Shower screen sealing structure

Abstract

A sealing structure for use with a shower screen, the sealing structure including a pair of sealing components for providing a sealing structure between the shower screen side edges and adjacent shower booth walls. The shower structure includes a pair of sealing components each of which defines first and second sealing sections. A first sealing section is attached to a corresponding shower booth wall while a second sealing section is mounted in sealing engagement with the corresponding side edge of the shower curtain. The first-to-second sealing section attachment structure allows for attachment of the first and second sealing sections together while allowing relative movement between the first and second sealing sections. In term, the relative movement allows for adjustment of an edge distance between the edges of the second sealing section in contact with the side edges of the shower curtain.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A sealing structure for use with a shower screen, said shower screen defining a screen attachment end, a generally opposed screen free end, a screen first side edge and a generally opposed screen second side edge, said shower screen being used for selectively extending at least partially across a shower booth aperture, said shower booth aperture defining a booth aperture top edge, an opposed booth aperture bottom edge, a booth aperture first side edge and an opposed booth aperture second side edge; said screen attachment end being attachable to a deployment mechanism, said deployment mechanism being attachable between said booth aperture first and second side edges generally adjacent said booth aperture top edge, said deployment mechanism allowing said shower screen to slide relative to said shower booth aperture between a retracted configuration wherein said screen free end is position generally adjacent the deployment mechanism leaving said shower booth aperture generally opened and an extended configuration wherein said screen free end is positioned generally adjacent said booth aperture bottom edge so that said shower screen at least partially covers said shower booth aperture, said sealing structure comprising: 
 a sealing component, said sealing component including: 
 a generally elongated first sealing section, said first sealing section defining a first section first longitudinal end an opposed first section second longitudinal end, a first section first transversal edge, an opposed first section second transversal edge and a first section longitudinal axis, said first section first transversal edge being attachable to said booth aperture first side edge in sealing engagement therewith;  
 a generally elongated second sealing section defining a second section first longitudinal end, an opposed second section second longitudinal end, a second section first transversal edge, an opposed second section second transversal edge and a second section longitudinal axis; said second section first transversal edge being provided with a second section-to-screen edge sealing means for maintaining a sealing contact with said screen first side edge while allowing said shower screen to move between said retracted and extended configurations;  
 a first-to-second sealing section attachment means for attaching together said first and second sealing sections, said first-to-second sealing section attachment means allowing relative movement between said first and second sealing sections so as to allow for adjustment of the edge distance between said first sealing section and said second sealing section first side edges along the length of said sealing structure.  
   
     
     
         2 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first-to-second sealing section attachment further allows for angular movement between said first and second sealing sections so as to vary the angular relationship between said first and second sealing section longitudinal axes.  
     
     
         3 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first sealing section defines a longitudinally extending first section adjustment wall, said first section adjustment wall being provided with a generally transversally extending adjustment slot;    said second sealing section defines a longitudinally extending second section adjustment wall, said second section adjustment wall being provided with an adjustment pin extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, said adjustment pin being insertable into said adjustment slot for slidable movement therealong;    said sealing structure further includes a pin-to-slot locking means for locking said adjustment pin in a pin position along said adjustment slot;    whereby the slidable movement of said adjustment pin in said adjustment slot guides the relative movement between said first and second sealing sections and whereby said pin-to-slot locking means allows said first and second sealing sections to be locked in a spacing configuration relative to each other.    
     
     
         4 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first sealing section defines a longitudinally extending first section adjustment wall, said first section adjustment wall being provided with at least two generally transversally extending adjustment slots;    said second sealing section defines a longitudinally extending second section adjustment wall, said second section adjustment wall being provided with at least two adjustment pins extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, said adjustment pins being insertable into said adjustment slots for slidable movement therealong;    said adjustment slots and said adjustment pins being spaced longitudinally relative to each other respectively along said first section adjustment wall and said second section adjustment wall;    said sealing structure further including at least two pin-to-slot locking means for respectively locking said adjustment pins in a predetermined position along a corresponding adjustment slot;    whereby the slidable movement of said adjustment pins in said adjustment slots guides the relative movement between said first and second sealing sections and whereby by variations in the positioning of said adjustment pins relative to said adjustment slots along the length of said first and second sealing sections allows for adjustment of the angular relationship between said first and second section longitudinal axes.    
     
     
         5 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said pin-to-slot locking means is a releasable locking means for selectively allowing locking and unlocking of said pin in a pin position along said adjustment slot.  
     
     
         6 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said pin is a bolt having a threaded bolt stem extending both through said adjustment slot and through a bolt aperture formed in said second section adjustment wall, said bolt having a bolt head for abutting against an outer surface of said second section adjustment wall and wherein said pin-to-slot locking means includes a nut threadably engaging said bolt stem for frictionally abutting against an inner surface of said first section adjustment wall.  
     
     
         7 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said second section-to-screen edge sealing means includes a second section sealing component attached to said second section adjustment wall, said second section sealing component having a generally U-shaped transversal cross-sectional configuration defining a sealing component slot leading into a sealing component channel; said screen first side edge being provided with a screen edge retaining protrusion protruding therefrom, said screen edge retaining protrusion being configured and sized for longitudinal slidable insertion into said sealing component channel and for preventing a retraction thereof from said sealing component channel through said sealing component slot.  
     
