Claims:
What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is
1. A shower curtain support for a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having end wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceiling wall surface over said tub, and an open side along one side of the tub, comprising:
2. A shower curtain support according to claim 1 wherein:
3. A shower curtain support according to claim 1 wherein:
4. A shower curtain support for a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceiling surface over said tub, and an open side along one side of the tub, comprising:
5. A shower curtain support according to claim 4 wherein:
6. In combination:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to bathtub-shower installations of the kind having a bathtub and shower head within a space with an open side along the outer side of the bathtub. The invention relates more particularly to an improved shower curtain support for such an installation.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Bathtub-shower installations of the character described are well known and extensively used in private homes, apartments, and other dwellings. In order to prevent wetting of the floor and walls adjacent the open side of the tub space when showering, a shower curtain is extended across the open side of the space. At the present time, such a shower curtain is supported on a curtain rod which extends between and is secured at its ends to the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub. The shower curtain is attached to the curtain rod by hooks or rings which slide on the rod to permit drawing of the shower curtain along the rod.
This type of shower curtain support has one disadvantage which the present invention overcomes. This disadvantage resides in the fact that the ends of the curtain are disposed edgewise relative to the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub. As a consequence, water from the shower spray frequently passes between the curtain ends and the wall surfaces and wets the adjacent floor and wall areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present improved shower curtain support avoids the above disadvantage of the existing shower curtain rods. To this end, the improved curtain support has a curtain rod with curved ends and mounting bracket means for mounting the rod in position across the open side of the tub space with the curved rod ends extending into the space closely adjacent but spaced from the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub. The mounting bracket means are uniquely constructed to support the curtain rod in such a way that shower curtain hooks may slide along the rod, from one curved rod end to the other, with the open sides of the hooks facing inwardly toward the tub space. When the shower curtain is fully drawn along the curtain rod, the ends of the curtain turn inwardly into close face to face or confronting relation with the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub space. This confronting relation of the curtain to the wall surfaces prevents passage of water from the tub shower spray between the curtain and wall surfaces. The inwardly opening arrangement of the shower curtain hooks presents a neat appearance from the outer side of the shower curtain.
Several different mounting bracket arrangements are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, the curtain rod is supported by mounting brackets which are secured to the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub. These brackets are shaped to provide handgrips for aiding persons in entering and leaving the tub. In a second embodiment, the mounting bracket means comprises a bracket rod above the curtain rod secured at its ends to the wall surfaces and having depending bracket arms secured to the curtain rod. A third embodiment comprises hanger rods which are secured at their upper ends to the ceiling surface above the tub and at their lower ends to the curtain rod.
In each embodiment, the mounting brackets have end portions which extend downwardly across the inner side of the curtain rod and then under the rod. This mounting arrangement permits the earlier mentioned placement of the shower curtain hooks with their open sides facing inwardly to the tub space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bathtub-shower installation with the present shower curtain support in position across the open side of the space;
FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the curtain support;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3--3 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a modified shower curtain support;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5--5 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a further modified curtain support; and
FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 7--7 in FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the illustrated bathtub-shower installation 10 includes a bathtub 12 within a space 14 bounded by wall surfaces 16 at the ends of the tub, a back wall surface 18 along the rear side of the tub, and a ceiling surface (not shown) over the tub. A shower head 20 extends from one end wall surface 16. Tub space 14 has an open side along the side of the tub 12 opposite the back wall surface 18.
A shower curtain support 22 according to the invention is mounted in the open side of the tub space 14. Curtain support 22 includes a curtain rod 24 with a straight mid-section 26 and curved ends 28. Rod 24 extends between the end wall surfaces 16 and across the open side of the tub space 14, a distance above the tub 12. As shown best in FIG. 1, the curtain rod ends 28 turn inwardly into the tub space 14 and terminate in spaced generally parallel relation to the end wall surfaces 16.
Curtain rod 24 is supported in position by mounting bracket means 30. The particular bracket means shown comprise separate mounting brackets at the ends of the rod. Each mounting bracket is fashioned from a metal bar and has a mounting end portion 32 attached to the adjacent end wall surface 16, outwardly of the curtain rod 24, by fasteners 34 which pass through spaced openings in the mounting portion. The opposite end portion 36 of each bracket forms a bracket arm. This bracket arm extends over and in vertically spaced relation to the curtain rod 24, then downwardly across and in inwardly spaced relation to the inner side of the rod, and finally outwardly under the rod. The lower end of the bracket arm 36 is attached to the curtain rod 24 by fasteners 38.
As shown in FIG. 3, this mounting bracket arrangement permits shower curtain hooks 40 to be engaged over the curtain rod 24 with the open sides of the hooks facing into the tub space 14. These hooks are slidable along the full length of the curtain rod and along its inturned ends 28. As a consequence, a shower curtain 42 attached to the hooks may be drawn along the curtain rod to a fully extended position wherein the ends of the curtain turn inwardly into close confronting face to face relation with the end wall surfaces 16 to block passage of water spray between the curtain ends and the wall surfaces.
A feature of the mounting brackets 30 resides in the fact that their mounting portions 32 arch outwardly between the fasteners 34. These bracket sections provide handgrips for aiding persons in entering and leaving the tub 12.
The modified shower curtain support 100 of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a curtain rod 24 like that in FIGS. 1-3. Above and spaced from the rod is a mounting bracket rod 102. This bracket rod extends between the end wall surfaces 16 of the tub space 14, and the rod ends are secured by means 104 to the end wall surfaces.
Spaced along the bracket rod 102 are bracket arms 106. As shown best in FIG. 5, each bracket arm curves under the curtain rod 24 and over the bracket rod 102 and is secured to the underside of the curtain rod and the upper side of the bracket rod by fasteners 108. The bracket arms extend across and in inwardly spaced relation to the curtain rod to permit placement of shower curtain hooks on the rod in the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. 1-3.
In the shower curtain support 200 of FIGS. 6 and 7, the shower curtain rod 24 is supported by mounting brackets 202 in the form of hanger rods. The upper ends of the hanger rods are secured by means 204 to the tub space ceiling surface 206. The lower ends of the hanger rods form bracket arms which extend downwardly across and in inwardly spaced relation to the inner side of the curtain rod 24 and then under the curtain rod. The bracket arms are secured by fasteners 208 to the underside of the curtain rod.
The curtain rods 24 in FIGS. 4-7 are supported in the same position as the curtain rod in FIGS. 1-3. Accordingly, shower curtains may be supported on the curtain rods and drawn to the same fully extended position as the shower curtain 42 in FIGS. 1-3.