Splash protector for bathtub/shower stall with display device

Abstract

A splash guard for preventing water spray from the shower head from wetting the bathroom floor. The splash guard is easily removable from the short wall of the shower stall or bathtub. The splash guard has a substantially vertical member and a slanted member that attaches to the vertical member via a substantially horizontal base member. The vertical and slanted members in conjunction with the base unit form a channel. The base member is slanted such that water captured flows downwards and into the shower stall or bathtub. The upper part of the vertical member has a graphical display that is removable and contains still graphics, moveable graphics and interactive graphics with audio and video signals. Attached to the parts of the splash guard are cords that allow the user to hang the device up for storage during non-use. The shower curtain can be secured to the vertical member, which also assists in the prevention of water spray from wetting or reaching the bathroom floor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates generally to splash guards having multimedia displays and means to attach the splash guard permanently or removably to a bathtub or shower stall. More specifically, the invention relates to a splash guard for a shower stall or bathtub that is removable or permanently attached to the short wall of the shower stall or bathtub and contains interactive graphics for the amusement of the user.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Water mildew in and around bathrooms is a seemingly never-ending problem. Water mildew is annoying and the damage therefrom can become quite expensive. The smell from mildew would be bad enough, but serious illnesses have occurred due to problems with mildew, therefore the water mildew could be a sign of a more serious problem. If water sits in a specific place for a prolonged period of time, the floor can become weakened and lose its structural integrity. This can result in water leakage down towards the rooms or space below the bathroom or shower stall. The water leakage can sometimes cause serious damage to space below the bathroom, such damage sometimes going undetected for years. As the structural damage to the floor increases, the possibility of a collapse increases. So it can be seen that water mildew causes troubles ranging from the merely annoying bad smell to the serious structural damage of a weakened bathroom floor. The initial source of the water mildew in many cases comes from the seemingly innocuous spray of water from the shower. Not only are the above mentioned problems caused by water spray but also injury due to slipping from water collected on the bathroom floor. It is foreseeable that injury due to slipping and falling because of excess water on the floor could result in enormous medical bills and insurance increases. So it has become evident that the relatively harmful spray from the shower is the chief cause of problems ranging from bad odors, structural damage and possible personal injury. The prevention of the water spray from reaching the bathroom floor is the best and most logical way of preventing the damage.

[0005] Water mildew due to shower splash is just one of a few problems encountered in and around bathrooms. Another problem with bathrooms that any parent can attest to is the difficulty of getting young children in the bathtub. Most children have no love-loss for “bath time” and must be enticed into the tub with some of their favorite toys. Take the toy away and the child loses all interest in the endeavor. Imagine how much enjoyment the child could receive if he or she had interactive graphics as part of a splash guard. If the child had display objects to manipulate, mazes to maneuver around, cartoons to watch, or even arcade type games to play he or she would begin to look forward to “bath time”. Equipping the splash guard with educational graphics would be a welcome change for parents not completely enthralled with the current crop of arcade type games. For instance, games or graphics that teach children important hygiene lessons, teach how to wash properly, teach basic educational lessons, teach biblical lessons or teach how to think critically would be beneficial to the child and a welcome relief to the parent.

[0006] In addition to the almost endless uses for children, the graphical displays could be equipped with a television screen, DVD capabilities and state-of-the-art multi-media to give the adult user enjoyment while taking a nice long bath. Of course, for safety reasons, instead of electricity, alternate sources of power, such as from batteries or solar cells, would be used.

[0007] Splash guards have been described in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,791,696 issued to Alexander, U.S. Pat. No. 1,971,802 issued to Zechiel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,880 issued to Schrameyer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,332 issued to Laird, U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,835 issued to Baumann, U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,261 issued to Tooze et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,738 issued to Sanderson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,985 issued to Thurman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,461 issued Nguyen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,816 issued to Glassman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,388 issued to Roberts, Switzerland Pat. No. 197806 issued to Strittmatter and French Pat. No. 2,544,976 all describe devices useful in preventing water spray from a shower reaching the bathroom floor. These patents all endeavor to prevent shower splash but lack in some way the solution that best solves our problem of shower splash and bathtub user boredom. For instance, some of the patents only describe shower guards that prevent water from escaping between the shower curtain and the shower wall, others attach to a bathtub and not the short wall of a shower stall, still others are not easily removable from the short wall of a shower stall and none have graphics that will make the bathtub time more enjoyable for children and adults.

[0008] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention relates to a splash guard for the short wall of a shower stall or the bathtub that is easily removable from the short wall and is dimensioned and configured to have a first wall, a base member and a second wall wherein the two walls and the base member form a channel such that the channel is slanted to allow captured water spray to run back into the shower stall. The second wall called the display wall has a graphical display wherein the display can be stationary, moveable or interactive. The display wall has a telescoping arm, which extends upwardly from the lower part of the first wall. The telescoping arm allows the user to raise the height of the display wall (for instance, when the user is taking a shower and would still like to view the display on the display wall). Furthermore, the display wall pivots about the telescoping arm which allows the user to position the display wall to their liking. Additionally, the display wall can be pivoted to be placed behind the first wall.

