AU640804B2

AU640804B2 - Free flow bath

Info

Publication number: AU640804B2
Application number: AU81204/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Barry Lawrence Sharpe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-13
Filing date: 1991-07-19
Publication date: 1993-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-19
Also published as: AU8120491A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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0 S C Name and Address of Applicant: Ac.\ Tventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Barry Lawrence Sharpe 45 Burdett Crescent Blacktown New South Wales 2148

AUSTRALIA

Barry Lawrence Sharpe Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Free Flow Bath

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ASSOCIATED PROVIS!ONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [311 Application No(s) [33] Country [32] Application Date PK4592 AU 13 February 1991 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815/3 *i S i S

-ABSTRACT-

A bath which is to be used as a free flow bath to ensure a constant replenishing and overflow of water therein. The bath comprising a tub having a substantially flat surface and four sloping sides around which a gutter is used to collect overflow water from the bath The gutter has a drain apertures into which the water passes Into the plumbing The bath also ensures that there is no overflow water as this water is removed by the gutter.

HRF/0524y The present invention relates to bathtubs, and in particular, to a free flow bathtub which allows more water to be applied to the bathtub without raising the level of the water.

Many styles of bathtubs and like basins, include an overflow outlet which is used to prevent water from overflowing from the bathtub or basin over the outside rim of the bathtub. In these cases, the overflow is usually a single or multiple outlet from within the interior of the bath or basin which connects to the drainage or plumbing of the building.

The basic use of such overflow outlets is to ensure that if the tap is inadvertently left running, then the bath or basin will not overflow onto the floor and thus cause damage.

A spa or whirlpool bath is described in N086/01100 by Aquatech Markecing Limited. The spa or whirlpool has an overflow opening which is located within the bath. The opening consists of a hole in the side of the bath, A similar hydrotherapeutic bath described in AU-.A-68831/87 by Gerald H Moreland. The bath is this spei1fication also includes an opening through which overflow water can pass into the drains.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a free flow bathtub which enables the water to be replenished in the bath without exceeding a certain level in the bath.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a free flow bath comprising a tub having at least one gutter means partially running along the inside surface thereof, said gutter means being substantially horizontal with a slight ii; 25 gradient towards a drain means, wherein water is input into said bath and wherein the level of water is prevented from rising above the level of said gutter means as the water flows into said gutter means and into said drain means to be removed from said bath.

Suie embodiments of the present invention will now be described 30 with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a partially cut away perspective view of a bath of the i IRF/0524y preferred embodiment, Flg. 2 is a plan view of the bath of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 Is a cross sectional view along the line III III of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of a bath of a second embodiment, Fig. 5A is a transverse lateral cross-sectional view of an average conventional bath, Fig. 5B is a lateral cross-sectional view of the bath of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bath of Fig.

4, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an average conventional bath of Fig. 5A with a gutter attached to the top rims to form another embodiment of the invention.

The bath 1 of the preferred embodiment includes a tub 2 which Is placed In a rectangular shell or base 3. The tub 2 has a rim 4 which fits over the base 3 as illustrated in the drawings.

The tub 2 as Illustrated in Fig. 3 rests on blocks 5 located on the floor 6. The tub 2 has a substantially horizontal surface 7 and four sloping sides 8 with the rim 4 located at the top edges thereof.

Located in the horizontal surface 7 is a drain hole 10 to which plumbing 17 is attached. This is the normal drain hole 10 of the bath S. 1. Also illustrated in the drawings Is a pair of gutters 11 and 12 substantially ctrcumscribing the interior surface of the sloping sides 8. The gutters 11 and 12 have a slot 13 at the sloping sides 8 whijh lead into a gutter pocket 14 around the periphery of the tub 2. At one end of the tub 2 a pair of drain apertures 15 and 16 which are connected to the gutters 11 and 12 respectively. The drain apertures are connected up via the plumbing 17 to the drain hole Not illustrated in the drawings, hot and cold taps and spouts are iused to fill the bath 1 In the usual manner.

