SLIDING SHOWER PANEL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

We provide a shower enclosure, typically a temporary shower enclosure. Embodiments may include a rod that includes an insert. The insert has at least two tracks. Each track includes a panel that has a top portion that may be placed within the track and the rod. The panel then slides within the track. The rod may be held in a shower enclosure by friction. This allows the creation of an inexpensive and easily-cleaned and replaced shower enclosure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention relate to shower enclosures, and in particular, a sliding shower panel assembly used to help prevent water from leaving an enclosure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Typical bathroom showers use one of two different systems for providing modesty to users of the shower and for preventing water from escaping from the shower enclosure and going onto the floor or onto nearby objects. In one system a shower curtain is suspended from a rod, usually by rings that pass through the curtain and over the rod. This system has a number of disadvantages. For example, the “shower curtain effect” may cause the shower curtain to be blown inward to a user while the shower is running. This may be inconvenient and undesirable. Also, the highly flexible nature of a typical shower curtain is ill-suited to display of logos or other images that may be desired in a decorating context. Finally, in areas where a large number of shower curtains are used (for example, in the hospitality industry), the removal, cleaning, and replacement of a large number of shower curtains may be time-consuming and expensive, as following cleaning each shower curtain must have its hooks reapplied and then individually re-threaded over a rod.

A common alternative to the shower curtain is the use of a sliding shower door. These devices have their own disadvantages. For example, they require one or two tracks that are typically anchored to the wall, floor, and/or ceiling of the enclosure by drilling holes for the anchors. They are expensive to procure and replace, and they may break. They may “jump” their tracks, causing the entire door to unexpectedly leave the enclosure. The difficulty cleaning them is such a substantial chore that many hospitality vendors forego them in favor of conventional shower curtains, even though conventional shower curtains have the drawbacks discussed above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide a rod that includes an insert. The insert has at least two tracks. Each track includes a panel that has a top portion that may be placed within the track and the rod. The panel then slides within the track. The rod may be held in a shower enclosure by friction. This allows the creation of an inexpensive and easily-cleaned and replaced shower enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a sliding shower panel enclosure of the invention, with various elements shown separately in succeeding figures.

FIG. 2a shows an exploded view of a rod, track-containing insert, retaining clips, and end caps of an embodiment of the invention, including a cross-section of the insert showing the shape of one embodiment of the tracks. FIG. 2b shows an exploded view of a track-containing insert, end caps, and retaining clips. FIG. 2b is not to scale. FIG. 2c shows a side view and circular cross-section of a rod/insert construct. FIG. 2d shows a side, bottom, and end view of a single track of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a panel used in an embodiment of the invention. Although the figure shows certain measurements, it must be emphasized that these measurements are given by way of example only, and that they should not be construed as limiting the claimed invention.

FIG. 4 shows a detail view of a panel of the invention, with emphasis on the top portion and bottom of the panel. The measurements in FIG. 4 are also given by way of example only.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an enclosure of the invention in which the panels have a decorative design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

We provide a sliding shower panel that offers a more substantial enclosure than a shower curtain, but that does not require permanent mounting hardware. Embodiments of the invention may offer one or more of a number of inventions, including ease of cleaning and replacement, ease of installation, and the ability to cost-effectively decorate the panels of the enclosure. Detrimental effects or requirements such as unwanted curtain movement or the need for mounting hardware may be avoided.

Embodiments of the invention provide a rod that is held in place, typically by an adjustable screw on one end of the rod. The rod may be hollow or partially hollow. Normally the rod includes friction pads on each end to aid in securing the rod. Securing the rod through friction eliminates the need to screw the rod into the shower tile, fiberglass, or other shower enclosure material. A user of the rod may therefore secure it or change it without the danger of permanent damage to the shower. No tools or special construction skills are necessary.

Each rod further includes an insert that has two tracks. The insert may be, for example, aluminum, plastic, or another sufficiently durable material with relatively low friction. The tracks are oriented parallel to the long axis of the rod. Each track is designed to accommodate the a header at the top of a panel such that a panel may depend from the track while also being able to slide in the track and along the length of the rod. In one embodiment the insert is aluminum, with tracks that are square on three sides and with flange lips on the fourth side. This allows the header of a panel to have a cross-section shaped as a “T.” Other cross-sections are also possible, including a square or an “M.” Any cross-section that will allow the panel to slide freely without falling out of the track may be used. The rod includes a slot running the length of the rod and allowing access to the tracks by the panels.

