US20210015308A1

US20210015308A1 - Shower curtain safety system

Info

Publication number: US20210015308A1
Application number: US16/511,346
Authority: US
Inventors: Mike Nollau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-07-15
Filing date: 2019-07-15
Publication date: 2021-01-21

Abstract

An illustrated view of an exemplary shower curtain system for increasing the safety of shower curtains is presented. The shower curtain system is useful for providing a device for a user to grab when entering or exiting a bathtub or shower stall and preventing the shower curtain assembly from collapsing causing an unsafe condition, the shower curtain system acts as a grab bar like system but utilizing the shower curtain thereby preventing slip and falls, additional injuries and exiting of the shower. The shower curtain system is useful in providing additional strength to the shower curtain for both the shower curtain and the support system for the shower curtain. The shower curtain system has a shower curtain, a curtain rod, one or more mounting brackets and a plurality of grab straps. Eyelets of the shower curtain, the curtain rod and mounting brackets are reinforced to increase the strength and support of the shower curtain apparatus. Further, the plurality of grab straps is both short and long. The straps are coupled to the shower curtain preferably by sewing thread. The short and long straps allows for a user showering to be able to grab onto the shower curtain to prevent falls and other injuries as well as getting in and out of the shower.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to shower curtains. More particularly, it relates to shower curtain systems.

BACKGROUND

A shower is a place in which a person bathes under a spray of typically warm or hot water. Indoors, there is a drain in the floor. Most showers have temperature, spray pressure and adjustable showerhead nozzle. The simplest showers have a swiveling nozzle aiming down on the user, while more complex showers have a showerhead connected to a hose that has a mounting bracket. This allows the person showering to hold the showerhead by hand to spray the water at different parts of their body.
A shower can be installed in a small shower stall or bathtub with a plastic shower curtain or door. Showering is common in Western culture due to the efficiency of using it compared with a bathtub. Its use in hygiene is, therefore, common practice. A shower uses less water on average than a bath: 80 liters (18 imp gals; 21 US gals) for a shower compared with 150 liters (33 imp gals; 40 US gals) for a bath.
Shower curtains can be used in shower or bathtub enclosures with two main purposes: to provide privacy and to prevent water from flooding or spraying outside the shower or bathtub area. Shower and bathtub curtains usually surround the bath inside the tub or shower area and are held up with railings or curtain rods high on the wall or ceiling. To accommodate the different types of bathtub shapes, railings can come in different sizes and are flexible in their design. These curtains are usually made from vinyl, cloth or plastic.
Some people use two shower curtains: one that is inside the tub, which is mainly functional or decorative as well, and an outer shower curtain, which is purely decorative. The bottom portion of the inner curtain often comes with magnetic discs or suction cups which adhere to the bathtub itself. Other times, those with disabilities or injuries and require help to get in and out of the shower or bath tub, when they hold onto the rod or shower curtain to assist, the curtain rod can become a safety issue and cause a fall.
Shower curtains and the shower curtain rods they hang from often are relatively weak. Most shower curtain rods use a tension spring to brace the shower curtain rod between two walls. The shower curtain may be tugged on, become wet or the rod may be pulled on creating hazards to those using the shower.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need for a device that increases the safety of a shower curtain/rod assembly from failing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an illustrated view of an exemplary shower curtain system.

