Patent Publication Number: US-2013239318-A1

Title: One Way Curtain

Description:
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application 61/641,238 filed May 1, 2012 by applicant Jason Kuan Min Wang, entitled One Way Viewing Curtain, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority from U.S. provisional application 61/610,479 filed Mar. 14, 2012, also by applicant Jason Kuan Min Wang, entitled One Way Viewing Curtain, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of shower curtains. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Shower curtains are sometimes single sheet and sometimes more than one sheet. Shower curtains can have an inside sheet that drapes inside the tub and then an outside sheet that is draped outside the tub. Shower curtains are typically connected to a shower curtain rod by connectors. 
     Shower curtains have a variety of different construction, such as oiled silk as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,069,600 issued Feb. 2, 1939 to inventor Coleman, entitled Semi-Transparent Shower Curtain the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Three dimensional effects can be produced from multiple layers of shower curtain material, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,172 issued to Faragher, Jr. Nov. 21, 1978, entitled Shower Curtain, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     A variety of novel apparatus can be attached to shower curtains to enhance functionality. For example, in United States patent application publication US 2007/0199143 published Aug. 30, 2007, a set of gloves and a window is mounted to the shower curtain so that a user can assist a bather. Thermochromatic shower curtain design is discussed in United States publication US 2004/0241385 filed May 29, 2003 by inventor Huseman. 
     A variety of different one-way viewing structures have been created for one-way viewing including mirrors, fabric nets, vehicle window film and panels. Feet in U.S. Pat. No. 1,199,882 issued Oct. 3, 1916, entitled Transparent Mirror the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference provides for a rectangular array of openings in a glass mirror to provide one-way mirror viewing. Nagata in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,649 issued Dec. 21, 1999 entitled Woven Sheet With One-Way Viewing, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a woven netlike structure being coated with a dark paint on the rear surface side and being provided with a description including characters, pictures or the like on the front surface side. Li, in European patent EP 1799442, published Aug. 4, 2010, provides a screen or fencing structure that provides a one-way viewing characteristic when a light transmission from about 2.8% to 25% is provided through a mesh screen, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Shields in U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,938 issued Mar. 11, 1997, entitled image display apparatus with holes for opposite side viewing provides a laminated panel assembly for providing an image and one-way viewing, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The laminated panel assembly can have multiple layers of panels that are bonded together. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A shower curtain has an inside sheet made of plastic with an attachment for attaching to a shower curtain rod and an inside sheet printed side having openings on an unprinted area. The opening density is at least five openings per square centimeter and can be at least ten openings per square centimeter. The outside surface of the shower curtain preferably has a more reflective surface and an inside surface of the shower curtain. An outside sheet is substantially parallel to the inside sheet. A connection such as a thermal lamination is made between an inside layer top edge and an outside layer top edge. The outside sheet further includes an outside sheet printed side having a graphic print that has openings on an outside sheet unprinted area. The opening density is preferably at least five openings per square centimeter. The openings are preferably less than 1 mm in diameter. The inside sheet is of a darker shade than the outside sheet, a gap between the inside sheet and the outside sheet. 
     The inside sheet inside surface is less reflective than the outside sheet outside surface. The inside sheet inside surface can be the inside surface of the shower curtain, and the outside sheet outside surface can be the outside surface of the shower curtain. The outside sheet has an outside sheet printed side having a graphic print that has openings on an outside sheet unprinted area. The opening density of the outside sheet printed side is preferably at least ten per square centimeter with the openings less than 1 mm in diameter. The shower curtain may also have a middle sheet. The shower curtain preferably includes an opaque image printed on the outside sheet, wherein the opaque image does not have openings in it. The air gap can be of any size commonly developed between pairs of hanging sheets of shower curtain. The inside sheet and the outside sheet can both be a flexible wavy material. An observer standing outside a shower receives glare such that clear vision through the openings is hindered. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of the present invention as installed where the openings are not drawn according to scale, but rather exaggerated in size for clarity. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of the present invention showing a single sheet embodiment, where the openings are not drawn according to scale, but rather exaggerated in size for clarity. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of the present invention showing a double sheet embodiment, where the openings are not drawn according to scale, but rather exaggerated in size for clarity. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of the present invention showing a triple sheet embodiment, where the openings are not drawn according to scale, but rather exaggerated in size for clarity. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing thermal edge lamination of the graphic layer to the transparent opening layer, where the openings are not drawn according to scale, but rather exaggerated in size for clarity. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an array to provide a see-through image having line structure. 
