Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural strip – slat – or panel type – With mounting or supporting means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-18
2001-02-06
Johnson, Blair M. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural strip, slat, or panel type
With mounting or supporting means
C160S206000, C004S558000, C004S608000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182738
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a screen, and more particularly to a shower screen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical shower curtains comprise a sheet of water proof cloth material having an upper portion slidably engaged on a top rail. The cloth material may be unfolded to prevent water from spilling when showering. However, the curtain may not suitably prevent water from spilling.
In order to solve such problems, the applicant has developed an improved shower screen which has been issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,810 to Chen. However, the bottom portion of the shower screen is not secured to the lower bar and may be easily separated from the bar, such that the water may also split out through the gap formed between the lower portion of the shower screen and the bar.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional shower curtains.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a shower screen for preventing water from spilling and for stably securing the bottom portion of the shower screen to a lower guide bar.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a shower screen comprising a pair of vertical posts each including a longitudinal channel formed therein and each including a bottom portion, a guide rod secured on top of the posts, a screen member including an upper portion slidably secured to the guide rod for allowing the screen member to be folded and unfolded, the screen member including two side portions, a beam secured to each of the side portions of the screen member and each including a rib for engaging with the channel of the post for preventing spilling, a guide bar including two ends secured to the bottom portions of the posts for forming a bottom block and guide member, and means for slidably securing the beams to the guide bar and to guide the beams to slide along the guide bar.
The beams each includes a notch formed therein for engaging with the guide bar and for preventing the beams from moving beyond the guide bar. The guide bar includes a base and a wall extended upward from the base, the wall includes an outer surface. The beams each includes a bottom portion, the slidably securing means includes two retaining members secured to the bottom portions of the beams respectively and slidably engaged with the outer surface of the wall.
The retaining members each includes a projection extended upward therefrom and secured to the bottom portions of the beams respectively. The base includes an upper portion having a tapered surface formed thereon and facing away from the wall. The wall includes an upper portion having a flange extended laterally therefrom.
Two brackets are further secured on top of the posts, the guide rod includes two ends secured in the brackets and includes a groove formed in a bottom portion thereof, a rail is secured in the guide rod and includes a duct aligned with the groove of the guide rod.
The screen member includes a plurality of slides provided on the upper portion thereof and slidably engaged in the groove of the guide rod and the duct of the rail for allowing the panels to be folded and unfolded. The brackets each includes a key, the groove includes two ends engaged with the keys of the brackets for preventing the guide rod from rotating relative to the brackets.
Two sleeves are further engaged on the ends of the guide rod for engaging with the brackets and for allowing the guide rod to be secured to the brackets. The screen member includes a plurality of panels pivotally coupled together at a plurality of live hinges and having an upper portion slidably secured to the guide rod.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2699827 (1955-01-01), Carson
patent: 2885000 (1959-05-01), Merrill
patent: 2897515 (1959-05-01), Collins
patent: 2929115 (1960-03-01), Beckstrom
patent: 3054118 (1962-09-01), Bullock
patent: 3062279 (1962-11-01), Kochanowski
patent: 3418666 (1968-12-01), Rockey
patent: 3994330 (1976-11-01), Laby
patent: 4089135 (1978-05-01), Beny et al.
patent: 4228560 (1980-10-01), Baus
patent: 4258443 (1981-03-01), Baus
patent: 4404770 (1983-09-01), Markus
patent: 5690157 (1997-11-01), Chen
patent: 5822810 (1998-10-01), Chen
Baxley Charles E.
Johnson Blair M.
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