FIG. 1B is an illustrated view of exemplary eyelets of a shower curtain and exemplary curtain holders of the exemplary shower curtain system shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is an illustrated view of an exemplary shower rod wall support of the exemplary shower curtain system shown in FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” and the like are used repeatedly. Such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. Such terms do not generally signify a closed list.
“Above,” “adhesive,” “affixing,” “any,” “around,” “both,” “bottom,” “by,” “comprising,” “consistent,” “customized,” “enclosing,” “friction,” “in,” “labeled,” “lower,” “magnetic,” “marked,” “new,” “nominal,” “not,” “of,” “other,” “outside,” “outwardly,” “particular,” “permanently,” “preventing,” “raised,” “respectively,” “reversibly,” “round,” “square,” “substantial,” “supporting,” “surrounded,” “surrounding,” “threaded,” “to,” “top,” “using,” “wherein,” “with,” or other such descriptors herein are used in their normal yes-or-no sense, not as terms of degree, unless context dictates otherwise.
Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While embodiments are described in connection with the drawings and related descriptions, there is no intent to limit the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents. In alternate embodiments, additional devices, or combinations of illustrated devices, may be added to, or combined, without limiting the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein.
Referring to FIG. 1, is an illustrated view of an exemplary shower curtain system 100 for increasing the safety of shower curtains is presented. The shower curtain system 100 is useful for providing a device for a user to grab when entering or exiting a bathtub or shower stall and preventing the shower curtain assembly from collapsing causing an unsafe condition, the shower curtain system 100 acts as a grab bar like system but utilizing the shower curtain thereby preventing slip and falls, additional injuries and exiting of the shower. The shower curtain system 100 is useful in providing additional strength to the shower curtain for both the shower curtain and the support system for the shower curtain.
The shower curtain system 100 has a shower curtain 200, a curtain rod 300 and one or more mounting brackets 400.
The one or more mounting brackets 400 of the shower curtain system 100 are securely coupled to a plurality of walls 101 by one or more first coupling devices 401. The first coupling devices 401 are preferably a screw device, however other coupling devices are hereby contemplated including, but not limited to, lag bolts, Velcro, nails, etc.
In FIG. 1C, the mounting brackets 400 have a plurality of holes 402 and a rod inlet 403. The plurality of holes 402 of the mounting brackets 400 are configured to receive the first coupling devices 401 for securely coupling to the plurality of walls 101.
The rod inlet 403 is configured to receive the curtain rod 300. The curtain rod 300 has a first end 301 and a second end 302. Two mounting brackets 400 are configured to hold both the first end 301 of the curtain rod 300 and the second end 302 of the curtain rod 300. The first end 301 of the curtain rod 300 is removably coupled to the rod insert 403 of the mounting brackets 400. The second end 302 of the curtain rod 300 is removably coupled to the rod insert 403 of the mounting brackets 400. The rod insert 403 is preferably a screw coupling, however other coupling are hereby contemplated, including but not limited to, pressure coupling, snap coupling, etc. The curtain rod 300 is preferably a heavy-duty curtain rod. The curtain rod 300 is preferably three-fourths (0.75) inches in diameter, however other diameters are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, one-half (0.5) inch, one (1) inch, etc.
A plurality of curtain holders 303 are both movably and removably coupled to the curtain rod 300 significantly equally between the first end 301 of the curtain rod 300 and the second end 302 of the curtain rod 300. The curtain holders 303 of the curtain rod 300 will be described in more detail when describing the shower curtain 200.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the plurality of curtain holders 303 are further coupled to a plurality of eyelets 201 of the shower curtain 200. FIG. 1B shows the curtain holders 303 and the eyelets 201 of the shower curtain 200. The curtain holders 303 are preferably “C” clips, however other types of clips are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, hooks, curtain ring, rod clip, etc. The curtain holders 303 have a gate 304 and a ring 305. The curtain holders 303 are preferably made of an anodized aluminum, however other materials are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), high-density poly-ethylene (HDPE), plastic, etc. The curtain holders 303 are preferably three (3) inches in length, however other lengths are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, two (2) inches, four (4) inches, etc. The ring 305 curtain holders 303 preferably have a diameter of one and one-fourth (1.25) inches, however other lengths are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, one (1) inch, one and one-half (1.5) inches, etc. The gate 304 of the curtain holders 303 are preferably have a spring-loaded gate, but other securing devices are further contemplated, including, but not limited to, no gate, latch gate, etc.
The gate 304 of the plurality of curtain holders 303 are coupled to a plurality of eyelets 201 of the shower curtain 200. The plurality of eyelets 201 are preferably reinforced, thus providing additional protection against tearing or compromising of any of the plurality of eyelets 201 of the shower curtain 200.
The shower curtain 200 has a top 202, a bottom 203, a right side 204, a left side 205, a shower side 206, a plurality of short straps 207, 208 and at least one long strap 209. The short straps 207, 208 and the long strap 209 are also known as grab straps.
The at least one long strap 209 has a first end 210 and a second end 211. The at least one long strap 209 is preferably thirty-one (31) inches in length, however other lengths are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, thirty (30) inches, thirty-two (32) inches, etc.
The plurality of short straps 207, 208 have a first end 212, 213, a second end 214, 215 and a middle portion 216, 217. The middle portion 216, 217 of a side portion 218, 219 preferably has an opening 220, 221. The opening 220, 221 of the short straps 207, 208 may be may be useful for a grabbing of the strap 207, 208. The short straps 207, 208 are preferably thirty-two inches in length, however other lengths are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, thirty-one (31) inches, thirty-three (33) inches, etc.
The first end 212, 213 of the short straps 207, 208 are preferably configured to be twenty-four (24) inches from the top 202 of the shower curtain 200, however other configurations are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, twenty (20) inches, twenty-six (26), etc. The second end 214, 215 of the short straps 207, 208 are preferably configured to be twenty-four (24) inches from the bottom 203 of the shower curtain 200, however other configurations are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, twenty (20) inches, twenty-six (26), etc.
The short strap 207 is preferably configured to be twelve (12) inches from the right side 204 of the shower curtain 200, however other configurations are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, ten (10) inches, fourteen (14), etc. The short strap 208 is preferably configured to be twelve (12) inches from the left side 205 of the shower curtain 200, however other configurations are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, ten (10) inches, fourteen (14), etc.
The short strap 207 is preferably configured to be twelve (12) inches from the long strap 209, however other configurations are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, ten (10) inches, fourteen (14), etc. The short strap 208 is preferably configured to be twelve (12) inches from the long strap 209, however other configurations are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, ten (10) inches, fourteen (14), etc.
The short straps 207, 208 and the long strap 209 are securely coupled to the shower side 206 of the shower curtain 200 by a second coupling device (not shown). The second coupling device is preferably a sewing thread, but other coupling devices are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, Velcro, zippers, etc.
In the numbered clauses below, specific combinations of aspects and embodiments are articulated in a shorthand form such that (1) according to respective embodiments, for each instance in which a “component” or other such identifiers appear to be introduced (with “a” or “an,” e.g.) more than once in a given chain of clauses, such designations may either identify the same entity or distinct entities; and (2) what might be called “dependent” clauses below may or may not incorporate, in respective embodiments, the features of “independent” clauses to which they refer or other features described above.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies are representative of more general processes and/or devices and/or technologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filed herewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.
The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shower curtain safety apparatus for increasing safety in a shower, the apparatus comprising:

