Patent Publication Number: US-7222376-B1

Title: Elliptical shower rod and bracket apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention is in the field of swiveling brackets and rods for shower curtains. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   To be competitive, bathroom fixtures must have a combination of strength, utility, and beauty. In the field of shower rod assemblies, providing a curved or bowed shower rod and brackets appropriate to support the rod enhances utility. The bowed rod holds a shower curtain away from the bather, effectively increasing the space in the shower. One example of this is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. D397,928 and 6,216,287 by Wise, which are not admitted to being prior art by their mention in this background section. The Wise patents have a bowed shower rod, but the brackets cannot swivel and require backing plates. The bow radius and bracket angles must be cut precisely for the specific application, or the apparatus will not assemble correctly. 
   Another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2005/0268394 A1 to Monk et al., which is not admitted to being prior art by its mention in this background section. Monk discloses a multi-part rod with multiple bends. The bracket swivels, but requires a two-piece pivot pin on each end. Although the rod and bracket assembly is adjustable for different sizes of showers and shower/tubs, the assembly is complex and therefore expensive. 
   Yet another example is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. D426,142 and 6,263,523 by Moore, which are not admitted to being prior art by their mention in this background section. The Moore patents have rotatable bracket assemblies in the shape of a truncated oblate spheroid. They require the use of a pivot pin in the bracket to enable rotation. The &#39;523 patent also requires that the brackets have end plates to attach them to walls and that the rod has straight portions near the ends and a curved portion near the center. This design is also complex, and therefore expensive. Over time, complex apparatuses are more liable to failure than simple ones. Simple apparatuses are usually stronger and have better aesthetic qualities. 
   What is needed, therefore, is an adjustable bowed shower rod and bracket assembly that is simple, strong, and attractive. 
   SUMMARY 
   The invention is a kit and apparatus that satisfies these needs. An adjustable bowed shower rod and bracket that is simple, strong, and attractive has a rod with a substantially elliptical cross section; a substantially semi-capsular wall bracket comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical middle section and a cutout in the middle section having a height between one quarter and one half the height of the bracket; and a swivel comprising a substantially cylindrical vertical member longer than the height of the bracket cutout of a diameter selected to fit completely within the bracket middle section and a substantially elliptical horizontal member secured perpendicularly to the vertical member on a first end and sized to receive the rod in an overlapping fit on a second end, whereby the swivel vertical member can be assembled into the bracket with the swivel horizontal member protruding through the bracket cutout, and the elliptical rod can come into communication with the swivel horizontal member, thereby assembling the shower rod and bracket apparatus. The brackets require no back plates. These and other benefits, features, and advantages will be made clearer in the accompanying description, claims, and drawings. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a bracket component according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the bracket of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a reverse perspective view of the bracket view of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of a swivel component according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the swivel of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the swivel of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of a rod component according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross section view of the rod shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   The invention is a shower rod and bracket apparatus comprising a bowed rod having a substantially elliptical cross section; a substantially semi-capsular wall bracket comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical middle section and a cutout in the middle section having a height between one quarter and one half the height of the bracket; and a swivel comprising a substantially cylindrical vertical member longer than the height of the bracket cutout of a diameter selected to fit completely within the bracket middle section and a substantially elliptical horizontal member secured perpendicularly to the vertical member on a first end and sized to receive the rod in an overlapping fit on a second end, whereby the swivel vertical member can be assembled into the bracket with the swivel horizontal member protruding through the bracket cutout, and the elliptical rod can come into communication with the swivel horizontal member, thereby assembling the shower rod and bracket apparatus. 
   Turning to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the bracket  100  is approximately the shape of a half medicine capsule, which is referred to as “semi-capsular” in this specification. The external body of the bracket  100  is the semi-capsular shell  106 . The middle part  102  of the shell  106  forms substantially a half a cylinder, and has an opening  104  substantially in the middle. The height of the opening  104  is between one quarter and one half the height of the bracket  100 , but is preferably about one third the height of the bracket  100 .  FIG. 1  details the plan view of the bracket  100 , whereas  FIG. 2  details a side elevation of the bracket  100 .  FIG. 2  also shows a cut away view of some internal features. The bracket  100  can be made of zinc, brass, stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic. 