In use, the bath 1 of the preferred embodiment is able to be used in a variety of ways. In one mn'thod of use, the drain hole 10 can be plugged by using a standard plug when a young child is placed in the bath 1 to be bathed. In this instance, the lower gutter 12 is left unplugged and therefore the gutter 12 acts as a drain to ensure that the water level never rises above the level of this gutter 12. This is a safety aspect of its use. Once the child has been bathed, if the bath 1 is to be used for another child to be bathed, it is possible to put more hot or R 1 HRF/0524y cold water Into the bath 1 In the usual manner. This ensures that the greases, scum and suds floating on top of the water are removed from the bath 1 via the gutter 12 and aperture 16 through the plumbing 17. In this manner of use, the water in the bath is replenished without letting all the water out through the drain hole 10. It Is also the case that water can be continuously let Into the bath 1 to produce a "free flow" effect In which the excess water Is contlnua'llyv skimmed off the top by the gutter 12.

In another use of the bath 1, the lower gutter 12 can be plugged at the aperture 16 by using a standard plug. Therefore It Is possible to have a higher level of water in the bath I. The gutter 11 operates in the same manner as that of gutter 12 to provide an overflow as well as the ability to refresh the water -in the bath 1 and to also provide a "free flow" effect.

A second embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5B and 6 takes the form of a bath 21 which includes a tub 22 within a rectangular shell or base 23. The tub 22 similarly to the previously described embodiment, has a substantially horizontal surface 27 and four sloping sides 28 with a gutter rim 24 located around the 20 periphery of the tub 22.

A drain hole 30 is located in the horizontal surface 27 and is iconnected to drain 31 in the usual manner. The gutter rim 24 located at the periphery of the tub 22 also has a drain hole 25 which connects up to the drain hole 30 by the plumbing 31 in a similar maniier to the previously described embodiment. The gutter rim 24 slopes towards the :drain hole 25 in order that any water which finds its way into the gutter rim 24 drains through the drain hole The bath 21 of the second embodiment is used ,n a similar manner to the aforementioned bath 1 in that any water which overflows from the tub 22 goes into the gutter rim 24 arid hence through the drain hole 25 into the plumbing 31.

In another aspect, the bath 21 is also a free-flow bath as is the case when water is continuously let into the bath 21 so that the excess water is continuously skimmed off the top by the gutter rim 24.

The advantages of the bath 21 can be seen In comparison to the bath 41 illustrated in Fig. 5A whereby the height of the bath 21 is substantially reduced when compared to a conventional bath, for use with the same water level. The gutter rim 24 of the bath 21 acts as a splash lq HRF/0524y gutter which allows for the same water level to be used notwithstanding the different heights of the baths 21 and 41.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7, a conventional bath 41 has a gutter 42 attached around its rim 43. The gutter 42 has a drain hole 44 which is connected by plumbing 45 to a drain hole 46 In the bath 41 in a similar manner as in Fig. 6. The gutter 42 is used In a similar manner as described and for the embodiment illustrated In Figs. 4, 5B and 6. The gutter 42 is able to be attached to a conventional bath to produce the "free flow" effect whereby excess water is continually skimmed off the top by the gutter 42.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

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Claims

1. A free flow bath comprising a tub having at least one gutter means partially running along the inside surface thereof, said gutter means being connected to a drain means, said gutter means being substantially horizontal with a slight gradient towards said drain means, wherein in use water is let into said bath and wherein the level of water is prevented from rising above the level of said gutter means as the water flows into said gutter means and into said drain means to be removed from said bath.

2. The bath as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are two said gutter means at different heights in said bath and the drain means lower said gutter means is able to be plugged to allow water to rise above the level of said lower gutter means.

3. A bath substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1-3 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this TWENTY-SEVENTH day of MAY 1993 Barry Lawrence Sharpe Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON e o *g 0* S *o *oaoo ooo IRF/0524y