Flexible Type Patents (Class 4/608)
  • Patent number: 5103531
    Abstract: A shower bow apparatus consisting of a rigid high impact rod which forms an horizontal bow causing a shower curtain to be held out from the showering area. The rod is held in place in use by inserting the ends into angled bores in brackets attached to the walls. Various storage devices are provided for storing the rod when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Inventor: Joseph Perrotta
  • Patent number: 5101522
    Abstract: A shower curtain support fixture for hanging a shower curtain above a bath tub includes a generally U-shaped structure having an elongated main portion and a pair opposite end portions extending generally transverse to the main portion. A slot is defined in a bottom side of the U-shaped structure extending along its main portion and opposite end portions so as to provide a generally U-shaped guide track in the structure. Shower curtain hanger devices are inserted through the slot and slidable individually along the track provided by the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventor: John L. Prian
  • Patent number: 5083330
    Abstract: A shower curtain support arrangement for separating a water receptacle such as a shower basin or a bathtub from its surroundings, the shower curtain being supported and guided on an upper rail above the receptacle, one longitudinal edge of the curtain being connected to a wall-connecting profile which is to be secured to a wall and the other longitudinal edge of the curtain being connected to a grip strip which is guided both in the upper rail and also by means of a magnetic guide on the rim of the receptacle, the grip strip having connection elements for the purposes of connection to a grip strip of an adjacent curtain or to an assigned wall-connecting profile. Improved sealing of the receptacle with respect to the rest of the room and also a comparatively taut curtain guidance can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Inventor: Heinz Dusar
  • Patent number: 5070551
    Abstract: A plurality of wall fasteners are positioned along the vertical edges of a shower curtain. The wall fasteners maintain the edges of the shower curtain in contiguity with the shower walls between which the curtain is hung. Thus, the water spray from the shower can not splash past the edges of the shower curtain and the enclosure walls. The fasteners mate with a corresponding fastener on the shower curtain. Approximately the entire vertical edges of the curtain is, thus, sealed against the shower walls to thereby prevent any water from escaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventors: S. Kaye Harrison, Judith M. Payne
  • Patent number: 5070550
    Abstract: An improved closure for use in a space at the upper portion of a stall area for a bath, shower, spa or the like, to provide an humidity and heat barrier. A foldable thin sheet of material is supported by a framework mounted in the upper portion of the stall area. The framework is designed to be supported in the upper portion of the stall by urging against or securing to two opposing walls. A highly flexible material, such as a thin vinyl sheet or a fabric sheet, is chosen for the foldable sheet. The flexible sheet is supported by the framework in an inverted V-shaped arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventor: Eric W. Reeves
  • Patent number: 5055155
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for laminating flexible magnetic segments onto the plastic substrates, such as during the in-line production of shower curtains and/or curtain liners. The apparatus, which is configured for use with typical shower curtain and/or shower curtain liner producing machines, includes a substantially planar upper work surface for receiving the plastic substrate and at least one applicator unit located adjacent the work surface which automatically laminates a flexible magnetic strip and a plastic cover patch onto the curtain. Three applicator units are preferably utilized, with one such unit substantially aligned with the center of the curtain and the remaining two units being located along the longitudinal edges thereof. In operation, a thin, flexible plastic film is unwound onto an assembly table whereupon it is stopped at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Texstyle, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Crotty, Harold J. Phelps
  • Patent number: 5033132
    Abstract: A roll-up shower curtain for a bathtub and shower enclosure is provided and consists of an elongated casing, which carries a roller shaft, secured between the end walls of the shower enclosure by adjustable retainer members on the sides of the casing. A shower curtain can be readily raised and lowered on the roller shaft by manually operating the roller shaft. When the shower curtain is completely lowered it can slide within a recessed track in the roller shaft to be pushed to one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Inventor: Herbert Greenblatt
  • Patent number: 5031257
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shower enlarger assembly including a mounting bracket for engaging to a wall the ends of a bent shower curtain rod having an offset medial section for providing a greater stall space and for holding a shower curtain out of body contact. The mounting bracket includes a supporting backplate for contact with the wall and a recessed area located midsection of the supporting backplate for receiving the end of the bent shower curtain rod. The bent shower curtain rod is slidably inserted and rotatably mounted within the recessed area of the backplate. The bent shower curtain rod has attached thereto an integral rotating stop member extending outwardly from the curtain rod. A substantially semicircular fixed stop member extends outwardly from the face of the backplate and receives the integral rotating stop member attached to the bent shower curtain rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Inventor: Robert W. Jeffery
