FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a shower screen device. More specifically, the present invention is a shower screen device that allows a shower stall to be left open to air circulation and light, mitigating the growth of mildew.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common problem that is seen in shower stalls is the growth of mildew and mold, in both the stall and on the shower screen material. A shower stall is usually hot and humid, and this is exactly the climate that leads to growth of mildew and mold. Often times, shower screens are hung from shower rods in a folded and cramped fashion, which further enhances the growth of mildew. Mildew makes a shower curtain smelly and look disgusting. Because of this, shower screens or curtain materials have a very short lifespan. In other words, they are typically damaged very quickly by mildew and mold and need to be replaced. A shower screen device that can mitigate the growth of mold and mildew and which can provide ample air circulation and light in the showering space is a rare find in the current market.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a solution to the aforementioned problems. More specifically, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a device that allows the stall to be left open to air circulation and light, mitigating the growth of mildew. To accomplish this, the present invention comprises a rigid bar that is hung from a shower rod with the help of a plurality of elongated members. Further a flat shower screen is attached to the rigid bar. The elongated members may be hung onto the shower rod with the help of metal hooks or similar fasteners. The shower screen or partition that is used to block shower water from spraying into the bathroom space is mounted onto the rigid frame with the help of snap buttons or a plurality of similar i fasteners. Furthermore, a plurality of rigid frames and a plurality of shower screens may be used to completely cover the shower alcove. The elongated members improve the amount of light that enters the bathtub alcove and mitigates the formation of mildew and mold in the bathtub space and on the shower screen itself. Thus, the present invention reduces the amount of material used to enclose the shower stall, improves airflow in the alcove space, allows the shower screen to dry freely and quickly, and mitigate mildew and mold formation on the shower screen, thereby extending the lifespan of the shower screen.

SUMMARY

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a device that allows a shower stall to be left open to air circulation and light, mitigating the growth of mildew. To accomplish this, the present invention comprises a rigid bar that is hung from a shower rod with the help of a plurality of elongated members. Further a flat shower screen is attached to the rigid bar. The elongated members may be hung onto the shower rod with the help of metal hooks or similar fasteners. Furthermore, a plurality of rigid frames and a plurality of shower screens may be used to completely cover the shower alcove. The elongated members improve the amount of light that enters the bathtub alcove and mitigates the formation of mildew and mold in the bathtub space and on the shower screen itself. Thus, the present invention reduces the amount of material used to enclose the shower stall, improves airflow in the alcove space, allows the shower screen to dry freely and quickly, and mitigate mildew and mold formation on the shower screen, thereby extending the lifespan of the shower screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top-front-left perspective view of the present invention, wherein the frames and the screens and pulled in opposite directions to cover the shower alcove. FIG 2 is a detailed view of section 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of section 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a left-side elevational view of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of section 8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top-rear-right perspective view of the present invention, wherein the frames and the screens are positioned adjacent to each other, so as to expose a portion of the shower alcove.

FIG. 10 is a top-from left perspective view of the present invention, wherein the frames and the screens are positioned adjacent to each other.

FIG. 11 is a top front left perspective view, wherein a single shower rod is used, and the screens are pulled adjacent to each other.

FIG. 12 a top rear right perspective view, wherein a single shower rod is used, and the screens are pulled adjacent to each other.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 12, the present invention is shower screen device. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a device that allows the stall to be left open to air circulation and light, mitigating the growth of mildew. To accomplish this, the present invention comprises a rigid bar that is hung from a shower rod with the help of a plurality of elongated members. Further a flat shower screen is attached to the rigid bar. The elongated members may be hung onto the shower rod with the help of metal hooks or similar fasteners. The shower screen or partition that is used to block shower water from spraying into the bathroom space is mounted onto the rigid frame with the help of snap buttons or a plurality of similar fasteners. Furthermore, a plurality of rigid frames and a plurality of shower screens may be used to completely cover the shower alcove. The elongated members improve the amount of light that enters the bathtub alcove and mitigates the formation of mildew and mold in the bathtub space and on the shower screen itself. Thus, the present invention reduces the amount of material used to enclose the shower stall, improves airflow in the alcove space, allows the shower screen to dry freely and quickly, and mitigate mildew and mold formation on the shower screen, thereby extending the lifespan of the shower screen.

