Abstract:
The present invention is a shower caddy including a frame that supports at least one shelf assembly and a top attaching means. In a preferred embodiment, the invention also includes a rail assembly to aid in preventing containers from falling from the shelf assemblies and a suction cup placed at the bottom end of the frame to secure the bottom end to a shower wall or other similar support.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of bathroom accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to bath and shower accessories, particularly the area of caddies for showers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     With the innumerable shower products such as soaps, shampoos, and conditioners found on the market today, a large proportion of home shower units are often lined with several bottles and jars each containing one of several variations of the above products. This plethora of containers can lead to clutter and possibly cause a safety hazard if they fall onto the shower floor due to a lack of shelf space.  
         [0003]     Although many devices designed to hold and store shower accessories and products are found in the prior art, they usually fail to overcome one or more of the problems created by the presence of numerous shower products and accessories. One problem is that although many of the prior art devices provide storage space for containers, the storage spaces, such as shelves, lack adequate guards so that the containers are easily knocked off the shelves to either break or cause a tripping hazard in the wet shower. Another problem is that these devices often lack stability in that they are easily moved or struck accidentally, knocking them ajar and spilling the containers. A third problem is that the shelves often take up an uncomfortable amount of space, especially in a smaller shower. The bather must take special care to not consistently hit them when maneuvering in the shower. Finally, the shower caddies found in the prior art often contain a number of parts with several corners, notches, slots, etc. that provide for the simple build up and difficult removal of soap residue.  
         [0004]     The shower caddy disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,131 and Des. 286,599 to Sussman are typical of the caddies found in the prior art. Although the caddy includes an upper clamp for hanging onto a shower nozzle, the disclosed caddy has no device to prevent the lower end from swinging on the supporting nozzle. In addition, the shelves of the &#39;131 device rotate and are suspended from slots that allow for containers to spill and for soap residue to build up. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 407,249 to Hampshire discloses a shower caddy with a curved notch for suspension from a shower nozzle and also discloses a pair of suction cups to prevent the lower end from swinging on the nozzle. However, the two shelves on the caddy have a low rail or bar with insufficient height to prevent containers from toppling from the shelf.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. Des. 415,916 to Hofman, et al. discloses a shower caddy with two shelves one of which has a protective rail to keep product containers from falling. Similar to the &#39;131 patent, the &#39;916 patent provides a notch for hanging from a shower nozzle, but it lacks any component for maintaining the stability of the lower end of the device. Similar to the &#39;916 patent, U.S. Pat. No. D493,991 to Dretzka is a shower caddy shaped to suspend from a nozzle but it also lacks any lower end stabilizer. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 417,990 to Yemini is a design patent disclosing a multishelf shower caddy that does not provide for any spill protection from its shelves and also appears to lack a lower end stabilizer.  
         [0006]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0121871 to Zadro discloses a height adjustable shower caddy designed to mount on different structures. Although it provides for lower end stability, the &#39;871 application discloses only a shelf with no rail and two wire basket type holders for bottles. The holders are shaped from wire-like material and have large spaces through which the bottles can easily slip. Finally, Japanese publication 2005-42306 discloses a device with foldable shelves that are supported within a frame. However, the device appears to lack any lower end stabilizing device and also any mechanism to easily and quickly hang or suspend the device in a shower. Moreover, the device in the &#39;306 disclosure has a slotted shelf support mechanism which allows for the build up of soap residue.  
         [0007]     Therefore, there exists in the field a need for a shower caddy type device that provides for easy installation, stability of the lower (non suspended) end, protection from the spilling of containers, and a simple design that resists soap residue build up.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention broadly comprises shower caddy including a frame having opposite first and second ends, at least one shelf assembly that spans or traverses the frame such that the shelf assembly includes a shelf support fixedly attached to the frame and a shelf member rotatably attached to the shelf support, and a first support means positioned within said frame at said first end and fixedly attached to said frame. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of shelf assemblies are attached to an oblong frame and fold or rotate into the space bound by the frame. In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention also includes a rail assembly and a second support means in the form of a suction cup positioned opposite the first support means.  
         [0009]     The present invention also broadly comprises a shower caddy including a frame, a plurality of shelf assemblies in which each shelf assembly includes a shelf support spanning the frame and a rotatably attached shelf member, a rail assembly that spans the frame with a rotating rail member, a grip insert at one end of the frame that is sized to grip a shower nozzle or similar object, and a suction cup attached to a second end of the frame.  
         [0010]     A general object of the invention is to provide a shower caddy with foldable shelves to provide for easy storage and, if needed, extra room in a shower.  
         [0011]     A second object of the invention is to provide a shower caddy that is easily installed.  
         [0012]     A third object of the invention is to provide a shower caddy with an element that prevents movement of the shower caddy&#39;s nonsuspended end.  
         [0013]     An additional object of the invention is to provide a secure locking mechanism for holding the foldable shelves in an open or extended position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing Figures, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the present invention showing its use in a typical shower environment;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the present invention showing the shelf assemblies and rail of the present invention folded or rotated into the space bound by the frame;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention showing the shelf assemblies and rail folded or rotated into the space bound by the frame;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a rear plan view of the present invention with the shelves and rail folded into the frame;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross sectional view of the present invention taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5   b  is a cross sectional view showing the shelves and rail of the present invention as rotating toward the extended position seen in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 6   a - c  are a magnified views of circled area  6  of  FIG. 5   b  portraying the tab and slot locking action of the shelf assembly of the present invention; and,  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a transverse cross section taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2  demonstrating a preferred embodiment of the shelf member of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention. It also should be appreciated that figure proportions and angles are not always to scale in order to clearly portray the attributes of the present invention.  