  • Patent number: 5023964
    Abstract: A shower curtain retainer for maintaining a shower curtain in the closed position includes an elongated arcuate handle with a socket extending the entire length of one side thereof for receiving lugs on a plurality of connectors. A side edge of a shower curtain is retained in the socket by the lugs. A suction cup is provided on at least one of the connectors for connecting the handle and the shower curtain to the wall of the shower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Inventor: John Unsworth
  • Patent number: 4944050
    Abstract: A combined shower splash guard member with a shower curtain holder is provided by a molded, generally triangularly-shaped, and modified, one piece body having two straight legs that intersect at a vertex of the triangle, and a third, web-like leg that extends between the free ends of said first two legs of the splash guard. Means for holding the one piece body to a mounting for the body is provided by an adhesive strip of a length to be secured to the entire outer surface of the two straight legs of the splash guard. To accommodate the departure from the desired perpendicularity of the legs of the splash guard, a gusset means is provided in the web of the splash guard which permits the web of the one-piece body to be varied from its normally intended size and shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Inventors: Sidney J. Shames, Harold Shames
  • Patent number: 4916764
    Abstract: A bathtub shower curtain assembly includes a supporting frame structure designed to replace conventional shower door or curtain constructions associated with a bathtub. One end of the frame structure includes a vertically positioned case in which a rolled, retractable shower curtain is mounted, while a leading edge of the curtain extends outwardly from the case with a handle being attached to a midportion of the extending edge. Top and bottom edges of the curtain are retained in guide tracks forming a part of the supporting structure, so that the curtain may be drawn across the bathtub to form an enclosure in the manner of a conventional shower curtain. When not in use, the shower curtain may be retracted into the case in a manner similar to a window shade, while wipers are provided on opposite sides of the case opening to remove water and dirt from the curtain during its retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Inventors: Clive Meaden, Christopher P. Dunn
  • Patent number: 4825481
    Abstract: An arrangement for placing a shower curtain within the opening to a combination shower-bathtub enclosure which utilizes clamps, secured to the side or end walls of the enclosure, for the selective gripping of the free edges of the shower curtain when the latter is in a use condition. The preceding prevents unwanted water spray passage into the area outside of the enclosure and, thereby, overcomes a problem which has been commonly encountered heretofore. The clamps, spring-urged to a normally gripping relationship, serve convenience in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Inventor: Jeffery D. Lonberger
  • Patent number: 4785485
    Abstract: A sliding panel closure having three panels suspended from a header with three parallel tracks, has a sill disposed under the header with a sill channel opening downwardly and inwardly toward a bath enclosure or the like. A first of the door panels has a lower edge straddling the sill channel. The second and third of the panels have lower edges provided with guide means including outriggers slidable in the sill channel. A C-shaped guide positions the second panel relative to the sill, the outrigger being one of the legs of the C-shape. A E-shaped guide positions the second and third panels relative to one another and relative to the sill channel. The panels preferably have means along their vertical edges that allow the panels to lap but prevent adjacent panels from passing completely by one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Keller Industries
    Inventor: Mehran Etesam
  • Patent number: 4777673
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vertically drawn shower curtain having a raised position and a lowered position and being movable therebetween, for preventing water from escaping from a shower enclosure. The shower curtain is composed of waterproof panels, flexible hanging straps, clamps, and drawstrings. In the lowered position, the hanging straps support the panels in an inwardly overlapping relationship. The hanging straps are attached to the upper edge of each panel, leaving the lower edge free to rotate inwardly. The hanging straps have guides for the drawstrings. The drawstrings are attached to the lowest panel, are lead through the guides, and then through an eyelet on the clamp. All drawstrings terminate in a single pull ring. In the raised position, the panels are supported in a substantially nested relationship, by the combination of the drawstrings and clamps. The shower curtain may also include a valence panel, supported by the clamps, to hide the workings of the drawstrings and the clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Marsaun Enterprises
    Inventors: W. Mark Patteson, Robin I. Saunders
  • Patent number: 4769862
    Abstract: A shower curtain support defines a track for slidably suspending a shower curtain across the front opening of a shower stall and around end corners of the support rearwardly at the front opening. End portions of the shower curtain may be drawn around the corners and inside the shower stall to overlap at least a portion of the surface of the stall end walls in order to prevent leaks. Alternately, a continuous curtain support track is provided in a U-shape or other configuration. Endpieces attached thereto support a curtain in a plane parallel to wall surfaces to prevent spraying or splashing outside the shower area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Saturday Knight Ltd.