The following description is in reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 12. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises at least one shower rod 1, a plurality of frames 2, a plurality of shower screens 3, a plurality of rod fasteners 4, and a plurality of screen fasteners 5. Preferably, the at least one shower rod l is a standard rigid shower rod made of metal or hard plastic, that may be mounted onto opposing walls of a shower stall. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one shower rod 1 comprises a dual rod system. However, the at least one shower rod 1 may comprise any other shape, size, material, orientation, components, arrangement of components etc. that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. As seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12, the plurality of frames 2 is detachably mounted onto the at least one shower rod 1, and the plurality of frames 2 is slidable along the at least one shower rod 1. In other words, the plurality of frames 2 is hung onto the shower rod and may be slid from one end of the shower rod to the other, as per the user’s convenience. This is because, the plurality of frames 2 constitutes the base structure on which the shower screen is attached, and the shower screen may be laterally pulled and positioned anywhere along the shower rod, according to the user’s preference. Thus, according to the present invention, the plurality of frames 2 is integrated between the plurality of shower screens 3 and the at least one shower rod 1.

As clearly seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, each of the plurality of frames 2 comprises a plurality of elongated members 6. Preferably, the plurality of elongated members 6 are cylindrical tubes made of a rigid material that provides the necessary ventilation in the shower stall. In other words, the elongated member provides an air gap between the shower screen and the shower rod that enables ample light and air to get into the bath alcove, which also helps with easy drying of the area, thereby mitigating the growth of mold and mildew. It should be noted that, each of the plurality of elongated members 6 may comprise any other shape, size, material, etc., as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. Examples of such elongated members include, but are not limited to a spiral wire, a polymer rod with any other transverse cross-sections, a hard silicone tube etc. According to the preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of elongated members 6 is normally attached or hung from the at least one shower rod 1, wherein the plurality of rod fasteners 4 is integrated between the at least one shower rod 1 and the plurality of elongated members 6. As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 clearly, the plurality of rod fasteners 4 connects the plurality of elongated members 6 to the at least one shower rod 1, and the plurality of rod fasteners 4 comprises looped hooks. However, the plurality of rod fasteners 4 may comprise any other size, shape, fastening mechanism etc. that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the objectives of the present invention are fulfdled.

Continuing with the preferred embodiment and as seen in FIG. 10, a terminal edge 3a of each of the plurality of shower screens 3 is detachably mounted onto a corresponding frame 2a, wherein the corresponding frame 2a is from the plurality of frames 2. More specifically, the plurality of shower screens 3 is mounted onto a lower edge of the plurality of frames 2, so that the elongated members 6 are exposed and they provide the necessary gap for ventilation. In other words, the plurality of elongated members 6 delineates a gap 7 between the at least one shower rod 1 and the plurality of shower screens 3, as seen in FIG. 5. To accomplish mounting of the plurality of shower screens 3 to the plurality of frames 2, the plurality of screen fasteners 5 is integrated between the plurality of shower screens 3 and the plurality of frames 2. Preferably, the plurality of shower screens 3 comprises snap buttons, so that the shower screens may be easily detached from the plurality of frames 2 when needed. However, the plurality of screen fasteners 5 may comprise any other shape, size, fastening technology etc. that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the intents of the present invention are not hindered. A more detailed description of the present invention and arrangement of components of the present invention follows. According to the preferred embodiment, the plurality of frames 2 comprises a first frame 8, a second frame 9, and each of the plurality of frames 2 comprises an interconnecting bar 10. As seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 9, through FIG. 12, the interconnecting bar 10 is mounted normally across the plurality of elongated members 6. Preferably, the interconnecting bar 10 is rectangular and rigid, and made of a sturdy material such as polymer lumber. However, the interconnecting bar 10 may comprise any other material, shape, size etc. as long as the intents of the present invention are fulfilled. In order to connect the plurality of elongated members 6 to the interconnecting bar 10, the present invention comprises a plurality of bar connectors 11. Preferably, the plurality of bar connectors 11 are screws that connect terminal edges of the plurality of elongated members 6 and the interconnecting bar 10. However, the plurality of bar connectors 11 may comprise any other fasteners and fastening technology that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered.

