The present invention generally relates to shower water retainers including shower curtains and/or shower curtain liners and/or combination shower curtain and liners.
In exemplary embodiments, a shower water retainer for use in a shower, can comprise a top edge that can comprise an attachment member for attachment to a securing member; a bottom edge; a central surface that can extend from the top edge to the bottom edge; a plurality of lateral sides; one or more cutouts that can form one or more corner edges that can be adjacent the bottom edge and that can be adjacent at least one of the plurality of lateral sides, the one or more corner edges can be to fit over a rim of a shower basin.
In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the one or more corner edges can be shaped in an arch. In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the one or more corner edges can be a substantially straight edge.
In exemplary embodiments, a shower water retainer can further comprise one or more basin attachment members that can be adapted to releasably attach at least one of the bottom edge and the one or more corner edges to a portion of a shower basin. In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the one or more basin attachment members can comprise a magnet. In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the one or more basin attachment members can comprise a suction cup.
In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the central surface can comprise a substantially liquid impervious material. In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the central surface can comprise one or more of silk, cloth, fabric, cotton, polyester, net, lace, satin, denim, vinyl, plastic, polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
In exemplary embodiments, the attachment member can comprise apertures that can accept hooks that can attachment to a shower curtain rod. In exemplary embodiments, the securing member can be a shower curtain rod.
In exemplary embodiments, a shower water retainer for use in a shower, can comprise a first sheet that can comprise a top edge that can comprise an attachment member that can attach to a securing member; a bottom edge; a central surface that can extend from the top edge to the bottom edge; and a plurality of lateral sides; a flap sheet that can be attached to a portion of the first sheet between the top edge and the bottom edge, the flap sheet that can comprise a top edge that can comprise an attachment member that can attach to the first sheet; a bottom edge; a central surface that can extend from the top edge to the bottom edge; and a plurality of lateral sides, wherein a surface area of the flap sheet can be less than a surface area of the first sheet; and one or more cutouts that can form one or more corner edges that can be adjacent at least one of the bottom edge of the first sheet and the bottom edge of the flap sheet, the one or more corner edges can be adapted to fit over a rim of a shower basin.
In exemplary embodiments, the one or more cutouts can form one or more corner edges that can be adjacent the bottom edge of the first sheet. In exemplary embodiments, the one or more cutouts can form one or more corner edges that can be adjacent the bottom edge of the flap sheet. In exemplary embodiments, the one or more cutouts can form one or more corner edges that can be adjacent the bottom edge of the first sheet and can form one or more corner edges that can be adjacent the bottom edge of the flap sheet.
In exemplary embodiments, the at least one of the one or more corner edges can be shaped in an arch. In exemplary embodiments, the at least one of the one or more corner edges can be a substantially straight edge.
In exemplary embodiments, the shower water retainer can further comprise one or more basin attachment members that can be adapted to releasably attach at least one of the bottom edge of the first sheet and the bottom edge of the flap sheet and the one or more corner edges to a portion of a shower basin. In exemplary embodiments, the at least one of the one or more basin attachment members can comprise a magnet.
In exemplary embodiments, the at least one of the one or more basin attachment members can comprise a suction cup. In exemplary embodiments, the at least a portion of the central surface of the first sheet and the central surface of the flap sheet can comprise a substantially liquid impervious material.
In exemplary embodiments, the at least a portion of the central surface of the first sheet and at least a portion of the central surface of the flap sheet can comprise one or more of silk, cloth, fabric, cotton, polyester, net, lace, satin, denim, vinyl, plastic, polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
In exemplary embodiments, the attachment member of the first sheet can comprise apertures for accepting hooks for attachment to a shower curtain rod. In exemplary embodiments, the securing member can be a shower curtain rod.
The features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following, detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:
The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the words “may” and “can” are used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include,” “including,” and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
The present invention generally relates to shower water retainers. As used herein the term “shower water retainer” means a shower curtain, a shower curtain liner, and/or a combination shower curtain and liner, each of which can be designed to retain water within a shower. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention generally relates to shower water retainers that can include (1) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped region; (2) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped flap; and/or (3) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped region and also having a lower shaped flap.
In exemplary embodiments, each shower water retainer can include an upper region as well as lower shaped region and/or a lower shaped flap that can be configured such that the shaped region substantially fits over and/or mimics the contour of a shower basin. For example, lower shaped region and/or a lower shaped flap can be constructed such that the a region substantially near the lower corner and/or lateral edge of lower shaped region and/or a lower shaped flap abutting the shower basin may be shaped to account for the difference in width between a shower's walls and the width of the shower basin and/or any other aspects of a shower enclosure such as, but not limited to, the shape of the shower basin and/or shower wall, the curvature of the shower basin and/or shower wall, and fixtures affiliated with the shower basin and/or shower wall, to name a few.
