Shower Curtain Hooks

Abstract

A shower curtain hook includes a generally S-shaped member including a top portion configured to slideably engage a rod having a first diameter, and a bottom portion; the top portion including a curved section and a straight section extending from one end of the curved section; and a ball attached to an end of the straight section, wherein a distance between the ball and the bottom portion is smaller the first diameter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/486,454, filed May 16, 2011, for “Shower Curtain Hooks,” which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Shower hooks are commonly provided to attach a shower curtain to a shower rod and to allow the shower curtain to be positioned along the rod. Existing “S-shaped” shower curtain hooks and “ball hook” shower curtain hooks are known to easily fall off shower rods when the shower curtain is moved.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, the invention provides a shower curtain hook including a generally S-shaped member including a top portion configured to slideably engage a rod having a first diameter, and a bottom portion; the top portion including a curved section and a straight section extending from one end of the curved section; and a ball attached to an end of the straight section, wherein a distance between the ball and the bottom portion is smaller than the first diameter.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a shower curtain hook including a generally S-shaped member including a top portion configured to slideably engage a rod having a first diameter, and a bottom portion; the top portion including a curved section and a straight section extending from one end of the curved section; and a ball attached to an end of the straight section; wherein a distance between the ball and the bottom portion is substantially the same as the first diameter, and wherein a lowest point on the bottom portion and the ball attached to the straight section are on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through a centerline of the rod when the hook is placed on the rod.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a shower curtain hook including a member having a top portion configured to slideably engage a rod having a first diameter, and a bottom portion; the top portion including a curved section and a straight section extending from one end of the curved section; a first ball attached to an end of the bottom portion; and a second ball attached to an end of the straight section; wherein a distance between the second ball and the bottom portion is smaller than the first diameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OT THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional S-shaped shower curtain hook.

FIG. 2 illustrates an S-shaped shower curtain hook in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3-8 show additional views of the S-shaped curtain hook of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 illustrates a conventional shower curtain ball hook with a lower ball to help secure the curtain.

FIG. 10 illustrates a ball hook shower curtain hook in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 11-16 show additional views of the ball hook curtain hook of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides improved configurations for shower curtain hooks. In some embodiments, the size of the opening at the top of the hook is reduced to lower the probability of the hook separating from the shower rod. In some embodiments, a small ball may be added to the upper end of the hook to remedy problems with prior ball hook designs. A section of the top portion of the hook can be lengthened to change the angle of the hook when it is mounted on a shower rod.

By adjusting the angle, the opening size, and/or adding a small ball to the ball hooks, the shower curtain hooks described herein set new standards of basic function when mounted on standard shower curtain rods.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional S-shaped shower curtain hook 10. The shower curtain hook 10 includes a top portion 12 and a bottom portion 14. The top portion includes a generally U-shaped section 16 and a straight section 18 extending from an end 20 of the U-shaped section. A ball 22 is affixed to the end of the straight section 18. The bottom portion 14 includes a generally U-shaped section 24 and a straight section 26 extending from an end 28 of the U-shaped section. A ball 30 is affixed to the end of the straight section 26.

The top portion is configured to slideably engage a shower curtain rod, not shown, and is shaped to define an opening 32, which allows the hook to be positioned on the shower rod. The top and bottom portions are connected by a straight portion 34. The opening 32 extends from the ball 22 to the straight portion 34.

FIG. 2 illustrates an S-shaped shower curtain hook 40 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The shower curtain hook 40 includes a top portion 42 and a bottom portion 44. The top portion includes a generally U-shaped section 46 and a straight section 48 extending from an end 50 of the U-shaped section. A ball 52 is affixed to the end of the straight section 48. The bottom portion 44 includes a generally U-shaped section 54 and a straight section 56 extending from an end 58 of the U-shaped section. A ball 60 is affixed to the end of the straight section 56.

