Abstract:
This product is a flexible mounting and sealing method which combines the unique features of multiple sealing surfaces, a drainage passage directing moisture toward a containment area, and not requiring mechanical fasteners, in addition to being highly marketable. Additional features may include the angular clasping member to assist in the disengagement of the two attached members. The product has a high use range in both commercial and residential facilities, along with the mobile home and recreational vehicle market.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to mounting and sealing strips of PVC plastic or like compounds, one being male, the other being female, having an adhesive backing with a paper cover. This product may come in a semi-rigid or a flexible state that may be coiled for ease of shipping and storage. Such mounting and sealing strips interlock to form a water and weather tight pressure seal on two surfaces, yet may easily be disengaged, similar to a zip lock bag. This product also has the ability of being able to transport water down an internal drain channel and direct it into a containment area. More particularly, it relates to the sealing of the edge of a shower curtain, drape, shade, blind, portiere, storm window or the like, to an adjacent wall without using mechanical fasteners. A similarly attached disengagement means may be added to the product when used in the application of a shower curtain seal whereby, a third strip is added as an angled clasping member. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention describes a new and unique multi-purpose household product with the simplicity and varied utilitarian aspects of hook-and-loop material Velcro®, the zipper or duct tape. In the field of attachments, hood-and-loop has been the state of the art for many years, with its major problems being, where moisture is involved. It tends to acquire molds and mildew, which cannot be easily cleaned therefor, producing odors. There is a need for creating an economical watertight seal on a shower curtain which includes channeling the water down and into the tub, especially in a rental establishment where putting permanent mechanical fasteners into a tile, fiberglass or marble wall would be prohibited. There is also a need for establishing a watertight seal on showers in RV&#39;s or mobile homes, where the walls are not structurally stable enough to facilitate mechanical fasteners. There again is a need for a weather sealing means to attach fabric or vinyl side rooms to RV&#39;s. These presently twist lock mechanical fasteners require the penetration of the side of the unit, creating a potential leak of moisture and a permanent hole, yet be easily disengaged for transport. And still another need is for a light, inexpensive attachment of vinyl coverings over windows and doors to retard damage by inclement weather. Another need is for an edge mounting material that has a primary and a secondary sealing means, with a channel air gap between to transport the trapped moisture therein down and out directed into a containment area. There is an unending need to securely attach curtains, drapes, blinds, portieres and the like to stop movement, without putting nails or screws into walls. In the area of home decorating and remodeling, there is a need for a great variety of simple economical fastening means. The convenience and economy of this flexible edge mounting and sealing product will allow it to be modestly priced, selling in wide variety of lengths, light and easily shipped, and thus creating an enormous market throughout the world. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,087 (Allan Zellinger) teaches of a complicated extruded device for shower curtains. It includes a wall attachment strip having a pre-applied adhesive back for adhering such strip to a vertical wall surface adjacent to the end edge of the shower curtain. A curtain attachment clip is adapted to be fastened to the end of the shower curtain in alignment with wall attachment strip. By folding a flap on one side of the curtain attachment clip over until a projecting rib portion on the flap moves into locking engagement in a channel on the curtain attachment clip, the curtain edge is disposed therebetween. This invention fulfills the requirement of not having mechanical fasteners but falls short of being a simple and multipurpose utility product as described herein. When the curtain attachment clip is inserted in the wall attachment strip in the fashion so described, there is no effective pressure sealing surfaces engaged. An adequate seal is maintained between the curtain and the curtain attachment clip but water can still escape between the curtain attachment clip and the wall attachment strip and out onto the floor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,072 (Waldo Dezura) concentrates on a device for reasonably securing at least one end of a shower curtain to a bath tub compartment. This is also accomplished with adhesives, not using mechanical fasteners, but with a number of small parts specifically designed for shower curtains, not making a continuous seal throughout, and not having the added benefit of being useable for other applications. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,919 (Richard E. White) features a holder for a pair of bathroom shower curtains comprising of a single pair of flexible steal strips permanently adhered to a bathroom wall and extending downwardly from the adjacent shower curtain rod. A pair of corner blocks permits the strip to be bent and extended across the top of the tub. Each strip has a keyhole slot extending for its entire length. The outer edge of each curtain contains a cord that is pressed into the seal strip slot, to make a permanent water tight connection. 
