US4229842A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shower curtain convertible support adapter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-04-20
•
Granted: 1980-10-28
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Expires: 1999-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A shower curtain adapter for expanding the showering space within a shower enclosure, which enclosure has first and second facing vertical sidewalls, a third wall which extends between the first and second sidewalls and a shower curtain which hangs from a straight standard curtain rod extending between the first and second walls. The adapter of the present invention includes an adapter rod having a length which is greater than the distance between the first and second walls and which is made of flexible material. The adapter rod may be mounted in an operative position between the first and second walls and in such position will flex into a bow configuration to engage the hanging shower curtain pushing it outward of the enclosure to expand the showering space. A coupling means for supporting the adapter rod from the standard curtain rod is pivotally coupled at one end thereof to the adapter rod and has means carried at the other end for coupling to the standard curtain rod to thereby prevent downward movement of the adapter rod when mounted in its operative position. When in its storage position, the adapter rod will hang by the coupling means from the curtain rod and may be concealed behind the shower curtain.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Gilmore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:00
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K3/00; A47K3/28; A47K3/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A shower curtain adapter for expanding the shower space in a shower enclosure formed by first and second opposite facing vertical walls, a third vertical wall extending between said first and second walls and a shower curtain, said shower curtain being vertically hung from a straight standard curtain rod extending in a substantially horizontal plane between said first and second walls, said adapter comprising an adapter rod having a length greater than the distance between said first and second walls, said adapter rod being of flexible material so that when said adapter rod is mounted between said first and second walls it will flex as a result of the presence exerted between said first and second walls and will bow outwardly away from said third wall to engage said shower curtain, coupling means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said adapter rod and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to said standard curtain rod thereby preventing downward movement of said adapter rod when said adapter rod is pressure mounted between said first and second walls and said coupling means is connected to said standard curtain rod, whereby said adapter rod when mounted between said first and second walls will be positioned in a plane below and substantially parallel to said horizontal plane of said standard curtain rod and when unmounted can be hung by said coupling means in a storage position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A shower curtain adapter for expanding the shower space in a shower enclosure formed by first and second opposite facing vertical walls, a third vertical wall extending between said first and second walls and a shower curtain, said shower curtain being vertically hung from a straight standard curtain rod extending in a substantially horizontal plane between said first and second walls, said adapter comprising an adapter rod having a length greater than the distance between said first and second walls, said adapter rod being of flexible material so that when said adapter rod is mounted between said first and second walls it will flex as a result of the presence exerted between said first and second walls and will bow outwardly away from said third wall to engage said shower curtain, coupling means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said adapter rod and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to said standard curtain rod thereby preventing downward movement of said adapter rod when said adapter rod is pressure mounted between said first and second walls and said coupling means is connected to said standard curtain rod, whereby said adapter rod when mounted between said first and second walls will be positioned in a plane below and substantially parallel to said horizontal plane of said standard curtain rod and when unmounted can be hung by said coupling means in a storage position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a ball chain which can be wrapped about said standard curtain rod and said adapter rod so that said adapter rod will be suspended by said coupling means from said standard curtain rod, and means carried by said ball chain for forming couplings at the ends thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a frame member formed by a hollow tube, and a ball-chain carried through said hollow tube, said ball-chain at one end of said tube being wrapped about said adapter rod, and means at the other end of said tube for wrapping said ball-chain about said standard curtain rod, so that said frame member will extend between said standard curtain rod and said adapter rod when said adapter rod is mounted below said standard curtain rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a frame member formed by a relatively inflexible structural element, and circular members carried at opposite ends thereof for connection to said adapter rod and said standard curtain rod to permit sliding movement along said rods, whereby said frame member will extend between said standard curtain rod and said adapter rod at an angle to a vertical plane when said adapter rod is positioned below said standard curtain rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 1 further comprising rubber elements carried at the ends of said adapter rod to provide friction mounting between said adapter rod and said first and second vertical walls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 1 wherein said adapter rod is tubular.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 1 wherein said adapter rod is from five to ten percent longer than the distance between said first and second walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 3 wherein said tubular member has a length of from 1/3 to 1/2 the distance of the height between said standard curtain rod and the bottom of the shower enclosure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 7 wherein said ball-chain comprises a plurality of rust and corrosion resistant balls linked together into a chain, said balls having a diameter of approximately 1/8 of an inch, said chain being approximately 21/4 times the length of said tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 9 wherein said tubular member is plastic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 1 wherein said adapter rod is plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The shower curtain adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a stopper carried by said adapter rod so that when said adapter rod is unmounted from its pressure mounted position between said first and second walls it will be in a storage hanging position being supported by said coupling means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-28 | 1984-04-28 | 1984-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-28 | 1988-04-28 | 1988-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-28 | 1992-04-28 | 1992-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |