Shower expander

A shower expander assembly is provided for use with a shower area having a curtain. The assembly has a coupling for connecting the assembly to a shower curtain rod. The assembly also has a pair of rods. A first rod is connected to the coupling and extends from the coupling. The first rod has a first end and a second end, and the first rod is connected to the coupling at the first end. A second rod is pivotally connected to the second end of the first rod. The second rod is movable between a storage position and a use position. The second rod is configured such that in the storage position the second rod is substantially parallel to the first rod and in the use position the second rod is not substantially parallel to the first rod.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to accessories for use with a shower curtain. More specifically, the invention relates to shower accessories for use with a shower curtain that increase the useable space within a shower area.

2. Description of Related Art

A typical bath tub, which often doubles as a shower stall, is approximately twenty-seven (27) inches wide. As such, there may not be enough space for a user to move about without touching the side solid wall and the shower curtain, especially if the user has a large frame or has a disability. Further, the shower curtain may tend to draw inward, providing even less space for a user. Thus, a variety of mechanisms have been used to increase the space that a user may have within a shower area. Some devices involve tying the shower curtain to an outside object, which may interfere with the ability of another person to use the washroom simultaneously. Other devices may involve altering the construction of the shower curtain rod itself. However, it may be desirable to remove the expanding device when the device is not in use, especially in small washrooms. Still other devices have been provided that may be removed when not in use, however, these devices are often bulky and often occupy a substantial amount of space in the washroom even when they are not being used.

In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for a shower expanding device that effectively increases the useable space within a shower area, while remaining compact both during use and storage of the device.

SUMMARY

In satisfying the above and other needs, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other readily recognized limitations of the art, the present invention provides a shower expander assembly that is compact in use and more compact in storage. Further, the shower expander assembly may be manufactured inexpensively and not interfere with the ability of others to simultaneously use a washroom.

The shower expander assembly is intended for use with a shower area having a curtain. The shower expander assembly has a pair of rods and a coupling for connecting the assembly to a shower curtain rod. A first rod of the shower expander assembly is connected to the coupling and extends from the coupling. The first rod has a first end and a second end, the first rod being connected to the coupling at the first end. A second rod is pivotally connected to the second end of the first rod. The second rod is movable between a storage position and a use position. The second rod is configured such that in the storage position the second rod is substantially parallel to the first rod and in the use position the second rod is not substantially parallel to the first rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, a shower expander assembly embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated therein and designated at10. The assembly10includes a coupling12, a first rod14, and a second rod16. The first rod14is attached to the coupling12and extends from the coupling12. Preferably the first rod14is connected to the coupling12with a rigid joint18; however, it is contemplated that the joint18could have configurations that are not rigid, such as a joint that is moveable between a rigid position and a non-rigid position, without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. The rods14,16may have any suitable cross-section, without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, they could have a circular, rectangular, or triangular cross-section. Further, the rods14,16are illustrated as being straight rods, but it is also contemplated that the rods14,16could be curved or could have any other suitable configuration. The rods14,16are preferably formed of high-impact plastic; however, any other suitable material may be used, without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The first rod14has a first end20and a second end22. The first rod14is connected to the coupling12at its first end20, and the first rod14is connected to the second rod16at its second end22. As used herein, the terms first “end” and second “end” are to be construed liberally, such that the ends20,22need not be at the very tip of the first rod14, but may be merely near the tip of the first rod14. For example, the second rod16is connected to the first rod14, not at the very tip of the first rod14, but at a location near the tip, as shown inFIG. 1.

The second rod16is pivotally connected to the second end22of the first rod14. The second rod16may be pivotally connected at a pivot point23by a pin24, as shown inFIG. 1. The pin24preferably has an interference fit with the rods14,16, such that some amount of force is required to rotate the second rod16about the pivot point23. Instead of being connected by a pin24, the second rod16may alternatively be pivotally connected to first rod14in any other suitable manner. For example, the first rod14could have holders integrally formed therewith to pivotally hold the second rod16, or the second rod16could be connected by a set screw, a rivet, a bolt, or it could be integrally formed with one or more of the rods14,16, such as a channel in at least one rod into which the other rod is biased by way of a spring or the like. Preferably, the first and second rods14,16are held together at the pivot point23with a snug interference fit, but in the alternative, the pivot point23could have a loose fit with a locking mechanism, such as a set screw or one or more channels into which one or both rods are biased thereinto, to hold the rods in the desired position.

The pivot point23is preferably located near the center of the second rod16, as shown inFIG. 1. However, the pivot point23could be located at any other point along the second rod16, without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example the pivot point23could be located an end of the second rod16.

The second rod16is configured to pivot between a use position and a storage position, as indicated by the arrow26inFIG. 1. In the storage position, the second rod16is substantially parallel to the first rod14. This substantially parallel configuration allows the assembly10to be neatly stored, which will be described in more detail below. In the use position, the second16may be pivoted along the pivot point23, such that an angle A exists between the first rod14and the second rod16. Preferably, the angle A is approximately 90 degrees, such that the second rod16is substantially perpendicular to the first rod14in the use position; in other words, the first and second rods14,16form a “T” shape in the use position. See, e.g.,FIG. 2A. In the alternative, it is contemplated that the angle A may be virtually any angle, without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention; in other words, the rods14,16could form a shape other than a “T” shape in the use position, such as an “X” shape.

