EP1561411A2

EP1561411A2 - Water tightness means for bath tubs and shower trays

Info

Publication number: EP1561411A2
Application number: EP05381003A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enrique Graells Pane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-09
Filing date: 2005-02-07
Publication date: 2005-08-10
Also published as: US20050177936A1; EP1561411A3

Abstract

Water tightness means for bath tubs or shower trays (2) having a peripheral edge with an essentially rectangular upper groove (2.1) near the edge, wherein on top of this bath tub or shower tray (2) is placed a strip (1) configured such that it has a vertical face meant to rest on the wall, with at least one lip (1.2) in cross section, the bottom face having a thin tab (1.1) in cross section meant to enter the upper peripheral groove (2.1) of the bath tub or shower tray (2), resulting in a play that allows adjusting the distance from the bath tub or shower tray (2) to the wall (3).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to water tightness means for bath tubs and shower trays that provide a watertight union of the bath tub or shower tray with their surrounding walls.
For this purpose, the shower tray or bath tub has an upper peripheral groove in which a strip is inserted that rests on a vertical wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to water tightness means for bath tubs and shower trays that helps correct the small variations that may be present in the squaring of the surrounding walls.
When bath tubs or showers are installed adjacent to walls, problems may arise if the wall has an arched area or if there are false right angles where the bath tub is installed that do not allow a perfect coupling of the tub to the wall, requiring laborious sealing tasks with putty or silicone.
The strip of the invention allows compensating the different separation that may be present between the walls and the bath tub or shower tray, by adapting to the walls to improve the water tightness of the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to water tightness means for bath tubs and shower trays.
Normally, bath tubs are installed next to one or more walls, so that part of the perimeter of the bath tub is set against one or more walls.
When bath tubs or shower trays are installed, there may be problems when fitting the bath tub or shower tray next to walls that are not perfectly straight or have slight bulges that complicate their installation.
The water tightness means of the invention are constituted from at least one bath tub or shower tray having a peripheral edge with an essentially rectangular upper recess near the edge.
On the top groove in the sides of the bath tub or shower tray placed next to the wall is placed a strip having a vertical wall meant to rest on the wall.
The vertical face can have at least one end cross-sectional lip giving rise to one or several intermediate cavities filled with an adhesive to join the strip to the wall.
These lips can have at least one notch to facilitate the union of the strip to the wall.
The upper part of the strip has incuts on the corners of both sides that facilitate sealing the assembly.
The bottom face has at least one tab with a thin cross section meant to enter the upper peripheral groove of the bath tub or shower tray, providing a play that allows adjusting the distance from the bath tub or shower tray to the wall.
As stated above, the width of the upper edge of the bath tub or shower tray is greater that that of the tab, so that the strip can adapt to the distance between the wall and the bath tub, allowing a perfect coupling of the bath tub or shower tray to the walls.
The exposed side of the strip can have any form, such as inclined, as long as it favors water evacuation.
In its outer half, the bottom part of the strip will be inclined as the height of the tab is different in each of its faces.
This inclination allows the space between the upper face of the bath tube perimeter and the bottom face of the strip to be filled by a rubber or silicone putty to create an elastic and watertight union.
This is particularly important when the walls are made of plasterboard. These walls tend to yield somewhat under perpendicular loads. These small movements can be absorbed by this union.
On the sides of the bath tub that are not adjacent to a wall the upper edge of the bath tub or shower tray is covered by a strip with a flat profile finish used to adapt the bath tub or shower tray to for example short walls that cover the free face of the bath tub or shower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present descriptive memory is completed by a set of drawings that illustrate the preferred example and are not meant to limit the invention in any way.
Figure 1 shows a section view of the two possible positions of the strip for adapting the vertical wall to the bath tub or shower tray.
Figure 2 shows a section view of the bath tub or shower tray from a side that is not next to a wall.
Figure 3 shows a plan view of a bath tub and a shower tray showing schematically the adaptation of the strip to the walls.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the present invention consists of water tightness means for bath tubs and shower trays.
The water tightness means are constituted by at least one strip (1) to adapt the bath tub or shower tray (2) to the walls (3).
The strip (1) for adapting the bath tub or shower tray (2) to the walls (3) is inserted in an essentially rectangular groove (2.1) provided in the bath tub or shower tray (2) in all or part of its perimeter.
A tab (1.1) of the strip (1) is inserted in a rectangular groove (2.1) provided on the top face of the bath tub or shower tray (2). This groove (2.1) is wider that the tab (1.1) on the bottom face of the strip, allowing various positions as shown in figure 1.
In position A of figure 1 the tab (1.1) of the strip is shown next to the inner edge of the recess (2.1), as the deviation of the wall from a vertical line is greater than in case B, where the tab (1.1) of the strip (1) is next to the outer edge of the groove (2.1).
These two positions can be present in the same wall, with the strip crossed in the groove (2.1) of the bath tub or shower tray, as shown in figure 3.
The strip (1) rests on the wall (3) by two lips (1.2). When these lips (1.2) meet the wall (3) a space is left between the wall (3) and the strip (1), which is filled with an adhesive (4) to stabilize the assembly.
The upper part of the strip (1) has two corner incuts on either side to allow sealing by elastic gaskets (5, 6) that ensure water tightness.
The outermost incut prevents the tiles (3.1) from entering the strip (1) as the incut is filled with the elastic and watertight outermost gasket (5).
The innermost incut is filled by the inner elastic gasket (6) that seals the union between the wall (3), tiles (3.1) and strip (1).
The bottom face of the strip (1) is inclined so that when the strip (1) rests on the bath tub or shower tray (2) a groove is revealed that is filled with a seal (7), using a putty to make the union elastic and watertight.
In the position in which the need for the strip (1) is greatest (figure 1 case A), the seal (7) of this union covers the base of the groove (2.1) and the part of the bottom face of the strip (1) that is inclined.
In the position in which the need for the strip (1) is a minimum, this seal covers the upper face of the bath tub or shower tray shown next to the groove and the bottom face of the strip (1) that is inclined.
As shown in figure 2, on the bath tub sides that are not next to a wall (3) the upper recess (2.1) of the bath tub or shower tray (2) is covered by a strip (8) with a flat upper profile finish, its cross section revealing a tab (8.1) to be inserted in the recess (2.1).
This flat profile strip (8) is used to adapt the bath tub or the shower tray to, for example, short walls that cover the free face of the bath tub or shower tray, completing the closure of the assembly.
Both strips (1, 8) can be made of plastic, ceramic or metal.
The essence of this invention is not affected by variations in the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner that should allow its reproduction by an expert.