    Inventor: David S. Skrzelowski
  • Patent number: 4759087
    Abstract: A two-piece closure device for a shower curtain includes a wall attachment strip having a pre-applied adhesive backing for adhering such strip to a vertical wall surface adjacent an end edge of the shower curtain, and a curtain attachment clip adapted to be fastened to an end edge of the shower curtain in alignment with the wall attachment strip by folding a flap on one side of the curtain attachment clip over until a projecting rib portion on the flap moves into locking engagement in a channel on the curtain attachment clip with the curtain edge disposed therebetween. The wall attachment strip and curtain attachment clip have releasably interfitting male and female portions for releasably connecting the two pieces together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Magic American Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Zeilinger
  • Patent number: 4754504
    Abstract: A shower stall structure for bathing having a shower area defined on three sides by upright walls and having an open side area with a shower curtain mounted therein to provide a covered point of entry for a person. A shower enlarger mounted in the shower area. The enlarger comprises a one-piece curtain rod having an offset medial section engageable with an upper area of the shower curtain for providing a greater stall space for upper body movement while showering. The offset medial section includes a pair of angular curtain rod sections which extend in diverging relation away from opposite ends of the offset medial section. The angular curtain rod sections have end sections at outer ends thereof. The outer ends of the end sections extend in opposite directions away from one another. Fastening structure is provided for securing the outer ends of the end sections in assembly with opposed upright walls of the shower area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Inventor: William F. Cellini
  • Patent number: 4723326
    Abstract: A weighted shower curtain is disclosed having an elongated flexible shower curtain adapted to be hung in a shower. A plurality of separate independent weights are provided which snap fit on to the bottom of the shower curtain without damaging the same and are quickly and easily removable therefrom. The weights may be sealed in plastic and keep the shower curtain in a fixed hanging position when in use preventing flapping thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Barbara D. Arner
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Tarlow, Barbara D. Arner
  • Patent number: 4675923
    Abstract: A portable decontamination unit comprising: at least two pans each of which includes a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, the pans being positionable side by side so that one of the side walls of each pan lies adjacent to one of the side walls of the adjacent pan; a tent frame supportable on the pans; and a tent having a top, sides, ends and at least one intermediate partition supportable by the tent frame forming at least two compartments, the bottoms of which are the two pans. Each of the ends and partitions of the tent is formed by first, second and third curtains, the first curtain being attached along an upper edge thereof to the top of the tent and along one vertical edge thereof to one side of said tent, leaving the opposite vertical edge free. The second curtain is attached along an upper edge thereof to the top of the tent and along one vertical edge thereof to an opposite side of the tent, leaving the opposite vertical edge free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Inventor: Jesse D. Ashley
  • Patent number: 4667353
    Abstract: What is disclosed in an automatically closing modesty curtain which allows the user assured complete privacy and which does not require continued manipulation by the hands thereby leaving the hands free to undertake other tasks. For example, in an emergency shower situation, once the handle on the safety shower is pulled, the user can be assured of complete privacy while removing contaminated clothing while being simultaneously deluged by shower water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Tri City Laboratory Specialists, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren L. Zeigler, Roy F. Zeigler
  • Patent number: 4653127
    Abstract: A shower partition with a horizontal guide rail includes a door assembly displaceable in the guide rail by guide roller mounted on eccentric pins. Each eccentric pin is arranged in a hole provided through the upper edge of the door assembly. In the case of a shower partition of this kind, the purpose to be accomplished is to simplify vertical adjustment of the door assembly at low structural cost, and to ensure that the adjusted position is reliably secured. For this purpose each eccentric pin is slid in an elongated slot of the door assembly through an end opening. Also provided is a connector member having arms which bear upon opposite engagement surfaces of the eccentric pin in order to secure the latter against rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: Heinz G. Baus
  • Patent number: 4594741
