Abstract:
A zippered shower curtain ( 10 ) comprising a valance ( 12 ), a curtain ( 14 ), and a zipper ( 16 ). The valance ( 12 ) includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures ( 22 ) allowing for suspension of the valance ( 12 ) from a horizontally disposed rod ( 28 ) by rings ( 24 ) or hooks ( 26 ). The curtain ( 14 ) is removably attached to the valance ( 12 ) by the zipper ( 16 ) allowing for the easy attachment or detachment of the curtain ( 14 ) from the valance ( 12 ) by the engagement or disengagement of the zipper teeth ( 32 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a new and improved shower curtain. More specifically, the invention is directed to a shower curtain which is removably attached to a valance by a zipper. The valance is attached to and suspended from a horizontal rod in a shower stall or facility by rings or hooks which pass through apertures in the valance. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Numerous inventions have heretofore been proposed which include curtains that are easy to hang and to remove. However, each of the prior art inventions have been found wanting in one or more particulars. In particular, these inventions have employed cooperating strips of hook and loop material (e.g., VELCRO™) which secure a curtain to a hanger device. Although hook and loop material is easily attachable and detachable, it lacks strength. If too much force is applied in pulling on a curtain which is attached to a hanger by hook and loop material, the hook and loop material can detached from each other, causing the unwanted removal of the curtain. This can especially be a problem for a shower curtain because the user pulls on the curtain in order to open or close it. In addition, in many of these prior art devices, snaps are used for the attachment of the curtain to the hanger. However, snaps have many drawbacks. Attaching a curtain to a hanger using snaps can be time consuming because a user must find the corresponding snap hole for each snap. Additionally, snaps may be difficult for people with arthritis to use. 
     Hence, there is a need in the art for a shower curtain which is easily attached and removed from a valance. There is also a need in the art for a shower curtain which is securely attached to a valance. 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved zippered shower curtain. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a shower curtain which is easily removable from a valance. 
     Another object of the instant invention is to provide a shower curtain which is easily attachable to a valance. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a zippered shower curtain in which the shower curtain is securely attached to a valance. 
     Another object of the instant invention is to provide a zippered showered curtain in which the zipper is made of plastic so that it does not rust. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a zippered shower curtain which is convenient to use It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved zippered shower curtain which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of its disadvantages. 
     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 detailed description 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 had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A broad aspect of the invention comprises a zippered shower curtain. One embodiment of the invention utilizes a zippered shower curtain which comprises a valance, a curtain, and a zipper which removably attaches the curtain to the valance. The valance, the curtain, and the zipper are generally commensurate in length with each other. The valance includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures proximate to the top edge of the valance. The valance is attached to and suspended from a horizontal rod by a plurality of rings which pass though the apertures. 
     Further embodiments of the invention will be discussed hereafter. In other embodiments of the present invention, the zipper is made of plastic. In another embodiment of the present invention, hooks are used as the attachment means to attach the valance to the horizontal rod. 
     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, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the invention. 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 devices for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other additional objects of the present invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art upon gaining an understanding of the invention as described in the following detailed description and shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the zippered shower curtain. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an enlargement of an area of the zippered shower curtain as indicated in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the invention may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein. 
     Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a zippered shower curtain generally as  10 . The zippered shower curtain  10  in this preferred embodiment comprises a valance  12 , a curtain  14 , and a zipper  16 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, a curtain  14  is removably attached to a valance  12  by a zipper  16 . The valance  12  includes an upper edge  18 , a lower edge  20 , and a plurality of apertures  22 . The plurality of apertures  22  are equidistantly spaced apart and located proximate to the upper edge  18  of the valance  12 . The apertures  22  of the valance  12  accommodate rings  24  or S-hooks  26  (not shown) which pass through the apertures  22  of the valance  12  and suspend the valance  12  from a horizontally disposed rod  28  located in a shower stall or facility. The exact number of apertures  22  and rings  24  or S-hooks  26  is not of paramount importance, but it is common sensical that the number of apertures  22  should match the number of rings  24  or S-hooks  26  used therefor. In the preferred embodiment, the valance  12  is flexible and substantially rectangular in shape, and is generally commensurate in length with the length of the horizontally disposed rod  28 . 
