SHOWER CURTAIN

Technologies are described for devices and methods to contain water within a bath tub. The device may comprise a first portion of a shower curtain. The device may comprise a second portion of the shower curtain. The device may comprise connectors. The connectors may connect the first portion of the shower curtain and the second portion of the shower curtain. The connectors may be configured to hang over and be supported by a shower rod so that the first portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a first side of a wall of the bathtub and the second portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a second side of the wall of the bathtub. The second portion of the shower curtain, in contact with the wall of the bath tub, may contain water from a shower head within the bath tub.

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Description
BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

When operating, shower heads disperse water within a bath tub. When a person takes a shower, water from the shower head may splash outside of the bath tub or basin area. A shower curtain or shower liner may contain water within the bath tub or basin and prevent water from splashing outside of the bath tub or basin area when a person showers.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the invention is a device to contain water within a bath tub. The device may comprise a first portion of a shower curtain. The device may comprise a second portion of the shower curtain. The device may comprise connectors. The connectors may connect the first portion of the shower curtain and the second portion of the shower curtain. The connectors may be configured to hang over and be supported by a shower rod so that the first portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a first side of a wall of the bathtub and the second portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a second side of the wall of the bathtub. The second portion of the shower curtain, in contact with the wall of the bath tub, may contain water from a shower head within the bath tub.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a system to contain water within a bath tub. The system may comprise the bathtub, a shower head, a shower rod, and a shower curtain. The shower curtain may comprise a first portion, a second portion, and connectors. The connectors may connect the first portion of the shower curtain and the second portion of the shower curtain. The connectors may be configured to hang over and be supported by the shower rod so that the first portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a first side of a wall of the bathtub and a second portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a second side of the wall of the bathtub. The second portion of the shower curtain, in contact with the wall of the bath tub, may contain water from the shower head within the bath tub.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method to contain water within a bath tub. The method may comprise pulling a shower curtain over a shower rod. The method may comprise aligning the shower curtain so that connectors of the shower curtain are in contact with the shower rod. The connectors may connect a first portion of the shower curtain and a second portion of the shower curtain. The method may comprise contacting the first portion of the shower curtain with a first side of a wall of the bathtub. The method may comprise contacting the second portion of the shower curtain with a second side of a wall of the bathtub to contain water from a shower head within the bathtub.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shower curtain;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a shower curtain hung over a shower rod;

FIG. 3 is a head on view of a shower curtain hung over a shower rod;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a shower curtain hung over a shower rod;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a shower curtain; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram for an example method to contain water within a bathtub, all arranged according to at least some embodiments described herein.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shower curtain, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Shower curtain 10 may be part of a shower system 100. System 100 may include shower curtain 10, a shower rod 20, a shower head 30, water 40, and a bath tub or shower basin 50. Water 40 may be sprayed into bath tub or shower basin 50 by shower head 30. Shower curtain 10 may contain water 40 within the bath tub or shower basin 50 and prevent water 40 from splashing outside of bath tub or shower basin 50.

Shower curtain 10 may be a water proof material including plastic. Shower curtain 10 may include a single material, or may include multiple materials, including waterproof lined materials, and materials that are not waterproof. Shower curtain 10 may be twice as long as a standard shower curtain. Shower curtain may be 132 to 156 inches long and 66 to 80 inches wide.

Material of shower curtain 10 may define holes 60 in shower curtain 10. Holes 60 may be square, rectangular, oval, circular, or any other shape. Material of shower curtain 10 may form connectors 15 around holes 60 and may allow shower curtain 10 to bunch together when shower curtain 10 is pushed together along shower rod 20. As described in more detail below, shower curtain 10 may be hung over and supported by shower rod 20 so that connectors 15 are in contact with shower rod 20 and approximately even portions of shower curtain 10 hang on both sides of shower rod 20.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a shower curtain hung over a shower rod, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in FIG. 2 that are labeled identically to components of FIG. 1 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

As shown in FIG. 2, shower curtain 10 may be hung over and supported by shower rod 20. Connectors 15 may be in contact with shower rod 20. Shower curtain 10 may have a first portion 10A on a first side of shower rod 20 and a second portion 10B on a second side of shower rod 20. Portion 10A and portion 10B may be approximately the same size and length. Portion 10A of shower curtain 10 may be in contact with a first side 50A of a wall of bath tub or shower basin 50. Portion 10B of shower curtain 10 may be in contact with a second side 50B of the wall of bath tub or shower basin 50. Portion 10A and portion 10B may be the same material or portion 10A and portion 10B may be different materials or different combinations of materials. For example, portion 10A may include a decorative linen or cloth and portion 10B may include a waterproof barrier.

