Shower curtain support apparatus and method

Abstract

A shower curtain support assembly having a telescoping shower curtain rod that is pivotally affixed to a mounting or support bracket and rotatable about a Y-axis through a horizontal plane to multiple positions, including a deployed position and an undeployed or stored position. The shower curtain support assembly may further have a telescoping shower curtain rod extendable to, and retractable from, a retaining or support bracket. The telescoping shower curtain rod may have a clip on a proximal end for removably engaging with a receiving pocket or bracket. The telescoping rod may be arcuate, straight and/or hinged. The cross-section of the rod may include various geometric shapes.

1 . A shower curtain support assembly, comprising: 
 a retaining bracket; and    a telescoping rod having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end pivotally affixed to the retaining bracket, the telescoping rod extending longitudinally from the retaining bracket, wherein the telescoping rod is moveable between a first undeployed position and a second fully deployed position.    
   
   
       2 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a receiving bracket spaced a distance apart from the retaining bracket and a detent on the proximal end of the telescoping rod, the receiving bracket having a reciprocal notch configured to receive the detent wherein the detent on the distal end of the telescoping rod engages the receiving bracket secureably retaining the telescoping rod in position when the telescoping rod is in a fully deployed position.  
   
   
       3 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 2  wherein the detent is a clip.  
   
   
       4 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 2  wherein the detent is a ball and the notch is a socket.  
   
   
       5 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a grip at a distal end of the telescoping shower curtain rod and extending vertically downward from the telescoping shower curtain rod.  
   
   
       6 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a handle at a distal end of the telescoping shower curtain rod adjacent to the detent.  
   
   
       7 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a loop at a distal end of the telescoping shower curtain rod adjacent to the detent.  
   
   
       8 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 1  wherein the telescoping rod has an oval cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       9 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 1  wherein the telescoping rod has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       10 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 1  wherein the telescoping rod has an oblong cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       11 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 1  wherein the telescoping rod has a circular cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       12 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a second receiving bracket affixed to the wall of the shower enclosure spaced a distance apart from the first receiving bracket and the retaining bracket, the second receiving bracket having a reciprocal notch configured to receive the detent, the second receiving bracket positioned to removably secure the retracted telescoping shower rod in a stored position.  
   
   
       13 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of receiving brackets affixed to the wall of the shower enclosure spaced apart from each and positioned along the horizontal plane.  
   
   
       14 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 2  further comprising an angled hinged portion at the proximal end of the telescoping shower curtain rod, wherein the detent is contained at a distal end of the angled hinged portion, wherein the angled portion of the telescoping shower curtain rod is configured to provide additional space within the shower enclosure.  
   
   
       15 . A shower curtain support assembly, comprising: 
 mounting means adapted to be attachable to the surface of a shower enclosure wall; and    first telescoping means having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted on the mounting means, the telescoping means having a plurality of telescoping segments nested within one another and slideably extendable, wherein the first end of the telescoping means is pivotally rotatable about the mounting means.    
   
   
       16 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 an engaging means on the second end of the telescoping means; and    a second mounting means adapted to be attachable to an opposite surface of a shower enclosure wall with respect to the first mounting means, wherein the second mounting means includes a reciprocal component for removably receiving the engaging means.    
   
   
       17 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a gripping means affixed to the engaging means.  
   
   
       18 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of mounting means positioned apart from one another and affixed to the surface of the wall, the plurality of mounting means sized to secureably retain the engaging means.  
   
   
       19 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of telescoping segments are coaxial along a longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       20 . A shower curtain support assembly, comprising: 
 a mounting bracket; and    a telescoping rod assembly having a plurality of nested telescoping rod segments, the telescoping rod assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the telescoping rod assembly pivotally attached to the mounting bracket at a proximal end.    
   
   
       21 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 a clip contained on a distal end of the telescoping rod assembly; and    at least one of a support bracket, the support bracket configured to engage the clip.    
   
   
       22 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 20  wherein the telescoping rod assembly is an arcuate shape.  
   
   
       23 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 20  wherein the telescoping rod assembly has a connection piece between telescoping rod segments, wherein the connection piece provides a smooth transition between telescoping rod segments of varying diameter.  
   
   
       24 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 20  wherein the clip further includes an integral grip.  
   
   
       25 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 24  wherein the grip is a handle extending vertically downward from the telescoping rod assembly.  
   
   
       26 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 24  wherein the grip is a loop having an opening sized to accommodate a hand.  
   
   
       27 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 20  wherein the telescoping rod assembly has at least three telescoping rod segments.  
   
   
       28 . A shower curtain support assembly for use in a bathing enclosure, comprising: 
 a first bracket; and    a telescoping rod having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally engaged with the first bracket, wherein the telescoping rod is pivotal about the first bracket through a substantially horizontal plane across an opening to the bathing enclosure.    
   
   
       29 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 28  wherein the telescoping rod comprises a plurality of slideably disposed segments nested together, the segments having a cross-sectional shape and diameter that allow adjacent segments to slide relative to one another.  
   
   
       30 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 29  wherein the cross-sectional shape of the segments are circular.  
   
   
       31 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 29  wherein the cross-sectional shape of the segments are rectangular.  
   
   
       32 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 29  wherein the cross-sectional shape of the segments are oblong.  
   
   
       33 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 28  wherein the telescoping rod further includes at least one of a connection piece between adjacent segments of the telescoping rod and end caps on an end of the segment nested within an adjacent segment, the connection pieces and end caps providing a retaining means for retaining the segments in a partially nested configuration when the telescoping rod is in a deployed position.  
   
   
       34 . The shower curtain support assembly of  claim 33  wherein the connection piece comprises a first portion juxtaposed between adjacent segments and a second tapered portion extending beyond an end of a first larger diameter segment and along an exterior surface of a second smaller diameter segment, the tapered portion providing a smooth transition between segments of different diameters.