WO1994004064A1

WO1994004064A1 - Improvements in or relating to shower equipment

Info

Publication number: WO1994004064A1
Application number: PCT/GB1993/001759
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rory Michael Roe
Original assignee: Rory Michael Roe
Priority date: 1992-08-19
Filing date: 1993-08-19
Publication date: 1994-03-03
Also published as: GB2269744B; GB9217608D0; AU4728393A; GB2269744A

Abstract

The invention provides a device (1) arranged to be supported on a shower curtain rail (R) and having an arm portion (2) movable between a rest position and an operative position in which it extends downwardly and outwardly from the rail (R) so as to displace the shower curtain outwardly thereby increasing the volume of a shower area bounded by a shower curtain. The device is preferably arranged to be slideable along the shower curtain rail with the curtain.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SHOWER EQUIPMENT

The invention relates to a device for use with shower curtains to increase the volume of the shower area bounded by the shower curtain, and to methods of using the said device.

A great many domestic households now have a shower fitted, and such showers are generally provided either in a separate screened shower cubicle, or are positioned over a bath. Where they are positioned over a bath, it is usually necessary to provide some means of temporarily screening the shower area whilst the shower is in use, and such means can take the form either of a folding screen arrangement or a shower curtain. Shower curtains, the most frequently used method of temporarily screening a shower area, take the form of a simple waterproof curtain hanging from a rail suspended above the bath. Such curtains provide a generally efficient and inexpensive means of converting a bath into a shower area. However, a widely recognised problem with shower curtains is their unfortunate tendency when wet to cling to the body of a person using the shower. This provides a sensation which is very unpleasant and detracts considerably from the enjoyment and intended proper use of the shower. This problem is exacerbated when the user of a shower is of large build and has a bulky upper torso. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the aforesaid problems and to provide a means of spacing the shower curtain away from the body of the shower user, and increasing the volume of the shower area.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device arranged to be supported on a shower curtain rail and having an arm portion movable between a rest position and an operative position in which it extends downwardly and outwardly from the rail so as to displace the shower curtain outwardly thereby increasing the volume of a shower area bounded by the shower curtain.

It is preferred that the device is arranged to be slidable along the shower curtain rail with the curtain.

Preferably the device is formed such that the arm is pivotable between the rest position and operative position.

The device is provided with means for holding it in the operative position. For example, in one embodiment, the device can be provided with locking means for locking the arm against pivotal movement between the rest position and operative position. Such locking means can take the form of a clamp arrangement which can be tightened against the curtain rail to prevent angular movement. In another embodiment, the arm can be provided at one end thereof with a portion which is arranged to clip over a curtain rail of non-circular cross section and is configured to be held against rotation. In another embodiment, the device includes means for extending between the body of the device and an anchoring point at an opposed location of the shower area to hold the arm in its operative position. The means for extending between the body of the device and the anchoring point can be a length of cord. The anchoring point may be constituted by a hook which can be secured to a wall opposite the said curtain rail.

The hook may be secured to the wall by any one of a number of means, for example by adhesive, by means of a releasable suction attachment, or by semi-permanent means such as a screw thread, or wall-bolt shaft.

The present invention will now be illustrated but not limited by reference to the specific embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 7 in which:-

Figure 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, shown in the rest position;

Figure 3 is a side sectional view corresponding to Figure 2, but showing the device in the operative position;

Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating the use of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is an isometric view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 5 in the operative position; and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, but in the rest position.

Referring now to the first embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, it can be seen that the device comprises a generally Y-shaped portion 3 which sits about rail R and has extending from one limb of the Y-shaped portion an elongate arm portion 2. A fillet 5 is disposed within the smaller angle formed between limb 4 and arm 2 of the device, the fillet 5 being radiused to accommodate pivoted movement over the top surface of a rounded or edged rail R. In the Figures, the rail R is shown as being of circular cross-section but it need not be of this form. For example, it could present an edged surface, e.g. by virtue of having a rectangular or polygonal cross-section.

Limb 4 has at an end thereof a hole 6 through which passes cord 8 which is held in place by toggle 7. The toggle 7 is recessed to accommodate a knot 7a in the cord which can be tied to suit the exact cord length required. The device is also provided with a hook 10 which can engage loop 9 on the end of cord 8.

Figure 2 illustrates the device in its rest position, with the loop 9 disengaged from hook 10 such that the arm 2 hangs down in a generally vertical position. In this position, the device 1 can be slid along the rail with the curtain, or lifted off as desired. In Figure 3, the device 1 is shown in its operative position with the loop 9 of the cord 8 engaging hook 10. The arm 2 is thus held in a position which extends downwardly and outwardly from rail R. As can be seen from Figure 4, moving the arm 2 into the operative position leads to the shower curtain C being displaced outwardly from its normal position (shown as the dotted line P) in the region of the upper torso and arm region T of the user of the shower. The device thus provides a significantly increased space for the upper body of the user of the shower and thereby avoids the well known unpleasant sensation caused by the shower curtain clinging to the wet body of the user.

