AU2010100986A4 - A Shower Base - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 iI Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: A Shower Base The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Title A Shower Base Field of the invention 5 The present invention relates to bases for shower cubicles and the like. Background of the invention The industry norm for shower bases in Australia for the past twenty to thirty years has been heavy rigid polymarble bases that chip and crack easily due to the material used and 10 environmental factors - extended drought conditions which have resulted in clay movement which subsequently results in house movement. Polymarble bases have been successful due to the perceived strength that is assumed to follow from the weight of the product. 15 Acrylic shower bases have been widely used for the past decade, but due partly to the design they have not become popular across Australia, with the exception of Queensland. Traditional acrylic shower bases were hollow shells that needed to be backfilled to eliminate bounce as the product although stronger than polymarble is very flexible. The backfilling required more work and invariably more trouble for tradespeople who were 20 more inclined to use polymarble out of habit. Although far superior to polymarble the acrylic manufacturing process does not allow 100% product consistency and surface finish on mass production. Fibreglass reinforcing and finishing is also done by hand and thus leads to human error. Although acrylic is stronger and more versatile than is polymarble it is a softer material surface so more inclined to scratch. 25 Summary of the invention In contrast, the present invention provides a shower base or the like, comprising an upper sheet-like portion which is integral with, and supported by, lower structures. 30 It is preferred that the lower structures are substantially honeycomb-like. It is preferred that: each lower structure has side walls which terminate in lower edges; and the lower edges of all of the lower structures are substantially coplanar. - 1 - It is preferred that the shower base or the like further comprises an integral peripheral upstanding portion having lower edges which are substantially coplanar with the lower edges of the lower structures. 5 It is preferred that the shower base or the like is formed from sheet moulding compound. Brief description of the drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings, in 10 which figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; figure 2 is a projection from below of the embodiment of figure 1; and figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 1-1 of figure 1. 15 Description of preferred embodiments of the invention As is illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3 a shower base or the like I is of a square or other suitable shape in plan view. It has a conventional surface 2 on which the user stands for the purpose of having a shower and which is surrounded by a conventional upstanding portion 3. As is illustrated in figure 3, the surface 3 is shaped to facilitate the drainage of 20 water towards a drain hole 4. As is illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the shower base I or the like has an upper sheet-like portion 6 which is integral with, and supported by, structures 7. The structures 7 have side walls which terminate in lower edges 8. The lower edges 8 are coplanar with lower edges 25 of the peripheral upstanding portion 3. The lower edges of the structures 7 and the lower edges of the peripheral upstanding portion 3 accordingly support the shower base or the like I on the floor or other substrate on which it is mounted. The use of the honeycomb-like lower structures results in surprisingly high overall 30 strength with relatively low weight of the shower base or the like structure 1. The shower base or the like I is integrally formed from material which is alternatively known as "sheet moulding compound" or "sheet moulding composite", both of which are represented by the acronym "SMC". SMC is a ready to mould fibre-reinforced polyester -2material primarily used in compression moulding. It is manufactured by dispersing long stands (greater than one inch in length) of chopped glass fibres on a bath of polyester resin. 5 While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 10 Throughout this specification, including the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and corresponding parts of speech are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof, 15 In the claims, each dependent claim is to be read as being within the scope of its parent claim or claims, in the sense that a dependent claim is not to be interpreted as infringed unless its parent claims are also infringed. -3-

Claims (5)

1. A shower base or the like formed from sheet moulding compound, comprising an upper sheet-like portion which is integral with, and supported by, lower structures. 5

2. A shower base or the like, in which the lower structures are substantially honeycomb-like.

3. A shower base or the like as claimed in claim I or claim 2, in which: each lower structure has side walls which terminate in lower edges; and 10 the lower edges of all of the lower structures are substantially coplanar.

4. A shower base or the like as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an integral peripheral upstanding portion having lower edges which are substantially coplanar with the lower edges of the lower structures. 15

5. A shower base or the like as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, substantially as described with reference to the drawings. -4-