US20070170135A1

US20070170135A1 - Shower and tub caddy enclosure

Info

Publication number: US20070170135A1
Application number: US11/591,699
Authority: US
Inventors: Deborah A. Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-20
Filing date: 2006-11-02
Publication date: 2007-07-26

Abstract

An apparatus for enclosing existing corner shelves of a shower stall or a bath unit. The apparatus comprises a pair of mounting members that are secured to adjacent wall surfaces closely adjacent such corner shelves. The mounting members are disposed vertically on such adjacent walls. There are a pair or track members secured to the pair of mounting members, a first one of the pair of track members secured to a top portion of each of the pair of mounting members and a second one of the pair of track members secured to a bottom portion of each of the pair of mounting member. Further, there is a folding enclosure that is engageable on a bottom end with the second one of the pair of track members and on an upper end engageable with the first one of the pair of track members. The folding enclosure having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and is formed of a predetermined material. The folding enclosure covers such shelves. The fold being similar to accordion pleats.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/760,451 filed Jan. 20, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a hanging fixture for tub and shower, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a shower and tub caddy enclosure which holds all shower and bathing supplies together in an easily accessible unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bathroom showers and tubs are often cluttered with bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body washes and other cleansing products. Having all of the items normally associated with showering or bathing scattered on the tub corners and edges makes for an untidy situation. These items are easily bumped which causes them to fall in the tub or on the floor. In some cases this could be dangerous if any of the items would be in glass containers or easily cracked plastic containers. For most people having these items at ones fingertips is very convenient and makes for a more pleasurable shower or bath.
Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a means or a unit in which all of the items associated with showering or bathing could be stored in one place and hidden from view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for enclosing existing corner shelves of a shower stall or a bath unit. The apparatus comprises a pair of mounting members that are secured to adjacent wall surfaces closely adjacent such corner shelves. The mounting members are disposed vertically on such adjacent walls. There are a pair or track members secured to the pair of mounting members, a first one of the pair of track members secured to a top portion of each of the pair of mounting members and a second one of the pair of track members secured to a bottom portion of each of the pair of mounting member. Further, there is a folding enclosure that is engageable on a bottom end with the second one of the pair of track members and on an upper end engageable with the first one of the pair of track members. The folding enclosure having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and is formed of a predetermined material. The folding enclosure covers such shelves. The fold being similar to accordion pleats.
In another aspect the invention provides an apparatus for holding bathing accessories in one of a shower stall and a bath unit. The apparatus comprises a corner mounting member secured to a corner portion of a wall in such one of a shower and a bath unit. A plurality of shelves are attached to the corner mounting member. The plurality of shelves having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material. A pair of side mounting members are secured to adjacent wall surfaces closely adjacent such corner shelves, the mounting members are disposed vertically on such adjacent walls. A pair or track members are secured to the pair of side mounting members, a first one of the pair of track members is secured to a top portion of each of the pair of side mounting members and a second one of the pair of track members is secured to a bottom portion of each of the pair of side mounting members. A folding enclosure is engageable on a bottom end with the second one of the pair of track members and on an upper end is engageable with the first one of the pair of track members. The folding enclosure having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and is formed of a predetermined material. The folding enclosure covers such shelves when in a closed position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a cover for existing corner shower or bathtub shelves to hide the contents of the shelves.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for existing shelves wherein the door is a folding door having accordion type pleats.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a corner shelf unit for showers or bathtubs that has a folding door that covers the shelves.
These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of prior art corner shelves for a shower or bathtub.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another set of prior art corner shelves for a shower or bathtub.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cover for a set of existing corner shelves according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a corner set of shelves with a cover member according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a corner set of shelves with three shelves and a cover member according to an embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for enclosing existing corner shelves, generally designated 20 of a shower stall or a bath unit. Such prior art corner shelves 20 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The apparatus 10 comprises a pair of mounting members 2 that are secured to adjacent wall surfaces closely adjacent such corner shelves 20. The mounting members 2 are disposed vertically on such adjacent walls. There are a pair or track members 4 secured to the pair of mounting members 2, a first one of the pair of track members 4 secured to a top portion of each of the pair of mounting members 2 and a second one of the pair of track members 4 secured to a bottom portion of each of the pair of mounting members 2. Further, there is a folding enclosure 6 that is engageable on a bottom end with the second one of the pair of track members 4 and on an upper end engageable with the first one of the pair of track members 4. The folding enclosure 6 having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and is formed of a predetermined material. The folding enclosure 6 covers such corner shelves 20 when in a closed position. The fold being similar to accordion pleats wherein such folding enclosure 6 when open essentially folds upon itself.
It is presently preferred that such pair of mounting members 2 are secured to such walls by an adhesive. It is also preferred that such pair of track members 4 are secured to the pair of mounting members 2 by means of screws or adhesives, and it more preferred that such track members 4 are secured to the mounting members 2 by means of an adhesive. The predetermined shape of such track members 4 is substantially arcuate when they are attached to the mounting members 2.
Such folding enclosure 6 further includes a handle member 8 that is disposed on a side of the folding enclosure 6 for ease of opening and closing the folding enclosure 6. The handle member 8 is disposed at substantially a midpoint on the folding enclosure 6 in a vertical direction. Such folding enclosure 6 also is pliable and it essentially folds into itself, such folds in the folding enclosure 6 are substantially accordion pleats.
In another aspect the invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 30, for holding bathing accessories in one of a shower stall and a bath unit. The apparatus 30 comprises a corner mounting member 32 secured to a corner portion of a wall in such one of a shower and a bath unit.
A plurality of shelves 34 are attached to the corner mounting member 32. The plurality of shelves 34 having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material. Such plurality of shelves can be two or three as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. A pair of side mounting members 36 are secured to adjacent wall surfaces closely adjacent such corner shelves 34, the side mounting members 36 are disposed vertically on such adjacent walls. A pair or track members 38 are secured to the pair of side mounting members 36, a first one of the pair of track members 38 is secured to a top portion of each of the pair of side mounting members 36 and a second one of the pair of track members 38 is secured to a bottom portion of each of the pair of side mounting members 38. A folding enclosure 42 is engageable on a bottom end with the second one of the pair of track members 38 and an upper end of the folding enclosure 42 is engageable with the first one of the pair of track members 38. The folding enclosure 42 having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and is formed of a predetermined material. The folding enclosure 42 covers such corner shelves 34 when in a closed position.
It is preferred that such pair of side mounting members 36 are secured to such walls by an adhesive. In a preferred embodiment of the invention such shelves 34, corner mounting member 32, side mounting members 36 and the track members 38 are molded as a one piece unit made of plastic. However, it is within the scope of the invention that such track members 36 could be secured to the shelves 34 and the side mounting members 36 by means of an adhesive. The predetermined shape of such track members 38 is substantially arcuate.
The folding enclosure 42 of the apparatus 30 further includes a handle member 44 that is disposed on a side of the folding enclosure 42 for ease of opening and closing the folding enclosure 42. Such handle member 44 is disposed at substantially a midpoint on the folding enclosure 42 in a vertical direction. It is also preferred that such folding enclosure 42 is pliable.
It is preferred that such plurality of shelves 34, whether they be a two shelf unit as seen in FIG. 4 or a three shelf unit as seen in FIG. 5, are substantially pie shaped with a narrow end of the pie shape affixed to the corner mounting member 32. It is also preferred that the predetermined material for forming such shelves 34 is plastic.
It should be noted that although the Drawing Figures show the corner units (shelves and mounting members) where the corner is at right angles, it is within the scope of the invention that in shower stalls and bathtub enclosures that have rounded or arcuate corners as are found in many one piece molded units that the invention applies to those shower and bath units as well with only minor modifications in the shelves or mounting members. Also although the enclosure is described as a folding enclosure since this is preferred, it is within the scope of the invention that the enclosure be a door that would open in a different manner.
Thus, the present invention provides a shower or tub corner shelves with an enclosure that will hold all of the bath accessories neatly and away from view. The cover or door can be added to an existing set of shelves by simply adding wall mounts which are affixed to any bathroom wall by means of an adhesive. A track system is attached to the wall mounts within which the cover or door moves. Since the cover or door folds on itself in an accordion fashion the shelves are essentially completely exposed when the door is slid open but such shelves with all of the amenities thereon are hidden from view when the door is closed. The invention can be used with either a two or three shelf wall unit. This provides for a neat and tidy shower or bath unit.
While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enclosing existing corner shelves of one of a shower and bath unit, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of mounting members secured to adjacent wall surfaces closely adjacent such corner shelves, said mounting members disposed vertically on such adjacent walls;