In exemplary embodiments, including a lower shaped region and/or a lower shaped flap can lead to numerous qualities such as, but not limited to, minimizing the buckling and/or bunching of the lower region and/or shower flap which can be, for example, a safety hazard as well as, reducing the “shower-curtain effect”, and/or reducing water spillage from the shower basin, to name a few.
It will be understood that any of the iterations described herein for any shower water retainer(s) including (1) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped region; (2) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped flap; and/or (3) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped region and a lower shaped flap can be combined into one another. For ease, at times, not all iterations for each shower water retainer including (1) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped region; (2) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped flap; and/or (3) a shower curtain/liner having a lower shaped region and a lower shaped flap are described. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation.
Referring to
Referring to
In exemplary embodiments, the shower water retainers 100 including a upper region 110, lower shaped region 112 and/or lower shaped flap 114 can be made of any suitable material such as, but not limited to, silk, cloth, fabric, cotton, polyester, net, lace, satin, denim, vinyl, plastic, polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB), any combination thereof, and/or any natural and/or synthetic material constructed in any form capable of acting as a curtain being used with shower basins, showers, and/or shower enclosures. In exemplary embodiments, shower water retainers 100 can be made of a suitably water-resistant or water-proof material, so that shower water retainers 100 can function as both a curtain and a liner. In exemplary embodiments, a portion of the shower water retainers 100 including an upper region 110, lower shaped region 112 and/or lower shaped flap 114 can be made of liquid impervious material and/or liquid pervious material.
In exemplary embodiments, lower shaped flap 114 can be affixed to shower water retainers 100 for example, at a upper region 110, using any suitable technique, such as, but not limited to, heat sealing, sewing, adhesives, chemically bonding, and any other technique capable of affixing lower shaped flap 114 to, for example, upper region 110 of shower water retainers 100, to name a few.
Further, in some instances, a upper region 110, lower shaped flap 114, lower shaped region 112, and/or any other aspects of shower water retainers 100 can be substantially one and the same. For ease, at times, upper region 110, lower shaped flap 114, lower shaped region 112, and/or shower water retainers 100 are described as substantially separate bodies. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation.
Referring to
In some instance, the lower shaped region 112 and/or lower shaped flap 114 of the shower water retainers 100 can be and/or can include at least a portion that can be narrower than the other portions of the shower water retainers 100. Other size liners are contemplated in accordance with exemplary embodiments. For example, referring to
Further, in some instances, as disclosed, various portions of lower shaped region 112 and/or lower shaped flap 114 of the shower water retainers 100 can be narrower than the other portions of the shower water retainers 100. That is, widths other than and/or including lower edge 116 can be narrower that the other portions of the shower water retainers 100.
In exemplary embodiments, a shower water retainers 100, upper region 110, lower shaped region 112, and/or lower shaped flap 114 can be of various lengths to account for various shower widths, shower tub widths, and the various shapes and sizes of shower tubs and/or any other reasonable shower enclosure. For example, in some instances, when extended in outside of a shower basin 107 the upper region 110 of shower curtains/liner 100 can be wide enough to span the width between a shower's walls 105. For another example, when extended in the inside and/or outside of a shower basin 107 the lower shaped region 112, and/or lower shaped flap 114 of shower curtains/liner 100 can be wide enough to span the width between a shower's walls 105. As discussed, in some instances when extended in the inside and/or outside of a shower basin 107 the lower shaped region 112, and/or lower shaped flap 114 of shower curtains/liner 100 may not be wide enough to span the width between a shower's walls 105.
Referring to
Further, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6A-7, in exemplary embodiments, when suspended lower shaped region 112, and/or lower shaped flap 114 can span varied ranges of lengths, lengths f′ and f″, in height. By way of example, lower shaped region 112 and lower shaped flap 114 can be about equal in length, lower shaped region 112 can be longer than lower shaped flap 114, and/or lower shaped region 112 can be shorter than lower shaped flap 114, to name a few.
Referring to
In exemplary embodiments, edge 116 can also include any shape in accordance with exemplary embodiments such as, but not limited to, arced, straight, forming obtuse and or acute angles with edge 802, a substantially curved shape, any combination thereof, and/or a shape contoured to a the surface of a portion of a shower basin, or any other shape which allows for the lower region 112 and/or lower shaped flap 114 to go inside the shower without touching the rim of the shower basin, to name a few. For ease, at times, edge 116 is depicted as being substantially straight and horizontal. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation.
Further, it will be understood that any of the iterations described herein for lower shaped region 112 and/or lower shaped flap 114 can be included into one another. For ease, at times, not all iterations for each of lower shaped region 112 and lower shaped flap 114 are described. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation.