         [0024]     While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.  
         [0025]     Adverting to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of shower caddy  10  of the present invention showing its use in a typical shower environment. Frame  11  supports the components of shower caddy  10 . Frame  11  includes a first end which bear s first support means  20 . In the preferred embodiment shown, first support means  20  is an insert (insert  20 ) that includes grip  21  which is shaped to frictionally grip nozzle pipe P. In a more preferred embodiment, grip  21  includes grip surface  21   a  and is fabricated from a plastic or other material in an overmolding process which gives the material a “sticky” property to enhance the friction grip on nozzle pipe P. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, silicone, TPR, and PVC. In the embodiment shown, frame  11  possesses an oblong shape, however, persons of ordinary skill in the art will note that any desired shape, including but not limited to, circular rectangular, square, or an irregular shapes can be suitable.  
         [0026]     Shower caddy  10  includes one or more shelf assemblies  12 . Shelf assemblies  12  each include shelf member  13  and shelf support  14 . As will be explained below, shelf member  13  folds or rotates from the extended or open position shown in  FIG. 1  to a folded or closed position. In a preferred embodiment, shelf member  13  includes slot  16  which acts to drain shelf member  13  and is part of a tab and slot locking mechanism used to hold shelf member  13  in the extended position.  
         [0027]     Rail support  18  is shown attached to frame  11  and supports rail  19 . Rail  19  is rotatably attached to rail support  18  and rotates from the extended position shown in  FIG. 1  to a folded position within the space bound by frame  11  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . In the extended position, rail  19  helps prevent items such as container C from toppling from or being pushed off shelf member  13 .  
         [0028]     Accessory holder  23  is shown opposite insert  20  and is formed to hold accessories such as razor  30  or a toothbrush or other similar items. In the preferred embodiment shown, accessory holder  23  includes slots  23   a  to provide a convenient receiver for accessories.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the present invention showing both shelf assemblies  12  and rail  19  folded or rotated into the space bound by frame  11  (closed position). Plainly visible are slots  16  in shelf member  13  and tab  17  in shelf support  14 . Also seen is hinge  15  which connects shelf member  13  with shelf support  14  and allows shelf member  13  to rotate relative to shelf support  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , hinge  15  is shown as a flexible continuous connection between shelf member  13  and shelf support  14  that is made from the same material as one or both of shelf member  13  and shelf support  14 . In alternate embodiments, hinge  15  may be made from different material, comprise more than one separate hinge device, and be attached to shelf member  13  and shelf support  14  using suitable fasteners such as screws, rivets, adhesives or the like. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other rotational attachments such as pins or a plurality of hinges may be used to join shelf member  13  to shelf support  14 .  
         [0030]     Shown in shadow is suction cup  24  which is attached to the rear side of frame  11  and is used to secure the lower end of frame  11  to a shower wall or other suitable support. In alternate embodiments, suction cup  24  may be replaced by an adhesive pad or similar device that allows the bottom end of frame  11  to be secured to a support such as a shower wall.  FIG. 3  is a side view of shower caddy  10  showing shelf assemblies  12  and rail  19  folded into the closed position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a rear plan view of shower caddy  10  showing shelf members  13  and rail  19  in the closed position. Plainly visible is second support means  24  attached to the lower end of frame  11 . In the preferred embodiment shown, second support means  24  is a suction cup that can be pressed against a shower wall to hold the bottom end of frame  11  to prevent shower caddy  10  from swinging or rotating around shower nozzle pipe P. Screws  25  are used to attach insert  20 , shelf supports  14 , rail support  18  and accessory holder  23  to frame  11 . Persons of skill in the art will recognize that other suitable fasteners can be used such as rivets, adhesives, nut and bolt assemblies, and similar fasteners, to attach the components to frame  11 . Screws or other removable fasteners are preferred so as to allow easier cleaning of separate components of shower caddy  10 . Also seen are pins  19   a  attached to rail  19  and extending through holes defined by rail support  18  to join rail  19  to rail support  18  and allow rotation of rail  19 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross sectional view of shower caddy  10  in the closed position taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . Tab  17  is seen extending from the surface  14   a  of shelf support  14 . Slot  16  is defined by shelf member  13 .  FIG. 5   b  shows shelves  13  and rail  19  as rotating toward the extended position seen in  FIG. 1 . Rail  19  rotates toward surface  18   a  of rail support  18 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 6   a  is a magnified cross section view of circled area  6  of  FIG. 5   b . In this magnified view, slot  16  is more clearly seen approaching tab  17  as shelf member  13  approaches surface  14   a .  FIG. 6   b  shows the back surface of shelf member  13  contacting tab  17  and forcing it toward the space bounded by frame  11  as shelf member  13  rotates toward surface  14   a .  FIG. 6   c  shows tab  17  slipping into slot  16  as shelf member  13  nears surface  14   a . After tab  17  is positioned within slot  16 , shelf member  13  is locked into the open position of resting on surface  14   a . A user may release shelf member  13  by lifting and rotating shelf member  13  toward the folded position seen in  FIG. 5   a . As mentioned above, slot  16  also acts a drain for shelf members  13 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a transverse cross section taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2  and shows a preferred embodiment of shelf member  13 . Curved surface  13   a  and lip  13   b  of shelf member  13  are seen contacting frame  11 . In the preferred embodiment shown, shelf member  13  is slightly wider than frame  11  at the points where it contacts frame  11 . In the preferred embodiment, shelf member  13  is made from a material flexible enough to flex slightly and then fit snugly around frame  11  to hold it securely against frame  11  in the closed position. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, polypropylene.  
         [0035]     Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which changes would not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.