     This permanent installation does not facilitate easy separation of the sealing unit, multiple seals, a drain mechanism, or function conveniently for any other purpose other than tub enclosures. 
     U. S. Pat. No. 2,049,061 (J. A. Hoegger) describes a guide member in which one edge of the shower curtain may be reasonably held, permitting easy removal of the same and yet effectively preventing the edge of the curtain from separating from the wall. This device is similar in the clasping aspect, but only having one primary sealing feature, with the channel member requiring a mechanical fastener into the wall. This material again has been designed as an effective shower bath curtain guard without the utilitarian aspects of being used in either shorter or longer lengths for any other purpose. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,303,502 (B. Rous) teaches of a complete draft proof shower curtain system with a special weighted skirt along the tub and a plurality of suction cups adapted to be pressed into engagement with the wall area. This system does not effect a continuous seal along the edge and is again designed for the specific use on showers only. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,752 (Shelton, Jr. et al.) discloses a splash guard apparatus for shower curtains that incorporates a spring loaded shower curtain clamping assembly that is reasonably affixed to the wall of a shower bath. With no rigid member in the edge of the shower curtain, it appears cumbersome to attach the curtain in place. Cleaning would be difficult due to the number of parts and springs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,547 (N. B. Riekse) teaches of a device for attaching fabric or similar material to a support. This invention relates to a device for securing a sheet of fabric, plastic or other deformable material to a supporting surface so that the sheet material can be removed whenever desired. This material has a great similarity to the described product in that it incorporates two pieces. One piece is adhesively affixed to a wall surface, and the other piece loose, not easily stored unless engaged with the shower curtain. Though this material has been designed for purposes other than shower curtains, continued engagement and disengagement with the fabric, plastic or other deformable material within the pair of members therein described will produce a breaking down of the said fabric, and a limited life of the product. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,712,354 (J. C. Margolies) this invention describes a shower bath curtain device with the primary feature being a rigid member attached to the shower curtain with the attachment means being a single point on the wall. This device produces no continuous seal and is then limited to the use in a shower bath. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,551 (Harrison et al.) features a plurality of wall fasteners positioned along the vertical edge of a shower curtain reducing the likelihood of water escaping from the shower and onto the floor and surrounding area. This again, like the aforementioned prior art, lacks the complete sealing ability and is thus limited to shower bath use only. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for a mounting and sealing system that is economical to manufacture, light and easy to ship, and has a myriad of uses. A further need is for an interlocking system that can be engaged and disengaged an interminable number of times, without damage to the fabric involved. And there again is an additional need for a system with a dual seal and a drain passage between to transport moisture therein without jeopardizing the said sealing means. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This present invention accomplishes its desired objectives by providing the simplest, yet most effective means of a mounting and sealing system available. This system is comprised of two ductile formed plastic members, the first being a channel-encapsulating member, and the second being the grooved attachment member, both having foam adhesive with a paper peel off surface on the back side. Both members may be of a clear material or colored to match different decors. The channel-encapsulating member will be reasonably adhered to a wall by removing the paper peel-off backing and applying the adhesive surface against the wall thereby providing an adhesive means of attachment of the device to the wall and in a similar fashion to the curtain to be secured. Other mechanical fastening means of attachment of the device to the wall or curtain such as nails or screws may be required when the product is used in other applications, still leaving enough area within to effectively work as a drain channel. The channel member has two diametrically opposing inward protrusions at the outer most sides forming a “C” channel, which encapsulates the grooves in the adjoining attachment member when properly aligned and pressed firmly together. The groove attachment member will be similarly adhered to the hem or sides of the fabric with which the enclosure is made by the means of removing the paper peel-off surface and pressing into place. Two “U” shaped grooves extend outwardly in opposite