US20050246831A1

US20050246831A1 - Shower cover

Info

Publication number: US20050246831A1
Application number: US10/840,071
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Mayhew; Barbara Mayhew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-05
Filing date: 2004-05-05
Publication date: 2005-11-10

Abstract

A partial roof cover to place over a shower stall to prevent drafts from entering the shower, which has proper drainage channels and elevated spacers around a bottom edge that allow controlled airflow.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to covers for showers, and in particular to a partial roof cover over a shower stall to prevent drafts from entering the shower with proper drainage and controlled air flow.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shower stalls are normally open at the top so that steam can escape, but also allowing cold drafts to enter the shower stall. Since there is often an open window or fan in a bathroom to dissipate steam, there can also be cold drafts entering the bathroom as a result which adds to the draft problem in the shower. While there have been prior art attempts to solve the problem of drafts coming in through a top opening in a shower stall, none have adequately addressed the problems of draining water from a cover over the shower and providing a controlled draft system to maintain a desirable temperature in the shower stall.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,713, issued Sep. 1, 1992 to Makool, describes an adapter for selectively converting a conventional shower to a steam sauna. The adapter includes a spray mist nozzle for developing a spray mist. In an alternative preferred form, water spray orifices are provided in addition to the spray mist nozzle and are separately controlled by a plate valve mounted to the handle with provisions for selective manual operation. The handle and attached spray nozzle are connected to the shower water outlet to selectively deliver water from the shower water outlet under pressure to the spray nozzle. A mount is provided for operably securing the spray nozzle to one of the shower stall walls; or more particularly, to a deflection plate which in turn is mountable to the one shower stall wall. The deflection plate is oriented angularly in relation to the spray nozzle to receive and deflect spray therefrom. The deflection plate also includes a diffusion surface thereon for receiving and angularly dispersing spray from a pattern produced by the spray nozzle in a substantially diffused pattern. The dome and trim effectively contain the spray and steam within the unit. Along with a plastic flap mounted above the door in some cases where the door is shorter than the shower stall, the flap is attached under the dome in between the molding and hangs down into the door to further contain the steam mist within the unit.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,760, issued Feb. 11, 1975 to Bowen, shows a translucent, bendable, sawable, fiber-reinforced plastic sheet fitted between the rail of a sliding closure, for a recessed tub or shower, and the ceiling or sidewall. When extended horizontally to the wall, the sheet is domed for self-support.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,905, issued Dec. 5, 1978 to Bowen, claims a bathing facility wherein the space over a shower or tub enclosure, of the type made in one-piece of fiber-reinforced plastic and having walls extending up to about the level of a rail supporting sliding doors, is closed with a dome and a wall extending from the rail to the bathroom ceiling, so that no finish is required over studs and ceiling joists in that space and so that warm and moisture-laden air can't escape from the enclosure, via that space, into the remainder of the bathroom.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,368, issued Dec. 28, 1982 to Boggs, describes a transparent enclosure for a bathing facility such as a bath tub, tub-shower or shower stall, which comprises a domed hood cylindrically and/or spherically curved about a radius substantially matching the width of the enclosure to confine the hot moist air from the hot water within the bathing facility and to cause it to circulate around the person of the user. The hood is made of three telescoping parts for adjustment to fit different lengths of tub and shower stall installations, and a riser is provided for use where the normal top of the enclosure would provide inadequate head room if the hood were mounted directly thereon.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,550, issued Dec. 10, 1991 to Reeves, discloses an improved closure for use in a space at the upper portion of a stall area for a bath, shower, spa or the like, to provide a humidity and heat barrier. A foldable thin sheet of material is supported by a framework mounted in the upper portion of the stall area. The framework is designed to be supported in the upper portion of the stall by urging against or securing to two opposing walls. A highly flexible material, such as a thin vinyl sheet or a fabric sheet, is chosen for the foldable sheet. The flexible sheet is supported by the framework in an inverted V-shaped arrangement.
What is needed in a shower cover over a portion of the top opening of a shower stall to prevent cold drafts from entering the shower, the shower cover having a drip edge and an elevated mount allowing controlled air flow to release steam and maintain a desirable temperature in the shower to retain most of the heat from a shower spray within a shower stall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a shower cover over a portion of the top opening of a shower stall to prevent cold drafts from entering the shower, the shower cover having a drip edge to drain the water off of the shower cover and let it drain into the shower stall and an elevated mount allowing controlled air flow to release steam and keep most of the heat from the shower spray to maintain a desirable temperature in the shower stall.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sloping shower cover in the shape of a half dome or a half pyramid structure so that the water drips down and does not settle on the shower cover.
One more object of the present invention is to provide a shower cover that may be manufactured to fit many different shapes of shower stalls.
In brief, a shower cover prevents cold drafts from entering a shower and controls the temperature in a shower stall. The device comprises a covering structure that fits over a portion of the top opening of a shower stall. The covering structure comprises a sloping surface having a drip edge at a low point of the sloping surface to drain water off of the covering structure. The drip edge comprises a sloping channel formed in the covering structure within a perimeter of a shower stall so that the water drips into a shower stall.
