Abstract:
A splash guard includes a shield that deploys in one direction, such as horizontally, but that also can be moved in a transverse direction, such as vertically, relative to a housing upon deployment. The retractable shield is used in a bathtub environment to help form a short retractable vertical wall across the open side of the bathtub to help return splashed water to the bathtub. Methods of using a retractable splash guard are also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed generally to a bathtub accessory, and more particularly to a retractable splash guard for containing water splashed from a bathtub. 
   Children, especially babies and young toddlers, frequently splash about while being bathed and/or take great pleasure in using squirting toys while bathing. Both activities cause water to be expelled from the bathtub that either drenches the parent overseeing the bathing or ends up on the floor, both of which are obviously undesirable. As such, various approaches to containing water in the bathtub have been proposed. One approach is simply to use a conventional shower curtain; however, this approach makes it almost impossible for the parent to reach into the bathtub to aid in the bathing process. Another approach is to use a short rigid wall that runs along the open side of the bathtub, such that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,249,315 and 5,365,619; however, these devices are cumbersome to use and consume relatively large amounts of space. Another approach is to attach an inclined plane to the side of the tub, with the plane extending outwardly away from the tub; however, this approach restricts access and is likewise quite space consuming. 
   Accordingly, there remains a need for alternative designs for splash guards, preferably designs that are space efficient for storage and/or allow a reasonable degree of access to the bathtub for the person outside the bathtub. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a retractable splash guard with a shield that deploys in one direction (e.g., horizontally), but that also can be moved in a generally transverse second direction (e.g., vertically) relative to a housing upon deployment. The retractable shield is used in a bathtub environment to help form a short retractable vertical wall across the open side of the bathtub to help return splashed water to the bathtub. Methods of using a retractable splash guard are also disclosed. 
   In one embodiment, the present invention provides a retractable splash guard comprising: a housing having a longitudinal axis extending in a first direction and a shaft mounted for rotation about the axis; a sleeve coupled to the shaft and moveable relative thereto along the axis; a flexible shield having first and second end sections and an intermediate section, the first end section anchored to the sleeve; the intermediate section having a height greater than the first end section by a first amount and greater than the second end section; the shield moveable in a second direction generally transverse to the axis between a retracted position and a deployed position; the shield coiled about the sleeve in the retracted position; the second end section and the intermediate section disposed distally from the sleeve in the second direction in the deployed position; and wherein the sleeve is moveable relative to the shaft along the axis by at least about the first amount in the deployed position. The sleeve is advantageously rotationally coupled to the shaft and the shaft is advantageously rotationally biased to urge the shield to retract. The shield may advantageously be transparent, or at least translucent, optionally with indicia visible on the shield in the deployed position. A mounting flange may be affixed to the second end portion of the shield, with the mounting flange having attachment means for attaching to a wall. Likewise, the housing may include means for mounting to a wall. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention provides a retractable splash guard comprising: a housing having a longitudinal axis extending in a first direction; a flexible shield having proximate and distal end sections relative to the housing and an intermediate section; the intermediate section having a height greater than the first end section by a first amount and greater than the second end section; the shield moveable in a second direction generally transverse to the axis between a retracted position and a deployed position; means for allowing the shield to play out from the housing in the second direction to a point where distal end section and the intermediate section are disposed distally from the housing, and, while in the deployed position, for allowing the proximate end section to move relative to the housing along the axis by at least about the first amount. The splash guard may further comprise means for rotationally biasing the shield to retracted position. 
