EP1293155B1 - Bathtub or shower tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A two-part bath or shower base has an acrylic lining (16) with a surrounding substrate (14) of hard polystyrene foam. The substrate locates in and is bonded to a surrounding socket block (17) fabricated of a foam material.

Description

The invention relates to a tub support system consisting of a bath or shower tray, in particular acrylic tub, comprising a tub body with an intended for receiving water inside and an outside, comprising a manufacturer side with the outside of the tub firmly connected tub receptacle with an inside and an outside.

Such a tray support system is off WO-A-0022971 known.

Bathtubs or shower trays are usually placed and fixed today in foam-made tub supports. The tub supports are usually used at the same time as heat and sound insulation and provide mounting options for each desired wall paneling, can be occupied, for example, with tiles. A bathtub used with the aid of potting compound in a tub support is already in EP 1 064 873 A2 disclosed. Smaller mismatches between bath or shower tray on the one hand and tub support on the other can be compensated thereby.

A big problem, however, is that baths or shower trays are offered with tub bodies of different dimensions. Thus, almost a corresponding number of tub supports must be kept ready in order to optimally store or fix the respective tub bodies.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tub support system with which storage and / or transport costs can be reduced.

This object is achieved with a tub support system according to the features of patent claims 1 and 2.

A central idea of the present invention is that the tub body is firmly connected to a tub receptacle of rigid foam, in particular expandable polystyrene, such that a composite body is created and that at the same time for receiving the with the tub body connected tub body trained and adapted tub body is provided.

The outer contours of the tub recording can be standardized according to the invention for a group of different tub body of baths or shower trays. It can then be used a uniform tub support for a variety of bath or shower trays. Overall, a tub support system consisting of tub body, tub support and tub support is created.

It is therefore possible for a variety of bath or shower trays, which are configured according to the invention in each case as a composite body comprising a tub body and a tub receptacle, only very few tub support bereituhalten. Due to the fixed connection between the tub body and tub receptacle, it is possible, with a correspondingly corresponding formation of tub receptacle and tub support a tub body on the tub support invention accurately fit into the tub support.

In the composite body created between tub receptacle and tub body, inside of the tub receptacle and outside of the tub body are designed to correspond to one another and to lie essentially flush with one another. This results in a flat system practically over the entire connection area between the tub body and tub recording, especially in the area of the bottom of the tub body, so that the considerable occurring in use weight forces of the invention under certain circumstances quite thin to design tub body reliably by the large area, at least in the bottom area in the Essentially all-surface adjacent tray recording is recorded. Due to the flat, flush connection between the tub body and tub receptacle creates a mutual stiffening of tub body or tub recording.

The pan receptacle provided directly on the tub body can bring further advantages. Under certain circumstances, the stiffening effect of the tray receiving sufficient, so that a conventional bathing or showering tubs often provided reinforcement, which is usually made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GfK), omitted on the outside of the tub body or can be made correspondingly thinner. It is then defined a composite body with the elimination of the usual outer, especially GfK existing well reinforcement.

Furthermore, the tub-mounted on the tub body manufacturer already saves packaging material that must be used for storage and transport of the tub conventionally. The pan holder thus serves itself as at least one-sided protection of the tub body.

According to the particular idea of the invention, the inner side of the tub receptacle and the outer side of the tub body are mutually corresponding and substantially flush with one another. The result is a layer composite body in the manner of a laminate. Due to the large-scale investment of tub receptacle and tub body mutual stiffening is achieved, so that the composite body thus formed is particularly stable. Forces exerted on the tub body are thus transferred over a large area to the tub receptacle. Although it is preferred that the tub receptacle and tub body lie against each other as flush as possible over the entire area of their mutually opposite surfaces (with or without provision of a connecting layer), this large-area connection can also take place in several partial areas. For reasons of stability, however, it is preferred that the surface of the connecting layer is larger than the largest cross-sectional area of the tray receptacle in a horizontal plane in the set-up position.

In a first embodiment, a planar connecting layer, in particular an adhesive or foam layer, may be provided between the body of the bath and the tub. The planar connection layer between the tub body and the tub receptacle can be interrupted once or several times and therefore does not have to be formed as a single coherent connection layer. In a preferred development, the connecting layer also assumes sound-absorbing or sound-damping properties. If a connection layer is provided, in a preferred embodiment this may have a thickness of at most 10 mm, preferably about 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

In an alternative embodiment, the tub and tub receptacle are connected to each other without a connecting layer. In such a composite body a surface connection is realized directly between tub receptacle and tub body.

In a specific embodiment, the tub body and tub receptacle without connecting layer are connected to each other by direct foaming of the tub receptacle or pouring the tub body to form a composite body. These two variants are advantageous in that the two elements of the composite body are not constructed separately, but an already manufactured element in the production of the missing element participates.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the composite body consisting of tub receptacle and tub body is stackable. This minimizes storage costs. Own packaging material for the tub body can be significantly reduced.

In order to ensure the most stable stacking position, the outer surfaces of the tub receiver are designed to bear on an inner side of an adjacent tub body.

In a particularly expedient embodiment, the tub support itself is made of individual parts, in particular of longitudinal and transverse walls and optionally a bottom element assembled. Storage and transport costs can be significantly reduced. At the same time optimal handling, stability and functionality in terms of sound and heat insulation can be achieved by a corresponding, preferably normalized outer contour of the tray recording.

In a further concrete embodiment, tub receptacle and tub support are designed so that they can be inserted into each other by 180 ° position offset, so that during installation alignment of the head and foot of the tub (the composite) and at the same time the selection of a particular longitudinal wall of the outer tub support as front free to determine.

Preferably, vertically extending guides are provided between tray and tray support, which slide together Ensuring tub support and tub support at the same time defined relative position.

In one embodiment, latching means can be effective between tub receptacle and tub support to lock tub receptacle and tub support against each other.

Two alternative methods of forming a well as a composite body are useful. The core idea of the first alternative method is to bring a cup body with its inside facing outwards as a punch in a mold for forming the tub made of rigid foam, such that the tub receptacle is foamed directly to the outside of the tub body.

In an alternative embodiment, the tub receptacle can be formed first with a trough-shaped recess and then the tub body can be formed directly on the inside of the tub receptacle.

In a first concrete embodiment of this method, the bath or shower tray can be obtained on the inside of the tub receptacle by a casting process, in particular by pouring the trough-shaped recess of the tub receptacle.

In an alternative embodiment, the bath or shower tray is formed on the inside of the tub receptacle by deep drawing, in particular by deep drawing of acrylic corresponding to the surface of the inside of the tub receptacle.

Since these methods, in particular a casting method, are not unproblematic with regard to a uniform tub thickness and a smooth, streak-free inside of the tub body, in a preferred embodiment in a preceding step, a surface coating or more generally a surface treatment of the tub-shaped recess of the tub receptacle can precede.

The coating may, inter alia, have the purpose of at least partially dissipating the heat energies occurring during pouring or deep-drawing of the bath or shower tray, without the tray receptacle formed from hard foam being affected in its functionality.

Alternatively or additionally, a heat-activatable melt or adhesive layer may be provided, so that the heat energy occurring during the formation of the bath or shower tray is received within the trough-shaped recess of the tub receiver through this connection layer, such that a firm bond between the tub body of in the tub recording trained bath or shower tray and the tub recording arises.

The invention will be described in more detail below with regard to further features and advantages and with reference to embodiments explained in the following figures:

FIG 1

eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Badewanne in Querschnittsansicht;

FIG 2

eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Badewanne, die in einen Wannenträger eingesetzt ist in Querschnittsansicht;

FIG 3a

eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Badewanne, eingesetzt in einen zerlegbaren Wannenträger in einer Querschnittsansicht;

FIG 3b

eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Badewanne, eingesetzt in einen Wannenträger in Längsschnittansicht;

FIG 4

eine Mehrzahl von Badewannen in einer Ausgestaltung der Erfindung aufeinander gestapelt.

Hereby show:

FIG. 1

an embodiment of a bathtub according to the invention in cross-sectional view;

FIG. 2

an embodiment of a bathtub according to the invention, which is inserted into a tub support in cross-sectional view;

FIG. 3a

an embodiment of a bathtub according to the invention, used in a collapsible tub support in a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 3b

an embodiment of a bathtub according to the invention, used in a tub support in longitudinal sectional view;

FIG. 4

a plurality of baths in an embodiment of the invention stacked on each other.

1 shows a first embodiment of a bathtub according to the invention is shown in cross-sectional view. The bathtub initially comprises a tub body 11, which may be made of acrylic or coated with acrylic, or at least partially formed of metal, and a tub receptacle 14 with an outer side 18 and an inner side 19. The tub receptacle is preferably made of rigid foam, in particular expandable polystyrene or from another dimensionally stable foam material. The tub body 11 has an intended for receiving water inside 12 and an outer side 13, which may have a - not shown here - reinforcement, in particular of GRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic). According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, however, such a reinforcement can also be omitted entirely or at least partially.

The tub receptacle 14 defines, together with the tub body 11, a composite body 16, since tub body 11 and tub receptacle 14 are permanently connected to one another by the manufacturer. In a concrete embodiment is a full-surface connection, d. H. a connection over the entire area of the adjoining surfaces. Alternatively, however, only a partial area connection, d. H. a connection defining a permanently connected composite body over a plurality of interfaces. The decisive factor is that the inner side 19 of the tub receptacle 14 and the outer side 13 of the tub body 16 over a wide range, preferably over a surface area greater than the cross-sectional area of the tub receiving, flush with each other.

Tub receptacle 14 and tub body 11 may be directly connected to each other, either by the fact that the tub receptacle 14 is foamed directly to the outside of the tub body 11 or in that the tub body 11 is formed by pouring a previously formed tub receptacle and connected to the tub receptacle. As an alternative to these two types of direct connection, both elements, the tub body 11, on the one hand, and the tub receptacle 14, on the other hand, can each be prefabricated and then connected to one another via an adhesive or bonding layer.

The tray receptacle 14 may itself be equipped with foot elements 27 which allow it to be parked on a floor surface 21.

Alternatively, the tray receptacle 14 may not be placed directly on a bottom surface 21, but instead may be accommodated or inserted in a conventional or in a specially designed tub support 17, as explained with reference to FIG. In a particularly preferred and stable embodiment, the tub support 17 has a trough-shaped recess which is formed corresponding to the outer side 18 of the tub receptacle 14. Another advantage arises when, for a plurality of tub bodies of different dimensions, the tub receptacle 14 is designed or formed directly within the foaming process such that the tub receptacle 14 has a predefined design of the outer side 18.

It can then be adapted to this standardized outer side 18 of the tub receptacle 14 adapted tub support 17, which can then be used for a quite high number of different tub body 11 different dimensions under certain circumstances. In this advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tub receptacle 14 can to a certain extent be used as an "adapter" between a more or less arbitrary tub body 11 and a predefined tub support 17.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, the tub support adapted and adapted to the tub receptacle 14 can also be dismantled and, for example, comprise longitudinal walls 22, 23, transverse walls 24, 25 and optionally a bottom element 26 as separate components in each case. These separate components in the form of longitudinal walls 22, 23, transverse walls 24, 25 and possibly floor element 26 can be detachably connected to possibly known in connection with demountable tub supports in itself connection techniques, such as a tongue and groove connection with dovetail. The transport, packaging and storage costs can then be significantly reduced.

