RETRACTABLE SHOWER ENCLOSURE

Abstract

A retractable shower enclosure includes a top frame and a bottom frame attached together with draw strings for raising and lowering the bottom frame relative to the top frame between a fully deployed position to a fully retracted position. The top frame comprised of tubing wherein the drawstrings are fed through the interior of the tubing. The top frame also includes draw string guides over which the draw strings are fed. A curtain releasably attached to the frames with fasteners such that in the fully retracted position the curtain is pleated in accordion style.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present concept relates to shower enclosures and more particularly relates to retractable shower enclosures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a number of shower enclosures in the prior art which can be erected vertically from the floor as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,763 to Francis E. Grenier for example or the shower curtain which is retracted vertically and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,673 to W. Mark Patteson et al. The traditional surround shower enclosure, consisting of hanging a number of overlapping waterproof sheets from an oval curtain rod has been in the public domain.

The drawback with the shower enclosures as described in the prior art is that most of these enclosures are not easily put into place by simply a drawing of strings. Secondly in the fully retracted position the shower curtains take up a significant amount of space. Thirdly the installation of these retractable shower enclosures is often quite complex and difficult. Fourthly these retractable shower enclosures cannot be easily modified or adapted to conform to the shape of any style bathtub including free standing bathtubs of varying shapes. The prior art shower enclosures do not provide for an easy mechanism for removal of the shower curtain portion of the retractable shower for ease of cleaning. Additionally, most prior art doesn't supply the entire waterproofing and relies on tubs or tiled walls to complete the enclosure. As well, other enclosures need to come in contact with a tub or shower curb which retards the drying process. Lastly, this enclosure is also stable against the effects of negative pressure during use.

The present concept is a retractable shower enclosure which comprises a top frame and a bottom frame connected together with draw strings for raising and lowering the bottom frame relative to the top frame between a fully deployed position to a fully retracted position; the top frame comprised of a hollow structure wherein the draw strings are fed through the interior of the hollow structure, the top frame includes draw string guides over which the draw strings are fed downwardly to the bottom frame wherein the draw strings are attached to the bottom frame; a curtain releasably attached to the frames with fasteners; such that in the fully retracted position the curtain is pleated in accordion style.

Preferably wherein the top frame comprised of tubing wherein the drawstrings are fed through the interior of the tubing;

Preferably further including connectors for connecting the draw strings to the top and bottom frames.

Preferably further includes at least one intermediate frame releasably attached to the curtain with fasteners.

Preferably wherein the fasteners include a pin with a magnetic head, and a cooperating magnetic cap with a cavity, the cavity for receiving the magnetic head and clamping a portion of the shower curtain therein.

Preferably wherein the enclosure including struts attached to the top frame for attachment of the enclosure to a ceiling.

Preferably wherein each draw string terminates one end at a connector on the bottom frame and the other end exits the top frame at an exit hole.

Preferably wherein each end of the draw string terminates at a connector on the bottom frame and a portion of the draw string exits the a exit hole in the top frame.

Preferably wherein the portion of the draw string exiting the exit hole forms a draw loop.

Preferably wherein the draw loops are gathered together with a draw ring.

Preferably wherein the draw ring is connected to a draw rope such that pulling on the draw rope initiates retraction of the bottom frame into the retracted position.

Preferably wherein the portion of the draw string exiting the exit hole at the top frame is at approximately the mid length portion of the draw string;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present concept will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a retractable shower enclosure shown in a fully deployed position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the retractable shower enclosure shown in a partially retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of the retractable shower enclosure shown in the fully retracted position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure with the curtain removed in order to reveal the frame and drawstring components in the fully deployed position;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure with the curtain removed in order to reveal the frame and drawstring components in the partially retracted position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure with the curtain removed in order to reveal the frame and drawstring components in the fully retracted position;

FIG. 7 is a side schematic perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure shown in the fully deployed position.

FIG. 8 is a side schematic perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure shown in the partially retracted position.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side perspective view of some of the frame components of the retractable shower enclosure.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side perspective view of some of the frame components of the retractable shower enclosure.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure shown deployed with a bathtub in the fully deployed position.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side perspective view of the retractable shower enclosure shown deployed with a bathtub in the partially retracted position.