The top portion is configured to slideably engage a shower curtain rod (not shown) and is shaped to define an opening 62, which allows the hook to be positioned on the shower rod. The top and bottom portions are connected by a straight portion 64. The opening 62 of the hook of FIG. 2 is smaller than the opening 32 of the hook of FIG. 1. In addition, the straight portion 48 of the hook of FIG. 2 is longer than the straight portion of the hook of FIG. 1. These differences provide a significant performance benefit that reduces the probability of the hook falling off of a shower rod when the shower curtain is moved.

FIGS. 3-8 show additional views of the S-shaped curtain hook of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shower curtain hook 40 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the shower curtain hook 40 of FIG. 2. FIGS. 5 and 6 are side views of the shower curtain hook 40 of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a top view of the shower curtain hook 40 of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the shower curtain hook 40 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates unique features of the shower curtain hook 40. The top portion 42 is configured to slideably engage a shower curtain rod 66. The opening 62 allows the hook to be positioned on the shower rod. In one example, the shower rod has a diameter of 1″ (2.54 cm), and the length of the opening 62 is smaller than the diameter of the shower rod, e.g., less than 1″ (2.54 cm). In one example, the hook can be used in combination with a telescoping rod having a wider side and a narrower side than slides into the wider side. In this case, the hook will splay/spring open between 1/16″ and 3/32″ when applied to the wider side of the rod. Then the hook will spring back after it is placed on the rod. Also, the hook can be placed on the narrower side of the shower rod, in which case it does not splay/spring open. In another example, the length of the opening 62 can be substantially the same as the diameter of the shower rod.

The weight of the extended straight section 48 and end ball 52 shift the center of gravity of the hook such that when the hook is mounted on the rod 66, the bottom portion rotates in the direction of arrow 68. This moves the lowest point 70 of the bottom portion to the right of a vertical plane 72 passing through a center line of the rod and also lowers the ball 52 below a horizontal plane 74 passing through the center line of the rod. When a shower curtain is attached to the bottom portion of the hook, the hook remains securely mounted on the rod. However, when the shower curtain is moved, the downward force of the shower curtain can be reduced, eliminated, or even reversed. Such movement of the shower curtain is known to dislodge the prior art hooks from the rod. This problem is solved by the embodiment of FIG. 4, wherein the rotational force in the direction of arrow 68, the narrow opening 62, and the extended straight section 48 and ball 52 combine to keep the hook on the rod during movement of the shower curtain. The orientation of the hook with respect to the rod depends on variations of the ball/wire thickness. Such variations/combinations can include changes in the length of section 48 and the size and weight of the ball 52, thereby changing the center of gravity of the hook.

FIG. 9 illustrates a conventional shower curtain ball hook 100. The shower curtain hook 100 includes a top portion 102 and a bottom portion 104. The top portion includes a generally U-shaped section 106 and a straight section 108 extending from an end 110 of the U-shaped section. The bottom portion 104 includes a straight section 112 and a ball 114 affixed to the end of the straight section 112. The ball is included to help secure the curtain. The top portion is configured to slideably engage a shower curtain rod (not shown) and is shaped to define an opening 116, which allows the hook to be positioned on the shower rod.

FIG. 10 illustrates a ball hook shower curtain hook 120 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The shower curtain hook 120 includes a top portion 122 and a bottom portion 124. The top portion includes a generally U-shaped section 126 and a straight section 128 extending from an end 130 of the U-shaped section. A ball 132 is affixed to an end of the straight section 128. The bottom portion 124 includes a straight section 134 and a ball 136 affixed to the end of the straight section 134. The ball 136 is included to help secure the curtain. The top portion is configured to slideably engage a shower curtain rod (not shown) and is shaped to define an opening 138, which allows the hook to be positioned on the shower rod. The opening 138 of the hook of FIG. 10 is smaller than the opening 116 of the hook of FIG. 9. In addition, the straight portion 128 of the hook of FIG. 10 is longer than the straight portion of the hook of FIG. 9. These differences provide a significant performance benefit that reduces the probability of the hook falling off of a shower rod when the shower curtain is moved.