The insert may be retained by clips in the rod, where the retention may affirmatively hold the insert in place, for example by an interference fit, or merely prevent the position of the insert from shifting within the rod. Clips may also be incorporated into end retainers that fit within the rod and retain the insert. These end retainers may support end caps, which may include a friction pad. In some embodiments the end retainers and end caps include mating screws that allow the position of one or both of the end caps to be varied somewhat to allow the overall length of the rod/insert assembly to be varied for ease of installation.

The tracks typically have close tolerances, often within one quarter inch. The use of these close tolerances allows the panels to slide past each other while preventing water from moving between the panels and therefore outside the designated shower area.

Panels may be made of many materials. One preferred material is PVC, which is sufficiently rigid to avoid issues associated with shower curtains but still flexible enough to be loosely rolled for shipping. Panels may also bear ornamentation, including by printing, molding, appliques, or other materials. Panels may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. They may have the same or different colors. They may be embossed.

As previously discussed, the header at the top of the panel has a cross-section designed to slide within the track. Although embodiments of the invention have been described as including two tracks and two panels, in other embodiments varying number of tracks and panels may be used. For example, an embodiment may include three tracks and three panels, one of which is intended to be positioned in the center of the rod when the enclosure has been placed.

Placement of the header into the insert is straightforward. The rod has a wall aperture in communication with a groove that is angled within the insert. These allow insertion of the header by pushing the top up into the wall aperture. Once the header is fully in the insert, it is not removed until a user aligns it with the groove and the wall aperture and pulls it down and out of the insert and rod.

In a further embodiment, the header is separate from the remainder of the panel, and is attached to the panel by hooks, chains, a heat-seal, epoxy, or other attachments. These allow secure connection and quick replacement of the panel.

The sides of each panel near the ends of the rod may have a flexible insert that allows the panel to shape around the shower enclosure. In a further embodiment the sides of the panel are rigid but angled to help prevent egress of water. In a further embodiment the sides of each panel near the center of the rod are angled to contact the opposite panel. This decreases the effective distance between the panels and further reduces the potential for egress of water.

In further embodiments the panels include magnets to secure the panel and further assist in making the enclosure as water-secure as possible. For example, the sides of the panels near the ends of the rod may include magnets that are disposed to match magnets placed on opposing surfaces, for example the sides of a shower stall or bathtub. This helps secure the sides of the panel. In a still further embodiment the panels include magnets on the sides of each panel near the center of the rod, allowing the panels to be connected by magnets when the panels have placed the shower enclosure into a closed position.

Of course, other methods of securing the panels, either to each other adhesives or to the walls of an enclosure, may be used. For example, the panels may be secured by hook-and-eye fasteners (including VELCRO® brand fasteners), adhesives, suction cups, or other fasteners. When combined with the relative stiffness provided by the material of the panels allows them to be better secured than typical shower curtains, and therefore prevents egress of water in a manner superior to existing technology.

The bottoms of the panels may also have a flexible attachment, which may be, for example, rubber or silica. This allows the bottom of the panel to meet the tub or shower and further help prevent leaks.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.

1. Description of Components

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2a illustrates an exploded view of a typical rod and insert used in the invention. A rod 1 has a first end 3 and a second end 5. Rods may be straight or curved. Often these ends will have friction pads to prevent unwanted movement of the rod. Typically one or both of the ends is adjustable to slightly alter the length of the rod and provide a fit that is personalized to an individual's shower enclosure. This may be accomplished through a screw or spring mechanism. Although depicted as a cylinder, the rod may have any desired cross-section. The rod 1 has an aperture 7 in the wall of the rod. The rod also has a slot 9 that runs along the length of the rod. This slot allows the panels to depend from the rod.

An insert 11 is also included. The insert may be retained in the rod by one or more clips 13. These clips may further be incorporated in end retainers 15, which act to prevent the insert from sliding out of the rod. The end retainers may further be adapted to hold an end cap 17, which may include a friction pad. The end retainers and end caps may include mating threads, allowing the length of the rod/end cap system to be adjusted.

