Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BASKET SHOWER CADDY
FIELD OF THE 1NVENTION
[0001J The present invention relates to the field of bathroom accessories.
More
specifically, the present invention relates to bath and shower accessories,
particularly the
area of caddies for showers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
100021 With the innumerable shower products such as soaps, shampoos, and
conditioners found on the market today, a. large proportion of home shower
units are
often lined with several bottles and jars each containing one of several
variations of the
above products. This plethora of containers can lead to clutter and possibly
cause a
safety hazard if they fall onto the shower floor due to a lack of shelf space.
100031 Although many devices designed to hold and store shower accessories and
products are found in the prior art, they usually fail to overcome one or more
of the
problems created by the presence of numerous shower products and accessories.
One
problem is that although many of the prior art devices provide storage space
for
containers, the storage spaces, such as shelves, have shapes so that the
containers are
easily knocked off the shelves to either break or cause a tripping hazard in
the wet
shower. Another problem is that these devices often lack stability in that
they are easily
moved when struck accidentally, knocking them ajar or causing them to sway and
spill
the containers. A third problem is that the shelves often take up an
uncomfortable
amount of space, especially in a smaller shower. The bather must take special
care to not
constantly hit them when maneuvering in the shower. Additionally, if the
shower is used
by more than one person, prior art devices lack enough conveniently arranged
storage
space to accommodate the plurality of products commonly used by each
individual user.
Finally, the shower caddies found in the prior art often contain a number of
parts with
several corners, notches, slots, etc. that provide for the simple build up and
difficult
removal of soap residue.
[00041 There are innumerable examples of shelving systems designed for holding
various items in a shower. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0121871 to Zadro
discloses
a shower caddy comprising two shelves with a mirror positioned between the
shelves and
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wire cup or containers holders. U.S. Patent No. 5,460,279 to Emery, et al.
also discloses a
shelf organizer with two wire type shelves and a towel bar. U.S. Patent No.
3,789,996 to
Stroh discloses still another shelf fixture comprising wire shelves and with a
fitting
shaped to friction fit over a shower nozzle. U.S. Patent No. Des. 380,326 to
Kellogg, et
al. and U.S. Patent No. Des. 415,916 to Hofman, et al. both disclose shower
shelving
systems with a top configures to fit a round a shower nozzle and including a
plurality of
shelves for holding shower products. While the shelving arrangements disclosed
in these
publications are designed to be used in a wet environment such as a shower,
they all
utilize shelves primarily, if not completely, to hold product containers. The
disclosed
shelves have low horizontal guard rails and!or wire floors that allow stored
containers to
be easily knocked off the shelves or to slip off the wiring onto the shower
floor.
100051 U.S. Patent No. 6,241,388 to Terramani discloses a bath and shower
caddy
in the form of a rectangular container suspended from a shower curtain rod or
other
horizontal support. However, the '388 patent only provides a single container
and
discloses no method for adding additional containers. Finally, U.S. Patent No.
Des.
416,409 to Matthews, et al. discloses a plurality of baskets suspended by
three chains
from a single hook. The suspension system disclosed in the '409 patent does
not provide
a user with other types of hangers and the round shapes of the baskets,
especially the
largest bottom basket occupy a significant amount of room in a small shower
stall and
also act to keep a taller user from standing directly under a shower spray
nozzle.
100061 Therefore, there is a need in the field for a shower caddy system that
can
be positioned in a variety of locations in a shower and provides stable and
secure storage
spaces for a variety of shower products used by more than one person.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100071 The present invention is a shower caddy broadly comprising at least two
baskets, each of the at least two baskets having a bottom, a top edge, and at
least one
enclosing wall, at least two opposing lips extending from the top edge, with
each of the at
least two opposing lips defining a hole, at least two chains each having a
first end and a
second end, each of the at least two chains threaded through one opposing hole
on each
of the at least two baskets, a hanging means attached to each the first end of
each of the at
least two chains, an end stop means in operative attachment with each second
end of the
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at least two chains, wherein the end stop means is configured to prevent the
second end
from passing through the one opposing hole of the most proximate one of the at
least two
baskets, and a plurality of chain stop means in operative attachment with one
of the at
least two chains, each of the plurality of chain stop means configured to
suspend at least
one of the at least two baskets on the chain.