With reference toFIGS. 1,2A, and2B, the coupling12is configured to be connected to a shower curtain rod30in a shower area32. It is contemplated that the coupling12could be alternatively be connected to another member within the shower area32, instead of the shower curtain rod30, without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. The coupling12is configured to be removably attached to a shower curtain rod30; in other words, a user may remove the coupling12from the shower curtain rod30, if desired. To this end, the coupling12may have a variety of configurations within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, with reference toFIG. 1, the coupling has a “C” shape and is slightly deformable, so that the coupling12may slide on and off of a shower curtain rod30through the opening34of the coupling12. Other variations of the coupling12will be described in further detail below.

When in the use position, the shower expander assembly10is configured to hold a shower curtain36outward from the shower area32. With reference toFIG. 2B, the assembly10is held at an angle B from the plane of the edge39of the bath tub38. The angle B could have any value between about 0 and about 180 degrees, and is preferably in the range of about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees. In this way, the assembly10operates to hold the shower curtain36out and away from the shower area32, thereby increasing the space that an occupant has in the shower area32. The shower curtain36is held outward, but the end42of the shower curtain36remains within the bath tub38, because conventional shower curtains38are long enough to remain within the bath tub38even if held outward by the shower expander assembly10.

The coupling12is configured to be attached to the shower curtain rod30in a rigidly attached position and a loosely attached position. This can be achieved in any suitable manner, and a few examples are provided herein. With reference toFIG. 1, the coupling12has a set screw50. The set screw50may be screwed in and out of a threaded aperture52. When the set screw50is screwed into the threaded aperture52, the set screw50will extend through the coupling12into an inner space54. When the coupling12is fitted around a shower curtain rod30, the set screw50may be tightened until the set screw50contacts the shower curtain rod30firmly to hold the coupling12in a desired orientation. When a user desires to use the shower expander assembly10, the user would preferably orient the coupling12so that the first rod14has an angle B, in the ranges described above, with respect to the plane of the bath tub edge39. Alternatives to a set screw in a threaded aperture may be provided that nevertheless fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, such as a pin that is interference fit into an aperture.

When a user desires to store the shower expander assembly10, the user loosens the set screw50until the coupling12loosely hangs from the shower curtain rod30, in a loosely connected position. In the loosely connected position, the first rod14will hang straight downward due to gravitational forces thereon. The second rod16may then be rotated about the pivot point23until it is parallel with the first rod14, and the shower expander assembly10is then fully in the storage position. The set screw50may be configured such that it is not removable from the coupling12, which is a configuration that has the added benefit of keeping the set screw50attached to the coupling12to prevent loss. The loosened coupling may be slid to one end of the shower rod or, if the coupling provides sufficient clearance to do so, the coupling may be removed from the rod, if desired.

In this embodiment, the coupling12is shown having a “C” shape. It should be understood that the “C” shape could be a half cylinder, a ¾ cylinder, or it could comprise any other suitable portion of a cylinder. Further, the coupling12could have configurations other than that of a “C” shape. For example, the coupling12be a full cylindrical tube, which could be slid onto a shower rod from one end when the shower rod is detached from the wall.

With reference toFIG. 3A, another coupling112for use with a shower expander assembly10is illustrated. The coupling112has a flexible strap160, which is preferably formed of a plastic, elastic, or elastomeric material. The flexible strap160has a plurality of apertures162, which are configured to be inserted over a connecting pin164. When a user desires to install the coupling12in the rigidly attached position, so that he/she may use the shower expander assembly10, the user secures the connecting pin164within an aperture162such that the flexible strap is tightly held over a shower curtain rod30. When the flexible strap160is attached to the connecting pin164to hold the coupling12tightly to the shower curtain rod130, the coupling112stays in the desired rotational position after the user releases his/her grip on the assembly10if the flexible strap160is connected with sufficient tightness. To release the coupling112, the user pulls the flexible strap160away from the connecting pin164.

With reference toFIG. 3B, another coupling212for use with a shower expander assembly10is illustrated. The coupling212has a flexible strap260, which is preferably formed of a plastic, elastic, or elastomeric material. The flexible strap260has a plurality of circular bulges266. The flexible strap260is configured to be inserted through an aperture268on the coupling212. When a user desires to hold the coupling212in a rigidly attached position to use the shower expander assembly10, the user pulls the flexible strap260through the aperture268, using the pull tab270, until a sufficient number of bulges266are pulled through the aperture268to secure the coupling212tightly to the shower curtain rod30. The bulges266may be pulled back through the aperture268in the opposite direction to release the coupling212.

From the above description, it can be seen that the shower expander assembly10is operable between a use position and a storage position, and a user may easily convert the assembly10between the two positions. The assembly10allows a shower area32to be expanded, without altering the shower curtain rod30or the shower curtain38. Further, the shower expander assembly10is relatively compact, especially in the storage position. When a user puts the shower expander assembly10into the use position, the user gains more space to move about the shower area32.

Although various examples were given of the coupling12,112,212, it should be understood that any suitable configuration of the coupling12,112,212may be used. Other suitable configurations may include a clamp, a bolt, or an interference fit between the shower curtain rod30and the coupling. The preferable attributes of the coupling12,112,212include that it be detachable from the shower curtain rod30after being attached thereto, and that it be moveable between a rigidly attached position and a loosely attached position on the shower curtain rod30.