Abstract:
A shower enclosure system includes an elongate arcuate rod having first and second spaced end portions, a pair of swivels, with one swivel at each of the end portions, and a pair of swivel-receiving wall mounts for mounting on opposing walls of a shower enclosure, with each of the swivels to receive one of the swivels. The system includes a shower curtain rod which is shaped so that the bathroom is protected by draping the shower curtain in such a way that splashed water does not escape from the bath tub. The shape of the curtain rod provides added space outside the perimeter of the tub footprint, for the comfort of the user within the shower enclosure. However, the added space within the shower enclosure does not compromise the integrity of the water capturing function of the shower curtain.

Description:
This application is a division of application No. 09/188,463, filed Nov. 9, 1998, abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present relates generally to the field of shower enclosures and, more particularly, to a flexible and adjustable shower enclosure system that is adapted to conform to practically any footprint of a shower area of a manufactured or custom shower installation. The shower enclosure of this invention includes an adjustable bracket which pivots horizontally in either direction with a range of motion up to 140°, or even more, and a system of rod segments which may telescope or otherwise connect to conform to a given shower enclosure depending on the component rod segments selected. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A present day bathtub arrangement commonly includes a shower nozzle mounted on the wall within an enclosure above the tub to provide the option of a shower for the resident using the bathroom facility. Water from the shower nozzle is intended to be confined to the enclosure by a sliding door, typically a translucent plastic or shatter proof glass, or more conveniently, a shower curtain. The shower curtain is ordinarily constructed and arranged to drape loosely from a set of eyelets or curtain rings which slide along a straight curtain rod. A set of such rings is normally mounted slidably on the shower curtain rod which is positioned normally at or above the height of the shower nozzle. 
     The shower curtain is draped in the bath tub below the straight curtain rod so that water is not splashed out of the bath tub. Because the bath tub is below the shower nozzle, the bath tub functions to collect water which drains from the bath tub during the shower. Since a curtain rod is typically a straight piece of pipe, and the inside surface of the tub into which the curtain is draped is usually at least partially curved, the shower curtain is often drawn away from its natural straight drape created by the straight rod to drape instead into or along the curving rim of the tub, thus this departure from its natural drape draws the curtain way from the wall of the shower enclosure. This phenomenon leaves a gap between the curtain and enclosure wall, and this gap provides a means for leakage of shower water from the shower enclosure. 
     Thus, there remains a need for a shower curtain that is configured to create a natural drape of the curtain that conforms to the curving portion of the tub, altering the conventional location and angle at which the curtain meets the wall to minimize the gap between the shower curtain and the shower wall and render harmless any water that should escape the curtain. 
     Further, a tub fixture today commonly comes in one of a number of standard sizes. This standard size tub is put in place, and then a wall structure is completed adjacent or around the tub, generally on two or three sides of the tub. As the wall structure is installed, it is customized to fit over the rim or outer edge of the tub, and may encroach more or less over the top surface of the tub. Thus, the longitudinal distance that the curtain rod must span varies, often varying over an inch or more. If a standard, straight curtain rod is then installed, it often requires some modification to the enclosure to fit properly. Also, the enclosure is almost never perfectly square, with perfectly parallel facing walls. Thus, a standard straight rod with inflexible mounting brackets will not fit perfectly flush and will therefore leave unsightly gaps around the fixtures, if the rod fits at all. 
     Also, typically the drape of the curtain in the center portion of the tub where a person is most likely to be showering is restricted to a uniform vertical drape that is created by the rigid horizontal plane of the straight rod. Thus, the amount of space available to the bather in the center of the enclosure is restricted directly by the end wall placement or mounting of the rod. 
     When shower water is running within the enclosure, the curtain is a barrier between the cooler air outside the shower enclosure and the warmer air within created by steam and running hot water. This difference in air temperature and pressure on opposing sides of the curtain creates a tendency for the curtain to drift inward into the showering area as the cooler outside air seeks to replace the rising warm air within the enclosure. This inward drifting tendency of the curtain often causes unwanted contact between the person showering and the curtain. 
     Thus, there remains a need for a curtain rod that is flexible and adaptable to a shower enclosure, without the need for modification of the enclosure itself to receive the rod. The rod and it&#39;s mounting hardware should present a finished appearance, even over a widely varying geometry of space into which the rod is to be installed. Further, the rod should provide additional shoulder and elbow room for a bather within the shower enclosure, which added space in the center portion of the tub is outside the horizontal plane that runs directly between the mounting brackets, without the need for any other additional elements to the shower enclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses these and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a shower curtain rod which is shaped so that the bathroom is protected by draping the shower curtain in such a way that splashed water does not escape from the bath tub. The shape of the curtain rod provides added space outside the perimeter of the tub footprint, for the comfort of the user within the shower enclosure. However, the added space within the shower enclosure does not compromise the integrity of the water capturing function of the shower curtain. 
