US20150216373A1

US20150216373A1 - Towel Access Shower Door

Info

Publication number: US20150216373A1
Application number: US14/252,230
Authority: US
Inventors: J. Logan Pyeatt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-31
Filing date: 2014-04-14
Publication date: 2015-08-06

Abstract

An apparatus is adapted to function as a towel rack access door set within a shower door. The apparatus is operatively mounted within the shower door on at least one hinge and has at least one towel rack on at least one (1) side such that the towel rack is generally kept on the outside of the shower door. The apparatus offers the user the ability open the towel rack access door to retrieve the towel without stepping out of the shower itself.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/934,118, filed Jan. 31, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a towel rack access door set within a shower door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A part of just about everyone's daily ritual is that of bathing. Whether done in a bath or shower, drying oneself off with a towel is an integral part of such an activity. Because such towels remain outside the shower or bath enclosure while bathing, the user must open the door, step out, and grab the towel. This action causes a large amount of water to be deposited on the floor leading to clean up tasks at the least, and perhaps generates a safety hazard of slipping and falling as well. Some users may place the towel over the top of the shower door before beginning a shower, but such action leads to at least a portion of the towel getting wet before use. Others seem to perpetually forget to place a towel in such a position beforehand. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which access to a towel after bathing can be provided, without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the shower door fulfills this need.
The apparatus is a revolving door incorporated into the main shower door of a bathing enclosure, which allows a user to obtain a towel without opening the main shower door. A center portion of the main door is provided with an opening through which a separate revolving door is rotatingly attached. When in a closed state, the revolving door is held in position by a seal disposed about a perimeter of the opening of the main door, which also prevents water leakage and protects against incidental damage. At least one (1) surface of the revolving door is provided with a towel rack. Thus, when the user has completed their shower or bath, a simple push on the revolving door brings the towel within the enclosure. This happens without opening the main shower door, reaching outside the enclosure, or accessing the enclosure exterior in any manner.
Prior art in this field consists of shower and bath enclosures provided with elaborate drain assemblies to capture water that escapes the enclosure and directs it to a drain. While these systems suppress water spillage onto the greater bathroom floor area, water still escapes onto the floor. Furthermore, users still must access the outside of the enclosure to obtain a towel. Other prior art exists having rotating doors placed within a partition wall or secondary door. These doors are pivotally attached to the partition wall/secondary door and are configured to swing away from the partition wall/secondary door and towards the user actuating the door. These doors are adapted to grant access to the opposing side of the partition wall/secondary door, but do so by creating an obstruction to users pulling the door towards them. These doors further require some sort of latch or tensioner to maintain the door in a closed position, which adds weight and complexity while also detracting from the functionality and aesthetics of the device.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a rotating door incorporated into a shower door that grants access to an exterior of the enclosure to which the shower door is attached without having to exit the enclosure.
It is a further objective of the present invention to configure the rotating door to enable access to a towel hung on a towel bar attached to the rotating door while obviating the need to reach outside the enclosure.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a seal disposed about a perimeter edge of an opening to which the rotating door is attached to obviate water exiting the enclosure, prevent incidental damage to either the rotating door or shower door, and to assist with holding the rotating door in a closed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus is a rotating towel door equipped with a handle and a towel bar set into an opening of a shower door. The towel door is a panel pivotally affixed to the shower door via at least one (1) pivot to enable three-hundred sixty degree)(360° rotation of the towel door about the pivot. Disposed about the perimeter edge of the opening is a seal to provide a water-tight gasket engagement between the shower door and towel door, as well as to assist with holding the towel door in a closed position. At least one (1) surface of the towel door is provided with a towel bar, which is configured to support a towel when hung upon it. The towel bar is further configured to enable three-hundred sixty degree)(360° rotation of the towel door about the pivot without creating an obstruction to such rotation. At least one (1) surface of the towel door is further provided with a handle to assist a user with manipulation of the towel door.
Each pivot comprises a pivot knuckle, pivot pin, and pivot receiver. Each pivot knuckle is affixed to the shower door, and each pivot receiver is affixed to the towel door. The pivot pin is inserted into a pivot knuckle and corresponding pivot receiver to enable rotation about the pivot pin.
Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment.
Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a towel access shower door 10 installed in a shower door 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an environmental view of the towel access shower door 10 pivoted to place a towel 110 inside an enclosure 105 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a panel 22 of the towel access shower door 10 illustrating the fastener apertures 36 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of an upper pivot 60 and a lower pivot 80 of the towel access shower door 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,

FIG. 5 is a section view along a line A-A as shown on FIG. 4 cut through the upper pivot 60 of the towel access shower door 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

