US20100288453A1

US20100288453A1 - Transfer bench shower curtain

Info

Publication number: US20100288453A1
Application number: US12/467,226
Authority: US
Inventors: Brandy Richardson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-15
Filing date: 2009-05-15
Publication date: 2010-11-18

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shower curtain for use with a transfer chair comprising: a sheet of protective material; a plurality of openings along a top portion of the sheet; a plurality of hanging devices, where the plurality of hanging devices are insert through the plurality of openings and provides a means to hang the sheet on a rod; a plurality of attachment mechanisms along the bottom edge of the sheet, where said attachment mechanisms secure the sheet to a shower enclosure; and an opening along a portion of the bottom edge of the sheet, where said opening accommodates the transfer chair. The attachment mechanism may include magnets or suction cups placed along the bottom edge of the sheet. The attachment mechanism may also secure a portion of the bottom edge of the sheet to the transfer chair.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a shower curtain designed to accommodate a transfer bench.
2. Description of Related Art
Shower curtains are utilized for enclosing a shower enclosure or bathtub and provide a means to retain water within the bathtub or shower enclosure. Shower curtains also provide a shield of privacy for the user of the shower. Shower curtains usually drape along the inner portion of the tub or shower enclosure in order to retain the water within the tub or shower enclosure. Shower curtains are typically made of vinyl, cloth or plastic or a combination thereof. Typically shower curtains include an inner portion and outer portion where at least the inner portion is retained within the bathtub. Shower curtains are usually held in place through the use of curtain rods and attachment devices attached to the top portion thereof. The shower curtain rods allow the shower curtain to hang vertically from the rod and to drape downwardly inside of the bathtub or shower enclosure.
Showers are usually free of any devices or sitting arrangements within the bathtub or shower enclosure. However many handicapped or elderly individuals must utilize a transfer bench within the shower enclosure in order to enter the tub or shower enclosure and to assist in showering within the bathtub due to physical limitations. The typical transfer bench includes a seat and a back support that may be sized in an appropriate manner to fit within the bathtub area. The transfer seat however does present problems when used with a conventional shower curtain. The transfer seat usually extends beyond the lower seal of the shower enclosure or bathtub and therefore the seat drapes up the lower edge of the shower curtain, which occasionally causes the water to leak from the edge of the shower curtain over the transfer bench. Furthermore, the shower curtain may not be able to be draped completely into the bathtub or shower enclosure due to the size and configuration of the transfer bench.
It is therefore advantageous to have the shower curtain designed to accommodate a transfer bench used within a bathtub or shower enclosure. Such a shower curtain could help alleviate some of the problems associated with the use of the transfer bench with the conventional shower curtain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shower curtain for use with a transfer chair comprising: a sheet of protective material; a plurality of openings along a top portion of the sheet; a plurality of hanging devices, where the plurality of hanging devices are insert through the plurality of openings and provides a means to hang the sheet on a rod; a plurality of attachment means along the bottom edge of the sheet, where said attachment means secures the sheet to a shower enclosure; and an opening along a portion of the bottom edge of the sheet, where said opening provides a means to accommodate the transfer chair. The attachment means may include magnets or suction cups placed along the bottom edge of the sheet. The attachment means may also include a means to the secure a portion of the bottom edge of the sheet to the transfer chair.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a view of a shower curtain according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a shower curtain specifically designed to accommodate a transfer chair within a shower. The shower curtain according to the present invention includes a special opening to allow the positioning of a transfer chair in a shower and a means to firmly secure the curtain in place. The shower curtain according to the present invention alleviates some of the problems associated with conventional shower curtains that may be utilized with a transfer chair.
FIG. 1 depicts a shower curtain that is specifically designed to accommodate a transfer bench. A shower curtain 10 is hung from a shower rod 32 within FIG. 1. The shower enclosure includes a bathtub 35 with a front seal and the shower portion is enclosed by a shower curtain 10 and the surrounding enclosures include the back wall and the side walls that surround the other edges of the bathtub. A showerhead 30 is depicted behind the shower curtain 10. Further shown within the bathtub 35 is a transfer bench 20. The transfer bench is a conventional size and shape transfer bench that is used to by the handicapped and elderly to assist in the entry and use of a shower. The transfer bench 20 fits within a cutout section 14 of the shower curtain 10. As depicted, the shower curtain 10 includes a bottom portion 13 and bottom portion 17 which are on each side of the transfer cutout section 14. Slight openings 12 a, 12 b are provided at each end of the cutout section 14. Along the bottom edge of the shower curtain 10 are a plurality of attachment devices 15 that help secure the lower edge of the shower curtain 10 to the bathtub 35. The shower curtain 10 is secured on the inner side of the bathtub 35 in order to prevent the spilling of water during a shower.
As depicted, the shower curtain 10 includes the cutout section 14 wherein the cutout section 14 has a higher lower edge as opposed to the bottom portion 13 and bottom portion 17 of the shower curtain 10. This cutout section 14 accommodates the size and position of the transfer bench 20. This configuration for the shower curtain 10 therefore alleviates problems associated with use of the conventional shower curtain with a transfer bench. A plurality of hanging devices 16 is shown at the top of shower curtain 10 which are attached to the shower rod 32. The hanging devices 16 include hanging attachments inserted through the plurality holes or openings along the top edge of the shower curtain 10.
The shower curtain 10 prevents water spills when an individual is utilizing a transfer bench within a bathtub or a shower enclosure. The plurality of attachment devices 15 secures the lower edge of the curtain 10 to the inner portion of the bathtub. The attachment devices may include a magnetic tabs or suction cups disposed along the lower edge of the shower curtain 10. This shower curtain 10 prevents falls and reduces risk of injury by securing the shower curtain 10 to the transfer bench through the use of the magnetic strips or suction cups. The lower edge is also secured to the bathtub or shower enclosure. The lower edge sections 13 and lower edge section 17 may be equal length to a conventional shower curtain however the cutout section 14 rises above a transfer bench and is just above the seat portion of transfer bench. The shower curtain 10 may be utilized in homes, hospitals and geriatric facilities where appropriate.

Claims

1. A shower curtain for use with a transfer chair comprising:

a. a sheet of protective material;

b. a plurality of openings along a top portion of the sheet;

c. a plurality of hanging devices, where the plurality of hanging devices are insert through the plurality of openings and provides a means to hang the sheet on a rod;

d. a plurality of attachment means along the bottom edge of the sheet, where said attachment means secures the sheet to a shower enclosure; and

e. an opening along a portion of the bottom edge of the sheet, where said opening provides a means to accommodate the transfer chair.

2. The shower curtain according to claim 1, where the said attachment means includes magnets placed along the bottom edge.

3. The shower curtain according to claim 1, where the attachment means includes suction cups along the bottom edge.

4. The shower curtain according to claim 1, where the attachment means includes a means to the secure a portion of the bottom edge of the sheet to the transfer chair.

5. The shower curtain according to claim 1, where the plurality of hanging devices are evenly spaced across the top edge of the sheet.

6. The shower curtain according to claim 1, where the plurality of attachment means are evenly spaced across the lower edge of the sheet.

7. The shower curtain according to claim 1, where the lower edge of the opening is at a higher position than the remaining lower edge of the sheet.