Shower curtain closure system

A shower curtain closure system for keeping a shower curtain fully extended across opposite walls of a bathtub area. The shower curtain closure system includes a flexible shower curtain for downwardly depending from the shower curtain rod. The shower curtain has a pair of side edges. The system also include a pair of elongate angle rods. Each of the angle rods has a longitudinal axis, exterior and interior faces, and first and second elongate portions substantially perpendicular to each other such that each angle rod has a generally L-shaped transverse cross section taken from a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the respective angle rod. The first elongate portion of the angle rods is designed for coupling opposing wall surfaces adjacent a bathtub such that the second elongate portions of the angle rods are extended towards each other. One of the side edges of the shower curtain is detachably attached to second elongate portion of one of the angle rods and the other of the side edges of the shower curtain is detachably attached to the other of the side edges of the shower curtain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to systems for keeping a shower curtain fully 
extended across opposite walls of a bathtub area and more particularly 
pertains to a new shower curtain closure system for keeping a shower 
curtain fully extended across opposite walls of a bathtub area. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of systems for keeping a shower curtain fully extended across 
opposite walls of a bathtub area is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, systems for keeping a shower curtain fully extended across 
opposite walls of a bathtub area heretofore devised and utilized are known 
to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural 
configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the 
crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of 
countless objectives and requirements. 
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,148,580; 4,594,741; U.S. Pat. No. 
5,228,149; U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,919; U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,684; and U.S. Pat. 
No. Des. 284,024. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new shower 
curtain closure system. The inventive device includes a flexible shower 
curtain for downwardly depending from the shower curtain rod. The shower 
curtain has a pair of side edges. The system also include a pair of 
elongate angle rods. Each of the angle rods has a longitudinal axis, 
exterior and interior faces, and first and second elongate portions 
substantially perpendicular to each other such that each angle rod has a 
generally L-shaped transverse cross section taken from a plane 
substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the respective 
angle rod. The first elongate portion of the angle rods is designed for 
coupling opposing wall surfaces adjacent a bathtub such that the second 
elongate portions of the angle rods are extended towards each other. One 
of the side edges of the shower curtain is detachably attached to second 
elongate portion of one of the angle rods and the other of the side edges 
of the shower curtain is detachably attached to the other of the side 
edges of the shower curtain. 
In these respects, the shower curtain closure system according to the 
present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and 
designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of keeping a shower curtain fully extended 
across opposite walls of a bathtub area. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
systems for keeping a shower curtain fully extended across opposite walls 
of a bathtub area now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a new shower curtain closure system construction wherein the same 
can be utilized for keeping a shower curtain fully extended across 
opposite walls of a bathtub area. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new shower curtain closure 
system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the 
systems for keeping a shower curtain fully extended across opposite walls 
of a bathtub area mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result 
in a new shower curtain closure system which is not anticipated, rendered 
obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art systems for 
keeping a shower curtain fully extended across opposite walls of a bathtub 
area, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a flexible shower 
curtain for downwardly depending from the shower curtain rod. The shower 
curtain has a pair of side edges. The system also include a pair of 
elongate angle rods. Each of the angle rods has a longitudinal axis, 
exterior and interior faces, and first and second elongate portions 
substantially perpendicular to each other such that each angle rod has a 
generally L-shaped transverse cross section taken from a plane 
substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the respective 
angle rod. The first elongate portion of the angle rods is designed for 
coupling opposing wall surfaces adjacent a bathtub such that the second 
elongate portions of the angle rods are extended towards each other. One 
of the side edges of the shower curtain is detachably attached to second 
elongate portion of one of the angle rods and the other of the side edges 
of the shower curtain is detachably attached to the other of the side 
edges of the shower curtain. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new shower 
curtain closure system apparatus and method which has many of the 
advantages of the systems for keeping a shower curtain fully extended 
across opposite walls of a bathtub area mentioned heretofore and many 
novel features that result in a new shower curtain closure system which is 
not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of 
the prior art systems for keeping a shower curtain fully extended across 
opposite walls of a bathtub area, either alone or in any combination 
thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new shower 
curtain closure system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured 
and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new shower 
curtain closure system which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new shower 
curtain closure system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture 
with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making 
such shower curtain closure system economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
shower curtain closure system which provides in the apparatuses and 
methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while 
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated 
therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new shower 
curtain closure system for keeping a shower curtain fully extended across 
opposite walls of a bathtub area. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new shower 
curtain closure system which includes a flexible shower curtain for 
downwardly depending from the shower curtain rod. The shower curtain has a 
pair of side edges. The system also include a pair of elongate angle rods. 
Each of the angle rods has a longitudinal axis, exterior and interior 
faces, and first and second elongate portions substantially perpendicular 
to each other such that each angle rod has a generally L-shaped transverse 
cross section taken from a plane substantially perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axis of the respective angle rod. The first elongate portion 
of the angle rods is designed for coupling opposing wall surfaces adjacent 
a bathtub such that the second elongate portions of the angle rods are 
extended towards each other. One of the side edges of the shower curtain 
is detachably attached to second elongate portion of one of the angle rods 
and the other of the side edges of the shower curtain is detachably 
attached to the other of the side edges of the shower curtain. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
shower curtain closure system that helps prevent water from a shower in a 
bathtub from passing through gaps between a wall of the bathtub area and a 
shower curtain to help keep the bathroom floor dry. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 
thereof, a new shower curtain closure system embodying the principles and 
concepts of the present invention will be described. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the shower curtain closure system 
generally comprises a flexible shower curtain for downwardly depending 
from the shower curtain rod. The shower curtain has a pair of side edges. 
