US20240016344A1

US20240016344A1 - Shower and bath cabinet

Info

Publication number: US20240016344A1
Application number: US17/864,615
Authority: US
Inventors: Debra Lynn LAURENT; Stephen Craig KELLER
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-07-14
Filing date: 2022-07-14
Publication date: 2024-01-18

Abstract

A cabinet for storing hygiene products in a shower/bath enclosure is provided. The cabinet comprising a rectangular exterior formed by a top face, a bottom face, a rear face, a first side face and a second side face surrounding an interior cavity. The top face and the bottom face are sloped. The bottom face has drain holes at a rear of the bottom face. Shelving tracks horizontally aligned, with the shelves optionally coupled to the shelving tracks and having drain holes. A first door attached to the first side face via hinges and having a recessed handle at a base of the first door. A second door attached to the second side face via hinges and having a recessed handle at a base of the second door. The first and second door pressure fitted and flush with the exterior and coupling members optionally coupled to slots on the rear face.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a shower and bath cabinet, more specifically, but not by way of limitation, more particularly to a cabinet for storing one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure.

BACKGROUND

Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Currently most showers and baths are extremely limited in storage for shampoo bottles, soaps etc. The tiny shelf that sometimes accompany showers and bath inserts is not nearly enough space for the average user. Most modern homes also incorporate a lot of glass which cannot hide the mess that happens especially since you have no choice to put them on the shower floor which presents a serious trip hazard. Current market products incorporate open wire racks, which do not conceal any clutter and mess and are unstable for the products not holding them securely.
U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0013279 A1 (MacMillan et al.) discloses a bathroom cabinet packaged and designed for easy mounting on a wall. The mirrored wall mounted cabinet uses quick release door hinges, enabling easy rapid installation of the cabinet by an individual while protecting the mirrored door hinge attachment components from damage. The cabinet door is then attached to the mounted cabinet body without using tools.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter, an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth, an inability to accommodate bathroom accessories within the storage container for easy access, an inability to adjust shelving to accommodate a wide variety of personal hygiene product shapes and sizes and an inability to be secured and removed from one bathroom surface to another.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,310 A (Smith) discloses a corner mounted tray is essentially triangular in shape and comprises a perforate bottom wall, upstanding side and front walls and is releasably attached to a vertical wall by a mortise and tenon type connection. The connection includes a relatively narrow segment adhesively affixed on the back wall thereof to the vertical wall and providing, on the front wall thereof, one or more shoulder forming elements. The side walls of the tray provide recesses for receiving the shoulder forming elements and supporting the tray thereon.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter, an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth, an inability to accommodate bathroom accessories within the storage container for easy access, an inability to adjust shelving to accommodate a wide variety of personal hygiene product shapes and sizes and an inability to be secured and removed from one bathroom surface to another.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,430 A (Ke) discloses a door back hanging organizer device comprising an upper locating plate, a lower locating plate, belt, and a fixing plate. The upper and lower locating plates are respectively located at both ends of the belt, each of locating plate having two lines of bending holes for selective bending of the locating plate at either line of the bending holes into an inverted U-shaped configuration for convenient fixation of the locating plate on the top and bottom of a door body. The belt can be adjusted for length and tension. The fixing plate has two slots at upper and lower ends and a hook with a channel at the upper rear end thereof. The two devices can be used together with the fixing plates being arranged respectively at right and left sides of the door installation of a cross hanging rod and a net bag therebetween by way of the channel in two hooks appropriately arranged on the right and left devices. Accessories, such as a hanging ring, can be attached to the device by way of the hooks.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter, an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth and an inability to accommodate bathroom accessories within the storage container for easy access.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,737 B2 (Newbould et al.) discloses a wall mountable shelf for storing items in a shower or bath enclosure including a frame, a base member connected with the frame, a back plate connected with the frame and arranged to support the frame on the wall and adhesive arranged between the back plate and the wall for securing the shelf to the wall surface. The frame includes a top rail portion, a front rail portion, and a pair of side rail portions connecting the top rail portion and the front rail portion, where each side rail portion includes a back portion extending downwardly from the top rail portion and a bottom portion extending from the back portion to the front rail portion arranged at an angle of less than 90°.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter, an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth, an inability to accommodate bathroom accessories within the storage container for easy access and an inability to adjust shelving to accommodate a wide variety of personal hygiene product shapes and sizes.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,279 B2 (Kaplan) discloses a door back hanging organizer device that is portable and an adjustable unique organizer device for hanging on the top of wall(s) or panel(s). The device has a frame structure with shelves and bars to store and organize various accessories or hygiene items particularly used in showers.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter, an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth, an inability to accommodate bathroom accessories within the storage container for easy access, an inability to adjust shelving to accommodate a wide variety of personal hygiene product shapes and sizes and an inability to be secured and removed from one bathroom surface to another.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,402,476 B2 (Crandall) discloses a shelf system for a shower having a shelf and a second pieces that attaches to a corner where the shelf and second piece are connectable in a mortise and tenon arrangement.