   The bracket  100  has at least one but preferably two holes  108   a ,  108   b  outside the cutout  104  that are adapted to receive mounting screws or equivalent mounting means for mounting the bracket  100  on a shower or shower/tub wall. No mounting brackets are required. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bracket shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 4  shows the reverse perspective view of  FIG. 3 , and provides details of a pair of bulkheads  110   a ,  110   b  secured parallel to each other within the bracket  100  and perpendicular to the bracket&#39;s longitudinal axis. The bulkheads  110   a ,  110   b  are spaced at a distance that is greater than the length the swivel vertical member, discussed below. The bulkheads have several functions. For example, they increase the strength of the bracket, they help guide the swivel member for rotating within the bracket, and can also work as a thrust bearing surface to support the weight of the shower rod when assembled. 
   Optional features adjacent to the bulkheads  110   a ,  110   b  are mounting hole guides  112   a ,  112   b . The mounting hole guides  112   a ,  112   b  can be formed as an integral part of the bulkheads as shown or not. The mounting hole guides  112   a ,  112   b  are in locations that correspond with mounting holes  108   a ,  108   b . In the preferred embodiment, the bracket  100  has an outside width of about 35 mm and outside height of about 89 mm. 
     FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7  show details of the swivel  200  from a plan view, side elevation, and perspective view respectively. The swivel  200  has a substantially cylindrical vertical member  202  that is longer than the height of the bracket cutout  104  so that the bracket  100  will retain the swivel  200  when assembled. The outside diameter of the vertical member  202  should be smaller than the inside diameter of the bracket shell  106  so that it operates properly when assembled. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical member is about 29 mm in outside diameter and about 40 mm in height. No pivot pin or screw is required to keep the swivel in place, which reduces the number of parts required. 
   A substantially elliptical horizontal member  204  is either secured to, or formed as a part of, the vertical member  202  at a horizontal member first end  208 . The horizontal member  204  and vertical member  202  are in a substantially perpendicular relationship. In the preferred embodiment, a boss  210  is present near the horizontal member second end  206  opposite the first end  208 . The boss  210  gives support for a hole  212  having an internal thread. This enables the operator to secure a shower rod with a screw, as described in more detail below. 
   The ellipse of the horizontal member  204  is preferably has its major axis aligned with the vertical member  202 . The preferred dimensions are about 26.25 mm on the inside major axis and about 22.75 mm on the inside minor axis. The swivel  200  can be made of zinc, brass, stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic. 
     FIG. 8  is a plan view of the bowed shower rod  300 .  FIG. 9  is a cross section view of the rod  300  showing the elliptical nature of the section. The rod  300  is preferably made of stainless steel, particularly type 304 or 304L. The rod should be bowed to a radius of about 203 cm, measured at the rod&#39;s neutral axis. In the preferred embodiment, the ellipse should be about 26 mm on the outside major axis and about 22.5 mm on the outside minor axis. 
   In operation, the bracket  100 , swivel  200 , and rod  300  can be provided as an assembled apparatus, as separate components, or as a kit for on-site installation. The user would insert the horizontal member  204  of the swivel  200  through the opening  104  in the bracket  100 . The user would do this for a bracket  100  on each end of the rod  300 . The opening  104  is shaped and sized to give sufficient clearance for the horizontal member  204  to swing back and forth. Particularly, the opening  104  should have rounded sides to conform to the ellipse of the swivel horizontal member  204 , and a generally straight top and bottom. This facilitates assembly to the rod  300 . The bracket  100  and swivel  200  assembly is then secured to suitable walls in a shower/bath enclosure using screws or other fastening means in the mounting holes  108   a ,  108   b.    
   The rod  300  and the swivel horizontal member  204  are sized to have an overlapping sliding fit with the rod inside the swivel member. The rod  300  can be secured to the bracket and swivel assembly by using a threaded mounting screw in the mounting screw hole  212 . Because the rod  300  is bowed and the brackets  100  have swivels  200 , the components can be fit together even if the rod is not cut to the perfect size for the particular installation. The rod can be flexed, which causes the swivels  200  to rotate, and the ends of the rod and slide in and out. When the desired position is reached, the rod  300  is secured in position with screws. The bracket  100  is a clean and attractive semi-capsular shape that also increases its strength. The swivel  200  rotates without the need for a pivot pin of any kind. It is simple because the rod has only one piece and the bracket does not require pivot pins to operate. 
   Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.