The covering structure further comprises a series of mounting elements around the bottom edge of the covering structure, which rests on the top edges of two adjacent sides of a shower stall. The mounting elements comprise preferably molded protruding spacers or attached rubberized spacers on the bottom edges of the covering structure and extend below the covering structure so that the mounting elements rest on the top edges of the shower stall, thereby elevating the bottom edges of the covering structure above the pair of adjacent top edges of the shower stall. This allows a controlled flow of air between the top edge of a shower stall and the covering structure, which releases steam and maintains a desirable temperature in a shower stall. Each of the bottom edges of the covering structure extends horizontally beyond the outside surface of a shower stall with each edge having an outside flange extending vertically downward so that the outside flange is spaced apart from an outside surface of a shower stall leaving an air passage therebetween.
The preferred embodiment of the covering structure comprises a half-dome shape structure over a half of the shower stall with two lower side edges conforming to two sides of a top edge of a shower stall. The half-dome shape structure is formed of a molded waterproof synthetic material.
An alternate embodiment of the covering structure comprises a half-pyramid shape structure over a half of the shower stall with two lower side edges conforming to two sides of a top edge of a shower stall. The half pyramid shape structure is formed of flat plates of waterproof rigid material supported by a frame structure at least on the bottom edges. The flat plates of material are manufactured from glass or a synthetic material. The covering structure may be further manufactured to fit different shower stall shapes and sizes.
An advantage of the present invention is that it prevents cold drafts from entering the shower.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it drains the condensation off of the shower cover and into the shower stall.
An additional advantage of the present invention is that it releases steam.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that it maintains a desirable temperature in the shower stall.
One more advantage of the present invention is that it is economical to manufacture.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is easy to install.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it minimizes the chance of mildew forming on bathroom walls.
A final advantage of the present invention is that it is removable and could be used on similar shower stalls within the same home.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred half-dome shaped embodiment of the shower cover of the present invention is positioned to be lowered onto two top edges of a shower stall;
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken through the bottom edge of the shower cover of FIG. 1 and the top edge of the shower stall;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the shower cover of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the shower cover of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the shower cover of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate half-pyramid shaped embodiment of the shower cover of the present invention mounted on two adjacent top edges of a shower stall.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-6, a shower cover device 20 and 20A to prevent cold drafts from entering a shower 30 and control temperature in a shower stall 30. The device 20 and 20A comprises a covering structure 20 and 20A over a portion of a top opening 31 of a shower stall 30. The covering structure 20 and 20A comprises a sloping surface 25 and 25A having a drip edge 24 at a low point of the sloping surface 25 and 25A to drain water off of the covering structure 20 and 20A. The drip edge 24 comprises a sloping channel 24 formed in the covering structure 20 and 20A within a perimeter of a shower stall 30, as shown in detail in FIG. 2. The channel 24 is adapted for admitting water to flow therein so that the water drips into a shower stall 30.
The covering structure 20 and 20A further comprises a series of mounting elements, preferably protruding spacers 23 around the bottom edge 22 of the covering structure, which rests on the top edge 31 of a shower stall 30. The protruding spacers 23 are adapted for elevating the covering structure 20 and 20A above a top edge 31 of a shower stall 30, thereby allowing a controlled flow of air, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 2, between a top edge 31 of a shower stall 30 and the covering structure 20 and 20A to release steam and maintain a desirable temperature in a shower stall 30.
The mounting elements are preferably protruding spacers 23 formed in molding the device or rubberized spacers that are attached on the bottom edges 22 of the covering structure. The protruding spacers 23 extend below the covering structure 20 and 20A so that the protruding spacers 23 rest on adjacent top edges 31 on two sides of a shower stall 30, thereby elevating the bottom edges 22 of the covering structure 20 and 20A above the pair of adjacent top edges 31 of a shower stall 30. This admits air between the bottom edges 22 of the covering structure 20 and 20A and the pair of adjacent top edges 31 of a shower stall 30, as shown by arrows in FIG. 2. Each of the bottom edges 22 of the covering structure extends horizontally beyond the outside surface of a shower stall 30. The bottom edges 22 of the covering structure further comprise an outside flange 21 extending vertically downward from each of the bottom edges 22 of the covering structure so that the outside flange 21 is spaced apart from an outside surface 32 of a shower stall 30 leaving an air passage therebetween, as seen in FIG. 2.
The preferred embodiment of the covering structure 20, shown in FIGS. 1-5, comprises a half-dome shape structure 25 over a half of the shower stall 30 with two lower side edges 22 conforming to two sides of a top edge 31 of a shower stall 30. The half-dome shape structure 25 is preferably formed of a molded waterproof synthetic material.
An alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, in which the covering structure 20A comprises a half pyramid shape structure 25A over a half of the shower stall 30 with two lower side edges 22 conforming to two sides of a top edge 31 of a shower stall 30. The half pyramid shape structure 25A is formed of flat plates 26 of waterproof rigid material which may be supported by a frame structure at least around the lower edges 22. The flat plates 26 of material are manufactured from glass or a synthetic material.
In practice the covering structure 20 or 20A would be easily installed by first aligning the covering structure 20 or 20A over the top edge 31 of the shower 30, as demonstrated in FIG. 1. The covering structure 20 or 20A would then be placed so that the protruding spacers 23 rest on adjacent top edges 31 on two sides of a shower stall 30, as seen in FIG. 2, thereby elevating the bottom edges 22 of the covering structure 20 or 20A above the pair of adjacent top edges 31 of a shower stall 30. The installer would then check to see that the covering structure 20 or 20A is properly seated on the top edge 31 of the shower stall 30, having the drip edge 24 completely within the perimeter of the shower stall 30.
It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A shower cover device to prevent cold drafts from entering a shower and control temperature in a shower stall, the device comprising:

