Abstract:
A shower door apparatus is disclosed being secured to the top rim of a bath tub. The shower door apparatus has a base plate extending outward from, and beyond, the top rim of the bath tub. A shower door frame assembly having at least one shower door is secured to the base plate near the edge distal to the bath tub.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/081,153 filed Jul. 16, 2008. 
     
    
     REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0002]    This application is not referenced in any microfiche appendix. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to a shower door apparatus, and more specifically to a shower door extension apparatus the expands the usable space during the taking of a bath or shower. 
         [0004]    The traditional shower door that is attached a bathtub is aligned in-line with the edge of the top rim of the bath tub. This can make a user feel claustrophobic. Many people may find it difficult to wash or shave in such confined areas. 
         [0005]    The prior art discloses a curved shower rod that allows for additional space near the top of the shower curtain. However, the effectiveness of these prior art rods is limited because such rods do not address the narrowness of the tub near the tub&#39;s rim. Thus there is a need for a more efficient and effective shower door extension apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The inventive shower door extension apparatus described herein satisfies the needs set out above. This device has an efficient design and it is effective when used. 
         [0007]    An aspect of the present invention includes a shower door apparatus that is secured to the top rim of a bath tub. The shower door apparatus includes a base plate and shower door frame assembly. The base plate is secured to the top rim of the bathtub and extends outward and beyond the bath tub. The shower door frame assembly is secured to the base plate near the distal edge, herein referred to as the extension edge. The inclusion of the base plate and the shower door frame assembly, the usable space within a bathtub can be increased. 
         [0008]    The extension edge can either be substantially parallel to its opposite edge, herein referred to as the bathtub edge, or can be curved. One such curvature is a concave curve relative toward the bath tub. 
         [0009]    One aspect of the shower door frame assembly includes having a shower door frame and at least one shower door. The shower door frame can be of standard shower door frame having tracks therein to slidably engage the one or more shower doors. 
         [0010]    One aspect of the base plate includes having a water run-off portion. This portion is located along the top surface of the base plate and is sloped downward toward said bathtub edge. The slope allows for water to run off into the bath tub. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the base plate includes having at least one base plate support secured to the bottom surface and said bath tub. This aspect can give additional support to the base plate. 
         [0012]    Upon reading the included description, various alternative embodiments will become obvious to those skilled in the art. These embodiments are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the subject invention, which is only limited by the claims which follow and their equivalents. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a back view of an embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of an embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of an embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away side view of an embodiment of the base plate along line BB as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a cut-away side view of an embodiment of the present invention along line AA as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a cut-away side view of an embodiment of the present invention along line AA as shown in  FIG. 1  showing an embodiment of a base plate support. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a side view of an embodiment of the base plate as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The following detailed description shows the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
         [0025]    As shown by the figures, embodiments of the inventive shower door apparatus is described herein. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , a first embodiment of the inventive shower door apparatus  20  is shown secured to the top rim  24  of a bathtub  22 . Embodiment 20 comprises a base plate  30  having a top surface  40 , a bottom surface  38 , a bathtub edge  34  and an extension edge  36 . The portion of bottom surface  38  that is proximate to the bathtub edge  34  is secured to top rim  34  of the bathtub  22  by any form of adhesives, glues or any other known securing compound. 
         [0026]    Base plate  30  extends outward, and beyond, bathtub  22 , such that extension edge  36  is distal to bathtub  22 . As illustrated by embodiment 20, extension edge  36  is shown to be curved, with such curve being concave relative to the bathtub  22 . The amount of curvature can be adjusted based on the actual size of the bathtub and surrounding environment. The curvature shown in embodiment 20 is shown as a 6×60 curvature. By this it is meant that when the base plate  30  has a 60 inch length the maximum width between the extension edge  36  and the bathtub edge  34  is 6 inches. However, those skilled in the art will recognize the actual dimensions and type of curvature of this embodiment is illustrative and is not meant to be limiting. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the top surface  40  of base plate  30  is shown having a water run-off portion  44 . This water run-off portion  44  is sloped downward toward the bathtub edge  34  to aid in the movement of water. Further, base plate  30  is shown having a shower door frame assembly mounting surface  42  located proximate the extension edge  36 . The mounting surface allows for a relatively flat surface, i.e. being relatively parallel with the bottom surface  38  of the base plate  30  for the shower door frame assembly  20  to be mounted thereto while allowing for water run-off via the water run-off portion  44 . 
         [0028]    Also shown in the Figures is an embodiment of the shower door frame assembly  50 . This assembly  50  is secured to the top surface  40  of base plate  30  proximate to extension edge  36 . By being secured to the distal end of base plate  30 , the usable space from the top rim  24  of the bathtub  22  to the top of the shower door frame assembly  20  is increased. 
         [0029]    As illustrated, shower door frame assembly  50  comprises a shower door frame  52  and two shower doors  54 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the number of shower doors in this embodiment is illustrative and is not meant to be limiting. 
         [0030]    Shower door frame  52  is shown comprising a top bar  56 , a bottom bar  58  and first side support  60  and a second side support  62 . Tracks are included therein sufficient dimensioned to allow the shower doors  54  to slidably engage the tracks. 
         [0031]    Further, in this embodiment 20, a bottom bar  58  is secured to the top surface  40  is illustrated. The manner in which bottom bar  58  and top surface  40  are secured can be by adhesives, snap-rivets, or any other manner of securing these items together. 
         [0032]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , an optional base plate support  70  is shown. This base plate support  70  is secured to the bottom surface  38  of base plate  30  and in contact with the outer surface of bathtub  22 . 
         [0033]    As illustrated by  FIGS. 9-11 , a second embodiment 120 discloses the inventive shower door apparatus as set out above but having an extension edge  136  that is substantially parallel to bathtub edge  134 . 
         [0034]    While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, such disclosures should not be regarded as any limitation of the scope of our invention. The true scope of our invention is defined in the appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed to include both the preferred embodiment and all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.