Free-standing shower stalls

Claim 2

A shower stall comprising: a. wall structure extending upwardly to define an enclosure having elongated flexible walls, adjacent ones of which are joined to form corners, and an access opening; b. means forming a hand rail within said wall structure between lower and upper ends of said wall structure; c. said hand rail means bridging said corners and extending laterally at least partially across adjacent ones of said walls with end portions of said hand rail means extending along walls of saiD wall structure toward said access opening; and, d. means connecting said hand rail means to said wall structure for rigidly interconnecting and support said walls.

Claim 3

A shower stall comprising: a. wall structure defining an enclosure having elongated upwardly extending flexible walls adjacent ones of which are joined to form corners of said shower stall, and an access opening; b. means forming a hand rail within said wall structure between upper and lower ends of said wall structure; c. said hand rail means bridging said corners and extending laterally at least partially across said walls; d. means connecting said hand rail means to said wall structure for rigidly interconnecting and supporting said walls; and, e. said hand rail means comprising structure spaced from said wall structure along at least part of its extent to define a grippable hand rail portion.

Claim 4

A shower stall comprising: a. wall structure defining an enclosure having elongated upwardly extending flexible walls adjacent ones of which are joined to form corners of said shower stall, and an access opening; b. means forming a hand rail within said wall structure between upper and lower ends of said wall structure; c. said hand rail means bridging said corners and extending laterally at least partially across said walls; d. means connecting said hand rail means to said wall structure for rigidly interconnecting and supporting said walls; and, e. said hand rail means comprising structure spaced from said wall structure along at least part of its extent to define a grippable hand rail portion.

Claim 5

A Shower stall as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hand rail means is formed to provide a soap dish and a bottle receptacle.

Claim 6

A shower stall as claimed in claim 3 wherein said soap dish and bottle receptacle are disposed adjacent junctures of the walls.

Claim 7

A shower stall as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall structure includes door frame structure defining sides of said access opening, and wherein said end portions of said hand rail means are connected to said door frame structure.

Claim 8

A shower stall as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hand rail means comprises a hand rail which is U-shaped between its ends.

Claim 9

A support member connectable to the interior of upstanding elongated flexible walls of a shower stall comprising: a. a generally U-shaped support rail defining first and second leg portions and a connecting portion extending between ends of said leg portions; b. connecting means for securing said rail portions to respective walls of a shower stall, said support rail and connecting means supporting and interconnecting the walls; c. at least a support arm extending from at least one of said rail portions to a wall of the shower stall to provide a space between said at least one rail portion and an adjacent wall so that said at least one rail portion defines a grippable hand rail; and, d. means integral with said support member defining at least one article receptacle.

Claim 10

A support member connectable to the interior of upstanding elongated flexible walls of a shower stall comprising: a. a generally U-shaped support rail defining first and second leg portions and a connecting portion extending between ends of said leg portions; b. connecting means for securing said rail portions to respective walls of a shower stall, said support rail and connecting means supporting and interconnecting the walls; c. at least a support arm extending from at least one of said rail portions to a wall of the shower stall to provide a space between said at least one rail portion and an adjacent wall so that said at least one rail portion defines a grippable hand rail; and, d. means integral with said support member defining at least one article receptacle.

Claim 11

A support member as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support rail portions are formed of molded plastic material.

Claim 12

A support member as claimed in claim 7 wherein said receptacle forming means defines a soap dish and a bottle receptacle, said soap dish and bottle receptacle defined at junctures of said connecting portion and said first and second portions respectively.

Claim 13

A shower stall comprising: a. structure extending upwardly from a floor to define an enclosure having walls and an access opening having sides defined by door frame structure; b. means forming a hand rail within said stall between a floor and the upper end of said enclosure; c. said hand rail extending laterally at least partially across said walls from a location adjacent one side of said access opening to a location adjacent the other side of said access opening, end portions of said hand rail means connected to said door frame structure; d. means connecting said hand rail to said enclosure defining structure for rigidly interconnecting and supporting said walls; and, e. said door frame structure comprising upstanding members each having a pair of spaced rib portions, and wherein each end portion of said hand rail means is mounted etween said rib portions of a respective one of said upstanding members.