     
    
    
     The following callout list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings. 
       12  Window Openings 
       14  Opaque Area 
       16  Sheet 
       17  Reflective Outside Surface Of Sheet 
       18  Shower Curtain Rod 
       19  Inside Surface Of Sheet 
       20  Shower Curtain Connector 
       21  Opaque Image 
       22  Opaque Array 
       23  See Through Image 
       24  Line Structure 
       30  Outside Layer 
       31  Outside Layer Outside Surface 
       32  Outside Layer Inside Surface 
       33  Outside Layer Top Edge 
       35  Air Gap 
       40  Middle Layer 
       41  Middle Layer Outside Surface 
       42  Middle Layer Inside Surface 
       50  Inside Layer 
       51  Inside Layer Outside Surface 
       52  Inside Layer Inside Surface 
       53  Inside Layer Top Edge 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In a typical shower setting, a shower stall interior has less light and a curtain divides the shower stall from the remainder of the bathroom. The present invention seeks to make a shower curtain that is easier to see out of by a shower user, while at the same time limiting viewing of the shower user from outside the shower curtain. Luminosity is typically provided by a lamp in the bathroom that is outside of the shower stall. As usual, the curtain is attached to a shower curtain rod  18  by curtain connectors  20  such as rings, clips or the like. Shower curtain connectors  20  can be pentagonal in shape. The embodiment of a shower curtain described in may be used in any application where a shower curtain is needed to block or obscure light, drafts, viewing, or water. 
     An outside layer is formed as a sheet  16 . The outside layer is the layer closest to the luminosity originating from outside of the shower stall. The material is preferably a transparent or clear vinyl material that has an image  21  that can be multicolored for a desired layout. The outer layer is preferably bonded to the inner layer on a single edge, being the top edge  33  or on all four edges. If there are a pair of layers, the pair of layers can be individually used or bonded on any one side or sides through heat welding, heat lamination, co-extrusion or stitching. 
     The inner layer also called the inside layer is positioned furthest from the luminosity originating from outside of the shower stall. The material is dark colored translucent material that can be pre-tinted, printed, coated or dyed. The inner layer also has window openings  12  formed by printing and opaque array  22  having window openings. The inner layer can have an image  21  that is preferably of a single color similar to the color of the material or can be black. The bonding between the inside layer and the outside layer can be on a single edge, being the top edge or on all sides to the outer layer. The outside layer top edge  33  can be bonded to the inside layer top edge  53 . 
     The image can be printed on either the inside or the outside surface of each layer. The image can be printed on the outer layer. If the outer layer is clear it will not affect the color of the image. The image can be printed on the inside surface of the outside layer or on the outside surface of the outside layer. If the material is tinted or translucent, then the image should be printed on the outside surface of the outside layer. 
     The windows are proportioned so that they have a regular pattern. The proportion of transparent to opaque is preferably of a greater ratio of reflected luminosity outward than of luminosity passing through the curtain. The size of the openings must be carefully configured, but are preferably approximately 1 mm in diameter. The openings can be approximately 1 mm apart from each other. This provides less than 50% ratio of opening area  12  to opaque area  14 . The outside layer has a reflective outside surface  17 . The reflective outside surface reflects light in a bathroom for example back into the room. If the inside layer also has 50% ratio of opening area  12  to opaque area  14 , then in combination with an outside layer of 50% ratio of opening area  12  to opaque area  14  the total combined ratio would be 25% ratio of opening area  12  to opaque area  14 . Preferably, the shower curtain will have more than ten openings per square centimeter with each opening approximately 1 mm in diameter such as 0.5 to 3 mm in diameter. 
     The outer layer  30  preferably has transparent windows that appear as openings to the user. However these openings do not actually have to be apertures that allow air flow, but simply transparent portions of material. The openings are preferably uncoated or clear areas on the surface of the plastic sheet. The openings permit certain light to pass through them and regulates the degree of luminosity passing through the layers as well as enabling viewing from behind the inner layer to objects behind the outer layer. 
     The inner layer  50  is preferably darker than the outer layer, and black is a good shade. The outside surface of the outside layer is more reflective than the inside surface of the inside layer. The light reflecting back into the room from the outside surface of the outside layer creates a glare for the outside observer, and the user inside does not have glare because the inside surface of the inside layer is nonreflective in nature. 
