AU2011101333A4 - Bath - Google Patents

Abstract

-8 Abstract A bath 10 formed of an open top inside enclosure 20, and a surrounding outside enclosure 30 joining at a common top edge 12, wherein the bath is formed primarily 5 of planar preformed sections, with the inside enclosure formed of opposing planar end pieces 22 and opposing planar side pieces 24 joined directly or indirectly between by joining formations 26 and connecting at a lower end to a planar base 28 to thereby form the open top inside enclosure 20. 24 29 26 22

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT APPLICANT: Formed Australia Pty Ltd INVENTION TITLE: BATH The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: - -2 BATH 5 Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved bath and in particular to an improved method of forming a bath of required size. Background to the Invention 10 Generally baths have historically been formed of solid material such as of marble or cast iron or ceramic. This requires manipulation of solid material in the techniques of the detailed trades of sculpturing or commercial casting etc. It has been known to make plastic or other artificial material to simulate solid 15 materials such as marble or ceramic. Generally this is achieved by forming a mould and creating an internal hollow mould by blow mould or pouring material such as sand replacement mould techniques. However such techniques provide a very heavy solid structure that is predetermined. 20 It does not allow for construction of baths to fit the required bathroom dimensions but requires the bathroom to fit the bath. Generally if such fitting does not readily occur the bath is omitted from the bathroom. This is not an option which improves the availability of baths for different sized bathrooms. 25 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome or to at least substantially ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art or at least provide an effective alternative. Summary of the Invention 30 The present invention provides a bath formed of an open top inside enclosure, and a surrounding outside enclosure joining at a common top edge, wherein the bath is formed primarily of planar preformed sections. The inside enclosure can be formed of opposing planar end pieces and opposing 35 planar side pieces joined between by joining formations and connecting at a lower end to a planar base to thereby form the open top inside enclosure.

-3 Preferably the opposing planar end pieces and opposing planar side pieces are formed by first and second trapezoidal planar sections. Preferably the inside enclosure has an inwardly angled arrangement greater than the 5 inwardly angled arrangement of the outside enclosure. Preferably the inner enclosure walls of the opposing planar end pieces are at about 150 and the outer enclosure walls of the opposing planar end pieces are at about 120. 10 Preferably the inner enclosure walls of the opposing planar side pieces are at about 280 and the outer enclosure walls of the opposing planar end pieces are at about 120. The bath can be formed with a support means located within the confines of the outside enclosure and below the underside of the inside enclosure. 15 The support means and the outside enclosure can be ground engaging to form a full circumferential and central support of the inside enclosure. The invention also provides a method of forming a bath of variable size by the steps 20 of: forming or selecting opposing planar end pieces and opposing planar side pieces of required size to form a required length and width and depth of a bath; forming or selecting a corresponding planar base; connecting the opposing planar end pieces and opposing planar side pieces 25 to the planar base directly or by interfitting shapes to provide a sealed inside enclosure; providing an outside enclosure providing a support means located within the confines of the outside enclosure and below the underside of the inside enclosure with the support means 30 and the outside enclosure being ground engaging to form a full circumferential and central support of the inside enclosure It can be seen that the invention provides a means of forming a bath of any length or width or depth as defined with ready use of planar parts. 35 -4 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention can be more readily understood a specific embodiment will be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a bath in accordance with a 5 first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal diagrammatic view of the bath of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-section along the centre axis of the bath of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a lateral cross-section along the lateral centre axis of the bath of 10 Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan overhead view of the bath of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic constructional view along longitudinal cross section along the centre axis of the bath of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a diagrammatic constructional view along the lateral centre axis of 15 the bath of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a is a diagrammatic constructional perspective longitudinal view of half a bath of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a is a diagrammatic constructional perspective lateral view of half a bath of Figure 1; 20 Figure 10 is a detail of Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a photographic top perspective view of the bath in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention 25 In this preferred embodiment, the invention provides a bath 10 having four sides formed of an open top inside enclosure 20, and a surrounding outside enclosure 30 joining at a common top edge 12, wherein the bath is formed primarily of planar preformed sections. 30 The inside enclosure 20 can be formed of a plurality of planar performed sections comprising opposing planar end pieces 22 and opposing planar side pieces 24 joined between by joining formations 26 and connecting at a lower end to a planar base 28 to thereby form the open top inside enclosure. 35 The opposing planar end pieces 22 and opposing planar side pieces 24 are formed by first and second trapezoidal planar sections. These have larger dimension at the top compared to the base 28 so as to provide the leaning wall or inclined surfaces.