   In another embodiment, a method of containing splashed water from escaping a bathtub comprises: providing a splash guard having a retractable flexible shield selectively deployable from a housing, the housing having a generally vertical longitudinal axis and a shaft mounted for rotation about the axis; the flexible shield horizontally moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position and having first and second end sections and an intermediate section; the intermediate section having a height greater than the first end section by a first amount and greater than the second end section; the splash guard having a sleeve coupled to the shaft and vertically moveable relative thereto along the axis; the first end section of the shield anchored to the sleeve; moving the shield horizontally from a retracted position wherein the shield is coiled about the sleeve to a deployed position wherein the second end section and the intermediate section are disposed distally from the sleeve; and sliding the sleeve relative to the shaft along the axis in a downward direction by a distance of at least about the first amount. The method may further comprise thereafter attaching the second end section of the shield to a wall and/or thereafter detaching the second end section of the shield from the wall and retracting the shield horizontally so that the shield reassumes the retracted position. The retracting the shield may comprise moving the sleeve in a direction opposite the first direction prior to coiling the intermediate section about the sleeve. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the splash guard in accordance with the present invention installed in a bathtub environment. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the splash guard of  FIG. 1  without the flexible shield. 
       FIG. 3  shows the flexible shield connected to the sleeve. 
       FIG. 4  shows the splash guard of  FIG. 1  in the retracted position. 
       FIG. 5  shows the splash guard of  FIG. 1  in a deployed position, but not secured to both structural walls, and with the sleeve in the upward position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The splash guard  30  of the present invention is intended to be used in a bathtub environment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a bathtub  10  includes a pool or well  12  for holding water, with a front  14 , a rear  16 , and respective sides  18 , 20 . The controls  15  for the bathtub  10 , such as the faucet, drain, and control valve(s) are typically located toward the front of the bathtub  10 . One of the sides  20  of the bathtub  10  is conventionally the side from which people enter and exit the bathtub  10 , and is referred to herein as the access side  20  of the bathtub  10  for convenience. Typically, the bathtub  10  is surrounded on three sides by structural walls, including a front wall  26  and a rear wall  28 , and a longer side wall opposite the access side  20 . However, the access side  20  of the bathtub  10  is typically open, and the access side  20  conventionally has a relatively flat upper surface  22  that is fairly wide. 
   One embodiment of the splash guard of the present invention, generally indicated at  30  includes a housing  32 , slidable sleeve  60 , and a retractable shield  70 . The housing  32  is intended to mount to one of the structural walls  28  proximate the bathtub  10 , and the shield  70  is intended to deploy from, and retract back into, the housing  32 . The slidable sleeve  60  connects the shield  70  to the housing  32  and allows the shield to move vertically relative to the housing  32 , as described further below. 
   The housing  32  is generally elongate, extending along longitudinal axis  34 . The housing  32  includes a longitudinal wall  40 , end caps  36   a , 36   b , and a shaft  50 . The longitudinal wall  40  advantageously takes the form of a curved wall that extends approximately 180° around the axis  34 , essentially being one half of a hollow cylinder. The end sections of the longitudinal wall  40  may have thickened and/or flattened sections for mounting the end caps  36   a , 36   b  if desired. The end caps  36   a , 36   b  are attached to the respective ends of the longitudinal wall  40 , such as by screws  38  and extend generally perpendicular thereto. Other means of attaching the end caps  36   a , 36   b  may alternatively be used, such as snap fitting, glue, or the like. The end caps  36   a , 36   b  may have flattened sections and peripheral recesses, for mating with the longitudinal wall  40 . In addition, the end caps  36   a , 36   b  may have central recesses for accepting the ends of the shaft  50 . The shaft  50  typically takes the form of hollow cylinder, but this is not required in all embodiments. The shaft  50  extends between the end caps  36   a , 36   b , along longitudinal axis  34 , and is mounted so as to be rotationally coupled to the end caps  36   a , 36   b  for rotation about longitudinal axis  34 . 
   The shaft  50  is advantageously rotationally biased, such as by an internal spring  54  anchored on one end to an endcap  36   a  and on the other end to the shaft  50 , for reasons discussed further below. Spring  54  may take the form of a conventional extension spring aligned along the rotational axis  34 , and secured at one end to the upper end cap  36   a  and at the other end to a cross pin extending laterally through the shaft  50 . Of course, any variety of other means known in the art may alternatively be used to rotationally bias the shaft  50  if desired. 