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter, an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth, an inability to accommodate bathroom accessories within the storage container for easy access, an inability to adjust shelving to accommodate a wide variety of personal hygiene product shapes and sizes and an inability to be secured and removed from one bathroom surface to another.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,554,673 B2 (Panzella) discloses a towel shower caddy for an improved combination apparatus designed to safely, securely, and efficiently store and transport items, which may be used in the course of personal showering or bathing. The device is essentially comprised of at least one storage container that may contain a towel or other items, may attach above or below a shower head pipe, has a door which may contain a speaker and other electronic devices, a moveable exterior shelf, two detachable hanger members, four detachable suction cups, a support base, a detachable interior shelf and dividing wall, and a collapsible and detachable carrying handle. Different embodiments of the towel shower caddy may include a frame, a door, a fixed handle assembly, a support base system, a fixed hanger system, two hanger covers, and a detachable exterior shelf system.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter, an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth and an inability to accommodate bathroom accessories within the storage container for easy access.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,770,137 B2 (Berke) discloses a mountable locker shower/bath storage caddy which is securable or lockable for securely storing a bottled personal hygiene item such as a bottle of shampoo, which is only accessible to a person having a code or key to unlock the container.
Shortcomings include an inability to adjust shelving to accommodate a wide variety of personal hygiene product shapes and sizes and an inability to be secured and removed from one bathroom surface to another.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,883,742 B2 (Yang et al.) discloses a shower caddy with shelf adjustably mounted along an elongate support member and a plurality of shelves having an accessory that has a deployable divider and/or an expandable bottom. Certain embodiments of the shelving system include an attachment mechanism configured to couple a lower portion of the support member to a stationary object, such as a wall.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter and an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,517,416 B1 (Petren) discloses an over-the-door rack comprises a first suspension hook, a second suspension hook, a first vertical member, a second vertical member, a first hanging member, and a second hanging member. The first hanging member has a plurality of double hooks. The second hanging member has a plurality of hooks. The over-the-door rack is configured to be affixed to the door such that the over-the-door rack extends away from the top horizontal plane of a door and such that the first hanging member is positioned lower than a middle of a vertical length of the door.
Shortcomings include an inability to safely store one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure while reducing clutter, an inability to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth and an inability to be secured and removed from one bathroom surface to another.
All documents cited herein are incorporated by reference.
It is clear that there exists a need for a shower and bath cabinet. There is need for a cabinet for safely storing one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure, that reduces clutter, that has adjustable shelving to accommodate a wide variety of personal hygiene product shapes and sizes, that is designed to prevent holding water to reduce mold and mildew growth, can be secured and removed from a bathroom surface with ease and can accommodate bathroom accessories.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide a cabinet for storing one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a cabinet for storing one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure comprising a rectangular exterior formed by a top face, a bottom face, a rear face, a first side face and a second side face surrounding an interior cavity. The exterior having rounded corners where the top face meets the first side face and the second side face, and the bottom face meets the first side face and the second side face. The top face and the bottom face being sloped from a front of the exterior to the rear face to promote residual water to pool towards the rear face and the bottom face having a plurality of drain holes at a rear of the bottom face to release the pooled residual water. One or more pair of shelving tracks affixed to the first side face and the second side face, each of the pair of shelving tracks being horizontally aligned. One or more interior shelves optionally coupled to the one or more pair of shelving tracks for providing a surface to store the one or more personal hygiene products. Each of the interior shelves having the plurality of drain holes. A first door hingely attached to the first side face within the interior cavity via one or more hinges to cover half of the front of the exterior and having a recessed handle at a base of the first door for gripping the first door to open and close the first door. A second door hingely attached to the second side face within the interior cavity via the one or more hinges to cover half of the front of the exterior and having a recessed handle at a base of the second door for gripping the second door to open and close the second door. The first door and the second door pressure fitted to lock together when flush with the exterior and one or more coupling members optionally coupled to one or more slots on the rear face for affixing the cabinet to a surface of said shower or bath enclosure.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the one or more coupling members is a suction cup.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a mirror is affixed to an exterior of the first door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a mirror is affixed to an interior of the first door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a mirror is affixed to an exterior of the second door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a mirror is affixed to an interior of the second door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the mirror is an anti-fog mirror.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, one or more razor holders is affixed to the interior of the first door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, one or more razor holders is affixed to the interior of the second door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, one or more hooks is affixed to the interior of the first door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, one or more hooks is affixed to the interior of the second door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, one or more soap holders is affixed to the interior of the first door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, one or more soap holders is affixed to the interior of the second door.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a surface of the shelves contains a non-slip rubber for providing traction for the personal hygiene products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