The length of the arm 2 is not critical, but will be chosen such that the displacement of the shower curtain C does not lead to the bottom edge E being pulled out of the bath B. Purely by way of example, the arm can be for example approximately 500 to 550 mm long and 40 to 60 mm wide, the precise shape and width of the arm being unimportant.

The device conveniently can be made from wood, plastics, pressed metal or wire material capable of resisting the humid conditions encountered in a shower. For example the device may conveniently be formed of pine and varnished, or may be moulded in one piece from a plastics material, or be formed of plastics coated wire. The hook, cord and toggle can be of known type.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, and this embodiment is constructed to fit about a rail having an edged surface, for example a rail of rectangular (e.g. square) cross section. The device is provided with an arm 12 and a portion of generally U-shaped configuration 13 from which the arm 12 extends. A shortened limb portion 14 extends at an angle from the other end of the U-shaped portion 13. As with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the device 11 may be formed of any material capable of surviving humid conditions, for example the wood, plastics, pressed metal or wire material described above in relation to Figures 1 to 4. In its operative position, the U-shaped portion 13 sits about the rail R' as shown in Figure 6 so that the arm 12 is held in a position whereat it extends downwardly and outwardly with respect to the curtain C. In this position, it displaces the curtain C outwardly to create more space, along the lines illustrated in Figure 4 in respect of the first embodiment.

When the shower is not in use, the device 11 can be lifted such that it sits atop the rail R' in the manner shown in Figure 7, with the arm 12 extending generally vertically downwards. The curtain may then be drawn back and the device 11 slid along the rail with the curtain, or lifted from the rail and stored. The device as illustrated in the foregoing figures can be provided as separate items or as part of a kit also including a shower curtain rail and optionally a curtain. The device illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 is particularly suited for use in a kit. The curtain may be provided with a pocket within which the arm can be held. The pocket typically is configured such that the arm is slidable therein. The pocket and arm may be configured to prevent easy removal of the arm from the pocket, for example to prevent theft of the device. For example, the pocket can have a restricted opening and the arm can have an enlarged end portion which is greater in width than the restricted opening, thereby restricting withdrawal of the arm from the pocket .

Kits containing one or more devices in accordance with the invention along with shower curtain rails and optionally shower curtains are all included within the scope of this application.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of increasing the volume of a shower area bounded by a shower curtain which method comprises providing a device as defined herein and above and positioning the arm in its operative position to displace the shower curtain outwardly.

It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and amendments may be made to the device as illustrated in the accompanying figures without departing from the underlying principles of the inventions, and all such modifications and amendments are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

1. A device arranged to be supported on a shower curtain rail and having an arm portion moveable between a rest position and an operative position in which it extends downwardly and outwardly from the rail so as to displace the shower curtain outwardly thereby increasing the volume of a shower area bounded by the shower curtain.

2. A device according to Claim 1 which is arranged to be slideable along the shower curtain rail with the curtain.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is formed such that the arm is pivotable between the rest position and operative position.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein said device is provided with means for holding it in the operative position.

5. A device according to Claim 4 which is provided with locking means for locking the arm against pivotal movement between the rest position and operative postion.

6. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the locking means takes the form of a clamp arrangement which can be tightened against the curtain rail to prevent angular movement.

7. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the arm is provided at one end thereof with a portion which is arranged to clip over a curtain rail of non-circular cross section and is configured to be held against rotation.

8. A device according to Claim 4 which includes means for extending between the body of the device and an anchoring point at an opposed location of the shower area to hold the arm in its operative position.

9. A device according to Claim 8 wherein the means for extending between the body of the device and the anchoring point is a length of cord.

10. A device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the anchoring point is constituted by a hook which can be secured to a wall opposite the said curtain rail.

11. A device according to Claim 10 wherein the hook is secured to the wall by means of adhesive, or a releasable suction attachment, or by a screwthread, or wall-bolt shaft.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims which is formed from wood, plastics, pressed metal or wire material capable of resisting the humid conditions encountered in a shower.

13. A device according to Claim 12 which is formed of plastics coated wire.

14. A device arranged to be supported on a shower curtain rail and being moveable to increase the volume of a shower area bounded by a shower curtain, the device being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of increasing the volume of a shower area bounded by the shower curtain comprising the use of a device as described in any one of the preceding Claims.