Patent Document

FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for restraining articles. More specifically, the present device may be used to restrain toiletries to a ledge of a bathtub or shower, and/or to create new storage space for toiletries in the bathtub or shower.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    There are many known shower and bathtub devices for holding toiletries such as shampoo, body wash, toys, etc. For showers, caddies or racks are typically used, and are often screwed into the wall of the shower or hung over the showerhead. For bathtubs, trays across the ledges of a bathtub are often used. Bucket type devices also exist which fit into the corner or suction to the wall of the shower or bathtub. These devices are often required as existing ledges in the shower and/or bathtub are not wide enough to hold the toiletries, or because additional storage for toiletries is required.  
           [0003]    Often these shower and bathtub devices are made of rigid plastic or wire and are designed for permanent use in the shower and/or bathtub. These devices are not designed to be portable. In fact, to detach many known shower or bathtub devices requires effort and/or the use of tools.  
           [0004]    Many of the devices have small holes and/or openings, which allow water to drain out the bottom of the device. Soap scum often collects in these small holes and/or openings making the device difficult to clean. Consequently, there is a need for a shower and/or bathtub device that is not only secure, but also portable, and easy to clean.  
           [0005]    With many shower and/or bathtub devices for holding toiletries there is often a risk of a toiletry such as a shampoo bottle, falling out or off of the device. This often requires the person standing in the shower or bathtub to jump back, and may results in a slip and fall or a bruised toe or foot. The problem of falling toiletries also occurs when the ledge of the shower or bathtub is used for the toiletries. As such, there is a need for a shower and/or bathtub device which provides additional storage for toiletries, and which eliminates the risk of falling toiletries out or off of the device. Further there is a need for a device, which prevents toiletries from falling from an existing ledge of the shower and/or bathtub.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    According to the invention there is provided a restraining device for preventing items positioned on a ledge against a wall from falling, comprising a flexible panel, and an attachment device connected to the flexible panel. The attachment device attaches to the wall such that the flexible panel restrains the items from falling when the items are positioned on the ledge and the attachment device is attached to the wall. The restraining device may also create additional storage space by restraining items against the wall using the flexible panel when the attachment device is attached to the wall.  
           [0007]    Preferably, the restraining device is removeably detachable from the wall. Suction cups may be used as the attachment device.  
           [0008]    The flexible panel may be made from semi rigid plastic and may have a variety shapes such as rectangular, or ovoid shape. Inserts may be places in the flexible panel to provide rigidity and to enable the flexible panel to take a shape.  
           [0009]    The length of the restraining device may be adjusted by moving the attachment devices or by adjusting the length of the flexible panels. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of example, of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a front view of the restrainer;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the restrainer in use restraining items on a ledge;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a front view of the restrainer with a narrow panel in use restraining items on a ledge;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the restrainer with a panel that surrounds the item on a ledge;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a front view of the restrainer with a rectangular panel, restraining items against a wall;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a front view of the restrainer with a trapezoid shaped panel, restraining items against a wall;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is front view of the restrainer with a semi-rigid insert;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a front view of the restrainer with an adjustable length using semi-rigid inserts; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a front view of the restrainer with an adjustable length using sliding adjacent panels. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1 a front view of the restrainer  10  is shown. The restrainer  10  is comprised of a panel  12  with a suction cup  14  attached to each corner of the panel  12 . The panel  12  may be made of a semi-rigid or pliant material, such as plastic or fabric mesh, and may be folded into a compact size for traveling purposes.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 2 a perspective view of the restrainer  10  is shown. The restrainer  10  may be used to prevent items  18  on a ledge  16  from falling off of the ledge  16 . The panel  12  restrains the items  18 , and the suction cups  14  secure the panel  12  to the wall  20 .  
