Retractable bathing splash barrier for bathtubs and tub/shower combos

Abstract

A retractable bathing splash barrier device for use with bathtubs or shower-tub combos. The device includes a spool that allows the user to retract and store the splash barrier when not in use. The splash barrier is made of clear, flexible, waterproof material with a handle for easy gripping and attachment to hooks on the opposite wall. The device also includes wall mounted hooks with sticky pads for easy attachment to the bathtub walls. The suction cup strip along the bottom of the splash barrier helps to prevent water from escaping under the splash barrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) for containing splashes in a bathtub ( 112 ) when bathing children or pets, comprising:
 a tube ( 102 ) adapted for providing structural support to the bathing splash barrier ( 100   a );   a pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ), each of the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) configured for receiving a first end, and a second end of the tube ( 102 ) to securely hold and provide support thereto;   a handle ( 110 );   a spool ( 106 ) attached between the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) and comprising a splash barrier ( 108 ) rolled around thereon for storage and retrieval, wherein the splash barrier ( 108 ) is configured for containing splashes in the bathtub ( 112 );   wherein one end of the splash barrier ( 108 ) is attached to the handle ( 110 ), and the other end of the splash barrier ( 108 ) is attached to the spool ( 106 ), and   wherein the handle ( 110 ) allows a user ( 114 ) to at least
 retrieve the splash barrier ( 108 ) out from the spool ( 106 ) attached to a wall ( 120   a ) of the bathtub ( 112 ) and attach it to an opposite wall ( 120   b ) of the bathtub ( 112 ), or 
 retract the splash barrier ( 108 ) back into the spool ( 106 ) for storage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 1 , wherein the handle ( 100 ) with the splash barrier ( 108 ) is attached to the opposite wall ( 120   b ) of the bathtub ( 112 ) using an attachment. 
     
     
         3 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment comprising a pair of end hooks ( 118 ) that uses at least sticky pads, suction cups, or adhesive strips to adhere to the opposite wall ( 120   b ) of the bathtub ( 112 ). 
     
     
         4 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 2 , wherein each of the end hooks ( 118 ) comprises a horizontal bar ( 118   c ) extending out from the opposite wall ( 120   b ) with a vertical opening ( 118   d ) at an end. 
     
     
         5 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment is selected from a group of attachment means consisting of suction cups, adhesive stripe, magnets, hook, and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 1 , wherein the splash barrier ( 108 ) is transparent to allow the user ( 114 ) to safely see children and pets while they are being bathed. 
     
     
         7 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 1  further comprises a suction cup strip ( 124 ) configurable along the bottom of the retrieved splash barrier ( 108 ) to prevent water from running under the splash barrier ( 108 ) and out of the bathtub ( 112 ). 
     
     
         8 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 7 , wherein the suction cup strip ( 124 ) comprises a plurality of suction cups ( 126 ) that adhere to a smooth surface of the bathtub ( 112 ) along the bottom of the splash barrier ( 108 ). 
     
     
         9 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 1 , wherein the spool ( 106 ) is installed between horizontal portions ( 104   d ) of each of the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ). 
     
     
         10 . The retractable bathing splash barrier  100   a ) of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) removably engages to a pair of wall mounted hooks ( 105   a ,  105   b ) mounted on the wall ( 120   a ) of the bathtub ( 112 ). 
     
     
         11 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 10  wherein vertical portions ( 104   c ) of each of the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) comprises an opening that fits into an outer vertical portion ( 105   c ) of each of the pair of wall mounted hooks ( 105   a  and  105   b ) to removably attach the retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) to the wall ( 120   a ) of the bathtub ( 112 ). 
     
     
         12 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of wall mounted hooks ( 105   a ,  105   b ) uses at least sticky pads, suction cups, or adhesive strips to adhere to the wall ( 120   a ) of the bathtub ( 112 ). 
     