- 10 towel access shower door
- 16 insert aperture
- 20 towel door
- 22 panel
- 24 panel adornment
- 25 exterior surface
- 26 interior surface
- 28 handle
- 32 handle stabilizer
- 34 handle fastener
- 36 fastener aperture
- 38 handle gasket
- 40 towel bar
- 42 bar
- 44 towel bar bracket
- 46 bracket stabilizer
- 48 bracket gasket
- 52 bracket fastener
- 60 upper pivot
- 62 pivot knuckle
- 64 pivot pin
- 65 shoulder
- 66 pivot receiver
- 67 receiver well
- 68 pivot stabilizer
- 72 pivot gasket
- 74 pivot fastener
- 80 lower pivot
- 90 aperture seal
- 92 web
- 94 side
- 96 lip
- 100 shower door
- 105 enclosure
- 110 towel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 5. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
The present invention describes a towel access shower door (herein referred to as the “apparatus”) 10, which provides a user who has just completed a shower or bath with convenient access to a bath towel 110 by pivotally rotating a door insert equipped with hardware to support such a towel 110. This obviates the need to open the shower door 100 prior to drying themselves.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, environmental views of the apparatus 10 installed in a shower door 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus 10 is configured to be a towel door 20 equipped with a handle 28 and a towel bar 40 set into an insert aperture 16 on a vertical, centrally aligned upper pivot 60 and lower pivot 80. The insert aperture 16, as well as any required fastener apertures 36, must be cut into the glass of a shower door 100 prior to tempering that glass. The size of the insert aperture 16 is approximately twenty four square inches (24 in²), however, the dimensions of the opening or the radius provided on any of the corners should not be seen a limitation of the scope of the apparatus 10. The perimeter of the insert aperture 16 is preferably covered with an aperture seal 90 to prevent water leakage around the towel door 20 and to protect the edge against incidental damage. The aperture seal 90 is preferably configured to have generally a “U”-shaped cross-section with a web 92 in contact with the edge of the insert aperture 16 and a side 94 in contact with the interior face, as well as another symmetrical side 94 in contact with the exterior face of the shower door 100 as seen in FIG. 4. The aperture seal 90 has a lip 96 to create an enhanced contact with the exterior surface 25 as well as the interior surface 26 and the edge of the panel 22 to seal against the towel door 20 and to assist with holding the panel 22 in place in a closed position. It is envisioned for this lip 96 to be configured with contours complementing that of the engagement with the exterior surface 25, interior surface 26, and edge of the panel 25 for adequate abutment thereto. The aperture seal 90 is preferably composed of a resilient material such as nitrile which can be presented in several different colors. It is understood that other materials, such as neoprene, or rubber, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus 10.
The towel door 20 is preferably configured to be a tempered glass panel 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3, having an exterior surface 25, an interior surface 26, and any necessary fastener apertures 36 as required for the attachment of ancillary hardware. Other materials, such as polycarbonate sheet material, may also be utilized. The panel 22 must be sized to fit into the insert aperture 16 and form a liquid-tight seal against the aperture seal 90. The panel 22 may be transparent, translucent, or may be provided with any adornment 24 to suit the taste of a user. Such adornment 24 may include, but not be limited to, frosting or stippling in any pattern, deviations in the planar surface such as waves, ribs, or other embossment, or any appliqué as may suit the taste of a user.
Disposed along an exterior surface 25 of the panel 22 and located near the upper edge thereof is a towel bar 40. The towel bar 40 may be any horizontal bar 42, of any cross-sectional shape or material, projecting from the panel 22 by means of towel bar brackets 44 capable of supporting a towel 110. The towel bar 40 preferably comprises stainless steel, brass, plastic, or other noncorrosive material. The towel bar brackets 44 may be of any configuration or material and may be integral to the bar 42 or independent as may suit the taste of a user. The towel bar brackets 44 are attached to the panel 22 preferably by means of at least one (1) bracket fastener 52 inserted through appropriately sized and located fastener apertures 36. The bracket fastener 52 is preferably configured to be a stainless steel, or brass, threaded fastener. The towel bar 40 is configured in overall length and amount of projection from the panel 22 such that an ample clearance will remain between the towel bar 40 and the perimeter of the insert aperture 16 when the towel door 20 is pivoted to the interior of the shower enclosure 105. A bracket stabilizer 46, preferably configured to be a metal, or rigid thermoplastic, plate is placed between the head of the bracket fastener 52 and the interior surface 26 of the panel 22 prior to securing the towel bar brackets 44 into position. The purpose of the bracket stabilizer 46 is to spread the stress of the clamping load of the bracket fasteners 52 over a greater area of the panel 22 thereby reducing the unit stress load. A bracket gasket 48, preferably composed a stable, resilient, natural or synthetic rubber, is located between the bracket stabilizer 46 and the interior surface 26 of the panel 22 to form a seal against water leakage through the fastener aperture 36.