    Abstract: An elongated strip magnet assembly mounted on each side of a shower curtain to secure in a closed position the shower curtain across the access opening of a bathing enclosure preventing conducting of any water exteriorly thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Inventor: Richard L. Payne
  • Patent number: 4594742
    Abstract: What is disclosed in an automatically closing modesty curtain which allows the user assured complete privacy and which does not require continued manipulation by the hands thereby leaving the hands free to undertake other tasks. For example, in an emergency shower situation, once the handle on the safety shower is pulled, the user can be assured of complete privacy while removing contaminated clothing while being simultaneously deluged by shower water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Tri City Laboratory Specialists, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren L. Zeigler, Roy F. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 4558475
    Abstract: Screening or curtaining arrangement for covering a shower door includes a curtain positioned across the door. The curtain has a rod pocket at each end containing a rod. A plurality of attachment members hook around the rod and the top and bottom of the shower door for retaining the curtain on the door. The attractiveness of the shower door is thereby enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Inventor: Kay I. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4385409
    Abstract: A shower curtain bender for holding an end portion of a hanging shower curtain in close proximity to a vertical wall placed on one end of the shower enclosure to prevent shower water spray from splashing outside the enclosure from between the hanging shower curtain and the enclosure end walls comprises a pair of pivotal arms containing a series of slots superimposed on the last few attachment holes of the curtain to receive the hanger hooks, one of said arms bends the attached curtain into the shower enclosure and in close proximity to the vertically disposed enclosure end wall. A wedge positioned at the pivot between the two arms enables the curtain to be placed adjacent the compartment end wall without drooping. Additional pivot points enable the shower curtain to be folded neatly to one side or the other of the shower enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Inventors: Robert H. File, Karen S. File
  • Patent number: 4361915
    Abstract: An improved shower curtain assembly is disclosed for use as an enclosure for shower stalls and bath tub and shower combinations. A pair of closely spaced parallel outer and inner shower rods are installed in a spanning relation to the entrance opening into the stall or tub with a first curtain suspended from the outer rod and a second curtain suspended from the inner rod. One opposed pair of vertical edges of the curtains are secured to respective walls in a water tight relation thereto, and in a first form, the bottom edge of the outer curtain is preferably weighted against the top edge of the shower stall or bath tub outer rim. The outer curtain may be of a substantially reduced width relative to the inside curtain, which is slidably operable across the entire width of the enclosure opening in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Inventor: Barry L. Siewert
  • Patent number: 4361914
    Abstract: A device for preventing the movement of a flexible material disposed over an open area, such as a shower or a window, includes a rigid elongated rod which is held in a substantially horizontal plane intermediate the top and bottom of the flexible material. In one preferred embodiment the rigid elongated rod is maintained in a static horizontal operative position by a pivot means at one end and an attachment means at the other extremity. A holding means, such as a U-shaped hook or bracket, is attached to a wall above and in a substantially vertical plane with the pivot means to hold the elongated bar in a substantially vertical inoperative position when the bathing facility is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Inventor: Earl P. Oliver
  • Patent number: 4333187
    Abstract: An integrated plastic shower curtain assembly including a pair of rectangular curtain panels secured together in overlapping relationship along inside vertical edge portions by a securing strip folded over and heat sealed with horizontal top edge portions of the curtain panels. A horizontal plastic net panel is secured along a bottom edge portion with the curtain panels by the securing strip. The vertical outside side edges of the curtain panels are each provided with a securing strip of Velcro and is connected along each outside vertical side edge of the curtain panels and a similar strip is provided for connection with an adjacent vertical wall surface for securing the outside vertical edges of the panels with walls at opposite sides or ends of a shower enclosure. Each of the curtain panels has a tie back along each vertical outside edge for gathering and holding the curtains apart for entry and exit into and out of the shower enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Inventor: Bob A. Schuler