Abstract:
A retractable shower enclosure includes a top frame and a bottom frame attached together with draw strings for raising and lowering the bottom frame relative to the top frame between a fully deployed position to a fully retracted position. The top frame comprised of tubing wherein the drawstrings are fed through the interior of the tubing. The top frame also includes draw string guides over which the draw strings are fed. A curtain releasably attached to the frames with fasteners such that in the fully retracted position the curtain is pleated in accordion style.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from prior U.S. provisional application No. 61/896,279, filed on Oct. 28, 2013 by Steve Darasch, under the title: RETRACTABLE SHOWER ENCLOSURE 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present concept relates to shower enclosures and more particularly relates to retractable shower enclosures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are a number of shower enclosures in the prior art which can be erected vertically from the floor as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,763 to Francis E. Grenier for example or the shower curtain which is retracted vertically and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,673 to W. Mark Patteson et al. The traditional surround shower enclosure, consisting of hanging a number of overlapping waterproof sheets from an oval curtain rod has been in the public domain. 
         [0004]    The drawback with the shower enclosures as described in the prior art is that most of these enclosures are not easily put into place by simply a drawing of strings. Secondly in the fully retracted position the shower curtains take up a significant amount of space. Thirdly the installation of these retractable shower enclosures is often quite complex and difficult. Fourthly these retractable shower enclosures cannot be easily modified or adapted to conform to the shape of any style bathtub including free standing bathtubs of varying shapes. The prior art shower enclosures do not provide for an easy mechanism for removal of the shower curtain portion of the retractable shower for ease of cleaning. Additionally, most prior art doesn&#39;t supply the entire waterproofing and relies on tubs or tiled walls to complete the enclosure. As well, other enclosures need to come in contact with a tub or shower curb which retards the drying process. Lastly, this enclosure is also stable against the effects of negative pressure during use. 
         [0005]    The present concept is a retractable shower enclosure which comprises a top frame and a bottom frame connected together with draw strings for raising and lowering the bottom frame relative to the top frame between a fully deployed position to a fully retracted position; the top frame comprised of a hollow structure wherein the draw strings are fed through the interior of the hollow structure, the top frame includes draw string guides over which the draw strings are fed downwardly to the bottom frame wherein the draw strings are attached to the bottom frame; a curtain releasably attached to the frames with fasteners; such that in the fully retracted position the curtain is pleated in accordion style. 
         [0006]    Preferably wherein the top frame comprised of tubing wherein the drawstrings are fed through the interior of the tubing; 
         [0007]    Preferably further including connectors for connecting the draw strings to the top and bottom frames. 
         [0008]    Preferably further includes at least one intermediate frame releasably attached to the curtain with fasteners. 
         [0009]    Preferably wherein the fasteners include a pin with a magnetic head, and a cooperating magnetic cap with a cavity, the cavity for receiving the magnetic head and clamping a portion of the shower curtain therein. 
         [0010]    Preferably wherein the enclosure including struts attached to the top frame for attachment of the enclosure to a ceiling. 
         [0011]    Preferably wherein each draw string terminates one end at a connector on the bottom frame and the other end exits the top frame at an exit hole. 
         [0012]    Preferably wherein each end of the draw string terminates at a connector on the bottom frame and a portion of the draw string exits the a exit hole in the top frame. 
         [0013]    Preferably wherein the portion of the draw string exiting the exit hole forms a draw loop. 
         [0014]    Preferably wherein the draw loops are gathered together with a draw ring. 
         [0015]    Preferably wherein the draw ring is connected to a draw rope such that pulling on the draw rope initiates retraction of the bottom frame into the retracted position. 