[0010] The splash guard is attached, in a first embodiment, to the inner side of the short wall of the shower stall or tub via suction devices. The user simply presses the shower guard to the short wall to attach or secure the device thereto and, conversely, the user would simply pull the device away from the short wall when it is necessary to remove the device. The shower guard has a generally vertical first member that is secured close to the short wall and which rises above the short wall. A more slanted second member slants back towards the midpoint of the shower stall and is secured to a substantially horizontal bottom or base member (having a slight slope) that is between the first and second member. Attached to the backside of the first member are suction devices that allow the splash guard to be removably attached to the short wall of the shower stall. The shower guard has an attached cord that will allow for it to be hung for storing until the next use. The shower curtain can be attached in numerous ways to the first member, including but not limited to magnetically, guides, clamps, or snap buttons. There are also alternative embodiments to the invention that will be disclosed later. There is, therefore, a need for a splash guard that protects the bathroom floor from the shower splash while simultaneously providing entertainment via a display wall wherein the splash guard is removably attached to the inside short wall of the shower stall or bathtub and wherein the splash guard is slanted such that captured water flows back into the shower stall or bathtub and wherein the splash guard is attached to the short wall via suction cups, hooks, screws, bolts, fixtures and adhesives. The adhesives can be either permanent adhesives or semi-permanent adhesives that dissolve under certain chemical agents.

[0011] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a splash guard that prevents shower splash from reaching the bathroom floor.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a splash guard that is easily removable from the short wall of a shower stall or bathtub.

[0013] It is a further object of the invention to provide a splash guard that has a substantially horizontal bottom member that is slanted to cause or force the water back into the shower stall or bathtub.

[0014] Still another object of the invention is to provide a splash guard that is dimensioned and configured to prevent shower splash from reaching the bathroom floor.

[0015] It is also an object of the invention to provide a splash guard that is permanently attached to the short wall of a shower stall or a bathtub.

[0016] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a splash guard that has a graphical display.

[0017] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0018] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the preferred embodiment

[0021] FIG. 3 is a right side view of a second embodiment.

[0022] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The invention relates to a splash guard dimensioned and configured to be removably placed upon the short wall of a shower stall or bathtub. The splash guard prevents water from escaping the shower stall or bathtub and landing on the bathroom floor thereby potentially causing mildew while simultaneously providing entertainment via a graphical display. Water is prevented from escaping the shower stall by incorporating within the splash guard elements that will facilitate the capture and redirection of shower splash before such splash hits the bathroom floor. These elements include a first member that is substantially vertical, a second member that is slanted back towards the shower stall and a base member that is substantially horizontal. The base member is attached to both the first and second members. The base member and the first and second members form a channel wherein the base member separates the first and second member. The base member is slanted along the longitudinal or lengthwise direction which forces the water back into the shower stall.

[0024] The graphical display or display wall provides amusement for adults and children alike. What is shown on the graphical display can range from a simple picture, to a maze in the window with a magnetic pen and a little metal ball, to a window with magnetic puzzle pieces, to a window that shows images while an audio recording reads a story, to a window that teaches the children educational principles like math or reading, to a window that teaches children or adults bible stories and principles, to a window with a basketball hoop with a battery operated score board, to a window with a race track with two magnetic pens where the parents can race from the outside and the child can race from the inside, to a window where children can use special markers to draw on the window, to a window with a built-in television to a window that shows a DVD, to a VCR to show videos, to a CD player to play music, to a cassette player to listen to gospel recordings or teachings, to a window that shows video games, to a window that contains interactive graphics along the lines of state-of-the-art interactive multi-media.

[0025] The graphical display, called the display wall, is located along the upper part of the first member and because of the proximity to water, alternate sources of power, such as from batteries or solar cells, would be used instead of electricity. For babies, the first member will be low enough for parents to reach the child quickly. The window could have objects such as squares, circles, rectangles, numbers, faces, fruits or words all in bright colors automatically moving through the display. The display could also have secured objects that dangle so that toddlers can play with them. The objects could squeak or say hello.

[0026] There are numerous ways to attach the splash guard to the short wall of a shower stall. The first and preferred way is via suction cups placed on the outside surface of the first member. The suction cups allow the user to easily place the splash guard on the short wall and to also easily remove the splash guard from the short wall. A second option is to attach the splash guard to the short wall via a hook device. The hook device has a clamp that snugly fits over the short wall and is thusly secured thereto. The hook device has a receiving member that is dimensioned and configured to receive a corresponding member which is attached to the backside of the first member. In use, the user attaches the first member to the hook device which in turn is attached to the short wall. A third option includes permanently attaching the splash guard to the short wall. This permanent attachment can be in the form of screws, glue, fixtures, welding or any other like method of attaching the splash guard to the short wall.