         [0022]    The panel  12  is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to be of a rectangular shape, however other shapes may be used for the panel  12 , such as square or ovoid. Further, although a suction cup  14  is used at each corner of the panel  12 , any number of suction cups  14  may be used to adhere the panel  12  to the wall  20 . Referring to FIG. 3 a restrainer  10  with a narrow panel  12  is shown restraining items  18  on a ledge  16 . In this embodiment only one suction cup  14  is located at each end of the narrow panel  12  to restrain the items  18  against the wall  20 .  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 4 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the restrainer  10  is shown. In this embodiment the panel  12  surrounds the item  18  positioned on the ledge  16 . The suction cups  14  are attached to the wall  20  from a tab  15 , which extends from the outside of the panel  12 .  
         [0024]    Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and  4  the items  18  may be toiletries such as shampoo, or body wash, as commonly found on ledges  16  of showers and bathtubs. When the suction cups  14  are connected to the wall  20  of shower and/or bathtub the restrainer  10  will prevent items  18  such as shampoo bottles from falling off the ledge  16 . Advantageously, the restrainer  10  not only enables the corner ledge of the shower and/or bathtub to safely be used to hold items  18 , but also enables the main ledge, which is often narrower than the corner ledge, to be used.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 5 a front view of the restrainer  10  is shown restraining items  18  against the wall  20 . As shown in FIG. 1, the restrainer  10  is comprised of a panel  12  with a suction cup  14  attached to each corner of the panel  12 . The panel  12  may be made of a semi-rigid or pliant material, such as plastic or fabric mesh, and may be folded into a compact size for traveling purposes. In this embodiment a new storage space is created by attaching the suction cups  14  against the wall  20 . Items  18  may then be inserted between the wall  20  and panel  12 .  
         [0026]    As previously discussed, the panel  12  may come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Referring to FIG. 6 a front view of a restrainer with a trapezoid shaped panel  12  is shown. Suction cups  14  are located at each corner of the panel  12  and are attached to wall  20  to restrain item  18 . The top two suction cups  14  are placed closer together to create a basket effect.  
         [0027]    Advantageously, the restrainer  10 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may be used to create additional storage spaces in the bathtub and/or shower for toiletries, such as shampoo, body wash, or soap.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 7 a front view of the restrainer  10  is shown with inserts  28 . The inserts  28  may be used to add rigidity to the panel  12 , or to provide malleability in order to shape the panel  12 , which for example would enable the panel  12  to meet the specific shape of a ledge or corner. The inserts  28  slide into the trim  26 , which surrounds the outer periphery of the panel  12 . The inserts  28  may be made of plastic or plastic covered metal. Suction cups  14  are located at each of the corners of the panel  12 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 8, a restrainer  10  having a panel  12  with an adjustable length is shown. The restrainer  10  has a trim  26  that runs along the periphery of the panel  12  and may be used to hold semi-rigid inserts  28 . As shown, in FIG. 8 a semi-rigid insert  28  is found on the left and right of the panel  12 . Suction cups  14  are located at each end of the semi-rigid inserts  28 . The semi-rigid inserts  28  may be made of plastic or plastic cover metal. The length of the panel  12  may be adjustable by wrapping the unneeded length of the panel  12  around the semi-rigid insert  28  on the left, right or both sides of the panel  12 .  
         [0030]    Alternatively, referring to FIG. 9 the length of the panel  12  may be adjustable by the use of two panels  12  that are fitted adjacent to each other by flexible troughs  22  on the upper and lower edges of the panel  12 . The flexible troughs  22  enable the panels  12  to slide such that the length  24  may be increased or decreased. Each panel  12  has two suction cups  14  located on vertically adjacent corners.  
         [0031]    The position of the suctions cups  14  may also be moved such that the length of the panel  12  may be adjusted. Although suction cups  14  are used to adhere the panel  12  to the wall  20 , any means may be used that is detachable, yet secure.  
         [0032]    Advantageously, the restrainer  10  avoids drainage problems as water is not trapped in small holes and or openings, and the panel may be easily rinsed or washed.  
         [0033]    Accordingly, while this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1