Patent Publication Number: US-8528753-B2

Title: Shower rod snap-fit assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to shower curtain rod assemblies and more specifically to a shower curtain rod assembly using a snap-fit mechanism for facilitating rapid assembly and disassembly of the shower curtain rod. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional shower curtain rods are used at the entrance to a bath tub/shower and work in combination with a plastic or rubber shower curtain that drape below the rod. This assembly not only provides privacy but prevents water from splashing or exiting the tub area. Typically, the shower curtain rod utilizes a one-piece construction where a wall-mounting base and rod is rigidly fastened between opposing shower walls. This type of assembly can involve a great deal of labor in its installation since the rod must often be held into a fixed position at both of its ends while its base members are secured to a wall. Still other types of shower rods work to expand between the walls to frictionally hold the rod into a fixed position without mechanical attachment. These types of shower rods can easily move or fail at inopportune times while bearing the weight of a moveable shower curtain. Accordingly, a new type of show curtain assembly is needed for allowing a user additional alternatives in its assembly and use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the shower curtain in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the snap-fit assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the shower rod engaged within the wall mount base in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C are a perspective view, top view and side view respectively of the wall mount base in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a shower rod snap-fit assembly. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the shower curtain and rod in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The shower curtain rod system  100  includes a curved shower curtain rod  101  that supports a shower curtain  103 . Although shown as a curved rod, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention is application to a straight shower curtain rod as well. However, the curved shower curtain rod  101  is advantageous in that when used with a shower curtain, the curtain bows away from the tub at the center of the rod giving the user a perception of having more room or space in the shower while behind the curtain. The curved shower rod  101  is typically manufactured of a plastic or metallic material in a tubular form in multiple pieces so to have a slight taper at its center for providing a substantially telescoping rod for adjusting its overall length. A telescoping rod allows the shower curtain rod  101  to be conveniently sized in length to fit between walls of a shower or bathtub area. As will be described herein, at the end of each shower rod  101 , a “snap-fit” type assembly is used to construct and/or set-up the shower rod  101  into a wall base mount  105  without the need of multiple persons or helpers that normally would be required in such an installation. The invention allows the shower curtain rod  101  to be held into a fixed position while still allowing a homeowner or other user to quickly attach and/or detach the shower curtain rod  101  without the need for special tools or other equipment. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the snap-fit assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The snap-fit assembly  200  operates in combination with a wall base mount  105  for holding the shower rod  101  into a fixed position when snap-fit therein. The snap-fit assembly  200  includes a pair of caps or buttons  203  that work in combination with a substantially U-shaped resilient spring  201 . In use, each button  203  is fastened or engaged with a pin  208  located on the end portion of the spring  201 . During assembly, the closed end of the resilient spring  201  is inserted in an open end of the shower rod  101  to a point where the buttons  203  are forced through and extend from a corresponding aperture  202 . This allows the spring  201  and button  203  to be held in place by its aperture  202  by the rigid tubular construction of the rod  101 . Once in position, an end cap  207  is then frictionally engaged within an end of the shower rod to cover the opening to the rod  101 . As will be described herein, the rod  101  is then inserted into a channel  209  formed within the wall base mount  105 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the shower rod engaged within the wall mount base in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The mounting assembly  300  includes the shower rod  101  inserted with a channel formed by cup section  303  that extends from the face of the wall base mount  105 . In one embodiment, the cup section  303  has uneven sides allowing the buttons  203  to protrude from each side of a corresponding base aperture  301  when inserted therein. By compressing the buttons  203  and spring  201 , the buttons  203  can be extracted from the base apparatus  301  by using a substantially mild pulling force. This allows the shower rod  101  to be detached and disassembled from the cup section  303  in the wall base mount  105 . Hence, by using such a snap-fit locking system between the wall-mounting base and curtain rod, this enables for an easier installation or disassembly of the curtain rod  101  with less labor and fewer tools involved for cleaning and/or maintenance. 
       FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C are views illustrating an alternative embodiment of the wall mount base as described herein.  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the wall mount base while  FIG. 4B  shows a cross-sectional inside view of a first half of the wall mount base through section lines IVB-IVB shown in  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4C  shows a cross-sectional inside view of a second half of the wall mounted base through lines IVC-IVC shown in  FIG. 4A . More specifically,  FIG. 4A  illustrates the wall base mount  400  having a tapered wall  401  and cup section  403 . As described herein, the base apertures  405   a ,  405   b  work with the shower rod (not shown) allowing it to be snap-fit into a fixed position.  FIG. 4B  illustrates a first half of the base showing the inside of the tapered wall  401  and inside of wall aperture  405   a . A protuberance  407  works to raise the support area used by the wall aperture  405   a  allowing for the base apertures  405   a ,  405   b  to be set at the correct distance apart. A fastening aperture  409  is used in connection with a mounting screw (not shown) for attaching the wall base mount to the surface of a wall or other structure (not shown). A first stop  411  joins or mates with a corresponding stop for allowing the shower rod end to abut at a fixed point within the wall mount base. In  FIG. 4C , the inside of the second half of the base illustrates a second stop  413  used for mating with the first stop  411  when the halves of the wall mount base are joined together like shown in  FIG. 4A . The first stop  411  and second stop  413  operate to prevent the shower rod (not shown) from extending beyond a predetermined point into the wall mount base. When assembled, the buttons (not shown) can easily snap-fit within their corresponding base apertures  405   a ,  405   b  allowing easy assembly and disassembly. 
     As will be evident to those skilled in the art, the shower rod snap-fit assembly including its wall mount bases may also be supplied as individual parts, which can be installed part-by-part with minimum labor. In use, once the wall mount bases are fixed onto the wall, the curtain rod can be easily snap-fit into the wall-mounting bases without tools. Once the curtain rod is snap-fit into the mounted bases on the wall, the curtain rod is held into a substantially rigid position for holding the shower curtain. Meanwhile, it is also easy to detach the shower curtain rod from the mounting bases by compressing the snap-fit buttons and sliding out the rod for cleaning and maintenance. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.