The insert, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2b, includes two tracks 19 and 21, with each track having a separate groove 23 and 25. Each track has a separate opening 27 and 29 running along the length of the insert. The panels of the enclosure are situated through these openings. The insert is disposed within the rod and oriented such that separate openings are oriented to allow access to the tracks through the slot. Typically the wall aperture and groove have shapes corresponding to the cross-section of the tracks, though that is not necessary so long as the shapes are sufficient to accept and retain a top portion of a panel while allowing the top portion of the panel to slide along the track.

An embodiment also typically includes two opposite panels 31 and 33. A panel is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of these panels corresponds to a separate track. Typically a panel has a top 35, a header 37, a bottom 39, front face 41, back face 43, inner edge 45, and outer edge 47. The header has a cross-section corresponding to the cross section of the track into which it is to be placed. The header may be made of the same material as the panels or a different material. If the header is made of a different material than the panel the header may be heat-sealed or otherwise adhered to the top the panel

In one embodiment there are two panels and each has a header with a different cross-section. This allows a user to confidently assemble the panel in the preferred place, which is most useful for assembling an enclosure with a specific design. The header of each panel may be inserted through the wall aperture and the groove and into a separate track, The track retains the header of each panel and allowing the panels to depend from the insert and slide along the length of the rod.

Not shown in FIG. 3 are optional magnets, which may be placed on the outer edges of the panels. This allows the panels to adhere to magnets or a metal plate present on an opposite surface. This helps to secure the panels to that surface and minimizes movement of water outside the panels. Similarly, magnets may be used on the inner edge of each panel. These magnets allow the panels to be secured to each other, further preventing release of water.

As also shown in FIG. 3, the inner side of each panel may be angled 49 toward another panel. This makes even closer the already close tolerances of the panels and further prevents water from flowing outside the enclosure. In other embodiments this is a separate flexible component connected to each panel. Similar angles may be used on the bottom and sides of one or both of the panels. In another embodiment a separate, flexible attachment, perhaps of rubber or other polymer, may be included on the bottom and/or sides of the panel. For example, in FIG. 3 the bottom of the panel is bent 51 and then secured in that position with a flexible metal insert. No particular panel material is required, but PVC is preferred. PVC having a thickness of 0.01″ is particularly preferred.

2. Assembly

Assembly of embodiments of the invention is straightforward. A user places the header of a panel into the rod's wall aperture, through the track's groove, and up into the track. The entire header is then fed through the aperture and groove, along the track until it is within the track. At that point the top portion will not fall back through the wall aperture and groove at least because of the angle of the groove, but instead must be aligned with the groove and aperture and pulled through them by a user. The insertion is repeated with the second and any subsequent panels. The rod is then placed between two opposing surfaces and the ends of the rod are adjusted to allow a secure fit. If necessary, magnets are affixed to opposing surfaces to allow magnets on the outer edges of the panels to be secured when the enclosure is in use.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above examples provide specific embodiments of the invention and are not exhaustive, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A shower panel enclosure comprising:

a rod, said rod having a first end, a second end, a wall aperture and a slot, said slot running along the length of the rod;

an insert, said insert comprising two tracks and at least one groove, each track having a separate opening running along the length of the insert, wherein said insert is disposed within the rod and oriented such that separate openings are oriented to allow access to the tracks through the slot, wherein said wall aperture and said groove have shapes corresponding to a cross section of said tracks; and

two opposite panels, each of said panels corresponding to a separate track, and each of said panels having a header, a bottom portion, front face, back face, inner edge, and outer edge, wherein said header has a cross-section corresponding to the cross section of said tracks, wherein said header of each panel may be inserted through the wall aperture and the groove and into a separate track, said track retaining said top portion of each of said panels and allowing said panels to depend from the insert and slide along the length of the rod.

2. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of said rod is adjustable to vary the length of said rod.

3. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, further comprising friction pads on the first end and second end of the rod.

4. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, further comprising magnets on the outer edges of said panels, said magnets oriented to secure said outer edges to an opposing surface.

5. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, further comprising magnets on the inner edge of each of said panels, said magnets on the first panel oriented to engage the magnets on the inner edge of the second panel.

6. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, wherein the inner side of each panel is angled inward toward the other panel.

7. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, wherein the header of each panel is integral with that panel.

8. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, wherein the header of each panel is a separate article joined to that panel.

9. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the panels bears ornamentation.

10. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the header is “T” shaped.

11. The shower panel enclosure of claim 1, wherein the rod has a circular cross-section.