiment, a small water proof speaker and/or built in microphone may be positioned within the wall of the curtain/inside wall of the pocket to enhance the audio and to ensure voice and music is not degraded by passage through or around the curtain material.
In yet another embodiment, a wireless charging capability may be included within one or more pockets of the curtain. In this embodiment, the portable electronic device could be charging (wirelessly) while the user was using the portable electronic device as they showered.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A curtain comprising:

an inner surface and an outer surface;

at least two pockets attached to said outer surface wherein each of said at least two pockets are positioned at different heights and each of said at least two pockets has a left side, a bottom and a right side;

wherein said left side, said bottom and said right side are affixed to said outer surface of said curtain;

wherein each of said at least two pockets has an opening at the top of the pocket; and

wherein said opening at the top of the pocket permits the insertion of a portable electronic device.

2. The curtain of claim 1, wherein a first of said two pockets is located at the eye level of an adult.

3. The curtain of claim 2, wherein a second of said two pockets is located at the eye level of a child.

4. The curtain of claim 1, wherein said at least two pockets are each dimensioned to hold an iPhone.

5. The curtain of claim 1, wherein a first of said at least two pockets is dimensioned to hold an iPhone and a second is dimensioned to hold an iPad.

6. The curtain of claim 5, wherein the first of said at least two pockets is dimensioned to hold an iPhone in a vertical orientation but said pocket is not dimensioned to hold an iPhone in a horizontal direction.

7. The curtain of claim 5, wherein the second of said at least two pockets is dimensioned to hold an iPad in a vertical orientation but said pocket is not dimensioned to hold an iPad in a horizontal direction.