     
         13 . A retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ), comprising:
 a tube ( 102 ) adapted for providing structural support to the bathing splash barrier ( 100   a );   a pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ), each of the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) configured for receiving a first end, and a second end of the tube ( 102 ) to securely hold and provide support thereto;   a handle ( 110 );   a spool ( 106 ) attached between the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) and comprising a splash barrier ( 108 ) rolled around thereon for storage and retrieval, wherein the splash barrier ( 108 ) is configured for containing splashes in a bathtub ( 112 );   wherein one end of the splash barrier ( 108 ) is attached to the handle ( 110 ), and the other end of the splash barrier ( 108 ) is attached to the spool ( 106 ), and   wherein the handle ( 110 ) allows a user ( 114 ) to at least
 retrieve the splash barrier ( 108 ) out from the spool ( 106 ) attached to a wall ( 120   a ) of the bathtub ( 112 ) and attach it to an opposite wall ( 120   b ) of the bathtub ( 112 ) using an attachment, or 
 retract the splash barrier ( 108 ) back into the spool ( 106 ) for storage; 
   and   a suction cup strip ( 124 ) configurable along the bottom of the splash barrier ( 108 ) to prevent water from running under the splash barrier ( 108 ) and out of the bathtub ( 112 ).   
     
     
         14 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 13 , wherein the suction cup strip ( 124 ) comprises a plurality of suction cups ( 126 ) that adhere to a smooth surface of the bathtub ( 112 ) along the bottom of the splash barrier ( 108 ). 
     
     
         15 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment comprises a pair of end hooks ( 118 ). 
     
     
         16 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of end hooks ( 118 ) uses at least sticky pads, suction cups, or adhesive strips to adhere to the opposite wall ( 120   b ) of the bathtub ( 112 ). 
     
     
         17 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 13 , wherein the splash barrier ( 108 ) is transparent to allow the user ( 114 ) to safely see children and pets while they are being bathed. 
     
     
         18 . The retractable bathing splash barrier  100   a ) of  claim 1  wherein each of the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) removably engages to a pair of wall mounted hooks ( 105   a ,  105   b ) mounted on the wall ( 120   a ) of the bathtub ( 112 ). 
     
     
         19 . A retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ), comprising:
 a tube ( 102 ) adapted for providing structural support to the bathing splash barrier ( 100   a );   a pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ), each of the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) configured for receiving a first end, and a second end of the tube ( 102 ) to securely hold and provide support thereto;   a pair of wall mounted hooks ( 105   a ,  105   b ), wherein each of the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) removably engages to the pair of wall mounted hooks ( 105   a ,  105   b ) mounted on a wall ( 120   a ) of a bathtub ( 112 ),   a handle ( 110 );   a spool ( 106 ) attached between the pair of hooks ( 104   a ,  104   b ) and comprising a splash barrier ( 108 ) rolled around thereon for storage and retrieval, wherein the splash barrier ( 108 ) is configured for containing splashes in the bathtub ( 112 );   wherein one end of the splash barrier ( 108 ) is attached to the handle ( 110 ), and the other end of the splash barrier ( 108 ) is attached to the spool ( 106 ), and   wherein the handle ( 110 ) allows a user ( 114 ) to at least retrieve the splash barrier ( 108 ) out from the spool ( 106 ) attached to the wall ( 120   a ) of the bathtub ( 112 ) and attach it to an opposite wall ( 120   b ) of the bathtub ( 112 ) using an attachment, or retract the splash barrier ( 108 ) back into the spool ( 106 ) for storage; and   a suction cup strip ( 124 ) configurable along the bottom of the splash barrier ( 108 ) to prevent water from running under the splash barrier ( 108 ) and out of the bathtub ( 112 ).   
     
     
         20 . The retractable bathing splash barrier ( 100   a ) of  claim 19 , wherein the pair of wall mounted hooks ( 105   a ,  105   b ) uses at least sticky pads, suction cups, or adhesive strips to adhere to the wall ( 120   a ) of the bathtub ( 112 ).