Abstract:
A rod structure for hanging wet clothes adapted to fit in a bathtub. The rod structure may be either a single slanted piece or a vertical piece connected to a slanted piece. The slanted piece contains a longitudinal axis and contains either slots or bulges along the slanted piece, which slots or bulges which are parallel to each other. The slots or bulges are positioned in such a way that they are not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application corresponds in subject matter to Disclosure Document No. 527437, entitled “BATHTUB CLOTHES DRYER WITH ANGLED GROOVES”, dated Mar. 11, 2003 and relies on the filing date of Oct. 16, 2003 for Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/511,766.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1) Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to the field of drying clothes in a bathtub and more specifically to drying clothes in a bathtub without wetting the bathroom floor. Using an electric (rotating) dryer can be expensive and time consuming. Besides, clothes dried in the electric dryers form a large mass, mixing with one another and leaving wrinkles. Hanging wet clothes from a shower-curtain rod has several disadvantages including, the water drips from the wet clothes to the bathroom floor outside of the bathtub, soaking the bathroom floor and the weight of wet clothes may break or loosen the shower curtain rod.  
         [0004]     Despite these disadvantages, people hang their wet clothes from their shower curtain rods anyway. There is a need to provide a quick, easy, and economical means for drying clothes in a bathtub without any of the above disadvantages.  
         [0005]     2) Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     There are several prior art US Patents that use rods to dry clothes in bathtub. Examples can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,725, entitled “Removable Bath Accessory Bar”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,621, entitled “Garment Dryer”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,781, entitled “Portable Adjustable Clothes Drying Device”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,356, entitled “Rigid Clothes Drying Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,031, entitled “Clothes Drying Rack”. However, none uses a rod that is parallel to the shower-curtain rod, nor do they have angled slots on the rod for preventing water leakage outside the bathtub. U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,492, entitled “Movement Resistant Angled Clothes Hanger Rod Structure” describes a space-saving clothes hanger rod structure for holding (dry) clothes hangers in an optimal angled position within a closet having a minimal depth therein. It provides for a V shaped rod, holding the clothes hanger hooks in two spaced-apart points.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The object of the present invention is to provide a quick, easy economical means for drying clothes in a bathtub without wetting the bathroom floor. Another object is to provide a quick, easy economical means for drying clothes in a bathtub without wrinkles.  
         [0008]     Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment is disclosed.  
         [0009]     In accordance with this invention, there is disclosed one or more rods (rod structure) used for drying clothes in a bathtub. The rod(s) has parallel angled slots or bulges (not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod) on its surface. The clothes hanger hooks are placed in the parallel slots (or are supported by the bulges) on the rod. The suspended wet clothes hang at an angle because the slots/bulges are at an angle. Since the wet clothes hang at an angle, the wet clothes will not drip outside of the bathtub onto the bathroom floor even though the wet clothes are wider than the width of the bathtub.  
         [0010]     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the rod structure of the present invention in a bathtub.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a close-up top plan view of the rod portion with the slots thereon.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of clothes hanging from a rod showing the approximate dimensions.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of clothes hanging from the rod at an angle inside a bathtub.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4B  is similar to  4 A with the clothes hanging from the rod at a sharper angle.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is an embodiment of the rod that is mounted in the bathtub at an angle.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view for  FIGS. 7 and 8  and is similar to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of wet clothes hanging on a rod with angled slots.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side view of wet clothes hanging on a rod with angled bulges.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the rod structure  5  of the present invention in a bathtub  110 . The measurements are shown in inches. The outside length of the tub  110  is approximately 57″. The inside length of the tub  110  is approximately 47″. The inside width of the bathtub  110  (as shown) is approximately 23″. Most bathtubs are approximately this size. However, if the bathtub is a different shape or size the present invention will still function.  
         [0022]     The rod structure  5  is placed inside the bathtub  110  as shown. The rod structure  5  is composed of two rods ( 6  and  8 ). Alternatively, it may consist of one rod, bent at the junction between  6  and  8 . Rod  6  is the vertical support leg for rod  8  and is preferably more than 40″ tall. 40″ is the approximate length of typical hung clothes (see  FIG. 3 ). One end of rod  8  is supported by vertical rod  6 , and the other end leans against the bathroom wall as shown. Rod  8  is at least 62″ tall but can be longer if needed. The excess length can get cut off by the customer depending on the size of his bathtub. In other embodiments (not shown) rod structure  5  may have a curve or zigzag to allow for more surface area on the rod to hang wet clothes on. The vertical portion  6  may have a base (not shown) to stand on. The base may be plastic and filled with water for added weight. Ideally the rod structure would be easy to assemble/disassemble and remove for storage when the clothes have been dried.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a plan top view of rod  8  having parallel slots  18  on its surface. Instead of slots, the rod  8  may have bulges  19  on it with the same purpose. Wet clothes  89  are hung with a hanger  84  on rod  8 . The hanger hooks are placed into the slots  18 . Since the wet clothes  89  are hung from the hangers  84  inserted into the slots  18 , the clothes  89  will not slide off the rod  8  even if it is at an angle other than horizontal. The slots  18  are approximately 6″ apart to allow for sufficient air circulation between wet clothes. Since the rod  8  is approximately 62″ long and the slots are approximately 6″ apart, there will be room for approximately 10 slots. This allows for 10 pieces of wet clothes  89  to be hung on the rod  8  at one time.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of typical clothes  89  hung from a rod to dry. The width of the clothes  89  hanging from the hanger  84  is approximately 24″ which is 1″ longer than the width of the bathtub  110  (23″ as shown in  FIG. 1 ). For this reason if the slots  18  on rod  8  were not at an angle, the wet clothes  89  would drip outside of the bathtub  110 .  
         [0025]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  provide a top plan view of bathtub  110 . As shown, rod  8  has wet clothes  89  hung on it. The clothes  89  are attached to hangers which are inserted into the slots  18  on the rod  8  so that they don&#39;t slide. Since the parallel slots  18  are at an angle, the wet clothes  89  hang at an angle (as shown). This prevents water from leaking outside the bathtub  110 . The difference between  FIGS. 4A and 4B  lies in the angle of the slots on the rod  8 .  FIG. 4B  has a sharper angle than  4 A.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a simplified embodiment comprised of only one rod  8  that is approximately 7′ long. As shown, one end of the rod is placed at the corner  54  where the bathtub  110  and the bathroom walls meet, and the other end leans against the point at which the bathroom wall and shower curtain  14  meet. Once again, Rod  8  has angled slots  18  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0027]     Since rod  8  is approximately 7′ tall, and the slots are approximately 6″ apart, there will be room for approximately 14 pieces of clothing on the rod  8 . However, at the lower end of the rod  8 , only short clothes such as socks and shorts may be hung. Since the length of a hung shirt is approximately 40″ (see  FIG. 3 ), it will drag on the bathtub floor if it is hung at the lower end of rod  8 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is the top view of rod  8  and it shows one of the parallel slots  18  at an angle non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod  8 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a side view drawing enlarged to see the details more clearly. The rod  8  has slots  18  on its surface. Wet clothes  89  are attached to the hanger  84  which is placed inside one of the slots  18 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7  except that the rod has bulges  19  instead of slots  18 . Wet clothes  89  are attached to the hanger  84  which is supported by the bulge  19  on the surface of rod  8 .  
         [0031]     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit its scope to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within its spirit and scope.