AU620722B2

AU620722B2 - Integral handle and frame for a bi-fold shower screen

Info

Publication number: AU620722B2
Application number: AU57068/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher Daniel Sassella; John Raymond Whitney
Original assignee: Dowell Australia Ltd
Current assignee: Aluminium Extrusion and Distribution Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1989-06-15
Filing date: 1990-06-13
Publication date: 1992-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-13
Also published as: AU5706890A

Description

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AUSTRALIA6 0 2 PATENTS ACT 1952 Form COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 3

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: r+ Accepted: Lapsed: Published: *K Priority: V Related Art: COMPLETE-AFTER-PROVISIONAL PJ4746 ot* oP pn I' 0.

o PP• 0 11 o p O o o 0 *0 o P opo p TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT 4 C Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: DOWELL AUSTRALIA LIMITED 6 ALBERT STREET PRESTON 3072

VICTORIA

AUSTRALIA

GRIFFITH HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Gob* O 0 poop o p p pp p o 0 0 p we.' G0 P a o Actual Inventor: Address for Service: INTEGRAL HANDLE AND F1 5 This inventior and frame for a bi-fold Hitherto, in 1 it has been a problem t( bi-fold panels when the.

10 this hinging is central cubicle and is thus sub water can pass through panels. In addition, i attach a handle to the permit the shower scree shower cubicle. Bi-fol Complete Specification for the invention entitled: INTEGRAL HANDLE AND FRAME FOR A BI-FOLD SHOWER SCREEN The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method uf performing it known to me:- L IV. a 2 0 0: 00 0 o I 00 0 0 0 0 0DO o oo o o 0 0 0. INTEGRAL HANDLE AND FRAME FOR A BI-FOLD SHOWER SCREEN This invention relates to an integral handle and frame for a bi-fold shower screen.

0 0 Hitherto, in the art of bi-fold shower screend this hinging is centrally of the opening of a shower cubicle and is thus subject to considerable splashing and water can pass through the opetring between the two panels. In addition, it has been necessary to physically attach a handle to the framing members of such panels to permit the shower screen to be opened from within the shower cubicle. Bi-fold panel shower screens always open 3 by the panels breaking inwardly of the cubicle. This is generally provided so that the water which may accumulate on the panels during showering does not drip onko the floor in a bathroom as would happen if the panels break outwardly of the cubicle.

We have realized that if one of the upright framing members of at least one of the panels has a flange extending therefrom, it can cover the opening between the adjacent panels when the panels are closed and can also provide a gripping means to enable a handle to be provided to open the shower cubicle.

Therefore, in accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention there may be provided a bi-fold panel shower cubicle installation comprising a first panel and a second panel hinged to each other and mounted ,a for bi-fold movement within a shower screen frame, and wherein at. least one of the panels has \-Xframing member fjbtv~l~ kz&he wV\e. of alongkthe side edge which hinges with the other panel, said framing member having a flange extension which extends substantially the whole length of the framing member and which, in use, when the bi-fold panels are closed, will extend across any opening between the adjacent edges of the panels to inhibit against water from within the shower cubicle passing between the adjacent edges of the panels, and to also constitute handle means whereby the panels can be manipulated to be opened from the closed position from within the shower cubicle.

Most preferably the framing member is an extrusion and the flange extension is an integral part of such extrusion.

In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained, an example of the preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: p 4- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a typical bi-fold panel shower screen installation; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the installation shown in Figure I taken in a horizontal plane.

Referring firstly to Figure i, there is shown a shower base 1 fitted in the corner of a bathroom. A shower screen assembly 3 is mounted above the base 1 so that it forms a shower cubicle with the corner walls of the bathroom. The installation has an upright wall jamb a head track 7 and a free standing jamb 9, bi-fold panels 11 and 13, and a return panel 15. The bi-fold o panels 11 and 13 are hinged to each other on adjacent Oo longitudinal side edges by hinges 17 placed at 0 0 15 appropriate positions along the length thereof. Panel 11 is hinged to jamb 5 by means of hinges 19 positioned at suitable positions along the length of panel 11.

The panels 11 and 13 provide a bi-fold panel arrangement and close the cubicle when they are in planar 20 aligned relationship as shown in Figure 2. When the 9909 °o o shower cubicle is to be opened, the panels 11 and 13 "o hinge and break inwardly of the cubicle.

9o 4 The jamb 5 is mounted within a shaped mounting member 25. The side of return panel. 15 which abuts with the wall, is mounted within a shaped mounting member 27. The arrangement is such that mounting members 25 and 27 are fixed to the walls at the appropriate positions and if there is any out-of-plumb of the walls then framing members 21 of the panels are inclined relative to the mounting members 25 and 27 prior to fixing to the mounting members 25 and 27 by means of silicon or pop rivets or screws. In this way, adjustment can be made for minor out-of-plumb of the walls whilst maintaining the jambs 5 and 9 in an upright conditlon.

