Patent Publication Number: US-2020288896-A1

Title: Shower curtain valance interchange

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to shower curtains. More particularly, it relates to shower curtain and valance combinations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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 detach 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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a traditional shower curtain. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an exemplary valance. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of an exemplary valance of  FIG. 3  secured to a shower rod. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of an exemplary shower curtain and valance combination. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. All terms in the plural shall also be taken as singular and vice-versa. Further, any reference to he shall also be applicable to she and vice-versa. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a traditional shower curtain will now be described. A shower curtain  100  is a flexible plastic shower curtain having a first upper portion  112  and a second lower portion  122 . The upper  112  and lower  122  portions form the entire shower curtain  100  may be hung from a shower rod  108 . The shower curtain is a flexible, planar sheet having a rectangular configuration that the upper portion  112  having a top  116  and bottom edges extending longitudinally therebetween. 
     The upper portion  112  defines a plurality of apertures  118  equidistantly spaced apart along the top edge  116  thereof. 
     The shower curtain  100  includes a plurality of shower curtain rings  120  or S-hooks, each hook having one end configured to extend through an aperture  118  and an opposed end configured to releasably hang from a shower rod  108 . Therefore, the shower curtain  100  may be removably coupled to a shower rod  108  with the rings  120  or other suitable fasteners. The shower curtain  100  is easily detachable and can be replaced with another to change the looks and decor of a bathroom. 
     The shower curtain  100  may also have a valance (not shown) which is coupled to the top edge  116  of the upper portion  112  of the shower curtain  100 . The valance having apertures positioned significantly similar to the plurality of apertures  118  of the shower curtain  100 . The valance (not shown) is easily interchangeable with other valances and may be changed or the shower curtain  100  may be changed to create a different look and decor of the room. 
     The plurality of shower curtain rings  120  or S-hooks, extend through the apertures of the valance and through the apertures  118  of the shower curtain  100 . The curtain rings  120  or S-hooks are removably hung over the shower rod  108 . This allows the plurality of curtain rings  120  to be changed to create a different look based on the desires and likes of a given user. The change of the curtain rings  120  allow for the decorations of the valance to be changed rapidly and as often without much effort by a user. 
     When the shower curtain  100  or valance is to be removed for cleaning or interchangeable with another shower curtain  100  or valance, the entire shower curtain  100  and valance would be removed from the curtain rings  120  or S-hooks. The shower curtain  100  may be interchangeble with another shower curtain  100  or may be reinstalled after washing. 
     Moving now to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary valance is presented. The valance  200  is a length of fabric such as cotton, nylon, rayon, etc. The valance  200  has an inside surface  210 , an outside surface  215 , a top portion  220  and a bottom portion  240 . The valance  200  may optionally have a liner coupled to the inside surface  210  of the valance  200  to protect the fabric from water from a shower. 
     The valance  200  has a plurality of apertures  230 . The plurality of apertures  230  are significantly along a line and significantly near the top portion  220  of the valance  200 . The plurality of apertures  230  are shown as small rectangles, but may of any size or shape that will support a connector without causing damage to the valance  200  and will not show when a connector has been coupled to the plurality of apertures  230  of the valance  200 . 
     The apertures  230  of the valance  200  may be useful in being able to interchange valances  200 , shower curtains  100  or curtain rings  120 . The ease of removing and installing allow for different decors to be attained without great effort. 
     Accessories  240  are useful in providing decorating styles for a user. The accessories  240  are interchangeable or mixed and matched to provide contrasting or embellishments of the decorations shown on the shower curtains  100 , the valances  200  or the room in general. The accessories  240  different patterns such as stars  242 , round with decoration  244 , American Flag  246 , etc. The accessories  240  are coupled to the curtain rings  120  on the outside surface  215  of the valance  200  and thus enhancing or embellishing the design and viewing aspect of the shower curtain  100  and the entire bathroom. 
       FIG. 3  is a view of the valance  200  of  FIG. 2  hanging on the shower rod  108  of  FIG. 1  and the exemplary connector for a shower curtain  100 . 
     The valance  200  has the plurality of apertures  230 . The valance  200  has a connecting means (not shown) coupled to a plurality of straps  310 . The plurality of straps may be any type of strap or other connecting means for connecting the valance  200  to the shower rod  108 . The straps may be Velcro, nylon, stretch fabric, etc. 
     Each of the plurality of straps  310  is coupled to the shower rod  108 . Further, each of the plurality of straps  310  has a fastening device  320  at a bottom portion  330  of each of each of the straps  310 . The fastening device  320  supports the weight of the shower curtain  100  which may be secured to the straps  330  by the fastening device  320 . The fastening device  320  may be a clip, a clamp, a snap, etc. The fastening device  320  may be made of plastic, heavy plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fabric, etc. The fastening devices  320  are preferably quick release connectors. 
     Moving now to  FIG. 4 , a view of the exemplary shower curtain and valance combination is presented. The valance  200  of  FIG. 2  and the shower curtain  100  of  FIG. 1  is shown. The valance  200  has a plurality of apertures  230  for securing the valance  200  to the shower rod  108 . The valance  200  has connecting means to secure the valance  200  to the plurality of straps  310 . 
     The straps  310  are secured to or hung on the shower rod  108  to secure the valance  200  at a position that is consistent with the desired positioning. The location of the plurality of apertures  230  allow for the valance  200  to hide the shower rod  108  from view of those who view the shower curtain  100  and valance  200  combination. 
     Each of the plurality of straps has a fastening device  320 . The each of the fastening devices  320  is in a secure communication with the shower curtain  100 . At least a portion of the upper portion  112  of the outside surface of the shower curtain  100  is positioned behind the bottom portion  240  of the inside surface  210  of the valance. 
     This allows for the decoration of the valance  200  to be viewable when looking the shower curtain  100  and valance  200  combination. The length of the shower curtain  100  and valance combination is preferably between 72 and 78 inches to accommodate typical bath tub/shower combinations but may be any size that may be desired to have a shower curtain  100  and valance  200  combination. 
     By have a shower curtain  100  that is removable from the valance  200  using fastening devices  320 , the shower curtain  100  is easier to remove and clean and to replace to update or redecorate a bathroom area. 
     The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.