     The valance  12  could be made of cloth fabric, plastic, or plastic coated fabric. It is most preferable that the valance  12  comprise of a plastic or plastic coated cloth fabric material. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the curtain  14  includes an upper edge  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the curtain  14  is flexible and substantially rectangular in shape and is generally commensurate in length with the length of the valance  12 . The curtain  14  could be made of cloth fabric, plastic, or plastic coated cloth fabric. It is most preferable that the curtain  14  comprise of a plastic or plastic coated cloth fabric material. It is also preferable that the curtain  14  comprise of the same material as the valance  12 . 
     The zipper  16  includes a plurality of zipper teeth  32 , a zipper slider  34 , and a zipper slider pull tab  36 . The zipper teeth  32  of the zipper  16  are attached to the valance  12  and to the curtain  14  by tapes  38 ,  40  (as shown in FIG.  2 ). The valance tape  38  affixes a plurality of zipper teeth  32  to the lower edge  20  of the valance  12 . The curtain tape  40  affixes a plurality of zipper teeth  32  to the upper edge  30  of the curtain  14 . The valance tape  38  is fixed in any suitable way to the lower edge  20  of the valance  12 , while the curtain tape  40  is fixed in any suitable way to the upper edge  30  of the curtain  14 . The zipper  16  is generally commensurate in length with the length of the valance  12  and the length of the curtain  14 . The zipper  16  could be made of metal or plastic. It is most preferable that the zipper  16  comprise of a plastic substance. 
     Still referring to FIG. 2, the zipper slider pull tab  36  is pivotally connected to the zipper slider  34 . The zipper teeth  32  are adapted to be moved to and from their interlocking positions by the displacement of the zipper slider  34  of the zipper  16 . The zipper slider  38  engages and disengages the zipper teeth  32  by the pulling of the zipper slider pull tab  36  over the zipper teeth  32 . 
     The curtain  14  is secured to the valance  12  by the engagement of the zipper teeth  32  of the zipper  16 . The curtain  14  is attached to the valance  12  when the zipper teeth  32  of the zipper  16  are engaged. The zipper teeth  32  are engaged by pulling the zipper slider  34  by the zipper slider pull tab  36  from the start edge  42  of the zippered shower curtain  10  towards the stop edge  44  of the zippered shower curtain  10 . As the zipper slider  34  passes over the zipper teeth  32 , it engages the zipper teeth  32 . Once the zipper slider  34  reaches the stop edge  44  of the zipper  16 , the zipper teeth  32  are fully engaged, attaching the curtain  14  to the valance  12 . 
     The curtain  14  is removed from the valance  12  by the disengagement of the zipper teeth  32  of the zipper  16 . The curtain  14  is detached from the valance  12  when the zipper teeth  32  of the zipper  16  are disengaged. The zipper teeth  32  are disengaged by pulling the zipper slider  34  by the zipper slider pull tab  36  from the stop edge  44  of the zippered shower curtain  10  towards the start edge  42  of the zippered shower curtain  10 . As the zipper slider  34  passes over the zipper teeth  32 , it disengages the zipper teeth  32 . Once the zipper slider  34  reaches the start edge  42  of the zipper  16 , the zipper teeth  32  are fully disengaged, detaching the curtain  14  from the valance  12 . 
     Once the curtain  14  is attached to the valance  12  to form the zippered shower curtain  10 , as shown in FIG. 1, its novel advantages will become apparent. For one, the curtain  14  is easily removable from and attachable to the valance  14  for replacement or cleaning of the curtain  14 . The zipper teeth  32  of the zipper  16  are more securely engaged than hook and loop material, preventing the accidental removal of the curtain  14  from the valance  12 . The zipper  16  is stronger and more secure than hook and loop material. 
     The zippered shower curtain can be suspended from a horizontally disposed rod in a shower stall or facility without requiring apertures or rings or hooks in the curtain for attaching the curtain to the rod. This extends the life of the curtain by eliminating torn apertures which can result from the hanging or removal of the curtain. Another advantage of the zippered shower curtain is the uncomplicated removal of the curtain for cleaning. Persons with arthritis can more easily attach and remove the curtain without pain. This would be beneficial for use in hospitals or nursing homes. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment and several alternative embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended that the invention be limited to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed. 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, same should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further discussion relevant to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention shall 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 illustrative of only 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. 
     The foregoing discussion is illustrative of the invention. However, since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides wholly in the claims hereinafter appended.