[0027] Turning now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2, splash guard 10 is shown having a first member 12 which is substantially vertical, a second member 14 which is slanted towards the shower stall or bathtub and a base member 20 which is substantially horizontal. A curtain holder 16 is attached to the inside face of first member 12. Curtain holder 16 is dimensioned and configured to receive a corresponding male member (not shown) that is attached to the shower curtain. The user places the corresponding male member within the slot of the curtain holder 16, then slides the curtain to the end of the curtain holder 16, therefore securing the curtain in place (the male member may or may not be collapsible). The splash guard may contain various types of curtain holders such as magnets, hook and loop type fasteners, snap buttons, a pivoting or spring loaded rod arm (described in the utility patent titled: SPLASH PROTECTOR/SHOWER CURTAIN ATTACHMENTS; it also can be referenced in the provisional patent with a serial No. of 60\453,091 (Carter)). The graphical display or window 19 is found on the upper part of first member 12. The bottom of splash guard 10 is slanted (as seen at 17) along the longitudinal or lengthwise direction.

[0028] Graphical display 19, which is removable from the splash guard can show images ranging from simple pictures, to mazes, to magnetic puzzle pieces, to images with audio recordings, to educational games about math or reading, to biblical stories or characters, to sports games with battery operated score boards, to racing games where the parents can race from the outside and the child can race from the inside, to television, to DVD screens, to video games, to interactive graphics along the lines of state-of-the-art interactive multi-media to basically anything that can be viewed on a screen.

[0029] Splash guard 10 is secured to the short wall of a shower stall or bathtub via suction cups 18 which allow easy attachment and removal of splash guard 10 from the short wall. A channel 22 is formed or defined by first member 12 on one side, second member 14 on another side and base member 20 which attaches to both the first member 12 and the second member 14.

[0030] FIG. 3 discloses a different embodiment in which a hook attachment 38 is first secured to the short wall 10 via clamp 46 and the L-hook 42 of first member 12 is brought downward to fit snugly into U-hook 44 of hook attachment 38. To remove the splash guard the user would simply remove first member 12 and its corresponding L-hook 42 from hook attachment 38 and then remove hook attachment 38 from short wall 10. The most necessary elements for prevention of water spray from reaching the bathroom floor are the first member 12 and base member 20.

[0031] It is important to note that the second member could also be attached to the splash guard in FIG. 3; and the splash guard in FIGS. 1 and 2 can have a first attachment means that comprises of a hook attachment where the hook attachment is removably attached to the short wall of a shower stall or bathtub.

[0032] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A splash protector to prevent shower splash from escaping the shower stall or bathtub and hitting the bathroom floor comprising,

a first member wherein said first member is substantially vertical,

a base member wherein said base member is substantially horizontal and wherein said base member is attached to said first member,

first attachment means to attach said first member to the bathroom short wall of a shower stall or bathtub,

said base member having a slant such that any water that hits said first member is directed back into the shower stall or bathtub, said first member could have a second attachment means to secure the shower curtain to the first member, and

said first member having an upper part and a lower part wherein said upper part is defined as a display device.

2. The splash guard according to claim 1 further comprising a second member wherein said second member is attached to said base member such that said first member, said second member and said base member form a channel and where said second member is slanted.

3. The splash guard according to claim 2 further comprising a hook to hang said splash guard during periods of non-use.

4. The splash guard according to claim 3 wherein said first attachment means comprise suction cups.

5. The splash guard according to claim 2 wherein said first attachment means comprise a permanent attachment to the short wall of a shower stall or bathtub.

6. The splash guard according to claim 2 wherein said first attachment means comprise a removable adhesive attachment to the short wall of a shower stall or bathtub.

7. The splash guard according to claim 2 wherein said display device comprises a viewable screen dimensioned and configured to contain display items.

8. The splash guard according to claim 7 wherein said display items are movable on said viewable screen.

9. The splash guard according to claim 8 wherein said display device has a power source.

10. The splash guard according to claim 9 wherein said display device further comprises multimedia.

11. The splash guard according to claim 10 wherein said display device further comprises interactive multimedia.

12. The splash guard according to claim 1 wherein said first attachment means comprise a hook attachment wherein said hook attachment is removably attached to the short wall of the shower stall or bathtub and wherein said base member is slanted.

13. The splash guard according to claim 12 further comprising a hook to hang said splash guard in periods of non-use.

14. The splash guard according to claim 12 wherein said first attachment means comprise a permanent attachment to the short wall of the shower stall or bathtub.

15. The splash guard according to claim 12 wherein said first attachment means comprise a removable adhesive attachment to the short wall of the shower stall or bathtub.

16. The splash guard according to claim 12 wherein said display device comprises a viewable screen dimensioned and configured to contain display items.

17. The splash guard according to claim 16 wherein said display items are movable on said viewable screen.

18. The splash guard according to claim 17 wherein said display device has a power source.

19. The splash guard according to claim 18 wherein said display device further comprises multimedia.

20. The splash guard according to claim 19 wherein said display device further comprises interactive multimedia.