It is noted that jamb 9 also contains a generally "U" shaped recess 29 in which the framing member 21 which

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abuts therewith can be received. The top track 7 is arranged to be of the required length so that the jamb 9 can be held in a vertical orientation. A pressure stop means 31 is mounted to the jamb 9 to engage with the free end of panel. 13 with the framing member 21 at that edge -so as to apply pressure forces to the panels 11 and 13 when in a closed position to cause them to move to an over-centre position where they will lock by abutting with the framing member 21 where the two panels 11 and 13 are hinged together. This will hold the panels 11 and 13 in a closed position but where a force can be applied to the panels 11 and 13 to cause them to swing to break t, inwardly to open the cubicle.

Figure 2 shows that at least one of the framing members, in this case one panel 13, has a flange extension 31. The flange extension extends from one side face of framing member 21 in a direction to overlap any space between the panels 11 and 13 when in the closed position. The flange extension also has a handle portion 33 which permits a person within the cubicle to take hold of the panels 11 and 13 and move them inwardly of the cubicle to permit opening of the panels 11 and 13. The flange extension 31 and the handle 33 extend continuously from top to bottom of the panel 13 and thus completely cover any opening between the panels 11 and 13 where they are hinged together.

Typically the framing members 21 are made from an aluminium extrusion and the flange extension 31 and the handle 33 are integrally formed with such extrusion.

The body section 35 of the framing member 21 which contains the flange extension 31 and the handle 33, is of the same transverse cross-sectional shape as the remaining framing members 21 and therefore fits together with the other framing members 21 to provide a frame, in this case, for panel 13.

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r "S I; i' 6 S0oo0 *000 o O oas o 0000 oooo o 00 ee* o coo 0 oo 0 0 S00 *Ste ooo o )o o o 0000 0000 o o0 o oo 0 oo0 o p pp In order to provide for pleasing aesthetics, the flange extension 31 and handle 33 are moulded integral with the body portion 35, but the inventive concept does not exclude the flange extension 31 and the handle 33 being fastened to an existing framing member 21 to provide the same end result. The flange extension 31 therefore extends substantially the whole length of the framing member 21 of the panel.

It is noted from Figure 2 that each of the framing members 21 at the position where the panels 11 and 13 are hinged together, has a longitudinally extending rib 39 of a dimension at least equal to the thickness of the wings of the hinges 17. This rib provides a stop means against which the outermost edges of the wings can locate prior to fixing of the hinges 17 to the framing members 21. The ribs 39 are dimensioned so that they approximately close any space between the adjacent panels 11 and 13 where they are hinged. It can be seen accordingly that the flange extension 31 extends 20 in a direction such that it covers the gap between the ribs of adjacent framing members 21 and inhibits a person's fingers or other body extremities from being pinched as the panels 11 and 13 are closed.

Thus, in the embodiment described herein the inside face of the bi-fold panels is substantially closed even if the flange extension 31 were not present. The flange 31 ensures that substantially no water will pass through the opening between the adjacent panels 11 and 13 where they are hinged together by virtue of splashing from within the cubicle.

The handle 33 can be sawn off for a distance of about 5 cm upwardly from the bottom of the panel 13 so that there will be a relief of the handle, which would or may otherwise catch with a persons toes with the cubicle.

i i 1 r 1 i; -7- Modifications may be made to the present invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art of aluminium shower screen installations. These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

0 Op ooo 00 9 o t 0 9 d 00 S00 00 i 1 1 1l t l -t

Claims

8- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: i. A bi-fold panel shower cubicle installation comprising a first panel and a second panel hinged to each other and mounted for bi-fold movement within a shower screen frame, and wherein at l~at one of the panels has a-framing member alongkthe side edge which hinges with the other panel, said framing member having a flange extension which extends substantially the whole length of said framing member and which, in use, when the bi-fold panels are closed, will extend across any opening between the adjacent edges of the panels to inhibit against water from within the shower cubicle passing between the adjacent edges of the panels, and to also constitute handle means whereby the panels can be manipulated to be opened from the closed position from Swithin the shower cubicle. E 2. A bi-fold panel installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said framing member is an extrusion and the flange extension is an integral part of such extrusion. 3. A bi-fold panel installation as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each panel has a framing member along the side edge which hinges with the other panel and wherein rib means extend from each of the framing members so that together they approximately close any gap between the framing members when the panels are closed. 4. A bi-fold panel instnllation as claimed in claim 3 wherein said flange extension extends in a direction from said framing member to inhibit against a persons body extremities being pinched betwee; said rib means. A bi-fold panel installation as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said rib means can be used as stop means to locate wings of hinges which hinge the panels together. i _1 ,L r I i 9 I 6. A bi-fold panel installation substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 12th Day of June, 1990. DOWELL AUSTRALIA LIMITED By Its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia 0 01 0 o 0 0 to a 0 4 i S o a.) 57068/90 a a a U I at a ta a a a aiti ata' tata a' a' r a a a at t a a ii a 4ta ii