FIG. 13 is a schematic partial cross sectional view exploded plan view of a fastener deployed onto a tube.

FIG. 14 is a schematic partial cross sectional plan view of a fastener deployed onto a tube showing the positioning of the curtain.

FIG. 15 is a schematic partial cross sectional schematic plan view of a fastener shown clamping the curtain between the magnetic head and the magnetic cap.

FIG. 16 is a schematic partial side perspective view of fasteners shown deployed onto a tube together with the curtain.

FIG. 17 is a schematic partial cut away view of another embodiment of the retracting mechanism shown with a draw ring.

FIG. 18 is a schematic partial cut away view of the retracting mechanism shown together with the draw rope.

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view taken through one of the exit holes showing an exit guide as well as the drawstrings passing through an exit hole.

FIG. 20 is a schematic partial cross sectional view of the retraction mechanism taken along the longitudinal direction of the open tube.

FIG. 21 is a schematic top plan view of an example of a complete open tube showing a total of three drawstrings and six string apertures and two exit holes and the arrangement of the three drawstrings.

FIG. 22 is a schematic side perspective view of a second embodiment of the retracting mechanism 202 showing the arrangement of the drawstrings.

FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the retracting mechanisms showing the arrangement of in this example three drawstrings.

FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective partial cut away view of the open tube showing the tube opening and the draw rope being threaded there through.

FIG. 24 is a schematic perspective partial cut away view showing the retracting mechanism together with a shower curtain

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present concept is depicted in the attached Figures which show a retractable shower enclosure 100 having the following components namely top frame 102 connected with drawstrings 110 to bottom frame 106 and optional intermediate frame 104 which is connected to shower curtain 108 with fasteners 118. Shower curtain 108 is preferably a one piece fabric enclosure of tubular form.

Top frame 102 is connected to bottom frame 106 with drawstrings 110 which are used to position retractable shower enclosure into the fully deployed position shown as 112 in FIG. 1 or a partially retracted position 114 as shown in FIG. 2 or in a fully retracted position 116 as shown in FIG. 3.

Now referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 which show the frame components 101 of retractable shower enclosure 100.

The frame components include a top frame 102 which is connected to bottom frame 106 with drawstrings 110. The reader will note that intermediate frame 104 is normally not connected to drawstrings 110 but rather simply attached to the shower curtain 108 using fasteners 118 for ease of removal.

By pulling on drawstrings 110 bottom frame 106 is raised as shown in FIG. 5 into a partially retracted position 114 or into a fully retracted position 116.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the retractable shower enclosure 100 in perspective view wherein the intermediate frame 104 as shown in phantom lines indicating that the shower curtain is covering the intermediate frame 104.

As the retractable shower enclosure is collapsed the curtain 110 folds or forms pleats into a collapsed curtain 120 as shown in FIG. 3.

The only limitation on the vertical space taken up by the retractable shower enclosure 100 in the fully retracted position is the thickness of the curtain 108 namely the collapsed curtain 120 and the thickness of the frame members 102, 106 and 104 respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 9 some of the details of the retracting mechanism are shown.

The retracting mechanism 103 includes a top frame 102 which is preferably made up of a hollow structure such as for example tubing 130 and 4 drawstrings 110 being fed there through. There may in fact be some other number of strings.

Drawstrings 110 are housed within the interior 131 of tube or tubing 130 and exit at the corners 144 at a string aperture 134 and are led vertically downwardly to bottom frame 106 where they are connected to connector 136 to bottom frame 106.

Each of the drawstrings 110 is guided along the interior of tubing 130 and runs over guide 132 prior to exiting through string aperture 134. Guide 132 can for example be Chicago screws or any other type of pin or guide which will facilitate the sliding movement of the drawstrings 110 over guides 132 through string aperture 134 and along the interior of tubes 130.

In the present example top frame 102 is made from tubing which includes two longitudinal sections 140 and two lateral sections 142 and four corners 144.

The drawstrings 110 exit out of tube 130 at exit hole 138 which can be positioned at the outside of top frame 102 as shown in FIG. 9 or in the inside of top frame 102 as shown in FIG. 10.