In the figures, embodiments are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and figures are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding.

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein the figures:

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective bottom view 100 a of a shower and bath cabinet 102, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective top view 100 b of a shower and bath cabinet 102, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2A illustrates an interior view 200 a of a shower and bath cabinet 102, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2B illustrates an interior view 200 b of a shower and bath cabinet 102, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3A illustrates a top view 300 a of a shower and bath cabinet 102, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3B illustrates a sectional view 300 b of a shower and bath cabinet 102, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view 400 a of a shower and bath cabinet 102, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4B illustrates a rear view 400 b of a shower and bath cabinet 102, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter of this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
The present invention provides a shower and bath cabinet that may be used with many different embodiments. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved cabinet for storing one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure, which provides the advantages and overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.
FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective bottom view 100 a of a shower and bath cabinet 102, according to some embodiments. The shower and bath cabinet 102 is an enclosure employed for storing one or more personal hygiene products and comprises a rectangular exterior formed by a top face 104, a bottom face 106, a rear face (not currently shown), a first side face 108 and a second side face (not currently shown) with two outwardly opening doors, the first door 110 and the second door 112, attached to the first side face 108 and the second door 112 respectively, surrounding an interior cavity (not currently shown).
The first door 110 and the second door 112 are beveled at the base and are flush with the exterior of the cabinet when the first door 110 and the second door 112, which forms recessed handles 114 at a base of the first door 110 and at a base of the second door 112. Each recessed handle 114 may be gripped for opening and closing the respective door. In some embodiments, the first door 110 and the second door 112 are made out of a plastic, bamboo, steel, acrylic, fiberglass in order to be lightweight and waterproof. When the first door 110 and the second door 112 are closed, water is significantly limited from entering the shower and bath cabinet 102. The bottom face 106 is shown with a plurality of drain holes 116 at a rear of the bottom face 106 to release any pooled residual water within the interior cavity of the shower and bath cabinet 102.
Furthermore, the exterior of the shower and bath cabinet 102 contains rounded corners 118 where the top face 104 meets the first side face 108 (not currently shown) and the second side face (not currently shown) and the bottom face 106 meets the first side face 108 and the second side face (not currently shown). The rounded corners 118 prevent injury for the user during accidental contact with the shower and bath cabinet 102.
FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective top view 100 b of a shower and bath cabinet 102, according to some embodiments. In the embodiment shown, the exterior of the shower and bath cabinet 102 contains a visible rounded corner 118 where the top face 104 meets the first side face 108.
FIG. 2A illustrates an interior view 200 a of a shower and bath cabinet 102, according to some embodiments. The shower and bath cabinet 102 further comprises one or more pair of shelving tracks 202 affixed to the first side face 108 and the second side face 204, where each of the pairs of shelving tracks 202 are horizontally aligned and one or more interior shelves 206 are optionally coupled to the one or more pair of shelving tracks 202 for providing a surface to store the one or more personal hygiene products. Each of the shelves 206 are shown containing a plurality of drain holes 208 for allowing residual water to pass through to the level below until it reaches the bottom face 106 and is expelled out of the drain holes 116 of the bottom face 106.
In the embodiment shown, the first door 110 and the second door 112 are in an open position revealing the interior of the shower and bath cabinet 102. Three shelving tracks 202 affixed to the first side face 108 are shown with a shelf 206 attached to the middle shelving track 202. A pair of razor holders 210, a pair of hooks 212 and a soap holder 214 are shown affixed to the interior of the first door 110.