         [0016]    Preferably wherein the portion of the draw string exiting the exit hole at the top frame is at approximately the mid length portion of the draw string; 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The present concept will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic side elevational view of a retractable shower enclosure shown in a fully deployed position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side elevational view of the retractable shower enclosure shown in a partially retracted position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side elevational view of the retractable shower enclosure shown in the fully retracted position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure with the curtain removed in order to reveal the frame and drawstring components in the fully deployed position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure with the curtain removed in order to reveal the frame and drawstring components in the partially retracted position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure with the curtain removed in order to reveal the frame and drawstring components in the fully retracted position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side schematic perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure shown in the fully deployed position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a side schematic perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure shown in the partially retracted position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a schematic side perspective view of some of the frame components of the retractable shower enclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a schematic side perspective view of some of the frame components of the retractable shower enclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure shown deployed with a bathtub in the fully deployed position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure shown deployed with a bathtub in the partially retracted position. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a schematic partial cross sectional view exploded plan view of a fastener deployed onto a tube. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a schematic partial cross sectional plan view of a fastener deployed onto a tube showing the positioning of the curtain. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a schematic partial cross sectional schematic plan view of a fastener shown clamping the curtain between the magnetic head and the magnetic cap. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a schematic partial side perspective view of fasteners shown deployed onto a tube together with the curtain. 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is a schematic partial cut away view of another embodiment of the retracting mechanism shown with a draw ring. 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a schematic partial cut away view of the retracting mechanism shown together with the draw rope. 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is a cross sectional view taken through one of the exit holes showing an exit guide as well as the drawstrings passing through an exit hole. 
           [0037]      FIG. 20  is a schematic partial cross sectional view of the retraction mechanism taken along the longitudinal direction of the open tube. 
           [0038]      FIG. 21  is a schematic top plan view of an example of a complete open tube showing a total of three drawstrings and six string apertures and two exit holes and the arrangement of the three drawstrings. 
           [0039]      FIG. 22  is a schematic side perspective view of a second embodiment of the retracting mechanism  202  showing the arrangement of the drawstrings. 
           [0040]      FIG. 23  is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the retracting mechanisms showing the arrangement of in this example three drawstrings. 
           [0041]      FIG. 23  is a schematic perspective partial cut away view of the open tube showing the tube opening and the draw rope being threaded there through. 
           [0042]      FIG. 24  is a schematic perspective partial cut away view showing the retracting mechanism together with a shower curtain 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]    The present concept is depicted in the attached Figures which show a retractable shower enclosure  100  having the following components namely top frame  102  connected with drawstrings  110  to bottom frame  106  and optional intermediate frame  104  which is connected to shower curtain  108  with fasteners  118 . Shower curtain  108  is preferably a one piece fabric enclosure of tubular form. 
         [0044]    Top frame  102  is connected to bottom frame  106  with drawstrings  110  which are used to position retractable shower enclosure into the fully deployed position shown as  112  in  FIG. 1  or a partially retracted position  114  as shown in  FIG. 2  or in a fully retracted position  116  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0045]    Now referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  which show the frame components  101  of retractable shower enclosure  100 . 
         [0046]    The frame components include a top frame  102  which is connected to bottom frame  106  with drawstrings  110 . The reader will note that intermediate frame  104  is normally not connected to drawstrings  110  but rather simply attached to the shower curtain  108  using fasteners  118  for ease of removal. 
         [0047]    By pulling on drawstrings  110  bottom frame  106  is raised as shown in  FIG. 5  into a partially retracted position  114  or into a fully retracted position  116 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the retractable shower enclosure  100  in perspective view wherein the intermediate frame  104  as shown in phantom lines indicating that the shower curtain is covering the intermediate frame  104 . 
         [0049]    As the retractable shower enclosure is collapsed the curtain  110  folds or forms pleats into a collapsed curtain  120  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0050]    The only limitation on the vertical space taken up by the retractable shower enclosure  100  in the fully retracted position is the thickness of the curtain  108  namely the collapsed curtain  120  and the thickness of the frame members  102 ,  106  and  104  respectively. 
         [0051]    Referring now to  FIG. 9  some of the details of the retracting mechanism are shown. 
         [0052]    The retracting mechanism  103  includes a top frame  102  which is preferably made up of a hollow structure such as for example tubing  130  and  4  drawstrings  110  being fed there through. There may in fact be some other number of strings. 