[00081 A first object of the invention is to provide a plurality of baskets or
receptacles for storing articles in a shower.
100091 A second object of the invention is to provide hanging means that
allows
the invention to be suspended from a variety of different supports.
100101 A third object of the invention is to provide a device to prevent the
suspended baskets from swaying or swinging.
[00111 An additional object of the invention is to provide a configuration for
the
plurality of baskets that allows them to be nested for convenient storage.
100121 A further object of the invention is to provide a versatile design that
allows for the use of baskets that are different in size or are of
substantially the same size
while in an essentially vertical orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100131 The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will
now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the
invention taken
with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
Figure 1 is a front perspective of the shower caddy of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front view of the present invention shown holding various
containers;
Figures 3a-c are magnified views of different embodiments of chains stops of
the
present invention;
Figure 4 is a rear view of the preserit invention showing suction cups
attached to
the rear wall of each of the baskets;
Figure 5 is a bottom view of one of baskets of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a side view depicting an alternate embodiment of the plurality of
baskets of the present invention;
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Figure 7 is a rear view showing three baskets of essentially the same size
nested
within one another; and,
Figure 8 is a rear view showing the embodiment in which each of the suspended
baskets have essentially the same shape but have different sizes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
100141 At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on
different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar,
structural elements of
the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what
is presently
considered to be the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the
invention as
claimed is not limited to the preferred embodiment. In the description below,
the terms
"upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", and their derivatives,
should be
interpreted from the perspective of one viewing the shower caddy 10 shown in
Figures 1
and 2.
100151 Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the
particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may,
of
course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for
the purpose of
describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope
of the
present invention.
100161 Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein
have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the
art to
which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials
similar or
equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of
the
invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
100171 Adverting to the drawings, Figure 1 depicts a front perspective of the
shower caddy 10 ("caddy 10") of the present invention. Each basket is shaped
into
substantially the same configuration and comprises a container including at
least one
enclosing wall llb, an open top llc, a top edge lld, and bottom lle. It will
be
recognized that the shape of basket 11 may include a plurality of walls l lb
joined to form
an enclosure. In a preferred embodiment, enclosing wall llb is tapered to
enable each of
the plurality of baskets 11 to nest within one another as seen in Figure 7. By
nesting is
meant to fit within one another. In one embodiment, the plurality of baskets
11 may be
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of the same size having tapered walls llb to enable baskets 11 to nest to at
least a slight
degree. In an alternate embodiment, baskets 11 may have the substantially the
same
shape but may be of different sizes to allow for a deeper nesting arrangement
of each of
baskets 11. (See Figure 8.) In the embodiment shown, three baskets 11 are
shown, but
other numbers of baskets 11 may be used in caddy 10. Baskets 11 may be made
using
thermoset or thermoplastic polymers, metal or other suitable material.
100181 Baskets 11 possess opposing lips lla which is formed by an outward
curve or flare of top edge lld. Each lip lla defines chain hole 15. A chain 12
passes
through each hole 15 such that a chain passes through each hole 15 on the same
side of
each basket 11. (Each left side chain hole 15 receives the same chain and each
right side
chain hole 15 receives the same chain.) Although an arrangement having two
chains is
shown in Figure 1 and subsequent figures, persons of skill in the art the will
recognize
that additional sets of chain holes 15 and chains 12 may be included in the
present
invention or that a single continuous chain 12 may be used. Chains 12 may be
made
from metal or plastic in the form of a ball chain as shown in the figures or
it may be
formed into other suitable structures well known to those skilled in the art.
100191 A hanging means 13 is attached to one end of each chain. In Figure 1,
hanging means 13 is a hook including uncierside 13a hanging from shower nozzle
30.
