US2774974A

US2774974A - Shower curtain rod attachment

Info

Publication number: US2774974A
Application number: US555072A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin A Zaloga
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-12-23
Filing date: 1955-12-23
Publication date: 1956-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1973-12-25

Description

DCC. 25, 1956 E A. ZALOGA SHOWER CURTAIN ROD ATTACHMENT Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. QM 62' 2%7 BY ATTORNEY United.; Sees .Parent 2,774,974 p SHOWERv CURTAIN ROD ATTACHMENT Edwin A. zaloga, Waltham, Mass. Application December 23, 1955, Serial No. 555,072 6 Claims. (Cl. 4-154) This invention relates to a bathroom shower accessory for use with shower curtain rods to aid in supporting a shower curtain in a position to increase the space in a shower enclosure.

In many shower installations, there is a present tendency to construct the shower enclosure in a relatively small compact size with the result that there is only limited room within the shower enclosure. The user may, in such relatively small shower enclosures, be undesirably closed in and, in particular, may be inconvenienced by the shower curtain tending to be drawn inwardly to an extent such that it sticks to the user.

It is an object of the invention to devise a shower curtain stretcher accessory for dealing with this problem of limited space and, particularly, for preventing the shower curtain from being drawn into contact with the user. It is a further object of the invention to provide a curtain stretcher member which may be detachably secured to a shower curtain rod; which is easy to use and install; which can be conveniently stored; which will not damage a shower curtain and, which is durable and strong.

These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following discussion of the invention.

Essentially, my invention is based on the idea of dealing with the indicated problem and accomplishing the objectives outlined by combining with a curtain shower rod an extension piece which may, in one preferred form, be associated with that portion of a shower enclosure from which the shower curtain is suspended which in the usual case consists of a curtain rod. In accordance with the concept of the invention, the extension piece is cornbined in such a way that it may be swung into a position where it extends laterally outwardly to displace the shower curtain outwardly and support it in a suspended position which increases the space within the shower enclosure.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a view in side elevation and partial cross-section showing the curtain stretcher of the invention adjustably supported in a shower curtain rod installation; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the curtain stretcher.

Referring more in detail to the structure shown in the drawings, numeral 2 denotes a curtain Irod of the conventional type which, as is customary with such articles, is supported at two ends between opposite sidewall portions of a shower enclosure. Along the rod 2 is slidably supported a plurality of curtain supporting rings as 4 which are ordinarily employed to receive hook fastenings 6. The latter fastenings, in turn, have suspended therefrom a shower curtain member 8 of plastic or other waterproofing material of a length such that it may extend well beyond a confining edge of a bathtub or shower wall section.

y The fitting v14 is adapted to encircle the curtain rod, as v'noted in Fig. l, and threaded through the tting isa wing bolt 16 which is adapted to jam the curtain rod between its extremity and immediately opposite wall surface of the fitting, as illustrated. It will be apparent that, by loosening the wing bolt, the stretcher may be rotated about a horizontal axis into various positions of adjustment where it supports the curtain in an outwardly projected position to materially increase the space enclosed by the suspended portions of the curtain. If it is desired, the stretcher may also be swung upwardly out of an operative position entirely.

At its opposite end, the member 10 supports a curtain holder piecev 18 which may, for example, consist of a thin sheet material, such as a plastic piece bent over upon itself to present a downwardly extending apron portion, as shown and against which portions of the shower curtain may be supported, as indicated. It will be obvious that this folder 18 may be located in any desired position and may also be supported by various means. For example, I may employ screws or other fastenings to a retaining rod 20, as shown in Fig. 1.

The curtain holder piece 18 may be of a magnitude such that it provides a relatively large supporting area and, by reason of its curved shape, serves to support the shower curtain without in any way tending to pierce the shower curtain material or otherwise damage it. Although I have shown a single stretcher and curtain holder piece in the drawings, it will be understood that I may use aplurality of these stretcher members or I may provide a single stretcher member having a plurality of extension pieces separated from one another to bear against a shower curtain over a much larger area.

It is also intended that various changes may be resorted to in modifying the invention. For example, I may attach the stretcher arm and shower curtain holder piece at other points than on the shower curtain rods. For example, the arm may be pivotally associated with one of the sidewalls of the shower enclosure and be adapted to be swung outwardly to provide a shower curtain holding action. Also, the stretcher may be desired to be constructed as an integral part of the curtain rod from which, by means of suitable pivoting mechanism, it may be swung outwardly into any desired position.

It will be observed that I have thus provided a simple, effective, and easily installed shower curtain attachment which can be easily adjusted to increase the size of the shower enclosure and, yet, may be swung out of the way when its use is not desirable.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An accessory for a curtain rod and shower curtain assembly comprising a stretcher member adapted to support said shower curtain in a laterally extended position, said stretcher member including an elongated body portion, means located at one end of the body portion for securing same in a laterally extended position with re- Il opposite end of the elongated body for supporting a shower curtain thereagainst.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the means for adjustably securing the elongated; body .consists of a tubular fitting and a threaded engaging memberforrlocking the tting around the said curtainl rod.l

3. A structure according to claim 1 in-which 'theA means for receiving the curtain consists of a thinsheet material curved to present a convex supporting surface for engaging against the shower curtain.

4. In a shower curtain rod assembly/a curtain rod, a shower curtain supporting member secured to thevcurtain rod in a'laterally extended positionTand a ltriaii'gularly shaped curtain engaging pieceattached at the. outer end "a: ldownwardly extending aproni 5. A structure accordingfto claim 1 in which the elongated body portion may be rotated about a horizontal aXis into various positions of adjustment.

6. A structure according to claim 1 in which the elongated body portion is vslidable on the curtain rod and adapted to be secured a'tlany'desired point therealong.

` VUNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the le of tliis patent