Disposed along an interior surface 26 of the panel 22 and located near a vertical edge thereof is a handle 28. The handle 28 may be disposed along either the right vertical edge or the left vertical edge as either configuration will perform equally well. The purpose of the handle 28 is to assist a user in the manipulation of the towel door 20 to result in a rotational motion about the centrally located pivot points. The handle 28 is preferably composed of a metal; however, other materials, such as a rigid thermoplastic material, may be utilized. The handle 28 may be configured in many different styles to suit the taste of a user. The handle 28 is attached to the panel 22 by means of at least one (1) handle fastener 34. The handle fastener 34 is preferably configured to be a stainless steel, or brass, threaded fastener. A handle stabilizer 32, preferably configured to be a metal or rigid thermoplastic, plate is placed between the head of the handle fastener 34 and the exterior surface 25 of the panel 22 prior to securing the handle 28 into position. The purpose of the handle stabilizer 32 is to spread the stress of the clamping load of the handle fasteners 34 over a greater area of the panel 22 thereby reducing the unit stress load. A handle gasket 38, preferably composed a stable, resilient, natural or synthetic rubber, is located between the handle stabilizer 32 and the exterior surface 25 of the panel 22 to form a seal against water leakage through the fastener aperture 36. Since the door may be rotated equally well by a pushing force on the edge of the panel 22, the towel door 20 could be configured without the handle 28.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a detail view of the upper pivot 60 and the lower pivot 80, and FIG. 5, a section view along line A-A as seen in FIG. 4, of the apparatus 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus 10 is supported on an upper pivot 60 and a lower pivot 80. The upper pivot 60 and the lower pivot 80 are identical so the detailed description of one (1) applies to the other. For each pivot 60, 80, a pair of pivot knuckles 62 is attached to the shower door 100 in proximity to the insert aperture by means of at least one (1) pivot fastener 74. The pivot fastener 74 is preferably configured to be a stainless steel, or brass, threaded fastener. One (1) pivot knuckle 62 is located at a central point along the upper perimeter of the panel aperture 16 while another pivot knuckle 62 is located similarly along the lower perimeter of the panel aperture 16. The pivot knuckle 62 is provided with a pivot pin 64 which is configured to be a short cylindrical shaft having an offset in the diameter at approximately the mid-length thereof with a demarcation being a shoulder 65. The pivot pin 64 is preferably inserted, by means of a press fit, into an appropriately sized opening in the pivot knuckle 62. The pivot knuckle 62 could alternately be a unitary fabrication with the pivot pin 64 so long as the features of the smaller diameter and the shoulder 65 are retained. A pivot receiver 66 is attached to an upper portion of the panel 22 at a central location on the exterior surface 25 thereof by means of at least one (1) pivot fastener 74. Another pivot receiver 66 is attached similarly to a lower portion of the panel 22. The pivot receivers 66 are configured to have a receiver well 67, which is configured to be an aperture sized to accommodate the smaller diameter of the pivot pin 64 with a sliding fit.
Contact between the shoulders 65 of the pivot pins 64 and the upper faces of the pivot receivers 66 of both the upper pivot 60 and the lower pivot 80 is intended to be the support and limit of vertical travel of the panel 22. The pivot knuckle 62, the pivot pin 64, and the pivot receiver 66 are preferably composed of a thermoplastic material and formed in injection molding dies. It is understood; however, that other materials, such as stamped or molded metal, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus 10. A pivot stabilizer 68, preferably configured to be a metal or rigid thermoplastic, plate is placed between the head of the pivot fastener 74 and the interior surface 26 of the panel 22 prior to securing each of the pivot receivers 66 into position. Similarly a pivot stabilizer 68 is placed between the head of the pivot fastener 74 and the interior surface of the shower door 100 prior to securing each of the pivot knuckles 62 into position. The purpose of the pivot stabilizers 68 is to spread the stress of the clamping load of the pivot fasteners 74 over a greater area of the panel 22, or of the shower door 100, thereby reducing the unit stress load. A pivot gasket 72, preferably composed a stable, resilient, natural or synthetic rubber, is located between the pivot stabilizers 68 and the material of the panel 22, or of the shower door 100, to form a seal against water leakage through the fastener apertures 36.
It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus 10, it would be installed as indicated in FIG. 1.
The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus 10 may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the apparatus 10 having a desired style to suit the taste of a user; installing the shower door 100 to cover the enclosure 105; aligning the towel door 20 to face outward from the enclosure 105; hanging a towel 110 on the towel bar 40; entering the enclosure and taking a shower in the customary manner; turning off the water; pulling on the handle 28 to cause the towel door 20 to pivot on the upper pivot 60 and the lower pivot 80 so that the towel 110 enters the enclosure 105; removing the towel 110 from the towel bar 40; drying oneself in the customary manner; returning the towel 110 to the towel bar 40; rotating the towel door 20 so that the towel 110 is returned to the exterior of the enclosure 105; and exiting the enclosure.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. An access door, comprising:

