Standing shower caddy

Abstract

A standing shower caddy includes a frame, a horizontally adjustable shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, and a bumper. The horizontally adjustable shelf connects with a substantially vertical support member of the frame. The shelf adjustment mechanism cooperates with at least one of the frame and the horizontally adjustable shelf. The shelf adjustment mechanism is operable in a first operating position which allows for horizontal movement of the horizontally adjustable shelf with respect to the substantially vertical support member in a forward direction and a rearward direction. The shelf adjustment mechanism is also operable in a second operating position where the horizontally adjustable shelf is precluded from movement with respect to the substantially vertical support member in at least one of the forward direction and the rearward direction. The bumper can be located on the horizontally adjustable shelf to contact a substantially vertical wall surface of the shower stall.

1 . A standing shower caddy configured to be positioned adjacent a corner of an associated shower stall, the standing shower caddy comprising:
 a frame including a first lower leg, a first foot connected with the first lower leg, and a substantially vertical support member connected with the first lower leg, the first foot defining a first lower surface for contacting a substantially horizontal floor surface of the associated shower stall when the standing shower caddy is positioned inside the associated shower stall adjacent the corner;   a horizontally adjustable shelf connected with the substantially vertical support member of the frame;   a shelf adjustment mechanism cooperating with at least one of the frame and the horizontally adjustable shelf, wherein the shelf adjustment mechanism is operable in a first operating position which allows for horizontal movement of the horizontally adjustable shelf with respect to the substantially vertical support member in a forward direction and a rearward direction and a second operating position where the horizontally adjustable shelf is fixed with respect to the substantially vertical support member in at least one of the forward direction and the rearward direction; and   a bumper on the horizontally adjustable shelf, the bumper being configured to contact a substantially vertical wall surface of the associated shower stall when the standing shower caddy is positioned inside the associated shower stall adjacent the corner and the shelf adjustment mechanism is in the second operating position.   
     
     
         2 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a second lower leg connected with the substantially vertical support member and a second foot connected with the second lower leg, the second foot defining a second lower surface for contacting the substantially horizontal floor surface of the associated shower stall, the substantially vertical support member defining a lower end, which is configured to be positioned vertically offset from the substantially horizontal floor surface when the first lower surface and the second lower surface each contact the substantially horizontal floor surface and the bumper is contacting the substantially vertical wall surface of the associated shower stall. 
     
     
         3 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 1 , wherein the bumper on the horizontally adjustable shelf includes a first bumper configured to contact a first substantially vertical wall surface of the associated shower stall in which the standing shower caddy is positioned and a second bumper configured to contact a second substantially vertical wall surface of the associated shower stall, wherein the first substantially vertical wall surface is substantially perpendicular to the second substantially vertical wall surface to define the corner. 
     
     
         4 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 3 , wherein the horizontally adjustable shelf includes a first side edge and second side edge, wherein the first bumper is located on the first side edge and the second bumper is located on the second side edge. 
     
     
         5 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 4 , wherein the first side edge is substantially perpendicular to second side edge. 
     
     
         6 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 5 , wherein the horizontally adjustable shelf is configured for movement with respect to the substantially vertical support member along an axis that bisects an angle defined between the first side edge and the second side edge of the horizontally adjustable shelf. 
     
     
         7 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf adjustment mechanism connects with an upper end of the substantially vertical support member, and the horizontally adjustable shelf is disposed adjacent the upper end. 
     
     
         8 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 7 , wherein the shelf adjustment mechanism is a ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 8 , wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a rack connected with the horizontally adjustable shelf and a pawl connected with the frame. 
     
     
         10 . A standing shower caddy comprising:
 a substantially vertical support member;   a shelf connected with the vertical support member;   a first lower leg connected with the substantially vertical support member;   a second lower leg connected with the substantially vertical support member;   a first foot connected with the first lower leg and defining a first lower surface for contacting a substantially horizontal floor surface of an associated shower stall in which the standing shower caddy is positioned;   a second foot connected with the second lower leg and defining a second lower surface for contacting the substantially horizontal floor surface of the associated shower stall in which the standing shower caddy is positioned;   a movable bumper connected with the substantially vertical support member, the bumper being movable with respect to the substantially vertical support member for contacting a substantially vertical wall surface of the associated shower stall to stabilize the standing shower caddy within the shower stall.   
     
     
         11 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 10 , further comprising a horizontally adjustable shelf connected with the substantially vertical support member and movable with respect to the substantially vertical support member, wherein the bumper is located on the horizontally adjustable shelf and connects with the substantially vertical support member through the horizontally adjustable shelf. 
     
     
         12 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 11 , wherein the bumper is connected with and formed separately from the horizontally adjustable shelf. 
     
     
         13 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 11 , wherein the horizontally adjustable shelf includes a first side edge and second side edge perpendicular to the first side edge, wherein the movable bumper includes a first bumper located on the first side edge and a second bumper located on the second side edge. 
     
     
         14 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 13 , wherein the first side edge is substantially perpendicular to the second side edge and the horizontally adjustable shelf adjusts along an axis angularly spaced equidistant from the first side edge and the second side edge. 
     
     
         15 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 10 , wherein the substantially vertical support member defines a lower end, which is configured to be positioned vertically offset from the substantially horizontal floor surface when the bumper is contacting the substantially vertical wall surface and each lower surface contacts the substantially horizontal floor surface of the associated shower stall. 
     
     
         16 . The standing shower caddy of  claim 14 , wherein the first foot is vertically adjustable with respect to the first leg and the second foot is vertically adjustable with respect to the second leg. 
     
     
         17 . A method for stabilizing a standing shower caddy adjacent a corner of a shower stall where the corner is defined by a first substantially vertical wall surface and a second substantially vertical wall surface, which is substantially perpendicular to the first substantially vertical wall surface, the method comprising:
 positioning a frame of the shower caddy adjacent to the corner of the shower stall such that a first lower surface of a first foot of the frame contacts a substantially horizontal floor surface of the shower stall;   moving a bumper connected with the frame in a first direction with respect to the frame to contact the first substantially vertical wall surface; and   fixing the bumper with respect to the frame after the bumper comes into contact with the first substantially vertical wall surface to preclude movement of the bumper with respect to the frame in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the bumper further includes moving a horizontally adjustable shelf in a horizontal direction, wherein the bumper is disposed on the horizontally adjustable shelf, and wherein fixing the bumper with respect to the frame further includes fixing the horizontally adjustable shelf with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein moving the horizontally adjustable shelf includes moving the horizontally adjustable shelf toward the corner. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein positioning a frame of the shower caddy adjacent to the corner of the shower stall further includes positioning the frame such that a second lower surface of a second foot of the frame contacts the substantially horizontal floor surface of the shower stall, wherein moving a bumper further includes moving a horizontally adjustable shelf having a first bumper and a second bumper in a horizontal direction such that the first bumper contacts the first substantially vertical wall surface and the second bumper contacts the second substantially vertical wall surface, and wherein fixing the bumper with respect to the frame further includes fixing the horizontally adjustable shelf with respect to the frame after the first bumper comes into contact with the first substantially vertical wall surface and the second bumper comes into contact with the second substantially vertical wall surface.