The system also include a pair of elongate angle rods. Each of the angle 
rods has a longitudinal axis, exterior and interior faces, and first and 
second elongate portions substantially perpendicular to each other such 
that each angle rod has a generally L-shaped transverse cross section 
taken from a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of 
the respective angle rod. The first elongate portion of the angle rods is 
designed for coupling opposing wall surfaces adjacent a bathtub such that 
the second elongate portions of the angle rods are extended towards each 
other. One of the side edges of the shower curtain is detachably attached 
to second elongate portion of one of the angle rods and the other of the 
side edges of the shower curtain is detachably attached to the other of 
the side edges of the shower curtain. 
In closer detail the shower curtain closure system is designed for use in 
conjunction with a bathtub 10 interposed between a pair of opposing 
vertical wall surfaces 11,12. The bathtub has a perimeter side wall with 
an exposed side 13 extending between the wall surfaces and an upper face 
14 extending at least across the exposed side of the perimeter side wall. 
A shower curtain rod 15 is extended between the wall surfaces above the 
exposed side of the bathtub. 
The system includes a flexible shower curtain 16 which downwardly depends 
from the shower curtain rod. The shower curtain has inwards and outwards 
faces 17,18, and a generally rectangular outer perimeter comprising a 
substantially horizontal upper edge 19, a substantially horizontal lower 
edge, and a pair of substantially vertical side edges 20,21 extending 
between the upper and lower edges of the shower curtain. 
The upper edge of the shower curtain typically has a plurality of shower 
curtain rings 22 coupled thereto by extension through a plurality of holes 
23 along the upper edge of the shower curtain. The shower curtain rings 
are slidably mounting the upper edge of the shower curtain to the shower 
curtain rod. 
The system also includes a pair of elongate angle rods 24,25. Each of the 
angle rods has a longitudinal axis, exterior and interior faces 26,27, and 
first and second elongate portions 28,29 substantially perpendicular to 
each other such that each angle rod has a generally L-shaped transverse 
cross section taken from a plane substantially perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axis of the respective angle rod. 
Each of the angle rods may even have a resilient outer coating 
substantially covering the respective angle rod to prevent the angle rods 
from scratching adjacent surfaces. In one such embodiment, the outer 
coating may comprise a resilient rubber or plastic material. Optionally, 
the outer coating may even comprise a fiberglass material. 
The first elongate portion of one of the angle rods is coupled to one of 
the wall surfaces and the first elongate portion of the other of the angle 
rods is coupled to the other of the wall surfaces adjacent the exposed 
side of the perimeter side wall of the bathtub. The angle rods are 
extended between the upper face of the perimeter side wall of the bathtub 
and the shower rod such that an upper end of each angle rod is positioned 
adjacent the shower rod and a lower end of each angle rod is positioned 
adjacent the upper face of the perimeter side wall of the bathtub. In this 
arrangement, the longitudinal axes of the angle rods are extended 
substantially vertically along the wall surfaces. 
In one embodiment, the interior faces of the angle rods each may have an 
adhesive strip 31 provided along the first elongate portion of the 
respective angle rod to adhesively couple the first elongate portions of 
the angle rods to the wall surfaces. Optionally, each adhesive strip may 
be covered by a peelable protective backing 32 thereon which is removed 
prior to coupling of the respective angle rod to the associated wall 
surface. 
The second elongate portions of the angle rods are extended towards each 
other from their respective side walls when the angle rods are mounted to 
the wall surfaces. In this arrangement, the exterior faces of the angle 
rods along the second elongate portions of the angle rods face outwards 
from the bathtub. 
One of the side edges of the shower curtain is detachably attached to 
second elongate portion of one of the angle rods and the other of the side 
edges of the shower curtain is detachably attached to the other of the 
side edges of the shower curtain. In particular, the side edges of the 
shower curtain may be attached to the second elongate portion of the 
respective angle rod on the exterior face of the respective angle rod. 
In one embodiment, each of the angle rods comprises a magnetizable metal 
33. In this embodiment, the side edges of the shower curtain are 
magnetically detachably attached to the second elongate portion of the 
respective angle rod. In such an embodiment, the inwards face of the 
shower curtain may have a plurality of magnets 34 provided thereon with at 
least one of the magnets is positioned adjacent one of the side edges of 
the shower curtain and at least one other of the magnets is positioned 
adjacent the other of the side edges of the shower curtain for 
magnetically detachably attaching each side edge to the respective angle 
rod. 
In one embodiment, the magnets may be flat and generally rectangular in 
shape. In one such embodiment, the inwards face of the shower curtain may 
have a plurality of pockets 35 arranged into a pair of rows. Each pocket 
has one of the magnet disposed therein. One of the rows of pockets is 
extended along one of the side edges of the shower curtain and the other 
of the rows of pockets is extended along the other of the side edges of 
the shower curtain. The pockets may be spaced apart at substantially equal 
intervals in the respective row of pockets. the inwards face of the shower 
curtain has at least one pull loop 36 coupled thereto adjacent one of the 
side edge of the shower curtain towards the upper edge of the shower 
curtain for aiding the moving of the shower curtain along the shower 
curtain rod. 
With reference to FIG. 5, in one optional embodiment, a hook and loop 
fastener 37 may be used to detachably attaches each side edge of the 
shower curtain to the second elongate portion of the adjacent associated 
angle rod. 
In another optional embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a magnetizable 
metal rod 38 may be embedded into each wall surface, each rod extending 
vertically along each wall surface and has a lower region extending along 
an adjacent portion of the upper face and perimeter side wall of the 
bathtub. This embodiment provides a secure closure between the side edges 
of the shower curtain down past the upper face of the perimeter side wall 
of the bathtub. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.