-5 An opening 14 can be formed in the base 28 of the inner enclosure 20 to form a plug hole connectible to the plumbing 16. 5 An outside enclosure 30 comprises of a plurality of planar preformed sections which can be formed or selecting from opposing planar end pieces 32 and opposing planar side pieces 34 of required size, joined between by joining formations 36, to form a required length and width and depth of the outside of the bath 10. Clearly such outside enclosure 30 has dimensions greater than the inside enclosure 20 but with a 10 substantially similar top circumferential dimension to the top circumferential dimension of the inner enclosure as these are connected together at the top edge 12. The inside enclosure 20 has an inwardly angled arrangement greater than the inwardly angled arrangement of the outside enclosure 30. This inwardly angled 15 arrangement is relative to the vertical in order to provide the bath 10 with planar preformed sections that splay outwards from the base 28 to the top edge 12. In one form the inner enclosure walls 29 of the opposing planar end pieces 22 are at about 150 and the outer enclosure walls 39 of the opposing planar end pieces 32 are at about 120. The inner enclosure walls 29 of the opposing planar side pieces 24 are at 20 about 280 and the outer enclosure walls 39 of the opposing planar end pieces 34 are at about 120. The bath 10 can be formed with a support means 40 located within the confines of the outside enclosure 30 and below the base 28 and underside of the inside 25 enclosure 20. This support means 40 can also be formed from planar sections to form a rectangular box like supporting structure. The support means 40 and the outside enclosure 30 can be ground engaging to form a full circumferential and central support of the inside enclosure 20. 30 In use it can be seen that the invention provides a method of forming a bath 10 of variable size. First this comprises of forming or selecting opposing planar end pieces 22 and opposing planar side pieces 24 of required size to form a required length and width 35 and depth of the inner enclosure 20. As the material can be reconstituted marble or similar that is formed in planar sheets it can be cut to the required shape.

-6 Similarly the corresponding planar base 28 can be formed or selected. With the required parts these can be directly or indirectly connected with the opposing planar end pieces 22 and opposing planar side pieces 24 to the planar base 28 and by including interfitting joining formations 26 in the form of corner curved shapes. 5 Overall this provides a sealed inside enclosure 20. In order to provide a support to the inner enclosure 20 as a bath 10 needs to support the weight of a person, then the bath includes providing a support means 40 located within the confines of the outside enclosure 30 and below the underside of the inside 10 enclosure 20 with the support means 40 and the outside enclosure 30 being ground engaging to form a full circumferential and central support of the inside enclosure. Similarly to the inside enclosure 20, the outside enclosure 30 can be formed or selected by directly or indirectly opposing planar end pieces 32 and opposing planar 15 side pieces 34 and include interfitting joining formations 36 in the form of corner curved shapes. The opposing planar end pieces 32 and opposing planar side pieces 34 are of required size to form the required length and width and depth of the outer enclosure 30. 20 While we have described herein a particular embodiment of a bath 10, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications which can be made without inventiveness or departing from the spirit and scope thereof is included within the 25 scope of this invention.

Claims (5)

1. A bath formed of an open top inside enclosure, and a surrounding outside 5 enclosure joining at a common top edge, wherein the bath is formed primarily of planar preformed sections, with the inside enclosure formed of opposing planar end pieces and opposing planar side pieces joined directly or indirectly between by joining formations and connecting at a lower end to a planar base to thereby form the open top inside enclosure. 10

2. A bath according to claim 1, wherein the opposing planar end pieces and opposing planar side pieces are formed by first and second trapezoidal planar sections such that the inside enclosure has an inwardly angled arrangement greater than the inwardly angled arrangement of the outside enclosure. 15

3. A bath according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the bath is formed with a support means located within the confines of the outside enclosure and below the underside of the inside enclosure with the support means and the outside enclosure being ground engaging to form a full 20 circumferential and central support of the inside enclosure.

4. A method of forming a bath of variable size by the steps of: a. forming or selecting opposing planar end pieces and opposing planar side pieces of required size to form a required length and width and 25 depth of a bath; b. forming or selecting a corresponding planar base; c. connecting the opposing planar end pieces and opposing planar side pieces to the planar base directly or indirectly connected by interfitting shapes to provide a sealed inside enclosure; 30 d. providing an outside enclosure e. providing a support means located within the confines of the outside enclosure and below the underside of the inside enclosure with the support means and the outside enclosure being ground engaging to form a full circumferential and central support of the inside enclosure. 35

5. A bath or method of forming a bath substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.