a covering structure over a portion of a top opening of a shower stall, the covering structure comprising a sloping surface having a drip edge at a low point of the sloping surface to drain water off of the covering structure, at least a pair of bottom edges adapted to fit on a mating pair of top edges of a shower stall, and a series of mounting elements around the bottom edges of the covering structure resting on a top of a shower stall, the mounting elements adapted for elevating the covering structure above a pair of top edges of a shower stall allowing a controlled flow of air between a pair of top edges of a shower stall and the covering structure to release steam and maintain a desirable temperature in a shower stall.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the mounting elements comprise protruding spacers attached to the bottom edges of the covering structure extending below the covering structure so that the protruding spacers rest on adjacent top edges on two sides of a shower stall elevating the bottom edges of the covering structure above a pair of adjacent top edges of a shower stall admitting air between the bottom edges of the covering structure and a pair of adjacent top edges of a shower stall.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein at least the bottom edges are formed by a molding process and the protruding spacers are protrusions formed in the molding process extending downwardly from the bottom edges.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the protruding spacers comprise rubberized spacers attached to the bottom edges of the covering structure.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein each of the bottom edges of the covering structure extend horizontally beyond an outside surface of a shower stall and further comprising an outside flange extending vertically downward from each of the bottom edges of the covering structure so that the outside flange is spaced apart from an outside surface of a shower stall leaving an air passage therebetween.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the drip edge comprises a sloping channel formed in the covering structure within a perimeter of a shower stall, the channel adapted for admitting water to flow therein so that the water drips into a shower stall.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the covering structure comprises a half dome shape structure over a half of the shower stall with two lower side edges conforming to two sides of a top edge of a shower stall.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the half dome shape structure is formed of a molded waterproof synthetic material.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the covering structure comprises a half pyramid shape structure over a half of the shower stall with two lower side edges conforming to two sides of a top edge of a shower stall.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the half pyramid shape structure is formed of flat plates of waterproof rigid material supported by a frame structure.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the flat plates of material are a synthetic material.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the flat plates of material are glass.