AU655828B2

AU655828B2 - Shower screens

Info

Publication number: AU655828B2
Application number: AU19585/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Scott Andrew Harlow Ballis; Gerard Mussett
Original assignee: Dowell Australia Ltd; Stegbar Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Dowell Australia Ltd; Stegbar Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-12-21
Filing date: 1992-07-10
Publication date: 1995-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-10
Also published as: AU1958592A

Description

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655828 1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 11 1 1 e r 1 1 1 1 11 11 1 4 1111 11 1 i 1111 1111 lli 1 1 1 1 11 11 11 0 ll I

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(111 1 1 1111 11 1 11 ii i i COMPLETE SPECIFICATION APPLICANT: STEGBAR PTY LTD DOWELL Invention Title: SHOWER SCREENS The invention is described in the following statement: JMSPEC/STEGBAR.SPEC/11 JULY 11994 AUSTRALIA LTD

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2 TITLE: Shower Screens FIELD OF THE INVENTION: The invention of tie present application relates to shower screens, their means of construction and inter-relationship.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: There is a need for improved means of constructing shower screens, for example, the means for connecting the side and end frames of doors.

The means for connecting the side and end frames of doors will be referred to generally as "comer stakes" in the specification following. Such corner stakes are known but suffer from the disadvantages of inconvenience in use and sloppiness of connection in that the stakes tend to move within the corner and end frames.

S"BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: This invention provides a comer :stake for use in the construction of frames for building elements having side and end frames which comprises tv; stake elements extending generally at right angles to each other from a t C boss, each stake element having at least one locking prong located on each inner side of the *ight angle, wherein each locking prong extends outwardly from the respective stake element and back towards the boss and is so made and constructed that it is capable of flexing inwardly and outwardly so as to engage corresponding recesses in the side and end frames of I the building elements.

1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Figure 1A is an isometric view of i a comer stake according to the invention; Figure 1B is an isometric view of a modified comer stake according to the invention; Figure 1C is an isometric view from a different angle of the modified corner stake shown in Figure IB, with an inserted tab; and JMSPEC/STEGBAR.SPEO/11 JULY 1994 T 0 o Figure ID is an isometric view from the same angle as Figure 1B of the modified stake shown in Figure 1B, again with an inserted tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: The corner stake according to the invention is constructed suitably from a relatively rigid polymeric material.

However, a degree of flexibility is essential in that the corner stake must fit construction elements with relatively fine distance tolerances. Thus the comer stake is provided with two stake elements having at least one and preferably two internally directed locking prongs.

Each locking prong must have the capacity to flex to fit into a corresponding recess in side or end frames.

The locking prongs are preferably located so as to face into the internal angle created by the two stake elements. In this way the locking prongs, when fitted into the corresponding recesses, may be hidden from view. In a modification of the comer stake according to the I invention, one or both stake elements may be supplied with an extra element such as a roller locating means connected to an outer face of the respective stake element. In the case of a t t, i roller locating means extending out from one face of a stake element, the corresponding construction element must be supplied with a slot or similar recess to accommodate the roller means.

I t Refening now to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example only according to I the invention, the invention not being limited to the particular example, a comer stake is illustrated in Figures 1A, 1B, 1C and ID inclusive.

i In Figure 1A, numeral 1 refers to the corner stake generally and 2 to a boss from which extend stake elements 3 and 4. Locking prongs 5 and 6 on stake element 3 and locking prongs 7 and 8 on stake element 4 extend in each case outwardly and back towards boss 2.

Gap 9 is illustrated between prong 8 and the body of stake element 4. Prong 8 may flex inwardly so as to enter a recess in a construction element (not shown) and then spring into a close fit. Protrusions 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D extend outwardly from stake element 3 and are JMSPEC/STEGBAR.SPEC/11 JULY 1994 L I~ I 0 4.

0 4 44 4 4 40 4 4 adapted to ensure snug fit with the construction element. Corresponding protrusions 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are supplied on stake element 4.

In Figure 1B, a modified corer stake according to the invention is shown. The corner stake is referred to generally as 10, having boss 11 and two stake elements 12 and 13, somewhat as shown in Figure 1A. However, a flange 14 extends outwardly from stake element 13. A diagonal slot 15 is let into flange 14 for use in locating a roller. Aperture 16 is provided for insertion of a tab.

In Figure 1C tab 17 is shown as fitting into aperture 16, the erect portion of the tab being adjacent one edge of the flange.

In Figure 1D tab 17 is again shown as fitting into aperture 16, displaying spring clip 18 for retention to the flange. In this case, the erect portion of the tab is spaced from the edge of the flange.

JMSPEC/STEGBAR.SPEC/11 JULY 1994

Claims

1. A comer stake for use in the construction of frames for building elements having side and end frames which comprise two stake elements extending generally at right angles to each other from a boss, each stake element having at least one locking prong located on each inner side of the right angle, wherein each locking prong extends outwardly from the respective stake element and back towards the boss and is so made and constructed that it is capable of flexing inwardly and outwardly so as to engage corresponding recesses in the side and end frames of the building elements.

2. A comer stake as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking prongs are located with respect to each stake element so as to project into the general right angle formed by the stake elements.

3. A corner stake as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least two locking prongs are located on each stake element.

4. A comer stake as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein one or both stake elements is supplied with an extra structural element.

5. A corner stake as claimed in claim 4 wherein one of the extra structional elements is a roller locating means extending out from an external face of a stake element, the roller locating means having a slot or similar recess to accommodate the roller means. o

6. A comer stake as claimed in claim 5 wherein the roller locating mean is supplied w detachable, multi-purpose tab means adapted to prevent an adjacent door element r- d- iug from a set of rollers from undesired lateral travel.

7. A comer stake as claimed in claim 1 substantially as described with reference to Figures 1A, 1B, 1C or 1D. JMSPEC/STEGBAR.SPEC/11 JULY 1994 ABSTRACT A corner stake for use in the construction of frames for building elements having side and end frames which comprises two stake elements 4) extending generally at right angles to each other from a boss each stake element having at least one locking prong 6, 7, wherein each locking prong extends outwardly from the respective stake element and back towards the boss and is so made and constructed that it is capable of flexing inwardly so as to engage corresponding recesses in the fside and end frames of the building elements. o* *r WPF1/JMSPEC/STEGBAR.SPC/10 July 1992