The present disclosure relates generally to bathing systems for receiving a bracketless curtain rod. In particular, the present disclosure provides a shower/tub system, such as molded walls or panels for bathroom tub and shower installations, configured to receive and securely mount a curtain rod without the use of tools or mechanical fasteners.
The demand for more do-it-yourself (DIY) friendly bathroom building materials that are attractive, functional, and easy to install is ever increasing. Bathing systems having a showerhead, for example, may further include a curtain rod for holding a curtain to prevent water from spraying to undesired areas of the bathroom. However, typically such curtain rods require tools and mechanical fasteners for installing securely to opposing walls. Shower/tub systems having a clean design are desired to satisfy consumer demand. Simple to install curtain rods that do not require tools or mechanical fasteners are desired to provide functional and attractive bathing system solutions.
These and other needs are addressed by the various aspects and configurations of the present disclosure.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a molded rod mount for a shower system includes a first wall body having a first recess configured to receive a first end of a rod. The first recess includes an axis perpendicular to the first wall body, a first curved portion having a first depth and a first radius of curvature relative to the axis, and a first rear portion adjacent to the first curved portion, the first rear portion being parallel and offset relative to a first wall body planar surface at a distance equal to the first depth. The molded rod mount further includes a second recess configured to receive a second end of the rod, the second wall body being opposite the first wall body and the second recess being opposite the first recess. The second recess includes the axis perpendicular to the second wall body and the first wall body, a second curved portion having a second depth and a second radius of curvature relative to the axis, and a second rear portion adjacent to the second curved portion, the second rear portion being parallel and offset relative to a second wall body planar surface at a distance equal to the second depth. At least one of the first recess further includes first and second side portions extending upward from the first curved portion, the first and second side portions having the first depth, and the second recess further includes third and fourth side portions extending upward from the second curved portion, the third and fourth portions having the second depth.
According to another illustrative embodiment, a bathing system includes a molded rod mount, the molded rod mount including a first wall body having a first recess configured to receive a first end of a rod. The first recess includes an axis perpendicular to the first wall body, a first curved portion having a first depth and a first radius of curvature relative to the axis, and a first rear portion adjacent to the first curved portion, the first rear portion being parallel and offset relative to a first wall body planar surface at a distance equal to the first depth. The first recess further includes first and second side portions extending upward from the first curved portion, the first and second side portions having the first depth.
According to another illustrative embodiment, a method of forming a bathing system for receiving a rod includes molding a polymer to form a one-piece construction bathing system including at least one molded rod mount, the at least one molded rod mount having a recess configured to receive an end of a rod. The recess includes an axis perpendicular to a first wall body, a curved portion having a first depth and a radius of curvature relative to the axis, and a rear portion adjacent to the curved portion, the rear portion parallel and offset relative to a first wall body planar surface at a distance equal to the first depth.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.
The present disclosure relates generally to bathing and/or shower systems or enclosures having a molded rod mounting system for receiving a shower curtain rod for holding a shower curtain. In particular, the present disclosure provides molded recesses disposed at opposing walls of the shower system for securely holding a shower curtain rod without the use of mechanical fasteners (e.g., clips, nails, screws, staples, etc.) and without the need of tools for installation. The present disclosure addresses the need for providing simple to install shower/tub systems having the clean lines and architectural bathroom styles on-trend and in demand, while obviating the need for mechanical fasteners. Thus, a finished bathroom may be achieved in a time-efficient and cost-efficient manner with attractive results.
Various aspects of the present disclosure include a shower/tub system 10 as shown in
Shower curtain rod 30, referred to interchangeably herein as simply rod 30, as shown in
Wall body 12 of system 20 having a wall body planar surface 16 may optionally also include at least one additional surface having a decorative contour, e.g., decorative surface 18, adjacent to wall body planar surface 16. Decorative surface 18 provides for aesthetically smooth lines for clean design molded bathing systems according to the present disclosure. For example, decorative surface 18 may be one of rounded, chamfered, beveled, filleted, angled, sloped, and combinations thereof.
