Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ SHOWER CURTAIN RING
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j BACKGROUND OF THE_INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to shower curtain
rings for hanging a shower curtain and, in particular, to a novel
shower curtain ring construction which facilitates the hanging and
.3 replacement of a shower curtain.
Generally, shower curtain rings have been used to hang
shower curtains on a curtain rod to prevent water from leaving a
shower or bath enclosure. Heretofore, shower cuxtain rings have
been primarily of two closed designs. The first type of closed
design is a one-piece metal hook which only permits the
,;~ displacement of the hook onto or away from a shower curtain and
curtain rod by exerting considerable pressure on two ends of the
metal hook. A second type of closed ring is an injection molded
one-piece plastic ring having an interlocking construction
comprised of an elongated bayonet projection that is received into
an opening formed in the opposing portion of the ring. Both of
these types of shower curtain rings are less than completely
satisfactory because they are often difficult to engage and
disengage from the shower curtain and the curtain rod. Also,
molded plastic rings are easily broken due to the force needed to
, open the rings sufficiently for replacement and removal.
,!~ Accordingly, an improved shower curtain ring having a construction
which facilitates replacement and removal of a shower curtain is
desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the present
`j~ invention, an improved shower curtain ring is provided including
elongated tubing having a first end and a second end, the tubing
~ having a substantially circular cross-section. A first connector
j~ is secured within the first end of the elongated tubing and a
second connector is secured within the second end of the elongated
~ tubing. The first connector and the second connector are
i~ constructed and arranged to be releasably interconnected to each
other to form with the tubing an essentially circular shower
curtain ring for supporting a shower curtain and for facilitating
the hanging or removal of a shower curtain from a curtain rod.
another embodiment, in accordance with the present invention, an
;~ elongated tube is provided with a one-piece connector. The
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connector is adapted to be releasably inserted into both ends of
the tubing to form a shower curtain ring for supporting the shower
curtain and for facilitating the hanging and removal of a shower
curtain.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide an improved closed loop type shower curtain ring for
facilitating the hanging of a shower curtain on a curtain rod.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved multi-piece shower curtain ring construction.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide an improved shower curtain ring which facilitates the
hanging of a shower curtain.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will
in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the
specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of
construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts
q which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set
J forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the
~ claims.
.. . .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference
~ is had to the following description taken in connection with the
;i~ accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a two-piece shower
:1 curtain ring constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the two-piece shower
curtain ring depicted in FIG. 1 when hanging a shower curtain from
a curtain rod;
. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
J 2:
`:3i FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a three-piece shower
curtain ring construction in accordance with a second embodiment
of the present invention;
:1 FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the three-piece shower
curtain ring depicted in FIG. 4 when hanging a shower curtain from
~i a curtain rod; and
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FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.
. 4.
~A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is made to FIGS. 1-3 wherein a two-piece shower
curtain ring, generally indicated at 10, is depicted. The showe.-
curtain ring includes an elongated tubing 12 having a first end 14
and a second end 16 and a plastic connector, generally indicated
~ as 18.
;i, Tubing 12 is formed of thermoplastic/polyvinyl chloride
although other materials, such as polyurethane, can be used.
7 Moreover, by utilizing a scented polymer, the shower curtain ring
i can be used to impart a pleasant scent ~o the bathroom enclosure.
In an exemplary embodiment, in order to be compatible with the
eyelet size of most commercially available shower curtains, the
outer diameter of the tubing is 3/8", although this also may vary.
Connector 18 includes a body 26 and a first arm 20 and
a second arm 22 each projecting from body 26. Body 26 includes two
raised annular shoulders 25 and an annular recess 27 positioned
between shoulders 25 so that the eyelet 29 of a shower curtain 19
can be positioned in recess 28. The width of recess 27 should be
i sufficient to receive a shower curtain therein. First arm 20 and
;i second arm 22 have substantially circular cross-sections
J, approximating the inner diameter of tubing 12. First arm 20 and
i~ second arm 22 each have a single annular notch 24, respectively,
~ disposed therein. First arm 20 and second arm 22 are adapted to
,! be secured within first end 14 and second end 16 of tubing 12 by
i a friction fit between the inner walls of the tubing and the outer
surface of arms 20 and 22. In a preferred embodiment, connector
18 is injection molded from polypropylene. However, there are
various materials, such as metal, plastic, or polyurethane, which
can be formed into the shape of and used as connector 18.
In operation, either first arm 20 or second arm 22 is
inserted into one of the ends of tubing 12. The shower curtain
ring tubing 12 is then inserted into the eyelet 29 of a shower
curtain 19 and wrapped around a curtain rod 23. Next, the free arm
of the connector 16 is inserted into the free end of the tubing to
complete the shower ring. When it is desired to remove the shower
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ring it is only necessary to remove an arm from the end of the
; tubing.
; FIGS. 4-6 illustrate a three-piece shower curtain ring,
generally indicated at 30, like reference numerals being utilized
~i to depict like elements described above. Shower curtain ring 30
i'`"'3 includes an elongated tubing 12 having a first end 14 and a second
? end 16, a female connector 40 and a male connector 35. Male
connector 36 is inserted in second end 16 and female connector 40
~i is inserted in first end 14. Male connector 36 and female
'~ connector 40 can be made of metal, polypropylene, or the like.
. Male connector 36 is formed with a body having a central
portion 44 having a diameter greater than the inner diameter of
tubing 12. An arm 38 has a diameter less than the inner diameter
of tubing 12 forming a shoulder 46 with the larger diametered body
44. Arm 38 is formed with an annular recess 50 providing annular
flanges 48 having a truncated conical shape on arm 38. Flanges 48
have a diameter greater than or equal to the inner diameter of
!"'~ tubing to form a friction fit with the inner surface of tubing 12.
A post 42 extends from body central portion 44 and has a diameter
,.......... less than central portion 44.
A female connector 40 is disposed within tubing 12 at end
14. Female connector 40 is formed with an annular recess 54
providing annular flanges 56,58 forming truncated cones having a
diameter equal to or greater than the inner diameter of tubing 12
~¦ to provide a friction fit with tubing 12. In an exemplary
embodiment, an adhesive can also be used to prevent connectors 36;,.,
and 40 from being disengaged from tubing 12.
Female connector 40 includes a blind hole 46 adapted to
receive and secure, by way of friction fit, post 42 of connector
36. By placing either connector 40 or connector 36 through an
eyelet 29 of a shower curtain 19 and around a shower curtain rod,
and thereafter coupling post 42 of male connector 36 to female
connector 40, an improved releasable shower curtain ring is
constructed for supporting a shower curtain around the curtain rod.
~;~ It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above,
among those made apparent from the preceding description, are
c' efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the
above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of
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the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the
~ above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in
'.:.~,; a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are
~:~ intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the
', invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the
invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
therebetween.
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