AU9724798A - Improved floor - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors Address for service is: NEIL ALEXANDER CAVELL and GEOFFREY PAUL

SMALE

NEIL ALEXANDER CAVELL and GEOFFREY PAUL

SMALE

WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 V Invention Title: "Improved Floor" Attorney code: WR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1/1 IMPROVED FLOOR TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to an improved wet area floor.

BACKGROUND ART In particular this invention relates to an improved wet area floor, such as is used in level entry showers.

However, this should not be seen as limiting as the present invention may be utilised in other situations where it is desirable to have a wet area floor which can be drained. For example only, the present invention may also be used in freezing works or in the dairy industry.

For ease of reference only, the present invention will now be described as being a level entry shower. However, this should not be seen as limiting.

At present level entry shower floors are usually covered with tiles or vinyl so as to complete the decor of the bathroom.

However, there are a number of disadvantages with the current methods of constructing the floor of a level entry shower.

One method involves having a concrete plasterer form by hand the floor of the level entry shower from concrete so that the top surface of the floor converges towards a waste water outlet.

In general this is the method that is employed when a level entry shower floor is constructed in a concrete ground floor.

The main disadvantage with this method, is that a skilled experienced 1/2 plasterer is required to form the level entry shower if it is to drain effectively.

This is because, the correct fall and shape that the floor must have towards the outlet, must be judged solely by the eye of the plasterer.

Thus, if an inexperienced and/or unskilled plasterer is employed to construct a level entry shower floor, flooding of the surrounding floor is the usual end result.

Furthermore, as experienced skilled concrete plasterers are frequently in short supply, there can often be a substantial time lag involved in the construction of a level entry shower floor whilst one waits for a skilled concrete plasterer.

A second method of constructing level entry shower floors is employed for wooden floors and/or upper storey floors.

This method entails cutting the existing floor out in the region where the level entry shower is to be positioned. The timber joists are then shaped so as to give the correct fall to the support surface of the level entry shower floor. In general, the support surface of the level entry shower floor is constructed from a number of sheets of FIBROLITE T or VILLABOARD™. The adjoining edges of these sheets being glued together. The top surface of the support surface is then covered with either BUTANOL M fiberglass or a vapour barrier mastic to S waterproof it.

However, a disadvantage with level entry shower floors constructed in this manner, is that any movement of the joists can distort and open up the joints of the level entry shower floor and result in leaks.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a selfsupporting wet area floor which includes: at least one support surface the wet area floor characterised in that a peripheral flange extends from the edge of the support surface to support the wet area floor so that it is substantially flush with surrounding non-wet area floor.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a selfsupporting wet area floor substantially as described above wherein the wet area floor includes at least one waste outlet, the support surface of the wet area floor being adapted so as to drain towards the waste outlet.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a selfsupporting wet area of floor substantially as described above which includes at least one substantially vertical upstand extending from the peripheral flange on at least one side of the wet area floor.

S It is envisaged that wet area floor may be any floor which is designed to be saturated with water or some other liquid.

a By way of contrast, the non-wet area floor may be any floor that has not been designed to be substantially saturated with water or other liquid.

For ease of reference only, the wet area floor will now be referred to as being a level entry shower floor.

For ease of reference the non-wet area floor may be thought of as being the floor of a bathroom. However, this should not be seen as necessarily limiting the scope of the present invention.

In preferred embodiments the level entry shower floor may be prefabricated.

The prefabricated level entry shower floor being manufactured to a size appropriate for the shower it is going to be installed into.

The advantage of prefabricating the level entry shower floor is that the correct shape and fall for drainage can always be achieved.

In general, the prefabricated level entry shower floor may be located in a recess or hole, of a size substantially corresponding with that of the level entry shower floor, in the floor of the bathroom.

The peripheral flange may have a number of different shapes and configurations.

In preferred embodiments, the outer edge of the flange may substantially correspond to the perimeter shape of the support surface of the level entry shower floor, from which the flange projects.

In preferred embodiments the flange may also include apertures to allow it to be attached to surrounding bathroom floor or other support member(s).

However, this should not be seen as limiting as other forms of attachment may also be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In preferred embodiments, the flange may be supported by boxing which surrounds the edge of the hole in the bathroom floor. The height of the boxing being such that the level entry shower floor is substantially flush with the surrounding bathroom floor.

In some embodiments, where the flange is supported by the floor, the edge of x.

the bathroom floor may be slightly rebated to receive the flange, so that the top surface of the flange may be substantially flush with that of the bathroom floor.

However, this should not be seen as limiting as in some embodiments the width of the flange may be such that it may rest on the top surface of the bathroom floor and still be substantially flush therewith, without the need for rebating.

The support surface may be made of any material or combination of materials which is/are waterproof, provided said material(s) can support the maximum load that will be applied to the level entry shower floor.

In some preferred embodiments the support surface may be formed from suitable plastics material.

In other preferred embodiments the support surface may be made of metal.

The support surface may be adapted so as to drain towards the waste outlet in a variety of different ways.

In all preferred embodiments, the support surface may have a fall between 20 down towards the waste outlet.

X In general, the waste outlet may be centrally located within the support A surface. However, this should not be seen as limiting.

In some embodiments, the support surface may be pre-formed by a suitably shaped mould.

In preferred embodiments, the support surface may be pressed from a single sheet of metal.

However, these should not be seen as limiting as other methods for constructing a suitably configured support surface are envisaged.

The vertical upstand may have a variety of different shapes.

In general, the vertical upstand may resemble a substantially upright lip or flange capable of being attached to walls such as for example walls of a shower so as to create a watertight seal.

Thus, the present invention may have a number of advantages.

One advantage of the present invention is that as the level entry shower floor is prefabricated with the correct shape and fall to allow for drainage to occur, it may be installed by any tradesman or home handyman simply by following written instructions. Thus, the present invention overcome present difficulties with constructing level entry shower floors in concrete.

Another advantage of the present invention is that any movement of the joists is not likely to distort the level entry shower floor so as to create leaks.

Thus, it may overcome the difficulties associated with forming a level entry shower floor in a wooden and/or upper storey floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the S following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through line A A shown in figure 1, and Figue shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention about to be -installed- BEST MODES FOR CARRYIG OUT.THE INVEN'UON With respect to figure 1 there is provided a level entry shower floor generally indicated by arrow 1.

The level entry floor -1 has a support surface 2, a drain 3 and peripheral flange 4 and upstands 5 and 6.

The flange 4 has apertures 7 located along its length for receiving attachment means such as bolts or screws (not shown).

With respect to figure 2 the level entry shower floor 1 may be attached to boxing 10 and 11 via screws 13 and 14 which pass through the apertures 7 (not shown).

With respect to figure 3 there is shown a level entry floor liner 1 which is to be placed into a hole 50 in the floor 51. The flange 4 is to be located on boxing indicated by arrow 52 and attached thereto via screws not shown.

The upstands 5 and 6 may be attached to walls 53 and 54 via means of any suitable waterproof adhesive so as to create a seal once the level entry shower floor is in position.

Aspects of the present invention have been described- by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

\444111 Ck

Claims (11)

1. A self-supporting wet area floor which includes: at least one support surface; the wet area of floor characterised in that a peripheral flange extends from the edge of the support surface to support the wet area floor so that it is substantially flush with surrounding non-wet area floor.

2. A self supporting wet area floor substantially as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wet area floor includes at least one waste outlet, the support surface of the wet area floor being adapted so as to drain towards the waste outlet.

3. A self-supporting wet area floor substantially as described in either claim 1 or 2 which includes at least one substantially vertical upstand extending from the peripheral flange on at least one side of the wet area floor.

4. A self-supporting wet area floor substantially as described in any one of the preceding claims wherein the wet area floor is a level entry shower floor.

A self-supporting wet area floor substantially as claimed in any one of Sthe preceding claims wherein the wet area floor has been pre-fabricated.

6. A self-supporting wet area floor substantially as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer edge of the flange substantially corresponds to the perimeter shape of the support surface of the wet area floor, from which the flange projects.

7. A self-supporting wet area floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flange includes apertures to allow it to be attached to a surrounding floor or other support member(s).

8. A self-supporting wet area floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the support surface is made from any material or combination of materials which is/are waterproof, provided said material(s) can support the maximum load that will be applied to the wet area floor.

9. A self-supporting wet area floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the support surface is configured to have a fall between to 60 down towards the waste outlet.

A self-supporting wet area floor as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein the vertical upstand resembles a substantially upright lip or flange capable of being attached to walls, so as to create a watertight seal.

11. A self-supporting wet area floor substantially as described herein with reference to any example and/or drawing thereof. \DATED this twenty-first day of December

1998. NEIL ALEXANDER CAVELL and GEOFFREY PAUL SMALE Applicants WRAY ASSOCIATES Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for Applicants I