         [0053]    Drawstrings  110  are housed within the interior  131  of tube or tubing  130  and exit at the corners  144  at a string aperture  134  and are led vertically downwardly to bottom frame  106  where they are connected to connector  136  to bottom frame  106 . 
         [0054]    Each of the drawstrings  110  is guided along the interior of tubing  130  and runs over guide  132  prior to exiting through string aperture  134 . Guide  132  can for example be Chicago screws or any other type of pin or guide which will facilitate the sliding movement of the drawstrings  110  over guides  132  through string aperture  134  and along the interior of tubes  130 . 
         [0055]    In the present example top frame  102  is made from tubing which includes two longitudinal sections  140  and two lateral sections  142  and four corners  144 . 
         [0056]    The drawstrings  110  exit out of tube  130  at exit hole  138  which can be positioned at the outside of top frame  102  as shown in  FIG. 9  or in the inside of top frame  102  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0057]    The intermediate frame  104  is not shown in  FIG. 9  since this frame is not connected to the guide drawstrings  110  but rather is connected directly to the curtain  108  using fasteners  118 . Note the draw strings  110  may be led through intermediate frame  104  without being connected to it. 
         [0058]    Connectors  136  may also include fasteners  118  which are described below for fastening curtain  108  to the top frame  102  and the bottom frame  106 . The curtain  108  determines the maximum length in the fully deployed position  112 . 
         [0059]    In other words connector  136  not only attaches the drawstrings to the bottom frame  106  but also may include a fastener  118  for attaching the curtain  108  to the bottom frame  106 . The same is for top frame  102  in which case guides  132  may also include a fastener  118  for not only guiding the drawstrings  110  through the string apertures  134  but also for attaching the curtain  108  onto the top frame  102 . 
         [0060]    Fastener  118  may also take on other forms including a grommet and a post, wherein grommets are integrated into curtain  108  and, would stretch over corresponding posts not shown in the drawings. 
         [0061]      FIG. 11  shows the retractable shower enclosure deployed together with a bathtub  151  which has an upper rim  152 . 
         [0062]    Preferably struts  146  which are rigidly attached to the top frame  102  and include having a flange  148  at the other end for fastening to a ceiling. Note the ceiling is not shown in the drawings. 
         [0063]    The periphery or the shape of frames  102 ,  106  and  104  are normally selected to be uniform and conform to the inner dimensions of the upper rim  152  of bathtub  151  thereby ensuring that water splashing outside of bathtub  151  is minimized. 
         [0064]    Frames  102 ,  104  and  106  could be made from plastic material or any other suitable material which can be easily shaped into any desired contour. 
         [0065]    In  FIG. 11  retractable shower enclosure  100  is shown in the fully deployed position  112  and in  FIG. 12  the retractable shower enclosure  100  is shown in the partially retracted position  114 . 
         [0066]    You will note that the dimensions are not to scale and that when retractable shower enclosure  100  is in the fully retracted position  116  it has an extremely shallow vertical profile meaning it takes up very little space between the ceiling and the bottom of bottom flange  106  such that a person can easily and without difficulty enter and exit out of bathtub  151 . 
         [0067]      FIGS. 13 ,  14 ,  15  and  16  show details of the fasteners  118  which as indicated above can be deployed on their own as for example onto the intermediate frame  104  or can be deployed in combination with other fastening devices such as for example with guide  132  and/or with connector  136 . This type of fastener allows intermediate frames  104  to be customizable in design and size and shape without compromising waterproofness. 
         [0068]    Fastener  118  includes a pin portion  152 , a magnetic head portion  154  and a magnetic cap  150 . Either the magnetic cap or magnetic head portion would house a magnet. 
         [0069]    Magnetic cap  150  includes a magnetic cap cavity  156  which is dimensioned to just fit over magnetic head  154 . 
         [0070]    In the unfastened position magnetic cap  150  is separated from magnetic head  154  as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0071]    In the fastened position magnetic attraction between magnetic head  154  and magnetic cap  150  clamps curtain  108  within cavity  156  of magnetic cap  150  and sandwiches curtain  108  between the magnetic head  154  and the magnetic cap  150  thereby fastening the tube  130  which could be for example the intermediate frame  104 . 
