Patent Publication Number: US-10772471-B2

Title: Apparatus for securing a collapsible water dam

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the invention relates to the field of barrier retainers. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for securing a collapsible water dam. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Collapsible water dams (also known as Shower Water Retainer) prevents water from escaping out of a roll-in or barrier-free shower stall. In its normal or resting state, a collapsible water dam stands approximately 1.25 inches high but collapses to approximately ⅜ inches when stepped on or rolled over, e.g. by a wheelchair, and returning to its resting or normal state thereafter. 
     Health workers appreciate the extra safety provided by our shower water retainer. Safety is increased by retaining water in the shower areas to keep the rest of the area dry preventing slips. Collapsible shower water retainer dams are ideal for roll in, barrier free, and curbless shower stalls. 
     The water retainer dam is made of a high density memory material that returns to its original shape after it has been rolled or stepped on. End caps or plugs are used to anchor the water dam to the wall, i.e. where the wall meets the shower base. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to an apparatus for securing a collapsible water dam. Embodiments of the present invention provide a tight fit enclosure for the ends of collapsible shower dams to keep water out and create more stability. 
     Embodiments of the invention comprise an end-cap with a semi-cylindrical housing. The housing includes a chamber at its proximal end for securing the collapsible water dam. 
     In one or more embodiments, the end-cap further includes a side flange coupled to each side of the housing at the bottom periphery of the outside wall of housing. 
     In one or more embodiments, the end-cap further includes a barrier wall inside the housing that creates a secure chamber for housing a collapsible water dam. The secure chamber includes a slot on each side of the inside periphery of the housing to secure a bottom wall of the collapsible water dam. 
     In one or more embodiments, the end-cap further includes a wall flange at the distal end of the housing. The wall flange couples to and joins both side flanges in a configuration that provides a tight fit with the end wall of a shower. The wall flange may be configured to fit a 90-degree end wall or a curved end-wall. 
     In one or more embodiments, the end cap comprises a thermoplastic elastomer material such as a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a collapsible water dam installed on the base of a curbless shower stall with a 90-degree end wall in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cutout illustrating a collapsible water dam without the end caps of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of an end cap for showers with 90-degree end walls coupled to a collapsible water dam in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of an end cap with curved end walls coupled to a collapsible water dam in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  are renderings of different views of the end cap  20  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a top plan view of the end cap  20  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a rear elevational view of the end cap  20  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6C  is cross-sectional view A-A of the end cap  20  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6D  is a side elevational view of the end cap  20  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6E  is a front elevational view of the end cap  20  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 7A-7D  are renderings of different views of the end cap  30  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8A  is a top plan view of the end cap  30  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8B  is a rear elevational view of the end cap  30  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8C  is cross-sectional view A-A of the end cap  30  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8D  is a side elevational view of the end cap  30  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8E  is a front elevational view of the end cap  30  of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention comprising an apparatus for securing a collapsible water dam will now be described. In the following exemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. Furthermore, although steps or processes are set forth in an exemplary order to provide an understanding of one or more systems and methods, the exemplary order is not meant to be limiting. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the steps or processes may be performed in a different order, and that one or more steps or processes may be performed simultaneously or in multiple process flows without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. It should be noted that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention. 
     For a better understanding of the disclosed embodiment, its operating advantages, and the specified object attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation. 
     The term “first”, “second” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described with references to  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention comprise end-cap  20  that enable a tight fit enclosure for each one of the ends, i.e. a first end  201  and a second end  203 , of a collapsible shower dam (or main member)  10  to keep water from flowing out of curbless showers and also to provide stability for the shower dam  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a first end cap, e.g.  20  or  30 , is coupled to a first end  201  of the collapsible shower dam  10  and a second end cap, e.g.  20  or  30 , is coupled to the second end  203  of the collapsible shower dam  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a typical shower dam  10  comprises a semi-cylindrical resilient upper portion  202  coupled to a bottom wall (or portion)  204  to form a hollow chamber (or longitudinal aperture)  206  therein, which extends the entire length of the collapsible shower dam  10 . The bottom wall  204  extends beyond the outside periphery of the walls of the semi-cylindrical upper portion  202 . The hollow inside chamber  206  facilitates collapsing of the shower dam when stepped on or rolled over, e.g. by a wheelchair. 
     In one or more embodiment of the present invention, each end-cap  20 , e.g. as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , comprises a semi-cylindrical housing  502  with an inside wall and outside wall; a side flange  504  on each side and coupled to the bottom outside periphery of the outside wall of housing  502 . Side flange  504 , on each side of the housing  502 , extends from the proximal end of housing  502  towards the distal end where it couples with a wall flange  506 . Thus, the wall flange  506  couples together the side flange from each side of the housing to act as one continuous member. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , side flange  504  is configured to lay flat on the shower floor for coupling the end cap to the shower floor and wall flange  506  is configured to lay flat on the end-wall for coupling the end cap, e.g.  20 , to the end-wall, e.g.  2  or  3 , of the shower. The configuration and combination of side flange  504  and wall flange  506  adds stability to the collapsible water dam that is not present in the prior art. 
     In one or more embodiment of the present invention, the wall flange is configured to fit the shape of the end-wall. For example, the configuration of end cap, e.g.  20 , comprises wall flange  506  with outside configuration  507  shaped to sit against a 90-degree end wall with very little radius between the shower floor and the end-wall. Another configuration of end cap, e.g.  30 , comprises wall flange  706  with outside configuration  707  shaped to sit against a curved end wall with significant radius between the shower floor and the end-wall. 
     The end-cap, e.g.  20  or  30 , further comprises a barrier wall  508  separating inner chamber  510  from inner chamber  520 . The barrier wall  508  is configured as a stopper to prevent foreign objects, e.g. water, from entering the lumen  206  of the collapsible water dam thus preventing foreign materials from affecting its resiliency, in essence creating a secure chamber  510  for coupling the water dam. Chamber  510  is configured to accommodate collapsible water dam  10 . Thus, chamber  510  includes a slot  512  on each side flange  504  to house or secure the exterior extensions of the bottom wall  204  of the collapsible water dam  10 . 
     End-cap  20  is preferable made of a high performance elastomer in the thermoplastic rubber family, e.g. Santoprene® thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), which has excellent elastic recovery properties, and excellent chemical and temperature resistance. Those of skill in the arts would appreciate that other materials may be used without deviating from the spirit of the invention. 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.