Shower curtain retainer

Abstract

A shower curtain retainer is provided for controlling the position of a shower curtain or shower liner bordering a shower. An example shower curtain retainer comprises an elongate rod member, a base member, and a pivot hinge connecting the rod member to the base member, wherein the pivot hinge allows the rod member to rotate between an in-use position and a non-use position. A means is provided for attaching the base member to a shower wall wherein, in the in-use position, the rod member is oriented substantially perpendicular to the shower wall to control the curtain's or liner's position and, in the non-use position, the rod member is substantially aligned with the shower wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shower curtain retainer for controlling a position of a shower curtain or shower liner bordering a shower, the shower curtain retainer comprising:
 an elongate rod member;   a base member;   a pivot hinge connecting the elongate rod member to the base member, wherein the pivot hinge allows the elongate rod member to rotate between an in-use position and a non-use position; and   wherein in the in-use position with the base member attached to a shower wall, the elongate rod member is oriented substantially perpendicular to the shower wall to restrain the shower curtain or the shower liner; and in the non-use position, the elongate rod member is substantially aligned with the shower wall.   
     
     
         2 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , further comprising means for attaching the base member to a shower wall. 
     
     
         3 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein to be deployed into the in-use position, the elongate rod member is rotatable horizontally about the pivot hinge to extend substantially perpendicular to the shower wall to control the position of the shower curtain or the shower liner and increase a usable interior shower space of the shower. 
     
     
         4 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein to be deployed into the non-use position, the elongate rod member is rotatable horizontally about the pivot hinge to lie substantially flush against the shower wall. 
     
     
         5 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate rod member is cylindrical in cross-sectional shape and constructed of plastic, acrylic, metal, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot hinge comprises a bolt and is mechanically configured to constrain the elongate rod member to rotate only between the in-use position and the non-use position, and vice versa. 
     
     
         7 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the base member is attachable to the shower wall using at least one of adhesive, hardware, suction cups, or double-sided tape. 
     
     
         8 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the base member is incorporated into a prefabricated shower stall or shower tile. 
     
     
         9 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate rod member comprises telescoping sections to extend its length. 
     
     
         10 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate rod member comprises a main rod section and an extension rod section. 
     
     
         11 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the main rod section and the extension rod section are pivotally connected. 
     
     
         12 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 11 , wherein the extension rod section is rotatable about the main rod section in a vertical plane when attached to the shower wall to switch between a retracted position and a projected position. 
     
     
         13 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 12 , wherein the extension rod section and the main rod section comprise paired attachment elements, the paired attachment elements keeping the extension rod section in parallel with the main rod section when the extension rod section is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         14 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 13 , wherein the paired attachment elements comprise at least one of magnets, latch mechanisms, hook-and-loop fasteners, interlocking tabs, or snap-fit connectors. 
     
     
         15 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a first pivot reception plate and the elongate rod member comprises a first engagement protrusion, the first engagement protrusion engaging with the first pivot reception plate when the elongate rod member is deployed in the in-use position. 
     
     
         16 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the first pivot reception plate includes a tip protrusion, and the first engagement protrusion engages with the first pivot reception plate by the tip protrusion clasping the first engagement protrusion when the elongate rod member is deployed in the in-use position. 
     
     
         17 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a second pivot reception plate and the elongate rod member comprises a second engagement protrusion, the second engagement protrusion engaging with the second pivot reception plate when the elongate rod member is deployed in the non-use position. 
     
     
         18 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 17 , wherein the second pivot reception plate forms a reception cavity, and the second engagement protrusion engages with the second pivot reception plate by the reception cavity accommodating the second engagement protrusion when the elongate rod member is deployed in the non-use position. 
     
     
         19 . The shower curtain retainer of  claim 18 , wherein the base member comprises at least one alignment plates aligning with fringe sections of the elongate rod member when the elongate rod member is deployed in the non-use position. 
     
     
         20 . A shower curtain retainer for controlling a position of a shower curtain or shower liner bordering a shower, the shower curtain retainer comprising:
 an elongate telescopic rod member;   a base member;   wherein the elongate telescopic rod member is connected to the base member and is extendable to an in-use position to restrain the shower curtain or the shower liner, and retractable to a non-use position; and   means for attaching the base member to a shower wall.