The intermediate frame 104 is not shown in FIG. 9 since this frame is not connected to the guide drawstrings 110 but rather is connected directly to the curtain 108 using fasteners 118. Note the draw strings 110 may be led through intermediate frame 104 without being connected to it.

Connectors 136 may also include fasteners 118 which are described below for fastening curtain 108 to the top frame 102 and the bottom frame 106. The curtain 108 determines the maximum length in the fully deployed position 112.

In other words connector 136 not only attaches the drawstrings to the bottom frame 106 but also may include a fastener 118 for attaching the curtain 108 to the bottom frame 106. The same is for top frame 102 in which case guides 132 may also include a fastener 118 for not only guiding the drawstrings 110 through the string apertures 134 but also for attaching the curtain 108 onto the top frame 102.

Fastener 118 may also take on other forms including a grommet and a post, wherein grommets are integrated into curtain 108 and, would stretch over corresponding posts not shown in the drawings.

FIG. 11 shows the retractable shower enclosure deployed together with a bathtub 151 which has an upper rim 152.

Preferably struts 146 which are rigidly attached to the top frame 102 and include having a flange 148 at the other end for fastening to a ceiling. Note the ceiling is not shown in the drawings.

The periphery or the shape of frames 102, 106 and 104 are normally selected to be uniform and conform to the inner dimensions of the upper rim 152 of bathtub 151 thereby ensuring that water splashing outside of bathtub 151 is minimized.

Frames 102, 104 and 106 could be made from plastic material or any other suitable material which can be easily shaped into any desired contour.

In FIG. 11 retractable shower enclosure 100 is shown in the fully deployed position 112 and in FIG. 12 the retractable shower enclosure 100 is shown in the partially retracted position 114.

You will note that the dimensions are not to scale and that when retractable shower enclosure 100 is in the fully retracted position 116 it has an extremely shallow vertical profile meaning it takes up very little space between the ceiling and the bottom of bottom flange 106 such that a person can easily and without difficulty enter and exit out of bathtub 151.

FIGS. 13, 14, 15 and 16 show details of the fasteners 118 which as indicated above can be deployed on their own as for example onto the intermediate frame 104 or can be deployed in combination with other fastening devices such as for example with guide 132 and/or with connector 136. This type of fastener allows intermediate frames 104 to be customizable in design and size and shape without compromising waterproofness.

Fastener 118 includes a pin portion 152, a magnetic head portion 154 and a magnetic cap 150. Either the magnetic cap or magnetic head portion would house a magnet.

Magnetic cap 150 includes a magnetic cap cavity 156 which is dimensioned to just fit over magnetic head 154.

In the unfastened position magnetic cap 150 is separated from magnetic head 154 as shown in FIG. 14.

In the fastened position magnetic attraction between magnetic head 154 and magnetic cap 150 clamps curtain 108 within cavity 156 of magnetic cap 150 and sandwiches curtain 108 between the magnetic head 154 and the magnetic cap 150 thereby fastening the tube 130 which could be for example the intermediate frame 104.

In the case when the fastener 118 is also deployed together with a guide 132 or a connector 136 the pin 152 will preferably span the entire diameter of tube 130 and there would be a Chicago screw type end on the other distal end of the pin 152.

Referring to FIGS. 17 through 24 which depict a second embodiment of a retracting mechanism 202.

First of all referring to FIG. 17 drawstrings 202 are guided through an open tube 204 to an exit location wherein exit guides 208 guide drawstrings 206 through exit holes 224 in the bottom of open tube 24. The drawstrings 206 form a draw list 240 which are gathered together with a draw ring 210 which in turn is connected to a draw rope 212.

FIG. 19 shows a portion of the retracting mechanism 202 in cross sectional view showing the drawstrings 206 passing over exit guide 208 and through exit hole 224 and are gathered together with a draw ring 210 which in turn is connected to a draw rope 212. FIG. 19 also shows a tube opening 230 which facilitates assembly repair and altering of rigging.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of open tube 204 wherein the three drawstrings which are used in this example are each fed over draw guides 222 and down through string apertures 226. By pulling on the draw strings 206 one is able to lift curtain 250.

This drawing also shows how each of the three drawstrings is guided down through exit hole 224 across exit guides 208 and attached to draw rope 212.