Referring to
As shown in
With reference to
With further reference to
As further detailed herein, system 20 further illustratively includes a second wall body 112, opposite the first wall body, i.e., wall body 12. The second wall body 112 includes a second recess 114 for providing a second rod mount for receiving second end 33 of rod 30. The first and second recesses 14 and 114 are disposed opposite one another and the molded rod mounts are disposed at the appropriate height H (as shown in
For installing rod 30 into a shower/tub system 10 having first and second recesses 14 and 114, the rod 30 is positioned longitudinally along axis A in a horizontal position from just above the first and second entry openings 42 for releasing into the entry openings for being received by the first and second recesses 14 and 114. The rod 30 is secured by the depth 24 of the curved portions 22 of the respective first and second recesses 14, the depth of opposing molded rod mounts curved portions 22 serving as a ledge support, to hold and fix the rod 30 in place while also providing support for holding the rings 45 and shower curtain 40 onto the rod 30.
In some embodiments, system 20 illustratively includes a recess 14 on a first wall body 12, and an alternate recess 114′, as shown in
Referring again to
For installing rod 30 into a shower/tub system 10 having a first recess 14 and a second recess 114′, the rod 30 is illustratively angled from axis A (i.e., a horizontal position) to insert second end 33 of rod 30 into the circular recess 114′ followed by inserting the first end 31 of rod 30 into the first entry opening 42 of recess 14. The rod 30 is secured by the depth 24 of the curved portion 22 of the first recess 14 supporting the first end 31 of rod 30 and the depth 124 of the curved portion 122 of the second recess 114′ supporting the opposite second end 33 of rod 30. The depth of opposing molded rod mounts, having recesses 14 and 114′ opposite one another, serve as a ledge support to hold and fix the rod 30 in place while also providing support for holding the rings and shower curtain onto the rod 30.
Wall body 112 having a wall body planar surface 116 may optionally also include at least one additional surface having a decorative contour, e.g., decorative surface 118, adjacent to wall body planar surface 116. Decorative surface 118 provides for aesthetically smooth lines for clean design molded bathing systems according to the present disclosure. For example, decorative surface 118 may be one of rounded, chamfered, beveled, filleted, angled, sloped, and combinations thereof.
In some illustrative embodiments, the entry opening 42 of recess 14 configured to receive the first end 31 of the rod 30 has a width 44 (as shown in
As mentioned, advantageously system 20 including at least one recess 14 is made of a polymer molded in a single, one-piece construction. Alternatively, the system 20 may be formed of multiple molded wall panels or bodies assembled together. System 20 may include a recess 14 on each of two opposing wall bodies or alternatively may include a recess 14 opposite a recess 114. The molded bathing system may comprise a thermoplastic polymer or other suitable material for forming the bathing system as known by those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, the polymer is an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. In other illustrative embodiments, the system 20 may be formed of acrylic capped high impact polystyrene, crystal capped high impact polystyrene, sheet molded compound material or fiberglass reinforced plastic.
Step 316 includes forming a second recess 114 for a second molded rod mount. The first and second molded rod mounts are on opposing wall bodies 12, 112, wherein the second molded rod mount is opposite the first molded rod mount and the second recess 114 is opposite the first recess 14. Steps 314 and 316 may occur sequentially or concurrently. More particularly, the first wall body 12 and the second wall body 112 may be molded within a single mold at the same time, or in separate molds at different times.
The recess 14 of step 314 and/or the recess 114 of step 316 may further include first and second side portions 32 and 34 extending upward from the curved portion 22, the first and second side portions 32 and 34 having the first depth. The recess 14 of step 314 and/or the recess 114 of step 316 may further include an entry opening 42 disposed between the first side portion 32 the second side portion 34. After the forming of the recesses 14 and 114 of steps 314 and 316, the mold is set to form a shower/tub system 20 as in step 318.
Optionally the method includes the step 320 of installing the rod 30 in the bathing system 20 by coupling the first and second ends 31 and 33 of the rod 30 to the first and second molded rod mounts. As may be appreciated, steps 312, 314, 316 are considered to be manufacturing process steps, while steps 318, 320 are considered to be installation process steps.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as describe and defined in the following claims.
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