Caregiver Access Shower Curtain

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shower curtain for enabling a caretaker to assist a patient while also acting as a barrier between the caretaker and the patient. The shower curtain features a two-layered structure, including a fabric curtain and a plastic liner. The two-layered shower curtain is designed to be installed at an entry of a shower area. The fabric curtain and plastic liner include corresponding, generally central cut-out areas, enabling the caretaker to access the inside of the shower area for providing assistance to the patient therein, while maintaining the privacy of the patient and the safety of the caretaker. The cut-out can be of any geometric shape, and can have a transparent flexible covering. The plastic liner assists with keeping water contained within the shower area and the opaque fabric curtain maintains the privacy of the patient therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessible shower curtain comprising:
 a two layered curtain having an outer curtain layer and an inner curtain layer;   said outer curtain layer includes an exterior surface and an interior surface;   said inner curtain layer includes an exterior surface and an interior surface;   said outer curtain layer includes a cut-out generally centered in said outer curtain layer;   said inner curtain layer incudes a cut-out generally centered in said inner curtain layer;   said outer curtain cut-out includes a geometry and said inner curtain cut-out includes a geometry, wherein said outer curtain cut-out geometry corresponds to said inner curtain cut-out geometry; and   said outer curtain cut-out and said inner curtain cut-out are rectilinear for enabling a caretaker to reach inside a shower area through said outer curtain cut-out and said inner curtain cut-out to assist another person showering within the shower area.   
     
     
         2 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of hanging clips secured to said outer curtain layer and said inner curtain layer for looping said two layered curtain onto a curtain rod. 
     
     
         3 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 2 , wherein said outer curtain layer is a fabric layer. 
     
     
         4 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 3 , wherein said outer curtain layer is opaque. 
     
     
         5 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 4 , wherein said inner curtain layer is a plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 5 , wherein said inner curtain layer is waterproof. 
     
     
         7 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 6 , wherein said caretaker and said another person are in a seated position. 
     
     
         8 . An accessible shower curtain comprising:
 a two layered curtain having an outer curtain layer and an inner curtain layer;   said outer curtain layer includes an exterior surface and an interior surface;   said inner curtain layer includes an exterior surface and an interior surface;   said outer curtain layer includes a cut-out generally centered in said outer curtain layer;   said inner curtain layer incudes a cut-out generally centered in said inner curtain layer;   said outer curtain cut-out includes a geometry and said inner curtain cut-out includes a geometry, wherein said outer curtain cut-out geometry corresponds to said inner curtain cut-out geometry;   a plurality of curtain rings secured to said outer curtain layer and said inner curtain layer for hanging said two layered curtain onto a curtain rod; and   said outer curtain cut-out and said inner curtain cut-out enable a seated caretaker to reach inside a shower area through said outer curtain cut-out and said inner curtain cut-out to assist another person showering within the shower area.   
     
     
         9 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 8 , wherein said outer curtain layer is a fabric layer. 
     
     
         10 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 9 , wherein said outer curtain layer is opaque. 
     
     
         11 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 10 , wherein said inner curtain layer is a plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 11 , wherein said inner curtain layer is waterproof. 
     
     
         13 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 12 , wherein said another person is in a seated position. 
     
     
         14 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 13 , wherein said outer curtain cut-out and said inner curtain cut-out are curvilinear. 
     
     
         15 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 13 , wherein said outer curtain cut-out and said inner curtain cut-out are rectilinear. 
     
     
         16 . An accessible shower curtain comprising:
 a two layered curtain having an outer curtain layer and an inner curtain layer;   said outer curtain layer includes an exterior surface and an interior surface;   said inner curtain layer includes an exterior surface and an interior surface;   said outer curtain layer includes a cut-out generally centered in said outer curtain layer;   said inner curtain layer incudes a cut-out generally centered in said inner curtain layer;   said outer curtain cut-out includes a geometry and said inner curtain cut-out includes a geometry, wherein said outer curtain cut-out geometry corresponds to said inner curtain cut-out geometry;   a cover mounted to said exterior surface of said outer curtain layer, wherein said cover selectively attachable for selective closing of said outer curtain layer cut-out; and   said outer curtain cut-out and said inner curtain cut-out enable a seated caretaker to reach inside a shower area through said outer curtain cut-out and said inner curtain cut-out to assist another seated person showering within the shower area.   
     
     
         17 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 16 , wherein said outer curtain layer is a fabric layer. 
     
     
         18 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 17 , wherein said outer curtain layer is opaque. 
     
     
         19 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of curtain rings secured to said outer curtain layer and said inner curtain layer for hanging said two layered curtain onto a curtain rod. 
     
     
         20 . The accessible shower curtain of  claim 19 , wherein said inner curtain layer is waterproof.