Claims

Water tightness means for bath tubs or shower trays (2) having a peripheral edge with an essentially rectangular upper groove (2.1) near the edge, characterized in that on top of this bath tub or shower tray (2) is placed a strip (1) configured such that it has a vertical face meant to rest on the wall, with at least one lip (1.2) in cross section, the bottom face having a thin tab (1.1) in cross section meant to enter the upper peripheral groove (2.1) of the bath tub or shower tray (2), resulting in a play that allows adjusting the distance from the bath tub or shower tray (2) to the wall (3).
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 1 characterized in that the vertical face of the strip has two end lips (1.2) in cross section that give rise to intermediate cavities.
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the lips (1.2) can have at least one notch.
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 1 characterized in that the strip (1) is provided on its upper part with corner incuts on either side for sealing.
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 1 characterized in that the strip (1) has an inclination on the outer half of the bottom face, so that when the strip (1) rests on the bath tub (2) a groove is created that can be filled with a putty seal (7) to provide an elastic and water tight union.
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 1 characterized in that the exposed face of the strip (1) has the form of an inclined plane.
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 2 characterized in that the intermediate cavity placed between the end lips (1.2) of the strip (1) meant to rest on the wall (3) is filled with adhesive (4) to stabilize the assembly.
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 4 characterized in that the upper outer incut of the strip (1) is filled with a gasket (5), elastic and water tight.
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 4 characterized in that the upper inner incut of the strip (1) is filled by an elastic gasket (6) that seals the union between the wall (3), the tiling (3.1) and the strip (1).
Water tightness means for bath tubs according to claim 1 characterized in that in the sides of the bathtub that are not next to a wall (3), the upper groove (2.1) of the bath tub (2) is covered by a strip (8) with a flat upper profile that shows a tab (8.1) in cross section to be inserted in the groove (2.1) of the bath tub or shower tray (2).