Patent Application
20130061386
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to shower curtains and liners and, more particularly, relate to shower panels and storage features in shower curtains, shower curtain liners, and shower panels.
Showers and baths are a common part of everyday life. Several items are typically used while taking a shower or bath. Some of these items may be cleaning products, such as body wash or shampoo, whereas others may be more specific to the user, such as razors, rubber duckies, or the like. It is desirable to have these items near at hand during showering and bathing. However, typical showers and baths offer little storage options, often due to limited space, causing users to resort to placing their shower or bath items in nooks and crannies, such as on the ledge of the tub. These items, however, may slip and fall into the bath or shower stall, especially while the shower is running. As such, additional and innovative storage options are beneficial for shower and bath takers.
Wherever showers are located, they are often open on at least one side, enabling access for a user. These types of showers typically employ a shower rod for hanging a shower curtain or shower curtain liner, or often both. These shower curtains and/or shower curtain liners prevent water from splashing outside the shower and possibly also provide a user with privacy, and may be a decorative element to a bathroom.
As noted above, limited space in showers often causes limited storage options. As such, embodiments of the present invention provide additional and innovative storage features, such as pockets and sleeves for shower curtains and shower curtain liners. Additionally, some embodiments of the present invention provide a shower panel with storage features. The shower panel may be configured to hang on the shower rod and the position of the shower panel within the shower may be customizable to provide the user storage options that are convenient for each specific user, and multiple shower panels may be used.
In one example embodiment, a shower curtain panel for a shower with a plurality of shower curtain hooks or rings is provided. The shower curtain panel comprises a panel configured to hang in the shower from at least two and less than five of the plurality of shower curtain hooks or rings. The panel has a width less than half the width of the shower, and the panel defines at least two openings configured to engage the shower curtain hooks or rings from which the shower curtain panel is configured to hang. Additionally, in some embodiments, the number of openings of the shower panel is less than the number of shower curtain hooks or rings.
In another example embodiment, a pocket feature for a shower curtain, shower curtain liner, or shower panel is provided. The pocket feature comprises a front surface defining a top edge, bottom edge, and opposing side edges and a back surface defining a top edge, bottom edge, and opposing side edges. The bottom edge and at least a portion of the side edges of the back surface are attached to the bottom edge and at least a portion of side edges of the front surface so as to form a pocket therebetween. Additionally, the back surface is longer than the front surface such that the top edge of the back surface extends above the top edge of the front surface. The pocket feature further comprises an attachment section defining an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion is attached to the top edge of the back surface, and the upper portion is configured to be attached to the shower curtain, shower curtain liner, or shower panel.
In another example embodiment, a sleeve feature for at least one of a shower curtain, shower curtain liner, or shower curtain panel is provided. The sleeve feature defines a top edge and a bottom edge and comprises at least two attachment surfaces. Each of the attachment surfaces is attached to at least one of the shower curtain, shower curtain liner, or shower curtain panel and extends generally from the top edge of the sleeve feature to the bottom edge of the sleeve feature. The at least two attachment surfaces are spaced apart to define an unattached portion of the top edge and a corresponding unattached portion of the bottom edge so as to define an opening between consecutive attachment surfaces.
Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Showers and baths can be found in most homes and are a part of everyday life. Many showers are relatively open on at least one side to allow a user access to the shower area. To enclose this access area for water containment, aesthetics, privacy, and otherwise, shower curtains and/or shower liners are used. For example, with reference to
The shower curtain 14 and shower curtain liner 16 hang from a shower curtain rod 11 which extends across an upper portion of the access opening, such as from a wall 22 near the shower head 13 to an opposite wall (not shown) near the end of the shower 10. Though a shower rod is shown in
The shower 10 of
Shower and bath takers often use cleaning products, such as body wash or shampoo, to aid them in cleaning. Additionally, other items may also be used in showers or baths, such as razors, rubber duckies, or the like. Typical showers and baths offer little storage options, causing users to resort to nooks and crannies, such as the ledge 19 of a tub 18. Such items stored on the ledge often slip and fall, especially while the water is running in the shower. Moreover, the ledge 19 may not be large enough to hold all the desired shower items. As such, embodiments of the present invention provide additional and innovative storage options for a shower. For example, some embodiments provide storage features (such a pockets and/or sleeves) on a shower panel. The shower panel may be customizably positioned to provide convenient access to the storage features (e.g., in the left, right, center of the tub, outside the tub, etc.).
In some embodiments, the shower panel 30 may be smaller in width than the shower curtain 14, shower curtain liner 16, length of the tub (TL), and/or width of the shower. For example, in some embodiments, the shower panel 30 may have a width (PW) that is less than half the width of the shower (e.g., the length of the tub (TL)). In some embodiments, the number of openings for the shower panel 30 may be less than the number of hooks or rings of the shower curtain rod 11. For example, in some embodiments, the shower panel 30 may be configured to hang from less than four or five of the plurality of shower curtain hooks or rings. In the depicted embodiment, the shower panel 30 comprises a width (PW) that is smaller than the length (TL) of the tub 18 and the width (LW) of the shower curtain liner 16. Additionally, with reference to
With a width (PW) smaller than the length (TL) of the tub 18 and only three openings 32a-32c for hooks or rings, the shower panel 30 shown in
In some embodiments, the shower panel 30 may comprise one or more magnets 41 positioned near the bottom edge 38. Each magnet 41 may be configured to attract the tub 18, such that the shower panel 30 may remain close to the tub 18 (and out of the way of a shower taker). Additionally or alternatively, the weight of the magnet 41 may cause the shower panel 30 to hang straight. In some embodiments, weights without magnetic properties may be used to cause the shower panel 30 to hang straight. In some embodiments, each magnet 41 is held within a magnet pocket 40, such as rather than being directly attached to the panel material. In the depicted embodiment, the shower panel 30 comprises two magnets 41 positioned near opposite side edges of the shower panel 30 near the bottom edge 38.