         [0072]    In the case when the fastener  118  is also deployed together with a guide  132  or a connector  136  the pin  152  will preferably span the entire diameter of tube  130  and there would be a Chicago screw type end on the other distal end of the pin  152 . 
         [0073]    Referring to  FIGS. 17 through 24  which depict a second embodiment of a retracting mechanism  202 . 
         [0074]    First of all referring to  FIG. 17  drawstrings  202  are guided through an open tube  204  to an exit location wherein exit guides  208  guide drawstrings  206  through exit holes  224  in the bottom of open tube  24 . The drawstrings  206  form a draw list  240  which are gathered together with a draw ring  210  which in turn is connected to a draw rope  212 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 19  shows a portion of the retracting mechanism  202  in cross sectional view showing the drawstrings  206  passing over exit guide  208  and through exit hole  224  and are gathered together with a draw ring  210  which in turn is connected to a draw rope  212 .  FIG. 19  also shows a tube opening  230  which facilitates assembly repair and altering of rigging. 
         [0076]      FIG. 21  is a top plan view of open tube  204  wherein the three drawstrings which are used in this example are each fed over draw guides  222  and down through string apertures  226 . By pulling on the draw strings  206  one is able to lift curtain  250 . 
         [0077]    This drawing also shows how each of the three drawstrings is guided down through exit hole  224  across exit guides  208  and attached to draw rope  212 . 
         [0078]    Referring now to this Figure and also to  FIGS. 22 and 23  the reader will note that when assembling this retracting mechanism one attempts to keep each of the drawstrings  206  to approximately equal length, which should keep the tensions as equal as possible. 
         [0079]    Therefore referring now to  FIG. 23  the first drawstring terminates at point A and A in  FIG. 23  the second drawstring terminates at point B and B on  FIG. 23  and the third drawstring terminates at point C and C in  FIG. 23 . In this manner all three drawstrings are roughly the same length and therefore as one pulls downward on draw loop  240  one is able to evenly retract curtain  250 . Other arrangements are also possible. For example the drawstrings could be arranged so that they are of equal length on each side of ring  210  as well the drawstrings could be arranged to pass over an equal number of pins  136  or guides  222 . 
         [0080]    Referring now to  FIG. 24  draw rope  212  is fed through slot  270  as shown in  FIG. 24 . Draw rope  212  is at least double the entire length of curtain  250  such that it is fed all of the way down the inside of curtain  250  around the bottom of curtain  250  and then up the outside of curtain  250  such that it forms a continuous loop all the way around the inside and outside of the curtain. 
         [0081]    In this manner one can pull on draw rope  212  either by standing inside of the retractable shower enclosure  200  and pulling down on draw rope  212  or standing on the outside of the retractable shower enclosure and also pulling down on draw rope  212 . In this manner one is able to fully retract shower curtain  250  into the collapsed curtain position  120  in  FIG. 3  by pulling down on draw rope  212 . 
         [0082]    In the fully deployed position  112  shown in  FIG. 1  draw ring  210  would make contact with the bottom of open tube  204  therefore preventing further deployment of curtain  250 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 24  furthermore shows curtain fasteners  272  which fasten the curtain to the outside of open tube  204  by any means currently known in the art. 
         [0084]    The reader will note that it is possible to use various different numbers of drawstrings depending upon the size of the shower curtain. For example it is possible to use six strings as shown in the examples in  FIG. 17 through 24  but there is no reason that one is not able to use for example 4 drawstrings, 6 drawstrings, 8 drawstrings, 10 drawings, 12 . . . etc. The number of drawstrings would be dependent upon how easily one would like the shower be retracted and also the size of the shower curtain itself, as well as optimizing pleating and compression. 
         [0085]    The reader will also note that the advantage of retracting mechanism  202  is the fact that a person can access draw rope  212  for retraction and deployment from both the interior and exterior of the curtain  250 . In all other aspects retractable shower enclosure  200  is the same as retractable shower enclosure  100  except for the differences depicted in  FIGS. 17 through 24 .