The shower and bath cabinet 102 further comprises a first door 110 hingely attached to the first side face 108 within the interior cavity via one or more hinges 216 to cover half of the front of the exterior and a second door 112 hingely attached to the second side face 204 within the interior cavity via one or more hinges to cover half of the front of the exterior. In some embodiments, the surface of the shelves 206 contain a non-slip rubber, providing traction to keep the personal hygiene products in place.
FIG. 2B illustrates an interior view 200 b of a shower and bath cabinet 102, according to some embodiments. In the embodiment shown, a mirror 218 is shown affixed to the interior of the second door 112. In some embodiments, the mirror 218 is an anti-fog mirror.
In some embodiments one or more of the razor holders 210, the hook 212, the soap holder 214 and the mirror 218 may be affixed to the interior of the first door 110. In some embodiments one or more of the razor holders 210, the hook 212, the soap holder 214 and the mirror 218 may be affixed to the interior of the second door 112. In some embodiments, one or more mirrors 218 may be affixed to the exterior of the first door 110. In some embodiments, one or more mirrors 218 may be affixed to the exterior of the second door 112.
FIG. 3A illustrates a top view 300 a of a shower and bath cabinet 102, according to some embodiments. In the embodiment shown, the first door 110 and the second door 112 are pressure fitted to lock together when their respective ends meet when the shower and bath cabinet 102 is closed. The first door 110 and the second door 112 are flush with the exterior of the cabinet when they are in the pressure fitted lock.
FIG. 3B illustrates a sectional view 300 b of a shower and bath cabinet 102, according to some embodiments. In the embodiment shown, the top face 104 and the bottom face 106 are sloped from a front of the exterior, the first door 110 and the second door 112, to the rear face 302 in order to promote residual water to pool towards the rear face 302. Furthermore, a shelf 206 is shown inserted into a shelving track 202 with a plurality of drain holes 116 to release any pooled residual water present on the surface of the shelf 206 as well as any pooled residual water falling onto the shelf 206 from above. In some embodiments, the shelving tracks 202 and the shelves 206 are sloped in the same manner as the top face 104 and the bottom face 106.
The bottom face 106 is shown with a plurality of drain holes 116 at a rear of the bottom face 106 to release any pooled residual water within the interior cavity of the shower and bath cabinet 102. The combination of the drain holes 116 in the shelves 206 and the bottom face 106 along with the sloped surfaces allows for proper drainage of residual water within the within the interior cavity of the shower and bath cabinet 102 and prevents mold and mildew growth.
FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view 400 a of a shower and bath cabinet 102, according to some embodiments. In the embodiment shown, the shower and bath cabinet 102 is shown affixed to a bathroom surface 402 via four suction cups 404 coupled to four slots 406 near each of the corners of the rear face 302. The one or more coupling members, shown in this embodiment as the suction cups 404, may be optionally or permanently coupled to the one or more slots 406. The one or more coupling members can be any fastener in the art for temporarily or permanently affixing a cabinet to one or more bathroom surfaces 402. Some alternative coupling members include, but are not limited to, permanent fixtures, or combinations of adhesive strips of hydrogel and suction cups 404 or hooks.
The shower and bath cabinet 102 is optionally coupled to one or more bathroom surfaces 402 to be able to adjustable to be at a height desirable to the user and for remodeling and layouts changes. The shower and bath cabinet 102 also makes cleaning easier since the user no longer needs remove any personal hygiene products from the bath or shower, as they can all be contained within the shower and bath cabinet 102.
FIG. 4B illustrates a rear view 400 b of a shower and bath cabinet 102, according to some embodiments. Similar to FIG. 4A, this embodiment displays the shower and bath cabinet 102 having four suction cups 404 coupled to four slots 406 near each of the corners of the rear face 302.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. As can be understood, the examples described above are intended to be exemplary only.
The embodiments described were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
The term “connected”, “attached”, “affixed” or “coupled to” may include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements).
As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet for storing one or more personal hygiene products in a shower or bath enclosure comprising:

a rectangular exterior formed by a top face, a bottom face, a rear face, a first side face and a second side face surrounding an interior cavity, said exterior having rounded corners where said top face meets said first side face and said second side face and said bottom face meets said first side face and said second side face, said top face and said bottom face being sloped from a front of said exterior to said rear face to promote residual water to pool towards said rear face and said bottom face having a plurality of drain holes at a rear of said bottom face to release said pooled residual water;

one or more pair of shelving tracks affixed to said first side face and said second side face, each of said pair of shelving tracks being horizontally aligned;

one or more interior shelves optionally coupled to said one or more pair of shelving tracks for providing a surface to store said one or more personal hygiene products, each of said interior shelves having said plurality of drain holes;

a first door hingely attached to said first side face within said interior cavity via one or more hinges to cover half of said front of said exterior and having a recessed handle at a base of said first door for gripping said first door to open and close said first door;

a second door hingely attached to said second side face within said interior cavity via said one or more hinges to cover half of said front of said exterior and having a recessed handle at a base of said second door for gripping said second door to open and close said second door, said first door and said second door pressure fitted to lock together when flush with said exterior; and

one or more coupling members optionally coupled to one or more slots on said rear face for affixing said cabinet to a surface of said shower or bath enclosure.

2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said one or more coupling members is a suction cup.

3. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein a mirror is affixed to an exterior of said first door.

4. The cabinet of claim 3, wherein said mirror is an anti-fog mirror.

5. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein a mirror is affixed to an exterior of said second door.

6. The cabinet of claim 5, wherein said mirror is an anti-fog mirror.

7. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein a mirror is affixed to an interior of said first door.

8. The cabinet of claim 7, wherein said mirror is an anti-fog mirror.

9. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein a mirror is affixed to an interior of said second door.

10. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein said mirror is an anti-fog mirror.

11. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein one or more razor holders is affixed to said interior of said first door.

12. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein one or more razor holders is affixed to said interior of said second door.

13. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein one or more hooks is affixed to the interior of said first door.

14. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein one or more hooks is affixed to the interior of said second door.

15. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein one or more soap holders is affixed to the interior of said first door.

16. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein one or more soap holders is affixed to the interior of said second door.

17. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein a surface of said shelves contain a non-slip rubber for providing traction for said personal hygiene products.