Shower curtain 10 may include magnets 70 at base of first portion 10A and/or second portion 10B. Magnets 70 may secure base of portion 10A to first side 50A of a wall of bathtub or shower basin 50 and/or base of portion 10B to second side 50B of the wall of bathtub or shower basin 50.

FIG. 3 is a head on view of a shower curtain hung over a shower rod, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in FIG. 3 that are labeled identically to components of FIGS. 1-2 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

Shower curtain 10 may be pulled over shower rod 20. Shower curtain 10 may be aligned so that connectors 15 are in contact with shower rod 20. Shower rod 20 may support shower curtain 10 at connectors 15 when shower curtain 10 is hung over shower rod 20. Shower curtain 10 may have a first portion 10A on a first side of shower rod 20 and a second portion 10B on a second side of shower rod 20. Portion 10A and portion 10B may be approximately the same size and length. Portion 10A of shower curtain 10 may be in contact with a first side 50A of a wall of bath tub or shower basin 50. Portion 10B of shower curtain 10 may be in contact with a second side 50B of the wall of bath tub or shower basin 50. Portion 10A and portion 10B may be the same material or portion 10A and portion 10B may be different materials or different combinations of materials. For example, portion 10A may include a decorative linen or cloth and portion 10B may include a waterproof barrier.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a shower curtain hung over a shower rod, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in FIG. 4 that are labeled identically to components of FIGS. 1-3 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

In another embodiment, shower curtain 410 may include a first portion 410A and a second portion 410B. Shower curtain 410 may be longer than a standard shower curtain so that second portion 410B may wrap over shower rod 20 and first portion 410A may be in contact with tub or shower basin 50. Shower curtain 410 may include a single material or multiple materials. Shower curtain 410 may include material which may define holes 460 in shower curtain 410. Holes 460 may form connectors 415 in shower curtain 410 between first portion 410A and second portion 410B. Connectors 415, first portion 410A, and/or second portion 410B may include fasteners 450. In one embodiment, fasteners 450 on first portion 410A may connect to fasteners on second portion 410B to secure connectors 415 of shower curtain 410 around shower rod 20. In another embodiment, fasteners 450 on a first end of connectors 415 may connect to fasteners on a second end of connectors 415 to secure connectors 415 of shower curtain 410 around shower rod 20. Fasteners 450 may include a first magnet and a second magnet, a toggle and a button, a hole and a button, a toggle and a hole, VELCRO tabs, or any other fastening items.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a shower curtain, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in FIG. 5 that are labeled identically to components of FIGS. 1-4 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

Shower curtain 510 may include a first portion 510A, a second portion 510B, and connectors 515. Shower curtain 510 may include multiple materials and first portion 510A, second portion 510B, and connectors 515 may each include a different material. For example, portion 510A may include a decorative linen, portion 510B may include a waterproof barrier, and connectors 15 may be cloth. Connectors 515 may be permanently attached to first portion 510A and second portion 510B. Connectors 515 may be fastened to be removable and reattachable to first portion 510A and/or second portion 510B. Connectors 515, first portion 510A, and second portion 510B may include fasteners 550, which may connect to each other to fasten connectors 515 to first portion 510A and/or second portion 510B when connectors are removable and reattachable to first portion 510A and/or second portion 510B. Fasteners 550 may include a first magnet and a second magnet, a toggle and a button, a hole and a button, a toggle and a hole, VELCRO tabs, or any other fastening items.

In another embodiment, shower curtain 510 may be secured to shower rod 20 at connectors 515. Connectors 515 may include fasteners 550 such that a first end of a connector 515 may be secured to a second end of the connector 515 to secure connector 515 around shower rod 20. Fasteners 550 may include a first magnet and a second magnet, a toggle and a button, a hole and a button, a toggle and a hole, VELCRO tabs, or any other fastening items.

In another embodiment, first and second ends of connectors 515 may be permanently attached to each other so as to form a channel of rings between portion 510A and portion 510B. Shower rod 20 may tread through the channel of rings formed by connectors 515 to support shower curtain 510.