Claim 14

A shower stall comprising: a. structure extending upwardly from a floor to define an enclosure having walls and an access opening having sides defined by door frame structure; b. means forming a hand rail within said stall between a floor and the upper end of said enclosure; c. said hand rail extending laterally at least partially across said walls from a location adjacent one side of said access opening to a location adjacent the other side of said access opening, end portions of said hand rail means connected to said door frame structure; d. means connecting said hand rail to said enclosure defining structure for rigidly interconnecting and supporting said walls; and, e. said door frame structure comprising upstanding members each having a pair of spaced rib portions, and wherein each end portion of said hand rail means is mounted etween said rib portions of a respective one of said upstanding members.

Claim 15

In a shower stall comprising elongated upwardly extending flexible panel-like walls having upper and lower ends, and a support member extending laterally along the interior of the shower stall between the upper and lower wall ends, said support member comprising: a. a generally U-shaped support rail defining first and second leg portions and a connEcting portion between said leg portions, said rail portions extending along respective walls of the shower stall; b. connecting means for securing respective rail portions to their respective walls to interconnect the walls and rigidify the shower stall; and, c. at least one support arm extending between at least one of said rail portions and a shower stall wall to provide a space between said at least one rail portion and the respective wall with said at least one rail portion defining a grippable hand rail.

Claim 16

In a shower stall comprising elongated upwardly extending flexible panel-like walls having upper and lower ends, and a support member extending laterally along the interior of the shower stall between the upper and lower wall ends, said support member comprising: a. a generally U-shaped support rail defining first and second leg portions and a connEcting portion between said leg portions, said rail portions extending along respective walls of the shower stall; b. connecting means for securing respective rail portions to their respective walls to interconnect the walls and rigidify the shower stall; and, c. at least one support arm extending between at least one of said rail portions and a shower stall wall to provide a space between said at least one rail portion and the respective wall with said at least one rail portion defining a grippable hand rail.

Claim 17

In a shower stall comprising elongated upwardly extending flexible wall structure defining a back and adjacent side walls the junctures of which define corners of the shower stall, said wall structure being characterized by the absence of external support between the upper and lower ends thereof and further comprising: a. hand rail means comprising a generally U-shaped member extending at least partially about the interior of said wall structure and bridging said corners and comprising first and second leg portions and a connecting portion extending between said leg portions; b. connecting means for securing said portions of said hand rail means member to respective walls of said wall structure so that said hand rail means supports and interconnects the walls; c. a support structure extending between at least one portion of said member and a wall of the shower stall to provide a space between said at least one portion of said member and the wall so that said member portion defines a grippable hand rail; and, d. article receptacle means integral with said hand rail means.

Claim 18

In a shower stall comprising elongated upwardly extending flexible wall structure defining a back and adjacent side walls the junctures of which define corners of the shower stall, said wall structure being characterized by the absence of external support between the upper and lower ends thereof and further comprising: a. hand rail means comprising a generally U-shaped member extending at least partially about the interior of said wall structure and bridging said corners and comprising first and second leg portions and a connecting portion extending between said leg portions; b. connecting means for securing said portions of said hand rail means member to respective walls of said wall structure so that said hand rail means supports and interconnects the walls; c. a support structure extending between at least one portion of said member and a wall of the shower stall to provide a space between said at least one portion of said member and the wall so that said member portion defines a grippable hand rail; and, d. article receptacle means integral with said hand rail means.

Claim 19

A shower stall as claimed in claim 2 wherein said shower stall includes door frame structure defining sides of said access opening, and wherein end portions of said hand rail means are connected to said door frame structure.

Claim 20

A shower stall as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hand rail means further comprises at least a grippable hand rail portion spaced from said wall structure.