In some embodiments, the shower panel 30 may comprise one or more storage features (e.g., pocket features 50, sleeve feature 90, etc.) for holding shower (or other) items. Such features may be positioned or attached to any portion of the shower panel 30. Moreover, any number or combination of storage features may be attached to the shower panel 30. In the depicted embodiment of
The front surface 60 may comprise a top edge 62, bottom edge 64, and two opposing side edges 66, 66′. The back surface 70 may comprise a top edge 72, bottom edge 74, and opposing side edges 76, 76′. In the depicted embodiment, the bottom edge 64 and the side edges 66, 66′ of the front surface 60 are attached by an edging to the bottom edge 74 and at least a portion of the side edges 76, 76′ of the back surface 70 to form pocket 55 therebetween.
In some embodiments, the front surface 60 and/or back surface 70 may comprise a material that allows water to pass through it (e.g., mesh material as depicted). As such, the pocket 55 may be configured to store and maintain items while still allowing any water to drain from the pocket 55.
In some embodiments, the back surface 70 may be longer than the front surface 60, such that a portion of the back surface 70 may extend to above the front surface 60. In the depicted embodiment, the top edge 72 of the back surface 70 extends above the top edge 62 of the front surface 60. As such, a portion (e.g., portion 73) of the back surface 70 extends above the top edge 62 of the front surface 60. In some embodiments, the portion of the back surface 70 extending above the front surface 60 facilitates attachment of the pocket feature 50 to the shower curtain, shower curtain liner, or shower panel while still enabling access to the pocket 55. For example,
In some embodiments, the pocket feature 50 may comprise an attachment section 80 configured to facilitate attachment of the pocket feature 50 to a surface (e.g., the shower panel 30). In some embodiments, the attachment section 80 may comprise plastic or vinyl material. Though the pocket feature is shown attached to a shower panel in the depicted embodiment, embodiments of the present invention also provide a pocket feature that may attach to other surfaces, such as a shower curtain or shower curtain liner. In particular, in some embodiments, the top edge 72 of the back surface 70 of the pocket feature 50 may attach to the attachment section 80. Attachment may occur through any attachment means (e.g., stitching, adhesive, welding, etc.). With reference to
In some embodiments, the attachment section 80 may be configured to attach to the shower panel 30, such as by any attachment means (e.g., stitching, adhesive, welding, etc.). For example, an upper portion 82 of the attachment section 80 may attach to the shower panel 30. As such, in some embodiments, such as shown in
Additionally or alternatively, as noted above, with reference to
The sleeve feature 90 may comprise a top edge 92, a bottom edge 94, and at least two attachment surfaces 96, 96′, 96″, 96′″, 96″″. Each two consecutive attachment surfaces (e.g., 96′ and 96″) may define an opening (e.g., sleeve 95). In some embodiments, each attachment surface 96, 96′, 96″, 96′″, 96″″ may extend generally from the top edge 92 to the bottom edge 94. Additionally, the attachment surface may attach to the shower panel 30 or other surface (e.g., shower curtain, shower curtain liner, etc.) by various means (e.g., stitching, adhesive, welding, etc.). Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least two attachment surfaces may be spaced apart (e.g., 95W or 95′W) to define an unattached portion 91, 91′ of the top edge 92 and a corresponding unattached portion 93, 93′ of the bottom edge 94. In some embodiments, the unattached portion of the top edge 92 and the corresponding unattached portion of the bottom edge 94 may define an opening (e.g., sleeve 95).
In some embodiments, the sleeve feature 90 may comprise more than one sleeve 95, 95′, etc. In such embodiments, the sleeve feature 90 may comprise more than two attachment surfaces. In the depicted embodiment, the sleeve feature 90 comprises four sleeves. Each sleeve is defined by two consecutive attachment surfaces (e.g., attachment surfaces 96, 96′, 96″, 96′″, 96″″). For example, sleeve 95 is defined between attachment surfaces 96′ and 96″, and sleeve 95′ is defined between attachment surfaces 96″ and 96′″.
In some embodiments, each opening (e.g., sleeve) may define a width corresponding to the width of the unattached portion of the top edge and the unattached portion of the bottom edge. Moreover, in some embodiments, at least two sleeves may define different widths. For example, the width (95w) of sleeve 95 may be different (e.g., longer) than the width (95′W) of sleeve 95′. As such, in some embodiments, the sleeve feature 90 may provide for sleeves that are configured to fit differently sized objects.
In some embodiments, at least one opening (e.g., sleeve) of sleeve feature 90 may comprise a reinforcement layer of material. Such reinforcement layer may provide for additional support, such as may be needed for wear from continuously slipping an item into and out of the sleeve, supporting the weight of the item, and attachment of the sleeve feature to the shower panel, shower curtain, or shower liner.
Embodiments of the present invention as described herein provide storage options for a shower. For example, some embodiments provide a shower panel that is smaller than a shower curtain, shower liner, or shower, allowing for the shower panel to be hung in a customizable location within the shower to provide additional storage options. Such storage options may include a pocket feature and/or sleeve feature. In other embodiments, the pocket feature and/or sleeve feature may be attached to the shower curtain and/or shower liner.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
