A common device in the household of today is a shelf unit for holding various items for use in the bathroom, especially in a bathtub or shower area. These units have been manufactured to hold shampoos, various cream and lotion products, wash cloths, shaving products, conditioners, etc.
Of course, the units must be readily accessible when these items are needed during the bathing process. Consequently, many units have been designed to fit over or attach to the extension arm between the wall and a shower head. A unit of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,811 (1983).
Other designs have been developed for these shelf units. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,410 (1999) discloses a collapsible shelf unit which can be attached to a conventional towel rack, hand rail or the like.
However, the prior art units have one or more disadvantages, such as inadequate storage for certain items or lack of structural integrity. In addition, some of the “shower head” units require the user to reach through the shower spray to obtain the desired item.
Thus, there is a need in the industry for an effective and reliable accessory shelf unit for holding various items, especially in a bathtub or shower area.