   The sleeve  60  is slidably mounted on shaft  50  so as to be moveable in relation thereto along longitudinal axis  34 . The sleeve  60  typically takes the form of a hollow cylindrical body, but this is not required in all embodiments. The sleeve  60  is coupled to shaft  50  so as to rotate therewith. To achieve this, the sleeve  60  may be coupled to shaft  50  via a guide pin  62  that extends through a longitudinal slot  52  in the middle section of shaft  50 . This guide pin  62  may take many forms, but a simple screw/nut arrangement has been found to be effective. The guide pin  62  forces sleeve  60  to rotate with shaft  50 , but allows sleeve  60  to move longitudinally along shaft  50  in a sliding motion. 
   The retractable shield  70  may advantageously take the form of flexible plastic sheet. The shield  70  has respective end sections  82 , 84  and an intermediate section  90 . One end section  82  is anchored to the sleeve  60  such as by gluing, and the other end section  84  is selectively moveable toward and away from the housing  32 . For ease of reference, the shield end section closest to the sleeve  60  is referred to herein as the reel section  82 , and the shield end section farthest from the sleeve  60  is referred to herein as the latch section  84 . The upper edge  72  of the shield  70  is advantageously relatively straight, but the lower edge  74  of the shield  70  is contoured so that the intermediate section  90  extends downward relative to the end sections  82 , 84 . In particular, the lower edge  74  of the shield  70  in the intermediate section  90  extends beyond the lower edge  74  in the reel section  82  by an amount X. Stated another way, the height H of the intermediate section  90 , as measured downward from the top edge  72  of the shield  70 , is greater than the height H e  of the reel section  82  by an amount X. While the intermediate section  90  may advantageously also be taller than the latch section  84  by X, such is not required in all embodiments. The lower edge  74  preferably smoothly transitions from the end sections  82 , 84  to the intermediate section  90 , but this is not required in all embodiments, and the transition may be step-like if desired. The majority of the shield  70 , and at least the intermediate section  90 , is advantageously transparent, although translucence may be suitable for some applications. In addition, the intermediate section  90  may have suitable indicia printed thereon if desired, such as animals, cartoon characters, the ocean, and the like. It is intended that the shield  70  will, when deployed, reach only a limited distance above the top surface  22  of the access side  20  of bathtub  10 , so that a parent may easily reach over the shield  70  to reach a child bathing in the tub. As such, it is expected that the maximum height H of the shield  70  will be in the range of twelve to twenty-four inches, advantageously sixteen to eighteen inches. 
   The latch section  84  of the shield  70  advantageously includes a flange  86  attached thereto. This flange  86  provides a convenient means for attaching the latch section  84  to the corresponding structural wall  26  and somewhat structurally supports the latch section  84 . For the embodiment shown in the  FIG. 1 , the flange  86  advantageously has a L-shaped cross-section, with suitable hook and loop fastener pads  88  on one side. A portion of the flange  86  may engage the housing&#39;s longitudinal wall  40  to prevent over-retraction of the shield  70 , as described further below. 
   As indicated above, the shield  70  is moveable between a retracted position ( FIG. 4 ) and a deployed position ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ). In the retracted position, the shield  70  is wound about the sleeve  60  in a coil fashion. The shield  70  is moved to the deployed position by simply pulling on the flange  86  or the latch section  84  horizontally away from the housing  32 . This pulling action causes the sleeve  60  to impart a rotational force on the shaft  50 , thereby overcoming the retraction bias on the shaft  50  (if present) and allowing the shield  70  to play out. See  FIG. 5 . At full deployment, the majority of the shield  70  is disposed distally from the housing  32 , including the intermediate section  90  and the latch section  84 , advantageously with only the end of the reel section  82  (anchored to the sleeve  60 ) still disposed proximate the housing  32 . Of course, the shield  70  may be deployed less than fully, but it is advantageous if the shield  70  is sized so that the intermediate section  90  substantially matches the “length” of the tub&#39;s well along the access side  20 . 
