Rotable shower expander rod assembly

Abstract

A rotable shower expander rod assembly is herein described, for a shower stall or tub enclosure having an access opening for the ingress and egress of the user, and which includes a curved rotable shower expander rod, two retaining rings, two fasteners or set screws, and two detents, each with a spring and ball bearing, so as to have two fixed, yet movable positions, a shower bar or tension rod, and a shower curtain or liner. And, wherein the function of the rotable shower expander rod assembly is to reconfigure and repurpose a straight shower rod into a curved shower rod that is rotable, so that when the rod portion of the assembly is rotated outward to the first or operable position, it comes into contact with a shower curtain and moves it away from the shower area, thereby greatly increasing usable shower space for the comfort of the user. The rotable shower expander rod assembly also has an additional function. When rotated into the second or nonuse position it serves as a rod from which to hang wet items from, so that they may drip dry, and the excess water runs safely down into the shower or tub basin to drain.

1 . A rotable shower expander rod assembly for increasing usable shower space in a shower stall or tub enclosure, and for holding a shower curtain at a fixed set distance outward from the access opening in a first or operable position, away from the user, so as to prevent it from billowing into the shower environment, and alternately rotable or movable into a second position, inward, at a fixed set distance into the shower stall or tub enclosure, for use as a holder or hanger for wet items to drip dry into a shower stall or tub enclosure basin, and to conserve bathroom space outside of a shower stall or tub enclosure, and to be more aesthetically pleasing, and comprising;
 a rotable shower expander rod, with through openings at both ends; and   two retaining rings; each retaining ring containing a set screw or fastener and a spring-loaded ball-bearing detent, for incorporation within the through ends of the rotable shower expander rod, and acting together in unison with the rotable shower expander rod to make an assembly, so that when fastened onto a straight shower bar or tension rod it has the same effect as that of a stationary curved shower bar or tension rod; and   a shower curtain, as part of the assembly, located in the access opening and attached to the shower bar or tension rod by rings or hooks, and which opens or doses the access opening for the ingress and egress of the user and prevents water from leaking outside of a shower stall or tub enclosure.   
   
   
       2 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 1  having two fixed yet movable positions; a first or operable position for engaging and moving a shower curtain outward through the access opening, and a second nonuse position when the rod is rotated inside the tub or shower area, for the hanging of wet items from, so that they may drip dry into the shower stall or tub enclosure basin. 
   
   
       3 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shower expander rod is curved or bowed, with through openings at both ends in which the two retaining rings are seated and which secure and center the rotable shower expander rod onto the shower bar or tension rod by means of set screws or fasteners. 
   
   
       4 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 1 , further, having two spring-loaded ball-bearing detents, one inserted into each end of the rotable shower expander rod, and which rod, when usably attached to and positioned on a straight shower bar or tension rod and combined with the two retaining rings, forms an assembly and is rotable on the axis of the two retaining rings, thereby contacting and moving the top portion of the shower curtain outwardly through the access opening, and thus increasing usable space in the shower stall or tub enclosure. 
   
   
       5 . The rotable shower expander assembly of  claim 1 , wherein two retaining rings provide a means of securing, positioning, maintaining, and rotating the rotable shower expander rod on the shower bar or tension rod, when incorporated into each of the two through openings of the rotable shower expander rod ends, so as to make a complete assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 5 , whereby the lips or edges of the two retaining rings center and hold the rotable shower expander rod onto the straight shower bar or rod, at a set distance between the two end walls of the shower or tub enclosure, and allow the rotable shower expander rod to rotate on the axis of the two retaining rings while being enclosed between the lips or edges of the two retaining rings. 
   
   
       7 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 1  comprising a method for securing, positioning, maintaining, and rotating a curved shower expander rod assembly on the axis of a straight shower bar or tension rod so as to increase usable shower area, by contacting and moving a shower curtain outward from the shower or tub area, and alternately inward into the shower or tub area, when not in use, for the hanging of wet items and to conserve bathroom space outside of the shower stall or tub area. 
   
   
       8 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a means for selectively securing, positioning, maintaining, and rotating the rotable shower expander rod and a shower curtain at a set distance outward through the access opening, when the rotable shower expander rod assembly is in the first or operable position, so as to increase usable shower space, and alternately inward a set or fixed distance into the tub or shower area when in the second or nonuse position, for hanging wet items to drip dry in the shower or tub basin and to conserve bathroom space outside of the shower or tub basin, and to be more aesthetically pleasing. 
   
   
       9 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 8 , further, wherein the selective means for positioning and maintaining the shower expander rod assembly in the first or operable position, outward, at a set distance from the access opening of a shower or tub area, consists of two spring-loaded ball-bearing detents, one each affixed into each of the two threaded holes in the ends of the rotable shower expander rod and engaging matching concave indentations or cavities formed on the outer circumference of each of the two retaining rings, thus forming an outward set point or stop. 
   
   
       10 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 8 , further, comprising a means for selectively positioning and maintaining the rotable shower expander rod in a second or nonuse position, inward, by means of two spring-loaded ball-bearing detents, one each affixed into each of the two threaded holes in the ends of the rotable shower expander rod and thereby engaging matching concave indentations or cavities formed on the outer circumference of each of the two retaining rings, thus forming an inward set point or stop, and from which wet items may be hung to drip dry into a shower stall or tub enclosure basin to drain. 
   
   
       11 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 1 , alternately, wherein the shape or configuration of the bow or curve is straight, having two ends that are perpendicular to the straight longer portion of the rod and extend a set or fixed distance from the shower bar or tension rod. 
   
   
       12 . The rotable shower expander rod assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a method for converting a straight shower bar or tension rod into a multipurpose device, for both increasing usable shower space in the first or rotable position and for the hanging of wet items to dry from when in the second or nonuse position.