FIGS. 11-16 show additional views of the ball hook curtain hook of FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the shower curtain hook 120 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the shower curtain hook 120 of FIG. 10. FIGS. 13 and 14 are side views of the shower curtain hook 120 of FIG. 10. FIG. 15 is a top view of the shower curtain hook 120 of FIG. 10. FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the shower curtain hook 120 of FIG.

10.

FIG. 12 illustrates unique features of the shower curtain hook 120. The top portion 122 is configured to slideably engage a shower curtain rod 140. The opening 138 allows the hook to be positioned on the shower rod. In one example, the shower rod has a diameter of 1″ (2.54 cm), and the length of the opening 138 is less than the diameter of the shower rod, e.g., less than 1″ (2.54 cm). In one example, the hook can be used in combination with a telescoping rod having a wider side and a narrower side than slides into the wider side. In this case, the hook will splay/spring open between 1/16″ and 3/32″ when applied to the wider side of the rod. Then the hook will spring back after the hook is placed on the rod. Also, the hook can be placed on the narrower side of the shower rod, in which case, it does not splay/spring open. In another example, the length of the opening 138 can be substantially the same as the diameter of the shower rod.

The length of the straight section 128 shown in FIG. 10 and the size and weight of the ball 132 determine the center of gravity of the hook. This affects the orientation of the hook with respect to the rod. As shown in FIG. 12, the position of the bottom of the ball 132 can be below a horizontal plane passing through the center line of the rod.

In various examples, the hook is deformed when the hook is placed on a rod, and the hook springs back into its original shape after it is on the rod. The tension applied to increase the opening when putting the hook on a rod is not great enough to splay the hook apart permanently. Thus, the hook returns to its original shape after it is placed on the rod, keeping the hook in place.

In various embodiments, the shower hooks of this invention can be made of materials that can be deformed to increase the opening when the hooks are placed in a rod, but returns to its original shape when the hook in on the rod. Such materials include plastic or metal.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the disclosed embodiments may be made without departing from the invention.

Claims

1. A shower curtain hook comprising:

a generally S-shaped member including a top portion configured to slideably engage a rod having a first diameter, and a bottom portion;

the top portion including a curved section and a straight section extending from one end of the curved section; and

a ball attached to an end of the straight section,

wherein a distance between the ball and the bottom portion is less than the first diameter.

2. The shower curtain hook of claim 1, wherein the ball attached to the straight section is below a horizontal plane passing through a center line of the rod when the hook is placed on the rod.

3. The shower curtain hook of claim 1, wherein a lowest point on the bottom portion and the ball attached to the straight section are on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through a centerline of the rod when the hook is placed on the rod.

4. The shower curtain hook of claim 1, wherein the hook comprises a material capable of being deformed to increase the distance between the ball and the bottom portion, wherein the hook returns to its original shape after being placed on the rod.

5. A shower curtain hook comprising:

a generally S-shaped member including a top portion configured to slideably engage a rod having a first diameter, and a bottom portion;

the top portion including a curved section and a straight section extending from one end of the curved section; and

a ball attached to an end of the straight section,

wherein a distance between the ball and the bottom portion is substantially the same as the first diameter, and wherein a lowest point on the bottom portion and the ball attached to the straight section are on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through a centerline of the rod when the hook is placed on the rod.

6. The shower curtain hook of claim 5, wherein the ball attached to the straight section is below a horizontal plane passing through a center line of the rod when the hook is placed on the rod.

7. A shower curtain hook comprising:

a member including a top portion configured to slideably engage a rod having a first diameter, and a bottom portion;

the top portion including a curved section and a straight section extending from one end of the curved section;

a first ball attached to an end of the bottom portion; and

a second ball attached to an end of the straight section,

wherein a distance between the second ball and the bottom portion is smaller than the first diameter.

8. The shower curtain hook of claim 7, wherein a bottom of the second is below a horizontal plane passing through a center line of the rod when the hook is placed on the rod.

9. The shower curtain hook of claim 7, wherein the hook comprises a material capable of being deformed to increase the distance between the second ball and the bottom portion, wherein the hook returns to its original shape after being placed on the rod.