Structured shower curtain liner

Abstract

A shower curtain is provided with a liner with a lower flap split and a structural element or elements to provide for increased rigidity of a shower curtain. The shower curtain includes a shower curtain shell having an upper portion, a lower portion, a first edge, and a second edge, at least one pocket adapted to be disposed on the shower curtain shell, and at least one structural element adapted to be disposed in the at least one pocket. The lower portion of the shower curtain is provided with a lower flap portion. The lower portion of the curtain is positioned outside of the tub wall and the lower flap portion is positioned inside the tub wall. The pocket extends a length between the upper portion and the lower portion. The structural element has a first end, a second end, and an elongated portion between the first end and the second.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shower curtain comprising:
 a shower curtain liner having an upper portion, a lower portion, a first edge, and a second edge, and further having a lower flap at a lower portion of the shower curtain liner, such that the lower portion of the shower curtain liner is positioned outside of an enclosure wall and the lower flap portion is positioned inside the enclosure wall;   at least one pocket adapted to be disposed on the shower curtain liner and extending a predetermined length between the upper portion and the lower portion of the shower curtain liner;   at least one structural element adapted to be disposed in the at least one pocket, the structural element having a first end, a second end, and an elongated portion between the first end and the second.   
     
     
         2 . The shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pocket is integrally formed with the shower curtain liner. 
     
     
         3 . The shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pocket is formed as a separate structure and affixed to the shower curtain liner. 
     
     
         4 . The shower curtain of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pockets and a corresponding plurality of structural elements. 
     
     
         5 . The shower curtain of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pockets are evenly spaced between the first edge and the second edge of the shower curtain liner. 
     
     
         6 . The shower curtain of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pockets are spaced further apart from each other near the first and second edge of the shower curtain liner, and spaced closer to each other in region in between the first edge and the second edge. 
     
     
         7 . The shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one structural element is generally bowed in shape and is operable to position the shower curtain liner so as to protrude outwardly with respect to the enclosure wall. 
     
     
         8 . The shower curtain of  claim 7 , wherein the enclosure is a shower or a bathtub. 
     
     
         9 . The shower curtain of  claim 4 , wherein the structural elements are of different length. 
     
     
         10 . The shower curtain of  claim 4 , wherein each structural element comprises multiple elements which are connected end to end. 
     
     
         11 . The shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the shower curtain liner and the flap portion are together shaped as inverted V-shaped structure. 
     
     
         12 . The shower curtain of  claim 4 , wherein each structural element has a generally angular configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The shower curtain of  claim 7 , wherein the structural elements have different bowed shapes and are operable to position the shower curtain liner so as to protrude outwardly in different amounts with respect to the enclosure wall, depending on the bowed shape of the respective structural elements. 
     
     
         14 . The shower curtain of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more weights attached to the lower portion of the shower curtain liner. 
     
     
         15 . A shower curtain comprising:
 a shower curtain liner having an upper portion, a lower portion, a first edge, and a second edge, and further having a lower flap at a lower portion of the shower curtain liner, such that the lower portion of the shower curtain liner is positioned outside of an enclosure wall and the lower flap portion is positioned inside the enclosure wall;   a plurality of pockets adapted to be disposed on the shower curtain liner and extending a predetermined length between the upper portion and the lower portion of the shower curtain liner;   a plurality of structural elements, each adapted to be disposed in a corresponding pocket, the structural elements having a first end, a second end, and an elongated portion between the first end and the second.   
     
     
         16 . The shower curtain of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of pockets are integrally formed with the shower curtain liner. 
     
     
         17 . The shower curtain of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of pockets are formed as a separate structure and affixed to the shower curtain liner. 
     
     
         18 . The shower curtain of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of structural elements are generally bowed in shape and are operable to position the shower curtain liner so as to protrude outwardly with respect to the enclosure wall. 
     
     
         19 . The shower curtain of  claim 15 , wherein the lower portion of the shower curtain liner and the flap portion are together shaped as inverted V-shaped structure. 
     
     
         20 . A shower curtain comprising:
 a shower curtain liner having an upper portion, a lower portion, a first edge, and a second edge, and further having a lower flap at a lower portion of the shower curtain liner, such that the lower portion of the shower curtain liner is positioned outside of an enclosure wall and the lower flap portion is positioned inside the enclosure wall, thereby encapsulating a portion of the enclosure wall;   a plurality of pockets adapted to be disposed on the shower curtain liner and extending a predetermined length between the upper portion and the lower portion of the shower curtain liner, the plurality of pockets being integrally formed with the shower curtain liner;   a plurality of structural elements, each adapted to be disposed in a corresponding pocket, the structural elements having a first end, a second end, and an elongated portion between the first end and the second, the plurality of structural elements having a generally nonlinear shape and are operable to position the shower curtain liner so as to protrude outwardly with respect to the enclosure wall.