In a particularly expedient embodiment, which is illustrated with reference to FIG 4, the tub receptacle 14, in particular its outer side 18 is formed such that it can at least partially immersed in a tub body - in particular the same design - so that the composite body 16, comprising tub body 11 and tub receptacle 14 (as can be seen from the cross-sectional view according to FIG. 4), which is stackable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

when body

12

Inside (tub body)

13

Outside (tub body)

14

when recording

16

composite body

17

tub support

18

Outside (tray)

19

Inside (tray)

21

floor area

22, 23

longitudinal walls

24, 25

transverse walls

26

floor element

27

foot elements

Claims (9)

1. A tub tray support system consisting of a bathtub or shower tub, in particular an acrylic tub, comprising a tub body (11) with an interior (12) designed to accommodate water and an exterior (13),
   which comprises:

   a manufacturer-provided tub base (14) fixedly joined to the exterior (13) of the tub having an interior (19) and an exterior (18),

   whereby the tub base (14) is made from a rigid foam, in particular expandable polystyrene,

   whereby the tub base (14) and the tub body (11) define one composite body, and

   whereby the interior (19) of the tub base (14) and the exterior (13) of the tub body (11) are correspondent and configured to abut substantially flush up against one another,
   and a tub support (17),

   whereby said tub support (17) comprises a receiving space designed and adapted to receive the tub base (14) joined to the tub body (11),

   whereby the composite body (16), consisting of tub base (14) and tub body (11), is of stackable design and the exterior surface of the tub base (14) is designed to be seated to the interior of an adjoining tub body (11), and

   whereby the tub base (14) and tub body (11) are joined together in full surface contact without a connective joining layer.
2. A tub tray support system consisting of a bathtub or shower tub, in particular an acrylic tub, comprising a tub body (11) with an interior (12) designed to accommodate water and an exterior (13),
   which comprises:

   a manufacturer-provided tub base (14) fixedly joined to the exterior (13) of the tub having an interior (19) and an exterior (18),

   whereby the tub base (14) is made from a rigid foam, in particular expandable polystyrene,

   whereby the tub base (14) and the tub body (11) define one composite body, and

   whereby the interior (19) of the tub base (14) and the exterior (13) of the tub body (11) are correspondent and configured to abut substantially flush up against one another,
   and a tub support (17),

   whereby said tub support (17) comprises a receiving space designed and adapted to receive the tub base (14) joined to the tub body (11),

   whereby the composite body (16), consisting of tub base (14) and tub body (11), is of stackable design and the exterior surface of the tub base (14) is designed to be seated to the interior of an adjoining tub body (11), and

   whereby a full-surface joining layer is provided between the tub base (14) and the tub body (11), in particular an adhesive or binding layer (25)
3. A tub tray support system according to claim 2,
   characterized in that,
   the joining layer exhibits a maximum thickness of 10 mm, preferably about 0.5 to 3 mm.
4. A tub tray support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that,
   the tub base (14) is designed in the form of a support body positionable on a floor space (21) and coverable by tiles or other claddings as appropriate.
5. A tub tray support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that,
   the tub base (14) of the composite body has an exterior (18) designed to be inserted into a tub tray support having a correspondently configured receiving space.
6. A tub tray support system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that,
   the tub support (17) is configured from individual elements, in particular longitudinal walls (22, 23) and transversal walls (24, 25) as well as a base element (26) as applicable.
7. A tub tray support system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that,
   the tub support (17) exhibits a straight and a sloping longitudinal wall (22, 23), whereby the tub base (14) and the tub support (17) are configured and coordinated to one another such that the tub base (14) can be inserted into the tub support (17) both in a first position as well as in a second position rotated 180° thereto.
8. A tub tray support system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that,
   vertically-extending guides act between the tub base (14) and the tub support (17) to allow the inner tub base (14) to be easily introduced into the outer tub support (17) at a defined position.
9. A tub tray support system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that,
   the tub base (14) and tub support (17) exhibit correspondent securing means in order to secure said tub base (14) and tub support (17) to one another.

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