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[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority from the previously filed provisional application filed on Mar. 10, 2003, having Ser. No. 60/453,091 and titled: SPLASH PROTECTOR AND BATHTUB/SHOWER STALL ATTACHMENTS FOR SHOWER STALL HAVING MULTIMEDIA DISPLAY
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to splash guards and means to attach a shower curtain to the splash guard or to the shower stall or bathroom tub itself.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Water mildew in and around bathrooms is a seemingly never-ending problem. Water mildew is annoying and the damage therefrom can become quite expensive. The smell from mildew would be bad enough, but serious illnesses have occurred due to problems with mildew, therefore the water mildew could be a sign of a more serious problem. If water sits in a specific place for a prolonged period of time, the floor can become weakened and lose its structural integrity. This can result in water leakage down towards the rooms or space below the bathroom or shower stall. The water leakage can sometimes cause serious damage to space below the bathroom, such damage sometimes going undetected for years. As the structural damage to the floor increases, the possibility of a collapse increases. So it can be seen that water mildew causes troubles ranging from the merely annoying bad smell to the serious structural damage of a weakened bathroom floor.
[0006] The initial source of the water mildew in many cases comes from the seemingly innocuous spray of water from the shower. Not only are the above mentioned problems caused by water spray but also injury due to slipping from water collected on the bathroom floor. It is foreseeable that injury due to slipping and falling because of excess water on the floor could result in enormous medical bills and insurance increases. So it has become evident that the relatively harmful spray from the shower is the chief cause of problems ranging from bad odors, structural damage and possible personal injury. The prevention of the water spray from reaching the bathroom floor is the best and most logical way of preventing the damage.
[0007] Splash guards have been described in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,791,696 issued to Alexander, 1,971,802 issued to Zechiel, 3,984,880 issued to Schrameyer, 4,620,332 issued to Laird, 4,888,835 issued to Baumann, 5,222,261 issued to Tooze et al., 5,493,738 issued to Sanderson et al., 5,978,985 issued to Thurman, 6,035,461 issued Nguyen, 6,195,816 issued to Glassman, 6,341,388 issued to Roberts, Switzerland Pat. No. 197806 issued to Strittmatter and French Pat. No. 2,544,976 all describe devices useful in preventing water spray from a shower reaching the bathroom floor. These patents all endeavor to prevent shower splash but lack in some way the teaching of the instant invention. For instance, some of the patents only describe shower guards that prevent water from escaping between the shower curtain and the shower wall, others attach to a bathtub and not the short wall of a shower stall, still others are not easily removable from the short wall of a shower stall and none have graphics that will make the bathtub time more enjoyable for children and adults.
[0008] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
[0009] The invention relates to a splash guard for the short wall of a shower stall or the bathtub that is easily removable from the tub and is dimensioned and configured to have a first wall, a base member and a second wall wherein the two walls and the base member form a channel such that the channel is slanted to allow captured water spray to run back into the shower stall. The splash guard is attached to the inner side of the short wall of the shower stall or tub. The splash guard has a generally vertical first member that is secured close to the short wall and which rises above the short wall. Hereafter, the term short wall shall refer to the shower stall or bathtub and the terms short wall, shower stall or bathtub are interchangeable. The shower curtain can be attached in numerous ways to the first member, including but not limited to magnetically, clamps or snap buttons. There are also alternative embodiments to the invention that will be disclosed later. There is, therefore, a need for a splash guard that protects the bathroom floor from the shower splash wherein the splash guard has means to secure the shower curtain thereto.
[0010] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a splash guard that prevents shower splash from reaching the bathroom floor.
[0011] Still another object of the invention is to provide a splash guard that is dimensioned and configured to prevent shower splash from reaching the bathroom floor.
[0012] It is again an object of the invention to provide a splash guard that has means to attach the shower curtain to the splash guard.
[0013] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0014] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
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[0026] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
[0027] The invention relates to a splash guard dimensioned and configured to be removably placed upon the short wall of a shower stall or bathtub. The splash guard prevents water from escaping the shower stall or bathtub and landing on the bathroom floor thereby preventing potential mildew while simultaneously providing entertainment via a graphical display. Water is prevented from escaping the shower stall or bathtub by incorporating within the splash guard elements that will facilitate the capture and redirection of shower splash before such splash hits the bathroom floor.
[0028] The shower curtain can be attached to the splash guard a number of ways. One attachment option is to attach a channel (or curtain holder) to the first member wherein the channel is dimensioned and configured to receive a guide which is located on the shower curtain. The guide or male member fits securely within the channel or female member, is then slid down the length of the channel or curtain holder until it reaches the end. At this moment or position the curtain is securely held by the curtain holder. Another attachment option is to attach the curtain to the splash guard via snap buttons. One snap button is placed on the splash guard whereas the corresponding snap button is secured onto the shower curtain. Yet a third option considers placing a pivotal rod upon the first member. This option is used by pivoting the rod into an open position, sliding the curtain between the rod and the first member and then closing the rod. The closed rod can be secured into place by either using magnets or by having the rod have a rigid pivot mechanism wherein the rod, once moved, stays in place until physically moved again.
[0029] Turning now to the drawings, in
[0030] Turning now to
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[0032] The curtain holder is disclosed in several embodiments, all of which serve the central function of attaching the curtain to the short wall in a safe, efficient and inexpensive way. The shower curtain can be attached to the bathtub or short wall in a number of ways. One method of attachment is to have a curtain holder having hook and loop type fasteners on the top of the curtain holder, suction cups on the bottom for attachment to the bathtub or shower stall, a handle on one end and a hook for storage on the other end. The shower curtain has attached thereto the corresponding hook and loop type fasteners. Another attachment option is to attach a channel to the bathtub or short wall wherein the channel is dimensioned and configured to receive a guide which is located on the shower curtain. The guide or male member fits securely within the channel or female member, is then slid down the length of the channel or curtain holder until it reaches the end. At this moment or position the curtain is securely held by the curtain holder to the bathtub or short wall. Another attachment option is to attach the curtain to the bathtub or short wall via snap buttons. One snap button is placed on the bathtub or short wall whereas the corresponding snap button is secured onto the shower curtain. Yet a third option considers placing a pivotal rod upon the bathtub or short wall. This option is used by pivoting the rod into an open position, sliding the curtain between the rod and the bathtub and then closing the rod. The closed rod can be secured into place by either using magnets or by having the rod have a rigid pivot mechanism wherein the rod, once moved, stays in place until physically moved again. A similar attachment option considers a rod member that is spring loaded and attached to the bathtub or short wall and when the user pulls it away, slides the curtain between the bathtub and the rod, then releases the rod the rod is forced via the spring loading to clamp down upon the bathtub, therefore securing the shower curtain therebetween.
[0033] Turning now to
[0034] It is important to note that each of the described embodiments can be scaled down as shown in
[0035] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.