a main door having an interior face and an exterior face, said main door adapted to provide a barrier to an enclosure opening providing an insert aperture;

a panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said panel adapted to provide a barrier to said insert aperture; and,

at least one pivot adapted to rotatingly affix said panel to said main door within said insert aperture, said pivot configured to permit rotation of said panel about each of said pivot;

wherein said panel is rotated about said pivots to selectively obstruct access through said insert aperture.

2. The access door recited in claim 1, wherein said main door and said panel are provided with a plurality of fastener apertures.

3. The access door recited in claim 2, wherein said pivot comprises:

a pivot knuckle adapted to affix to said main door near a perimeter edge of said insert aperture;

a pivot receiver adapted to affix to said panel near a perimeter edge thereof;

a pivot pin rotatingly engaged with said pivot knuckle and said pivot receiver and configured to enable rotation of said pivot receiver about an axis defined by said pivot pin.

4. The access door recited in claim 3, further comprising:

at least one first pivot fastener having a first pivot stabilizer and a first pivot gasket to fasten said pivot knuckle to said main door; and,

at least one second pivot fastener having a second pivot stabilizer and a second pivot gasket to fasten each pivot receiver to said panel;

wherein said first and second pivot stabilizers are configured to spread stress of a clamping load induced by each first and second pivot fastener; and,

wherein said first and second pivot gaskets are configured to form a seal against water leakage.

5. The access door recited in claim 1, further comprising an aperture seal disposed along at least one perimeter edge of said insert aperture.

6. The access door recited in claim 5, wherein said aperture seal has a general “U”-shaped cross-section and configured to have a web in contact with said perimeter edge of said insert aperture and sides in contact with said interior and exterior faces.

7. The access door recited in claim 5, wherein said aperture seal is provided with a lip to maintain contact with said exterior surface and said interior surface when said panel is rotated to fully obstruct access through said insert aperture.

8. The access door recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one handle adapted to affix to at least one of said interior surface and said exterior surface via said fastener apertures.

9. The access door recited in claim 8, wherein said handle is configured to enable three-hundred sixty degree rotation of said panel without obstructing said rotation.

10. The access door recited in claim 9, further comprising:

at least one handle fastener having a handle stabilizer and a handle gasket to fasten each handle to said panel;

wherein said handle stabilizers are configured to spread stress of a clamping load induced by each handle fastener; and,

wherein said handle gaskets are configured to form a seal against water leakage.

11. The access door recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one towel bar adapted to affix to at least one of said interior surface and said exterior surface via said fastener apertures.

12. The access door recited in claim 11, wherein said towel bar is configured to enable three-hundred sixty degree rotation of said panel without obstructing said rotation.

13. The access door recited in claim 12, wherein each towel bar comprises:

a bar;

a first towel bar bracket;

a second towel bar bracket;

at least one first bracket fastener having a first bracket stabilizer and a first bracket gasket to fasten each first towel bar bracket to said panel; and,

at least one second bracket fastener having a second bracket stabilizer and a second bracket gasket to fasten each second towel bar bracket to said panel;

wherein said first and second bracket stabilizers are configured to spread stress of a clamping load induced by each first and second bracket fastener;

wherein said first and second bracket gaskets are configured to form a seal against water leakage; and,

wherein said first and second towel bar brackets are configured to receive and retain said bar in a substantially horizontal manner.

14. The access door recited in claim 1, wherein said insert aperture is approximately twenty four inches square.

15. The access door recited in claim 1, wherein said main door is tempered glass.

16. The access door recited in claim 1, wherein said panel is tempered glass.

17. The access door recited in claim 11, wherein said towel bars are noncorrosive metal.

18. The access door recited in claim 11, wherein said towel bars are plastic.

19. The access door recited in claim 8, wherein said handles are noncorrosive metal.

20. The access door recited in claim 8, wherein said handles are plastic.