A device in accordance with the present disclosure may be easier to install than a standard shower curtain with shower curtain rings. A device in accordance with the present disclosure may allow a user to throw the device over a shower rod to install rather than have to remove the shower rod and thread shower curtain rings to the shower rod. A device in accordance with the present disclosure may allow fabrication of a shower curtain from a single piece of material.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram for an example method to contain water within a bathtub, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments presented herein. An example process may include one or more operations, actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more of blocks S2, S4, S6, and/or S8. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation.

The method may begin at block S2, “Pull a shower curtain over a shower rod”. At block S2, a shower curtain may be pulled over a shower rod. The shower rod may be positioned over a bathtub. The shower curtain may be pulled over the shower rod while the shower rod is fixed in place without having to take down the shower rod.

The method may continue from block S2 to block S4, “Align the shower curtain so that connectors of the shower curtain are in contact with the shower rod, wherein the connectors connect a first portion of the shower curtain and a second portion of the shower curtain”. At block S4, the connectors of the shower curtain may be aligned with the shower rod. The connectors of the shower curtain may connect a first portion of the shower curtain with a second portion of the shower curtain.

The method may continue from block S4 to block S6, “Contact the first portion of the shower curtain with a first side of a wall of the bathtub”. At block S6, the first portion of the shower curtain may be contacted with a first side of a wall of the bathtub. The first portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with an outside wall of the bathtub.

The method may continue from block S6 to block S8, “Contact the second portion of the shower curtain with a second side of a wall of the bathtub to contain water from a shower head within the bathtub”. At block S8, the second portion of the shower curtain may be contacted with a second side of the wall the bathtub. The second side of the wall of the bathtub may be an inside wall of the bathtub. The second portion of the shower curtain, in contact with the second side of the wall of the bath tub, may contain water from a shower head within the bath tub.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A device to contain water within a bath tub, the device comprising:

a first portion of a shower curtain;
a second portion of the shower curtain; and
connectors, wherein the connectors connect the first portion of the shower curtain and the second portion of the shower curtain, the connectors are configured to hang over and be supported by a shower rod so that the first portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a first side of a wall of the bathtub and the second portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a second side of the wall of the bathtub, and the second portion of the shower curtain, in contact with the wall of the bath tub, contains water from a shower head within the bath tub.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the connectors are all the same material.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the material is waterproof.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the material is plastic.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the material of the shower curtain defines holes in the shower curtain and the material of the shower curtain around the holes form the connectors.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the holes are square, rectangular, oval, or circular.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a first material, the second portion is a second material, and the connectors are a third material.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising magnets at base of the first portion and at a base of the second portion.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the connectors are permanently attached to the first portion and the second portion.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the connectors are removable and reattachable to the first portion and the second portion.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and/or the connectors include fasteners.

12. A system to contain water within a bath tub, the system comprising:

the bathtub;
a shower head;
a shower rod, and
a shower curtain, wherein the shower curtain comprises:
a first portion;
a second portion; and
connectors, wherein the connectors connect the first portion of the shower curtain and the second portion of the shower curtain, the connectors are configured to hang over and be supported by the shower rod so that the first portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a first side of a wall of the bathtub and a second portion of the shower curtain may be in contact with a second side of the wall of the bathtub, and the second portion of the shower curtain, in contact with the wall of the bath tub, contains water from the shower head within the bath tub.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the connectors are all the same material.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the material of the shower curtain defines holes in the shower curtain and the material of the shower curtain around the holes form the connectors.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the connectors are removable and reattachable to the first portion and the second portion.

16. A method to contain water within a bath tub, the method comprising:

pulling a shower curtain over a shower rod;
aligning the shower curtain so that connectors of the shower curtain are in contact with the shower rod, wherein the connectors connect a first portion of the shower curtain and a second portion of the shower curtain;
contacting the first portion of the shower curtain with a first side of a wall of the bathtub; and
contacting the second portion of the shower curtain with a second side of the wall of the bathtub to contain water from a shower head within the bathtub.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the connectors are all the same material.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the material of the shower curtain defines holes in the shower curtain and the material of the shower curtain around the holes form the connectors.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the connectors are removable and reattachable to the first portion and the second portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and/or the connectors include fasteners.

Patent History
Publication number: 20200305652
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 18, 2020
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2020
Inventor: Patrick Timmes (Baldwin, NY)
Application Number: 16/822,660
Classifications
International Classification: A47K 3/38 (20060101);