(b) a pair or track members secured to said pair of mounting members, a first one of said pair of track members secured to a top portion of each of said pair of mounting members and a second one of said pair of track members secured to a bottom portion of each of said pair of mounting member, said pair of track members having a predetermined shape; and

(c) an enclosure engageable on a bottom end with said second one of said pair of track members and on an upper end with said first one of said pair of track members, said enclosure having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and formed of a predetermined material, said enclosure for covering such shelves.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said pair of mounting members are secured to such walls by an adhesive.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said enclosure is a folding enclosure.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said track members are secured to said mounting members by means of an adhesive.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said folding enclosure further includes a handle member disposed on a side of said folding enclosure for ease of opening and closing said folding enclosure.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said handle member is disposed at substantially a midpoint on said folding enclosure in a vertical direction.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape of said track members is substantially arcuate when attached to said mounting members.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said folding enclosure is pliable.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said folding enclosure folds in substantially accordion pleats.

10. An apparatus for holding bathing accessories in one of a shower and a bath unit, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a corner mounting member secured to a corner portion of a wall in such one of a shower and a bath unit;

(b) a plurality of shelves attached to said corner mounting member, said plurality of shelves having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material;

(c) (a) a pair of side mounting members secured to adjacent wall surfaces closely adjacent such corner shelves, said mounting members disposed vertically on such adjacent walls;

(d) a pair or track members secured to said pair of mounting members, a first one of said pair of track members secured to a top portion of each of said pair of mounting members and a second one of said pair of track members secured to a bottom portion of each of said pair of mounting member; and

(c) an enclosure engageable on a bottom end with said second one of said pair of track members and on an upper end with said first one of said pair of track members, said enclosure having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and formed of a predetermined material, said enclosure for covering such corner shelves.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said pair of side mounting members are secured to such walls by an adhesive.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said apparatus including said corner mounting member, said shelves, said side mounting members and said track members are molded as a one piece unit.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said apparatus including said corner mounting member, said shelves, said side mounting members and said track members are formed of plastic.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said enclosure is a folding enclosure.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 14, wherein said folding enclosure is pleated so as to fold tightly when opened.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 14, wherein said folding enclosure further includes a handle member disposed on a side of said folding enclosure for ease of opening and closing said folding enclosure.

17. The apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said handle member is disposed at substantially a midpoint on said folding enclosure in a vertical direction.

18. The apparatus, according to claim 14, wherein said folding enclosure is pliable.

19. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined shape of said track members is substantially arcuate.

20. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined shape of said plurality of shelves is substantially pie shaped with a narrow end of said pie shape affixed to said corner mounting member.