Referring now to this Figure and also to FIGS. 22 and 23 the reader will note that when assembling this retracting mechanism one attempts to keep each of the drawstrings 206 to approximately equal length, which should keep the tensions as equal as possible.

Therefore referring now to FIG. 23 the first drawstring terminates at point A and A in FIG. 23 the second drawstring terminates at point B and B on FIG. 23 and the third drawstring terminates at point C and C in FIG. 23. In this manner all three drawstrings are roughly the same length and therefore as one pulls downward on draw loop 240 one is able to evenly retract curtain 250. Other arrangements are also possible. For example the drawstrings could be arranged so that they are of equal length on each side of ring 210 as well the drawstrings could be arranged to pass over an equal number of pins 136 or guides 222.

Referring now to FIG. 24 draw rope 212 is fed through slot 270 as shown in FIG. 24. Draw rope 212 is at least double the entire length of curtain 250 such that it is fed all of the way down the inside of curtain 250 around the bottom of curtain 250 and then up the outside of curtain 250 such that it forms a continuous loop all the way around the inside and outside of the curtain.

In this manner one can pull on draw rope 212 either by standing inside of the retractable shower enclosure 200 and pulling down on draw rope 212 or standing on the outside of the retractable shower enclosure and also pulling down on draw rope 212. In this manner one is able to fully retract shower curtain 250 into the collapsed curtain position 120 in FIG. 3 by pulling down on draw rope 212.

In the fully deployed position 112 shown in FIG. 1 draw ring 210 would make contact with the bottom of open tube 204 therefore preventing further deployment of curtain 250.

FIG. 24 furthermore shows curtain fasteners 272 which fasten the curtain to the outside of open tube 204 by any means currently known in the art.

The reader will note that it is possible to use various different numbers of drawstrings depending upon the size of the shower curtain. For example it is possible to use six strings as shown in the examples in FIG. 17 through 24 but there is no reason that one is not able to use for example 4 drawstrings, 6 drawstrings, 8 drawstrings, 10 drawings, 12 . . . etc. The number of drawstrings would be dependent upon how easily one would like the shower be retracted and also the size of the shower curtain itself, as well as optimizing pleating and compression.

The reader will also note that the advantage of retracting mechanism 202 is the fact that a person can access draw rope 212 for retraction and deployment from both the interior and exterior of the curtain 250. In all other aspects retractable shower enclosure 200 is the same as retractable shower enclosure 100 except for the differences depicted in FIGS. 17 through 24.

Claims

1. A retractable shower enclosure comprises: a top frame and a bottom frame connected together with draw strings for raising and lowering the bottom frame relative to the top frame between a fully deployed position to a fully retracted position;b) the top frame comprised of a hollow structure wherein the draw strings are fed through the interior of the hollow structure,c) the top frame includes draw string guides over which the draw strings are fed downwardly to the bottom frame wherein the draw strings are attached to the bottom frame;d) a curtain releasably attached to the frames with fasteners;e) such that in the fully retracted position the curtain is pleated in accordion style.

2. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 1 wherein the top frame comprised of tubing wherein the drawstrings are fed through the interior of the tubing;

3. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 1 further including connectors for connecting the draw strings to the top and bottom frames.

4. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 3 further includes at least one intermediate frame releasably attached to the curtain with fasteners.

5. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 4 wherein the fasteners include a pin with a magnetic head, and a cooperating magnetic cap with a cavity, the cavity for receiving the magnetic head and clamping a portion of the shower curtain therein.

6. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 4 wherein the enclosure including struts attached to the top frame for attachment of the enclosure to a ceiling.

7. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 1 wherein each draw string terminates one end at a connector on the bottom frame and the other end exits the top frame at an exit hole.

8. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 1 wherein each end of the draw string terminates at a connector on the bottom frame and a portion of the draw string exits the a exit hole in the top frame.

9. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 8 wherein the portion of the draw string exiting the exit hole forms a draw loop.

10. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 9 wherein the draw loops are gathered together with a draw ring.

11. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 1 wherein the draw ring is connected to a draw rope such that pulling on the draw rope initiates retraction of the bottom frame into the retracted position.

12. The retractable shower enclosure claimed in claim 8 wherein the portion of the draw string exiting the exit hole at the top frame is at approximately the mid length portion of the draw string;