     The inner layer has an inner layer inside surface and an inner layer outside surface. Both the inner layer  50  inside surface  52  and the inner layer outside surface  51  should be of a darker shade than the outside layer  30  inside surface  32  and the outside layer outside surface  31 . A white sheet on the outside layer is preferred. Preferably there is a small gap  35  between the outer layer and the inner layer. The air gap is not required. The outer layer can be laminated to the inner layer along its entire surface to create a single layer construction. Having a small gap between the inner layer and the outer layer disrupts viewing from angles that are not in a right angle to the shower curtain because an outside viewer would have misalignment between the inner layer openings and the outer layer openings. The window openings of the inner layer are areas of unprinted clear plastic sheet. It is possible to bind the surface of both layers so that they appear as one layer. The layers can also be independent with a curtain and a liner. The material for the outer layer can be clear transparent or translucent, that is lightly tinted with color. 
     An image  21  can be imprinted on the outer layer inside surface. Preferably, the image would be applied onto the surface without covering the transparent or clear openings. The image is preferably applied with a screen print or other type of printing to create the desired visual layout and design. The external ornamental design serves to obfuscate the user area in the middle of the curtain. The image can also be printed over the transparent openings so as to provide an area that is completely opaque. The plurality of standard transparent or clear openings allow light to travel through the two sheets of plastic. The transparent openings are created after the opaque image is applied. The openings are unprinted areas designed into the artwork or graphic image. 
     In a first alternate embodiment, the sheet uses a single layer of clear material and has openings, and an image and transparent material. The clear sheet can be printed with an image and a background having openings. The single sheet has a reflective outside surface. The inside surface  19  of the single sheet can be darker than the outside surface of the single sheet. The clear sheet can be made as a translucent sheet as well. The inside surface of the single sheet is preferably nonreflective. This embodiment has been tested but has less privacy protection because a person standing outside may in some instances view the outline of a person standing inside the shower. 
     In a second alternate embodiment of the present invention, the single sheet is now a double sheet with an outer layer  30  and an inner layer  50  with a gap  35  between the outer layer and the inner layer. The inner layer has no coating of ink or die applied to the surface and only uses a layered tinted with color preferably a dark color that absorbs light to provide a clear view outwards. The inner layer may be tinted with color and optionally transparent with a coating on an ink or dye applied. The outer layer can be made of polyester. The fabric layer may possess design stitched are built into the fabric. The fabric will be constructed in a way so that enough light will travel through to allow viewing. This embodiment has been tested but has less privacy protection because a person standing outside may in some instances view the outline of a person standing inside the shower. 
     In the third alternate embodiment of the present invention, the invention has three layers, namely an outer layer  30 , a middle layer  40  and an inner layer  50 . The third alternate embodiment uses one or more of multiple layers of transparent or color tinted translucent layers as the outside layer and also as the inside layer. The middle layer  40  has a middle layer outside surface  41  and a middle layer inside surface  42 . Additional layers reflect light with the multicolored coated layer either as the outside layer middle layer or a inner layer. The sheets can be made of vinyl, EVA, PVEA or other variations of these compositions. The disadvantage to having three or more layers is that the cost is higher to manufacture. 
     In the best mode the shower curtain is made from a sheet of plastic possessing transparent characteristics in which an outside sheet front side is applied with ink to form a white image and the outside sheet back side is colored black. The sheet can be made of a fabric. An array of transparent window openings with no ink applied are located throughout the entire outside sheet on both sides. An inside sheet having transparent window openings are printed in a white pattern on the inside sheet outside surface where no ink is printed on a transparent sheet of plastic. The inside sheet inside surface is colored black. A wide variety of different ornamental designs can be applied to the outside sheet. It is possible to bond the outside layer to the inside layer to create a more durable multiple layer sheet. 
     The array  14  can be hexagonal or Cartesian in orientation pattern. The pattern of the array preferably matches between the outer layer and the inner layer. The image can be printed only on the array to provide a see-through image  23  having line structure  24 . The line structure having contrasting color provides a design that further obscures the occupant within the shower curtain. 
     The unprinted window opening area can be printed first as an array, then a second color can be printed over the unprinted window opening area. The array can be formed also as a stipple shaded graphic where the openings are unprinted area. A variety of images such as a stipple shaded graphic can be applied to a surface of the shower curtain sheet. The array could also be formed as a large number of lines crossing the sheet are emanating from a point on the sheet. 
     The sheet should be flexible and water resistant. The sheet should have a wavy or ruffled profile so that limited amounts of surface are directly normal to an outside viewing angle. A graphic design should visually break up any silhouette of a showering person. The sheet is therefore flexible and wavy, and not flat. The sheet is flat during production, but then during use is not flat because the connectors are spaced apart and pull the sheet to a wavy profile.