   To use the splash guard  30 , the housing  32  is mounted to the structural wall  28  near the rear  16  of bathtub  10 . Advantageously, this mounting is achieved via suitable adhesively backed hook and loop fastener sections  42  that engage the longitudinal wall  40  of the housing  32  and the structural wall  28 . The housing  32  should be mounted so that the open portion of the housing  32  is oriented generally along the long access side  20  of bathtub  10 , toward the opposing structural wall  26 . When mounted, the housing  32  is vertically oriented, with axis  34  running generally perpendicular to the theoretical plane defined by the top surface  22  of the tub&#39;s access side  20 . The latch section  84  of the shield  70  is then pulled horizontally across the access side  20  of the bathtub  10  and attached to the structural wall  26  proximate the bathtub&#39;s front  14 . Prior to attaching the latch section  84  to the structural wall  26 , it is possible that the lower edge  74  of the shield  70  in the intermediate section  90  is level with the top  22  of the access side  20  of bathtub  10 . Such a situation is undesirable, as water may escape the bathtub  10  in any gaps formed between the two. Accordingly, the shield  70  is lowered into position. Compare  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 1 . To do this, the sleeve  60  is slid downward relative to the shaft  50  by an amount equal to distance X, the distance the intermediate section  90  extends downward beyond the lower edge  74  of the reel section  82 . The “extra” lower portion of the shield  70  is thereby placed against the inner wall of the bathtub  10 , below the level of the access side&#39;s upper surface  22 , and the lower edge  74  of the reel section  82  is brought into abutment with the access side&#39;s upper surface  22 . Thus, the shield  70  effectively has an integral flap that reaches down into the tub&#39;s well  12 . See  FIG. 1 . In order to maximize this effect, the attachment of the latch section  84  to the structural wall  26  should be low enough that the lower edge  74  of the latch section  84  abuts against the access side&#39;s upper surface  22 . 
   To retract the shield  70 , the latch section  84  is detached from the structural wall  26 . With the latch section  84  in one hand, the user raises the sleeve  60  to is upper position by sliding the sleeve  60  relative to the shaft  50 . The shield  70  is then rewound on the sleeve  60 . In embodiments where the shaft  50  is rotationally biased to retract the shield  70 , the user simply moves the latch section  84  back toward the housing  32 , and the rotational force on the shaft  50  causes the sleeve  60  to rotate, taking up the shield  70 . Note that the flange  86  advantageously engages the housing  32  when retraction is complete, thereby preventing over-retraction. The shield  70  may then be left in this storage position between uses. 
   The housing  32  may be formed of any suitable material, such as PVC, ABS, or the like. The shield  70  may be made from any suitable flexible material, such as 0.010 inch thick transparent vinyl or the like. 
   The discussion above has assumed that the shaft  50  is spring biased to urge the shield  70  to the retracted position. However, this is not required in all embodiments, and the shield  70  may be manually rewound in some embodiments, either directly or via suitable rewind means such as crank or the like. The discussion above has also assumed that the housing  32  includes a longitudinal wall  40 , so as to provide convenient mounting points and to protect the inner workings of the device. However, a longitudinal wall  40  is not required in all embodiments; for example the housing  32  may be mounted at the endcaps  36   a , 36   b , essentially leaving the shaft  50  and sleeve  60  exposed (ignoring the shield  70 ), without departing from the present inventive concept. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the longitudinal wall  40  may mostly circumferentially enclose the sleeve  60 , leaving only a relatively narrow slit for passage of the shield  70 . Further, it should be noted that other means known in the art, such as screws and eyelet openings, suction cups, or the like, may be used to attach the housing  32  and latch section  84  of the shield  70  to their respective structural walls  28 , 26 , rather than adhesively backed hook and loop fastener patches  42 , 88 , if desired. 
   Further, the description above has assumed that the housing  32  is mounted to rear structural wall  28  and the latch section  84  is moved toward the front structural wall  26  in order to deploy the shield  70 . However, this relationship may be reversed in some embodiments, such that the housing  32  is mounted to the front structural wall  26  and the latch section  84  moved toward the rear structural wall  28  in order to deploy the shield  70 . 
   The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.