directions from the attachment member, entrapping the two diametrically opposed protrusions on the channel member, thus forming two opposing pressure seals on the sides and creating a means of drainage therein in the form of the channel formed between the attachment member and the channel member when engaged. With the grooved attachment member slightly shorter than the channel-encapsulating member that is attached to the wall, moisture therein will drain out into the containment area through the opening. An optional orifice on the side of the channel-encapsulating member at the lower end will direct the moisture therein toward the containment area. When engaging or disengaging the two parts, a limited resistance is incurred until the action is initiated and the coefficient of friction allows them to translate easily. While a suitable arrangement exists with the two components, using an angular clasping member with similar adhesive attachment to the opposite side of the hem from the groove attachment member, an added means of disengagement created. The adhesion of these three parts will be improved with holes being punched with a standard hole punch, allowing the two adhesive surfaces to consolidate. The current best mode would have these components manufactured by the extrusion of a flexible polymer, though other manufacturing methods may be developed. In some instances, substantially rigid components of the same configuration, and for the same application, may be required. 
     The object of this invention is to produce a simple product that efficiently retains moisture in a dual sealing method and directs it down a drain passage and out into a containment area as in a bathtub or shower. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a product that can be used effectively in many areas of the recreation vehicle and mobile home industry where wall structures are light, containment of moisture is essential, and plastic fasteners are used in great numbers. 
     Another object of this invention is the creation of a product that can effectively be used for the attachment of weather sealing fabric rooms on the sides of recreation vehicles. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a product that can be used on the installation of vinyl covering over windows and doors in cold climates to retard damage by inclement weather. 
     Another object of this invention is to produce a product with the said characteristics that can be flexible enough to be rolled into coils and sold in random lengths cut to order, or may also be sold in precut lengths of semi-rigid stock. 
     Still another object of this invention is to create a product that does not retain moisture, does not collect lint and fuzz, is easy to clean and still offers a similar engagement and disengagement capability as Velcro. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective of a tub and shower enclosure with the flexible mounting and sealing strips installed on both ends of the shower curtain and attached to the walls. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shower curtain installation assembly in the engaged position. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the resilient grooved engagement member. 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the resilient channel-encapsulating member. 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of a shower curtain assembly with grooved engagement member and the channel-encapsulating member in the engaged position. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shower curtain installation assembly with an optional angular clasping member, and depicting water being directed back into the tub. 
     FIG. 7 is the end view of said assembly showing the engagement member having an optional angular clasping member and showing the side orifice at the bottom. 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of the assembly depicting a means of attachment in the form of screw and washer attaching the channel-encapsulating member to a wall or window. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, specifically FIG. 1 and 2 depict a preferred embodiment of the device  10  as a resilient mounting and sealing strip shown in the embodiment of a shower curtain seal where it provides a major improvement over conventional shower curtain mounting which generally leaks through gaps. However other curtains and flexible walls needing sealed edges could use the device  10  and such applications are foreseen. 
     The shower curtain  12  is held in place in a conventional fashion above the tub  20  by a set of rings  14  to curtain rod  16  encompassing the periphery of the enclosure that is thereupon attached to the wall  18 . The shower curtain  12  falls naturally into the confines of the tub  20 , but hangs loosely at the edges allowing the user to grip the curtain for pulling and disengagement of the two parts to the device  10  when engaged. This disengagement to a separate position provides a user variable gap between the two halves of the device when in a separate position thereby providing the user a means for entry into and exit from the tub  20  when the attachment member  22  is disengaged from the channel encapsulating member  26 . 