     
         8 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said screen edge retaining protrusion is configured and sized for cooperating with said second section sealing component so as to releasably prevent said screen edge retaining protrusion from being retracted through said sealing component slot while allowing said screen edge retaining protrusion to be retracted from said sealing component slot when a predetermined threshold pressure is applied to said shower screen.  
     
     
         9 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said sealing component slot extends in a direction generally parallel to said second section adjustment wall and wherein said second section sealing component is attached to said second section adjustment wall by a second section adjustment wall-to-sealing component spacing arm, said second section adjustment wall-to-sealing component spacing arm extending in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to said second section adjustment wall.  
     
     
         10 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first sealing section further includes a first section blocking wall attached to said first section adjustment wall, said first section blocking wall extending in a generally spaced and parallel relationship relative to said first section adjustment wall, whereby said first section blocking wall prevents a liquid having penetrated in said adjustment slot from flowing out of said shower booth.  
     
     
         11 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first section blocking wall is attached to said first section adjustment wall by a generally perpendicularly extending first section adjustment wall-to-blocking wall spacing leg, said first sealing section having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining a first section slot leading into a first section channel.  
     
     
         12 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said first sealing section is further provided with a removable sealing strip removably mounted across said first section slot and wherein said first sealing section is also further provided with an adjustment wall discharge aperture formed in said adjustment wall adjacent said first sealing component second longitudinal end.  
     
     
         13 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 12 , where said first sealing section further includes a mounting wall extending from said adjustment wall-to-blocking wall spacing leg in a generally parallel relationship relative thereto.  
     
     
         14 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said first sealing section is further provided with a wall attachment means extending from said mounting wall for attaching said first sealing section to said booth aperture first side edge.  
     
     
         15 . A sealing structure as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said first sealing section is further provided with a deflecting wall extending from said first section adjustment wall adjacent said first section first longitudinal end, said deflecting wall extending in an angled relationship relative to said first section adjustment wall and in a generally overlying relationship relative to said first section channel, whereby said deflecting wall allows for the deflection of a liquid in contact therewith towards said shower booth and prevents said liquid in contact therewith from penetrating into said first section channel.  
     
     
         16 . A sealing structure in combination with a shower screen, said shower screen defining a screen attachment end, a generally opposed screen free end, a screen first side edge and a generally opposed screen second side edge, said shower screen being used for selectively extending at least partially across a shower booth aperture, said shower booth aperture defining a booth aperture top edge, an opposed aperture bottom edge, a booth aperture first side edge and an opposed booth aperture second side edge; said screen attachment end being attachable to a deployment mechanism, said deployment mechanism being attachable between said booth aperture first and second side edges generally adjacent said aperture top edge, said deployment mechanism allowing said shower screen to slide relative to said shower booth aperture between a retracted configuration wherein said screen free end is position generally adjacent said deployment mechanism leaving said booth aperture generally opened and an extended configuration wherein said screen free end is positioned generally adjacent said booth aperture bottom edge so that said shower screen at least partially covers said shower booth aperture, said sealing structure comprising: 
 a pair of sealing components, each of said sealing components including: 
 a generally elongated first sealing section, said first sealing section defining a first section first longitudinal end an opposed first section second longitudinal end, a first section first transversal edge, an opposed first section second transversal edge and a first section longitudinal axis, said first section first transversal edge being attachable to said booth aperture first side edge in sealing engagement therewith; a generally elongated second sealing section defining a second section first longitudinal end;  
 an opposed second section second longitudinal end, a second section first transversal edge, an opposed second section second transversal edge and a second section longitudinal axis; said second section first transversal edge being provided with a second section-to-screen edge sealing means for maintaining a sealing contact with said screen first side edge while allowing said shower screen to move between said retracted and extending configurations;  
 a pair of first-to-second sealing section attachment means for attaching together corresponding said first and second sealing sections, each of said first-to-second sealing section attachment means allowing relative movement between corresponding said first and second sealing sections so as to allow for adjustment of the corresponding edge distance between said first sealing section and said second sealing section first side edges along the length of said sealing structure.  
   
     
     
         17 . A combination as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said deployment mechanism allows said shower screen to slide relative to said shower booth aperture in a direction generally parallel to said booth aperture bottom edge thereby following said adjustments of the corresponding edge distance between said first sealing section and said second sealing section of said pair of sealing components.  
     
     
         18 . A combination as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said first-to-second sealing section attachment means of at least one of said sealing components further allows for angular movement between corresponding said first and second sealing sections so as to vary the angular relationship between corresponding said first and second sealing section longitudinal axes.  
     
     
         19 . A combination as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said deployment mechanism includes a rotational biasing component means for biasing said shower screen into said retracted configuration.  
     
     
         20 . A combination as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said rotational biasing component means includes a rotational linkage mechanism allowing for adjustment of biasing force of said rotational biasing component means.