AU629113B2 - Shower tray - Google Patents

Description

S013818 22/~03/90 5805/2 i j: ll! 2r- 629113 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 tee.

0 o Name of Applicant oo0 Address of Applicant 0 0 Actual Inventor Address for Service PETER ANTHONY FITZPATRICK 6 Greenwood Drive, Goonellabah, New South Wales, 2480,

AUSTRALIA.

S PETER ANTHONY FITZPATRICK GRANT ADAMS COMPANY Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 9 NATIONAL MUTUAL CENTRE 144 Edward Street Brisbane, Queensland, 4000

AUSTRALIA.

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Ce a 0r COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "SHOWER TRAY" The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to the applicant.

L .1 2 THIS INVENTION relates to an improved shower tray for preventing moisture seeping through a tiled floor.

Shower recesses are often provided with a tiled surface. The grouting and substrate are usually at least partially porous to water and accordingly, it is necessary to take steps when installing a shower recess to prevent moisture seeping out from the shower recess.

It is well known to provide a formed metal shower tray which is cut and welded along at least some of the edges of the tray. The process of welding seams can be time consuming and there is an inherent risk that the welded seam will not be water-tight. Further, after 15 the shower tray has been installed and the tiles laid over the shower tray, it is possible for the welded seams to fatigue and crack, thereby allowing moisture to pass through.

It is also well known to provide formed 20 fibreglass shower trays. Fibreglass is a rigid and brittle material and may fatigue and crack in use.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved shower tray which overcomes at least one of the disadvantages and/or problems of the prior S 25 art.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a shower tray constructed from flexible planar sheet material, the said tray comprising, a generally rectangular basey four sides extending transversely to said.

base from respective edges of said base; said sides being formed by folding the sheet material, and wherein horizontal fold lines define said edges of said base, and vertical fold lines define edges between adjacent sides, to form a generally water-tight container.

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3 Preferably, at least one of the sides is shorter than the other sides, cuts being made. in the vertical fold lines adjacent the one side, the sheet material being folded along a further horizontal fold line, which extends between the ends of the cuts, to define a flap which is folded over a generally rigid strip and secured thereto to define a hob of a shower recess. Preferably, the cuts extend not more than one half the height of the other sides, the cuta being made from the tops of the vertical fold lines.

Preferably, the fold lines also define corner fold flap portions, in the form of two generally triangular halves, which are secured to the inside of any adjacent side.

S 15 Preferably, the flap portions are secured to the sides by staples, adhesives or glue.

Preferably, the sheet material is a flexible, synthetic woven material which has high strength and is waterproof.

20 A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG 1 is a top plan view of a blank of the material for forming the shower tray; FIG 2 is a schematic perspectLve view of a support strip; FIG 3 is a schematic perspective view of the shower tray of the present invention; FIG 4 is a schematic top plan view of the shower tray of FIG 3; FIG 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view along A-A of FIG 4.

There is depicted in FIG 1 a blank suitable for forming the shower tray 10 of the present invention.

The blank comprises a base portion 17, three side portions 15, a front side pt .ion 16 and four corner I i i 7 1 fold-flap portions 22. The blank is provided with fold lines 13 for forming the edges of the base portion 17, fold lines 12 for forming the side edges of the sides 16, diagonal fold lines 11 in each of the corner fold flap sections 22, and fold line 14 for forming the top edge of the front side 16.

FIG 2 shows a plastic or metal strip 18 which is generally rigid for supporting the front side 16.

FIG 3 shows the blank of FIG 1 in the erected.

position. The base portion 17 is generally horizontal with the three sides 15 and the front side 16 extending .generally vertically upwards from the side edges 13 of the base portion 17. The corner folded flap portions 22 are now in the form of two generally triangular halves 24, each bordered by the fold lines 11 and 12, and the peripheral edge 25 of the material. The two halves 24 are adjacent one another and are secured to an inside of any adjacent side 15. The corner fold flaps 22 may be secured to the sides 15 by, for example, staples, adhesive, etc.

The front side (at eg. 80-100im high) is shorter than the other three sides 15 (at eg. 200mm high). The material is cut along the fold lines 12 adajcent the front side 16 from the peripheral edge of the material.

The cuts 21 extend less than half the height of the sides 15, and the material is folded along the fold line 14, which extends between the ends of the cuts 21, to define a flap 20. The rigid strip 18 is positioned adjacent and inside the front side 16, whereupon the flap 20 is folded over the strip 18 and secured thereto. The strip 18 provides rigidity to the front side 16 so that it may define a hob of the shower recess. (For a two-sided recess, a second side will also be cut and will be folded about line 14A, over a strip 18, in the same manner as front side 16.) The

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other sides 15 will each be adjacent a wall (not shown) of the shower recess.

The shower tray i; placed inside the shower recess whereupon the tiles (not shown) may be laid over the shower tray. The tiles will be laid after the necessary waste outlet fittings have been installed in the waste outlet hole 19 cut in the base portion 17 and sealed thereto by, eg. waterproof sealants and/or gas belts.

The material used for the shower tray is loo. preferably a flexible, synthetic, woven material which has high strength and is waterproof. A suitable material is sold under the Registered Trade Mark "Canvacon" by Rheem Australia Ltd. As the material is 4 15 flexible, the tray can adjust to differences in stud and I* •wall openings.

The shower tray of the present invention is formed with fold lines, rather than welded seams, so that the tray 10 can retain water up to a level at least 20 the height of the front side 16 (and below the height at which staples are used to secure flap portions to the sides). The integrity of the material is retained at the fold lines, thereby generally eliminating the risks of a welded or otherwise joined seam.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the present invention provides a shower tray which is very efficient and flexible in installation (with adjustment possible by removing the staples, refolding and restapling), while being relatively inexpensive compared with existing stainless steel or fibreglass shower trays. The problem with the welded seams of the former, and the brittleness of the latter, are clearly overcome.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (10)

1. A shower tray constructed from flexible planar sheet material, the said.tray comprising: a generally rectangular base; f our sides extending transversely to said. base from respective edges of said. base; said sides being formed by folding the sheet material, and. wherein, horizontal f old. lines define said. edges of said. base, and vertical fold lines define edges between adjacent sides, to form a. generally water-tight container.

2. A tray according to Claim 1. wherein: o at least one of the sides is shorter than the other sides, cuts being made in the vertical fold lines adjacent the one side, the sheet material being V'oo folded along a further horizontal fold. line, which too extends between the ends of the cuts, to define a f lap which is folded over a generally rigid strip and. secured so thereto, to def ine a hob for a shower recess to which 4: 20 the tray is fitted.

3. A tray according to Claim 2I wherein: the cuts extend not more than one-half the height of the other sides, the cuts being made from the top of the vertical fold, lines. o 25

4. A tray according to any one of Claims I. to 3 wherein: the fold lines also define corner fold flap portions, in the form of two generally triangular hailves, which are secured to the, inside of one of the adjacent sides.

A tray according to Claim 4 wherein. the, flap portions are secured to the sides by staples, adhesives or glues.

6. A tray according to any oneQ of claims I to wherein: 8 the sheet material is a flexible, synthetic woven material which has high strength and is waterproof.

7. A tray according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein: a waste outlet hole is cut in the base to receive waste outlet fittings for the shower recess in which the tray is installed, the fittings being sealed to the outlet hole and/or adjacent portion of the base.

8. A shower tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A shower recess provided, with the shower tray as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8.

10. A method of manufacturing a shower tray S 15 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. o DATED this twenty-third day of July 1992. PETER ANTHONY FITZPATRICK By his Patent Attorneys S 20 GRANT ADAMS COMPANY. e 1 .3