Adjustable shower rod assembly

Abstract

One embodiment of a mounting assembly for mounting a non-linear curtain rod to a surface includes a rod receiver assembly, a surface mount and a locking mechanism. The rod receiver assembly receives the curtain rod. The surface mount mounts onto the surface. The surface mount rotatably supports the rod receiver assembly for rotation about a first axis that is non-parallel to the surface. The locking mechanism moves from a locked position to an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the rod receiver assembly is rotatable. Rotation of the rod receiver assembly causes rotation of the curtain rod. In the locked position the rod receiver assembly is simultaneously inhibited from rotating in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction about the first axis.

1 . A mounting assembly for mounting a non-linear curtain rod to a surface, the mounting assembly comprising: 
 a rod receiver assembly that receives the curtain rod;    a surface mount that mounts onto the surface, the surface mount rotatably supporting the rod receiver assembly for rotation about a first axis that is non-parallel to the surface; and    a locking mechanism that moves from a locked position to an unlocked position; wherein in the unlocked position the rod receiver assembly is rotatable, and in the locked position the rod receiver assembly is simultaneously inhibited from rotating in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction about the first axis.    
   
   
       2 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first axis is substantially orthogonal to the surface.  
   
   
       3 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism selectively moves between an extended position and a retracted position, and wherein the locking mechanism is biased toward the extended position.  
   
   
       4 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the rod receiver assembly includes a rod receiver that attaches to the curtain rod and a receiver housing that supports the rod receiver, the rod receiver pivoting relative to the receiver housing.  
   
   
       5 . The mounting assembly of  claim 4  wherein the rod receiver pivots relative to a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
   
   
       6 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism moves between a plurality of different locked positions.  
   
   
       7 . The mounting assembly of  claim 6  wherein two of the locked positions are approximately 180 degrees apart from one another.  
   
   
       8 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking pin that extends through a portion of the rod receiver assembly when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.  
   
   
       9 . The mounting assembly of  claim 8  wherein the locking pin does not extend through the portion of the rod receiver assembly when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.  
   
   
       10 . The mounting assembly of  claim 8  wherein the locking pin is spring-loaded.  
   
   
       11 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the rod receiver assembly includes a pin aperture that receives a portion of the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.  
   
   
       12 . The mounting assembly of  claim 11  wherein the pin aperture does not receive the portion of the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.  
   
   
       13 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the curtain rod has a substantially arcuate configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein rotation of the rod receiver assembly causes rotation of the curtain rod.  
   
   
       15 . A mounting assembly for mounting a non-linear curtain rod to a surface, the mounting assembly comprising: 
 a rod receiver that is pivotably secured to the curtain rod;    a receiver housing that supports the rod receiver so that the rod receiver pivots relative to the receiver housing about a first axis that is non-orthogonal to the surface; and    a surface mount that mounts onto the surface, the surface mount supporting the receiver housing to allow rotation of the receiver housing about a second axis that is non-parallel to the surface.    
   
   
       16 . The mounting assembly of  claim 15  wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to the surface.  
   
   
       17 . The mounting assembly of  claim 15  wherein the second axis is substantially orthogonal to the surface.  
   
   
       18 . The mounting assembly of  claim 15  wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.  
   
   
       19 . The mounting assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a locking mechanism that selectively inhibits all rotation of the receiver housing about the second axis.  
   
   
       20 . The mounting assembly of  claim 19  wherein the locking mechanism selectively moves from a locked position to an unlocked position, wherein in the unlocked position the receiver housing is rotatable, and in the locked position the receiver housing is inhibited from all rotation about the second axis.  
   
   
       21 . The mounting assembly of  claim 20  wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking pin that extends through a portion of the receiver housing when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.  
   
   
       22 . The mounting assembly of  claim 21  wherein the locking pin does not extend through the portion of the receiver housing when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.  
   
   
       23 . The mounting assembly of  claim 21  wherein the locking pin is spring-loading.  
   
   
       24 . The mounting assembly of  claim 19  wherein the locking mechanism selectively moves between an extended position and a retracted position, and wherein the locking mechanism is biased toward the extended position.  
   
   
       25 . The mounting assembly of  claim 15  wherein the receiver housing includes a pin aperture that receives a portion of the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.  
   
   
       26 . The mounting assembly of  claim 25  wherein the pin aperture does not receive the portion of the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.  
   
   
       27 . The mounting assembly of  claim 15  wherein rotation of the receiver housing causes rotation of the curtain rod.  
   
   
       28 . A method for movably positioning a curtain rod relative to a surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 attaching the curtain rod to a rod receiver assembly that is rotatable about a first axis; and    controlling rotation of the rod receiver assembly with a locking mechanism that moves from a locked position wherein the rod receiver assembly is rotatable to an unlocked position wherein the rod receiver assembly is simultaneously inhibited from rotating in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction about the first axis.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the step of pivoting a rod receiver of the rod receiver assembly relative to a receiver housing of the rod receiver assembly, the rod receiver attaching to the curtain rod, the receive housing supporting the rod receiver, the rod receiver pivoting about a second axis that is different than the first axis.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the step of controlling includes extending a portion of the locking mechanism through a portion of the rod receiver assembly when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.