Hanging means 13 may also include clamps that grip a standard such as a shower
nozzle
30, curtain rod 40 or other convenient device. Other hanging means may include
clips,
normally closed grips, friction fit devices, expansion clips, and other
equivalent devices
known to those skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure
1, a
nonstick coating is applied to underside 13a of hook 13 to enable hook 13 to
hang more
securely from shower nozzle 30. The nonstick coating for underside 13a may be
made
from PVC, silicone, or preferably a styrene, ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS)
a type of
thermoplastic rubber (TPR).
100201 Figure 2 is a front view of caddy 10 shown hanging from curtain rod 40.
It is noted that Figure 2 demonstrates the hanging means 13 on each chain 12
may hang
separately from each other. Figure 2 demonstrates how caddy 10 is used to
provide
multiple storage receptacles for various product containers 50. Figure 2 shows
an
embodiment in which each of lips lla suspended from the same chain is
equidistant from
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the next upper (if applicable) and lower (if applicable) lips ila. Chain stops
14 are also
shown holding each of baskets 11 suspendeci on chains 12.
100211 Figures 3a-c are magnified views of the different embodiments of stop
means 14 in operative attachment with chain 12 and used to suspend baskets 11
from lips
lla on chains 12. By operative attachment is meant that stop means 14 are part
of chain
12 or are attached to chain 12. Stop means 14 may be positioned as end stops
at one end
of chain 12 to prevent chain 12 from passing through hole 15 or as chain stops
on the
length of chain 12 to hold basket 11 suspended on chain 12. Figure 3a depicts
a bell
shaped stop means 14a attached to chain 12 in which the shape and size of bell
shaped
stop means 14a enables it to wedge into hole 15 to keep basket 11 from falling
down
chain 12. Figure 3b shows stop means 14b comprising two washers on either side
of hole
acting to hold basket 11 in a specific position on chain 12. Figure 3c
illustrates still
another embodiment of stop means 14 in which stop means 14c comprises an
enlarged
ball incorporated into chain 12 which, similar to chain stop 14a, prevents
basket 11 from
15 falling down chain 12. In the preferred embodiments shown baskets il are
suspended
substantially parallel to each other on chains 12.
100221 Figure 4 is a rear view of caddy 10 showing the embodiment in which at
least one of baskets i l includes suction cup 16. Suction cup 16 is attached
to the rear
facing of wall l lb. In the more preferred embodiment shown, suction cup 16 is
attached
to each of basket 11. Suction cup 16 may be attached by suction to a shower
stall wall or
a similar support in a well known manner to hold baskets ll stationary and
prevent them
from swinging or swaying.
100231 Figure 5 is a bottom view of one of baskets 11. Figure 5 demonstrates
the
embodiment in which basket bottom l le comprises one or preferably a plurality
of drain
holes 17. Drain holes 17 prevent water fi-om accumulating in basket 11 from
shower
nozzle 30 or other water sources by enabling water to drain from bottom i l e.
100241 Figure 6 is a side view depicting an alternate embodiment in which lips
lla of each basket 11 are positioned substantially at equal distances from
each other.
Figure 7 is a rear view showing three baskets 11 of essentially the same size
nested
within one another. Such a nesting configuY-ation can be made even if all
three baskets 11
have the same shape and with each basket 11 including suction cup 16.
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100251 Figure 8 is a rear view of the suspended baskets 11 showing the
embodiment in which each of the three baskets ll have essentially the same
shape but
have different sizes. Small basket lls is the upper basket suspended on chain
12, middle
size basket llnz is the middle basket and large basket Ill is the lowest
basket. Each
basket 11 has a flared lip lla through which chain 12 passes. It can be seen
that lip lla
is longest on basket lis and shortest on basket 111 so as to enable chain 12
to hang in are
relatively vertical line when compared to the floor or ground.
100261 Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently
obtained,
although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent
to those
having ordinary skill in the art, which changes would not depart from the
spirit and scope
of the invention as claimed.
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