     The present invention takes advantage of the recognition that almost all tubs have some curvature on the inside surface of the vertical wall of the tub. Even a tub with a substantially straight side wall includes a curved portion into the substantially straight back wall. The rod of this invention includes an arcuate segment, one or more straight segments, and a pivotable bracket for mounting the curtain rod to the wall of the enclosure. The segmentation of the rod makes it adaptable to a variety of the variations of tub installations. The pivotable wall bracket permits the curtain rod to be installed easily with a finished appearance in wall enclosure that are out of plumb, and brings the rod to the wall at a preferred angle to minimize out-leakage from the shower enclosure and adapt to the footprint of any particular tub or shower enclosure. 
     These and other features are described below, along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. 
     It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
     FIG. 1 a  and  1   b  are plan views of bathtubs in which the shower enclosure of this invention is advantageously applied. 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  are plan and side section views of a wall-mounted bracket of this invention, respectively. 
     FIGS. 2 c  and  2   d  are side and top section views of the swivel of this invention, respectively. 
     FIG. 2 e  is an end view of the swivel of FIGS. 2 c  and  2   d . 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  and top, section view of the swivel of this invention. 
     FIGS. 4 a  through  4   c  are top views of the segmented curtain rod of this invention, adapted to be installed in a three wall enclosure. 
     FIGS. 5 a  through  54   c  are top views of the segmented curtain rod of this invention, adapted to be installed in a two wall enclosure. 
     FIG. 6 a  depicts a top view of another embodiment of swivel of this invention. 
     FIG. 6 b  depicts a side section view of the swivel of FIG. 6 a.    
     FIGS. 6 c  and  6   d  depict top views of the swivel of FIG. 6 a  in combination with a wall bracket. 
     FIGS. 6 e  and  6   f  depict side views of the swivel and bracket combination of FIGS. 6 c  and  6   d.    
     FIG. 6 g  depicts and end view of the swivel of FIGS. 6 a  through  6   f.    
     FIG. 6 h  depicts a side section view of the swivel and bracket combination of FIGS. 6 c  through  6   f.    
     FIG. 7 a  depicts a top view of another embodiment of swivel of this invention. 
     FIG. 7 b  depicts a side section view of the swivel of FIG. 7 a.    
     FIGS. 7 c  and  7   d  depict top views of the swivel of FIG. 7 a  in combination with a wall bracket. 
     FIGS. 7 e  and  7   f  depict side views of the swivel and bracket combination of FIGS. 7 c  and  7   d.    
     FIG. 7 g  depicts and end view of the swivel of FIGS. 7 a  through  7   f.    
     FIG. 7 h  depicts a side section view of the swivel and bracket combination of FIGS. 7 c  through  7   f.    
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 a  and  1   b  depict an enclosure system  10  of this invention installed above a substantially rectangular tub  12  or an oval-shaped tub  14 . In both cases, the enclosure system  10  of this invention drapes a curtain (not shown) at a tangent along a curvature of the tub  12  of  14  close to a wall  16  of the enclosure. It is this feature of this invention which minimizes the gap between the curtain and the wall, thereby retaining shower water within the enclosure system and the location and angle of the mounting bracket receiving the tangent causes any such water that may escape the curtain to run down the wall back into the tub and not onto the bathroom floor. An arcuate curtain rod is depicted in copending U.S. Patent application, Ser. No. 08/739,888, filed Oct. 31, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference. The present invention enhances this feature by including a rotatable mount to mount the rod to the wall  16 , which is shown below. 
     FIG. 1 a  and  1   b  depict one of the features of this invention, in that the arcuate curtain rod provides additional space outward of a line between the mounting brackets that would not be provided by a straight rod. In other words, the shower enclosure system of this invention provides additional space for a bather within the enclosure, and that space may extend beyond the footprint of the tub enclosure. As used herein, the term “footprint” refers to space that would otherwise be provided by a tub with a straight curtain rod, and the present invention therefor provides space beyond that footprint, as shown in FIG. 1 a , without the need for any additional hardware, other than the rod and its mounting hardware. And, this additional space does not compromise the integrity of the water retaining capabilities of the curtain. 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  depict a wall mount  20  for such a flexible system. The wall mount  20  is adapted to be attached to the wall  16  and to receive a swivel  22 , shown in FIGS. 2 c  and  2   d , so that the enclosure system may be mounted between any two walls, whether or not the wall are parallel. The wall mount  20  includes a face plate  24  which provides a low profile to wall  16 . The face plate is provided with screw holes  26  to securely mount the wall mount. 
     Molded integral with the face plate is a flexible clamp  28  which includes a pair of opposing flexing teeth  30 . The teeth are biased apart when a swivel  22  is inserted into the clamp  28 . This securely retains the swivel  22  within the clamp, while providing the swivel with freedom to rotate about the teeth  30  in order to align properly with the wall  16 . 
     The swivel  22  includes a protruding loop  32  with a hole  34  through the loop to receive the teeth  30 . Alternatively, the loop may be closed off with a thin plate of material, and thus provide a recessed area to the receive the teeth. The swivel  22  is substantially cylindrical in overall configuration, with an opening at one end to the receive a curtain rod and enclosed at the other end to define the loop  32 . 