one or more mounting brackets, the mounting brackets coupled to a wall by a first coupling device;

a curtain rod, the curtain rod being removable and securely coupled to each of the one or more mounting brackets;

a shower curtain, the shower curtain having a top, a bottom, a shower side, a right side and a left side, wherein a plurality of eyelets being coupled significantly near the top of the shower curtain;

a plurality of curtain holders, the curtain holders being securely and removably coupled to the eyelets of the shower curtain and wherein the curtain holders being securely and removably coupled to the curtain rod; and

a plurality of short straps and one or more long strap, wherein the one or more long straps being configured between the plurality of short straps, and wherein the one or more long straps and the plurality of short straps being coupled to the shower side of the shower curtain by a second coupling device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of short straps having a middle portion on a first side, and wherein the plurality of shorts straps having an opening in the middle portion of the first side for grabbing by a user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short straps being thirty-two (32) inches in length.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the long straps having a length being thirty (31) inches.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the eyelets being reinforced.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curtain holders being a “C” clamp.

7. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the C clamp having a diameter of a ring of one and one-fourth (1.25) inches.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the C clamp having a length being three (3) inches.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the curtain holders being made of an anodized aluminum.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curtain rod being reinforced.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting brackets having a rod insert.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rod insert being screw-like.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first coupling device being a screw.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second coupling device being sewing thread.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curtain rod having a diameter being three-fourths (0.75) inches.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short straps being twelve (12) inches from the right side of the shower curtain.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short straps being twelve (12) inches from the left side of the shower curtain.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the long straps being twelve (12) inches from the short straps.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short straps being twenty-four (24) inches from the top of the shower curtain.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short straps being twenty-four (24) inches from the bottom of the shower curtain.