     A sealed engagement of the curtain  12  with the wall  18  is provided by the joining of the flexible and resilient grooved attachment member  22 , with the resilient channel-encapsulating member  26 , shown in FIG. 2 in an engaged position and also depicted in the end view in FIG.  5 . When cooperatively attached in an engaged position the attachment member  22  and channel encapsulating member  26  form a pair of substantially water tight seals thereby stopping water from leaking between the curtain hem  30  and wall  18  as would be the case in conventional shower curtain mountings upon tube  20 . 
     The flexible grooved attachment member shown in FIG. 3, is best attached to the hem  30  of the shower curtain  12  using an adhesive means of attachment in the form of a peel and stick adhesive backing  24  attached to the substantially flat mounting side of the attachment member  22  by removing the paper peel-off protective surface  29  and pressing firmly against the edge of the curtain  12 . The channel-encapsulating member  26  shown in FIG. 4 is similarly configured with an adhesive backing  24  affixed to an attachment side with a peel-off paper protective surface  29  which is removed for mounting and attaches to the intended wall  18  at one or both vertical edges of the sliding curtain  12 . 
     The union between the channel-encapsulating member  26  and the attachment member  22  is accomplished by a cooperative engagement between the two diametrically opposing “L” shaped inward protrusions  32  and  34  attached to the mating side opposite the attachment side of the channel-encapsulating member  26  and the “U” shaped grooves  40  and  42  formed by the wall surface of outwardly protruding tips  36  and  38  which protrude from the engagement side opposite the mounting side of the attachment member  22 . The resilient material forming the grooved attachment member  22  allows the protruding tips  36  and  38  to flex inward of the L shaped inward protrusions  32  and  34  of the channel-encapsulating member  26  during insertion to the engaged position and bias away from each other toward and outward direction. The resilient nature of the material forming the L shaped protrusions also biases them toward the protruding tips providing an especially stable engagement. This creates a biased engagement of both tips  36  and  38  with both protrusions  32  and  34  and a double sealing means or sealing means with two parallel seals to prevent water from leaking past the device  10 . 
     The device  10  when in the engaged position shown in FIG. 5, showing the sealing means and aforementioned two seals, creates a means of sealing both edges of the assembly while concurrently forming a means for directional draining of water breaching the first seal, in the form of drain passage  44  therein. This drain passage  44  insures that any errant moisture passing through the first seal on the tub side of the device  10  will be stopped by the second seal and will therein flow down the drain passage  44  and be directed into the tub. The means for directional drainage in the current best mode is provided by one or a combination of drain aperture  50 , shown in FIG. 6, which communicates with the drain passage  44  on the tub side wall surface of the channel member  26  or, slot aperture  28  of FIG. 2, formed by the grooved attachment member  22  being dimensioned slightly shorter than the length of the channel member  26  thereby creating the slot aperture  28 . Due to the natural tub side slant of the tub surface, any water  52  breaching the first sealing edge on the tub side and caught by the drain passage  44  exits toward the tub  20  through one or both of the slot aperture  28  and the drain aperture  50  which communicate with the drain passage  44 . This prevents water  52  from falling on the floor outside the tub  20  where it could cause damage or injury. 
     FIG. 6 further describes an alternate embodiment whereby the channel-encapsulating member  26  and the grooved attachment member  22  incorporate an angular clasping member  46  adhered to the hem  30  shown in FIG. 7, and may run from top to bottom, or may be used in short segments as required. The angular clasping member  46  could also be formed as part of the grooved attachment member  22 . If extra strength of a mount is desired for high use conditions, the gripping means attachment to the hem  30  can be established by punching holes  48 , whereby the adhesive on the common foam adhesive backings  24  may consolidate. 
     FIG. 8 elaborates on the mechanical means of attachment for channel member  26  should a very strong attachment to the wall be desired and includes the incorporation of a screw  54  and washer  56 , whereby the assembly may be attached to a mounting surface  58  such as wood framing in houses and when used in many of the alternative concepts requiring other than an adhesive mount. 
     While all the fundamental characteristics and features of the flexible mounting and sealing strips have been shown and described, it should be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.