Any shape of lower shaped region 112 and/or lower shaped flap 114 in accordance with exemplary embodiments can be created, for example by cutting away material. It will be understood that language “cutting away material”, “cutout”, or the like, is in no way limited to the physical act of cutting. This language “cutting away material”, “cutout”, or the like, is merely for descriptive purposes. For example, the “cutting away material”, “cutout”, or the like, can refer to actually cutting away material and/or this can be a region made in a configuration using any technique. These cutout shapes can be any shape in accordance with exemplary embodiments, such as rectangles, squares, triangles, and/or any other geometric shape, to name a few. Further, these cutout shapes can account for a molded shower tub. Further, in embodiments (not shown) only one side of the shower liner 110 can be shaped and/or cutout.
In embodiments, the shape of lower shaped region 112 and/or lower shaped flap 114 of the shower water retainers 100 can be of various arcs and/or lengths to account for various shower widths, shower tub widths, and the various shapes and sizes of shower tubs and/or shower enclosures, to name a few.
In embodiments, the relative lengths of the bottom edges of the lower shaped flap 114 and the lower shaped region 112 can be chosen by taking into account the anticipated width of an outer rim of the shower basin 107 over which the lower shaped flap 114 can hang, as well as a relative difference in height between the bathroom floor on the outside of the shower basin 107 and the bottom of the shower basin 107, so that the inside portion of the lower shaped region 112 and/or the lower shaped flap 114 can be long enough to keep water from exiting the shower basin 107 and still can hang over the rim of the shower basin 107 and into the shower basin 107, and can be not so long as to crowd a user's space in the shower basin 107.
In exemplary embodiments, the overall shape of lower shaped flap 114 can include triangular cut outs on the lower corner portions, so that the edge of the flap can join the upper region 110 at an obtuse angle. The flap can be rectangular so that the lower corner portion cut outs can be also rectangular or square.
Further, in exemplary embodiments, where the edge of the lower shaped flap 114 joins, can be affixed to, the upper region 110 any shape in accordance with exemplary embodiments can be in that region. For example, at that region lower shaped flap 114 can be at an angle to upper region 110 such as, but not limited to 180 degrees, a right angle, an obtuse angle, and/or an acute angle, to name a few.
Referring to
Referring to
It will be understood that the embodiments described are not limited to suction cups, but alternatives can be used. For example, magnets can be used instead of suction cups where the shower basin can be of a magnetic nature. Also, for example, magnets can be used in combination with suction cups.
Referring to
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In addition, various combinations of suction cups, weights and magnetic structures can be used on the lower shaped region 112 and lower shaped flap 114. For example, in exemplary embodiments, both lower shaped region 112 and lower shaped flap 114 can use suction cups, weights, or magnetic structures. In exemplary embodiments, lower shaped region 112 can have suction cups and lower shaped flap 114 can use weights. In exemplary embodiments, lower shaped region 112 can have weights cups and lower shaped flap 114 can use suction cups. In exemplary embodiments, the lower shaped region 112 can have weights or suction cups, and the lower shaped flap 114 can have no weights or suction cups. In exemplary embodiments, the lower shaped flap 114 can have weights or suction cups, and the lower shaped region 112 can have no weights or suction cups. Various combinations and locations of the suction cups, weights and magnetic structures are contemplated in accordance with exemplary embodiments and are not limited to the above descriptions.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modification can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this disclosure.
Now that exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that any of the steps described can be rearranged, separated, and/or combined without deviating from the scope of embodiments of the invention. For ease, steps are, at times, presented sequentially. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation.
Further, it will be understood that any of the elements and/or exemplary embodiments of the invention described can be rearranged, separated, and/or combined without deviating from the scope of the invention. For ease, various elements are described, at times, separately. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation.
While the various steps, elements, and/or exemplary embodiments of the invention have been outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various steps, elements, and/or exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be construed broadly and not limited by the foregoing specification.
No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to embodiments of the present invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used.
Further, the terms “any of” followed by a listing of a plurality of items and/or a plurality of categories of items, as used herein, are intended to include “any of,” “any combination of,” “any multiple of,” and/or “any combination of multiples of” the items and/or the categories of items, individually or in conjunction with other items and/or other categories of items. In addition, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include any number of items, including zero. Further, as used herein, the term “number” is intended to include any number, including zero.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/381,711, filed Sep. 10, 2010, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/383,589, filed Sep. 16, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/514,283, filed Aug. 2, 2011, the content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if set forth herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61381711 | Sep 2010 | US | |
61383589 | Sep 2010 | US | |
61514283 | Aug 2011 | US |