     The wall mount  20  and the swivel  22  in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 a  through  2   e  are preferably made of an easily molded plastic. The swivel therefore in this embodiment includes a plurality of flats  36  which serve to firmly grasp a curtain rod inserted into the swivel. 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  depict the swivel  22  and wall mount  20  combination mounted to a wall  16 . FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  clarify one of the advantages of this invention, that the same wall mount and swivel combination may be used, regardless of whether the enclosure system of this invention is being installed in a two- or three-wall enclosure. This feature of this invention is shown in greater detail with regard to FIGS. 4 a  through  4   c  and  5   a  through  5   c . Note that the angle of the limit of travel, shown as an angle α in FIG. 3 a , is limited only by the shape of the swivel  22 . 
     FIGS. 4 a  through  4   c  depict the enclosure system of this invention as installed between opposing walls  16 . The enclosure system comprises a pair of wall mounts  20 , a pair a swivels  22 , and a curtain rod  40  coupled to and between the swivels  22 . The rod includes a straight section  42 , which may also be referred to an a tangent section  42 , a curved section  44 , and a straight connecting section  46 . In a preferred embodiment, the rod  40  also includes a straight, detachable segment  48 . The rod portion including the tangent section  42 , the curved section  44 , and the straight connection section  46  is preferably hollow, to save on weight and material, and therefore cost, and for ease of manufacture. In either case, the connecting section  46  and the ends of the segment  48  provide male and female connections to couple the section  46  and segment  48  together. If the section  46  is hollow, thereby providing the female portion of the coupling, then the section  46  maybe be cut off easily to adapt the enclosure to any distance between opposing walls  16  equal to or less than the full, uncut length of the system. 
     Note also that the advantages of the enclosure system of this invention described with regard to FIG. 1 a  and  1   b  are maintained with the configuration of FIGS. 4 a  through  4   b . The rod drapes the curtain rod away from a person within the enclosure, providing added elbow room, while the rod conforms to the curvature at the inside wall of the tub below, to retain the integrity of the water capturing capability of the curtain. 
     FIGS. 5 a  through  5   c  depict an enclosure system of the invention, but instead of a mirror image curved section including sections  42 ,  44 , and  46  at one end of the rod  40 , the rod in this case includes one straight section  50  at that end. This configuration may also be adapted to conform to a tub installed within a two-wall enclosure. 
     The wall mount  20  and swivel  22  described to this point is simple, light, and easy to manufacture. However, certain applications require more robust components or such components may simply be desired. The mount/swivel combinations of FIGS. 6 a - 6   h  and  7   a - 7   h  respond to that desire. 
     The mount/swivel combination of FIGS. 6 a - 6   h  is preferably made of plastic. The primary distinction of the swivel shown in FIGS. 6 a  through  6   h , over that previously described, is the more robust coupling with the wall mount. FIG. 6 a  depicts a top view of such a swivel  60 . This swivel  60  includes a substantially cylindrical rod-receiving extension  62  and a substantially cylindrical bearing  64 . As previously described, the rod-receiving extension  62  includes a plurality of flats  66  to tightly grasp a curtain rod inserted into the extension. Integrally formed on an upper outside surface of the extension  62  is a curtain rod ring keeper  68 , to temporarily hold the ring at each end of the curtain in place while one takes a shower. 
     The bearing  64  is integrally formed with the extension  62  and defines an axis  70  perpendicular to the extension. Overall, the bearing defines a truncated oblate spheroid, and therefore forms a spheroidal bearing surface  72  which conforms to complementary surface on the wall bracket, described below with regard to FIG. 6 h . The bearing also includes an axial channel  74  therethrough, to receive an axis pin, also shown in FIG. 6 h.    
     FIG. 6 c  through  6   g  depict the wall mount  76  and swivel  60  in combination in various positions. This embodiment provides more robustness to withstand the various torsion and other stresses during normal usage of the enclosure system. This system also presents a more streamlined appearance, in that the swivel and wall mount fit flush together. Note also that mounting screw holes  80  are also hidden underneath the swivel, presenting an even more streamlined appearance. In this embodiment, the swivel and wall mount are joined together with an axis pin  78 , which is also hidden within the wall mount. 
     FIGS. 7 a  through  7   h  depict yet another preferred embodiment. This embodiment also includes a swivel  82  comprising an extension  84  and a bearing  86 . This embodiment is preferably made of zinc or other metallic or similar material. Since this embodiment is made of metal, the flats  66  of the previous embodiment would be ineffective in grasping a rod, so a set screw opening  88  is provided. The set screw opening  88  may also be provided on the top of the extension. The use of metal also eliminates the need for an axial channel  74  penetrating all the way through the bearing. Consequently, an axle screw  90  penetrates the wall mount  92  and into an opening  94  which only penetrates a short distance into the bearing. 
     The principles, preferred embodiment, and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. This invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, since these are regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Moreover, variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.