In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of shower screens 3 comprises a first screen 12 and a second screen 13. This is so that the entire shower alcove may be covered together with the first screen 12 and the second screen 13 for the needed privacy, as seen in FIG. 5. Further, as seen in FIG. 9 through FIG. 12, one of these screens may be slid across the shower rod to expose a portion of the bath alcove for the user to easily enter and exit the bath alcove. To provide the necessary enclosure, the first screen 12 is detachably mounted onto the first frame 8, and the second screen 13 is detachably mounted onto the second frame 9. Furthermore, the plurality of screens 3 is stretched across the plurality of frames 2. This stretching is enabled with the help of the interconnecting bar 10, and the stretched-out plurality of screens 3 dries faster and mitigate mold and mildew formation. Preferably, the plurality of shower screens 3 comprises a flexible, yet rectangular panel made of a thin water repellent material such as Tyvek. However, the plurality of shower screens 3 may comprise any other material, shape, dimensions etc. as long as the intents of the present invention are fulfilled. Additionally, one of the, or all of the plurality of shower screens 3 may also be made transparent, according to the user’s preference. According to the preferred embodiment, at least one shower rod 1 comprises a first shower rod la and a second shower rod lb, wherein the first shower rod la is laterally offset from the second shower rod lb. Further, the first frame 8 is detachably mounted onto the first shower rod la, and the second frame 9 is detachably mounted onto the second shower rod lb. As seen in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, this arrangement enables to leave small gap between the first screen 12 and the second screen 13, which helps with easy drying of the plurality of shower screens 3, and thus prevention of mildew.

In reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the at least one shower rod 1 comprises a third shower rod 1c. In other words, the at least one shower rod 1 comprises only a single shower rod. Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the first frame 8 and the second frame 9 are detachably mounted onto the third shower rod 1c. In this embodiment, the air gap between the first screen 12 and the second screen 13 would be smaller when the screens are pulled adjacent to each other. However, the functionalities and the objectives remain the same.

According to the preferred embodiment, the first frame 8 comprises a plurality of first rod fasteners 4a, a plurality of first elongated members 6a, a first interconnecting bar 10a, and a plurality of first screen fasteners 5a. The plurality of first elongated members 6a is detachably connected to the at least one shower rod 1, and the plurality of first rod fasteners 4a is integrated between the plurality of first elongated members 6a and the at least one shower rod 1. As seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12, the first interconnecting bar 10a is mounted onto terminal edges of the plurality of first elongated members 6a, opposite to the plurality of first rod fasteners 4a. Further, the first interconnecting bar 10a is oriented parallel to the at least one shower rod 1, and a first edge of the first shower screen 12 is detachably mounted onto the first interconnecting bar 10a. Furthermore, the plurality of first screen fasteners 5a is integrated between the first interconnecting bar 10a and the first shower screen 12.

Similarly, the second frame 9 comprises a plurality of second rod fasteners 4b, a plurality of second elongated members 6b, a second interconnecting bar 10b, and a plurality of second screen fasteners 5b. The plurality of second elongated members 6b is detachably connected to the at least one shower rod 1, and the plurality of second rod fasteners 4b is integrated between the plurality of second elongated members 6b and the at least one shower rod 1. As seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12, the second interconnecting bar 10b is mounted onto terminal edges of the plurality of second elongated members 6b, opposite to the plurality of second rod fasteners 4b. Further, the second interconnecting bar 10b is oriented parallel to the at least one shower rod 1, and the second shower screen 13 is detachably mounted onto the second interconnecting bar 10b. Furthermore, the plurality of second screen fasteners 5b is integrated between the second interconnecting bar 10b and the second shower screen 13.

In order to attach the shower screen device to the shower alcove, the present invention comprises a plurality of walls mounts 14, wherein the at least one shower rod 1 is terminally mounted on to plurality of wall mounts 14. The plurality of wall mounts 14 may comprise any shape, size, components, arrangement of components etc. as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.