EP1842470A2

EP1842470A2 - Shower box construction with an improved assembling

Info

Publication number: EP1842470A2
Application number: EP07004133A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luigi Mascheroni
Original assignee: Megius SpA
Current assignee: Megius SpA
Priority date: 2006-04-05
Filing date: 2007-02-28
Publication date: 2007-10-10
Also published as: ITMI20060673A1; EP1842470A3

Abstract

A shower box construction with an improved assembling comprising sidewalls mounted on a supporting base and defining an inner space optionally including a water delivery blowing element, the shower box further including at least a sliding wing and means for compensating for misalignments as the shower box components are assembled.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shower box construction with an improved assembling.
As is known, conventional shower boxes comprise a supporting base, made either of a plastics or ceramics material, also operating as a water collecting tray, which is collected from a user supporting surface, and sidewalls made either of a glass or a plastics material.
At least a wall of the shower box can be opened through a tilting or sliding door, for allowing the box to be accessed by a user.
Also known is the fact that the assembling of a shower box, and this mainly in a case in which glass wall are used, and the box has comparatively large size, must be carried out with a great accuracy, to prevent defects of operation and an unaesthetic aspect.
In this respect, a particularly critical component of the shower box is the sliding wing thereof, which must be mounted perfectly squared and aligned with the sliding support, to prevent jammings and aesthetic and operating problems from occurring.
Yet another problem frequently affecting the assembling of shower box constructions, is that the masonry wall may be imperfectly plumbed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a shower box construction including assembling means allowing to solve all the above mentioned problems.
Within the scope of the above aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a shower box construction which can be assembled much more easier and quicker than prior shower box constructions.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a shower box construction which, in an assembled condition, has very high aesthetic qualities.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a shower box construction with an improved assembling, characterized in that said shower box construction comprises sidewalls mounted on supporting base and designed for defining an inner space optionally including at least a water delivery blowing assembly, said construction further comprising at least a sliding wing and compensating means for compensating for misalignments occurring as the shower box components are assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shower box construction according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of a rail and sliding wing of the subject shower box construction;
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively cross sectional and longitudinal cross view of the box rail and sliding wing, shown in a condition for adjusting the minimum height of the sliding wing;
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively cross and longitudinal section views of the rail and sliding wing, shown in a condition for adjusting the average height of the sliding wing;
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a cross sectional view and a longitudinal cross view of the rail and slidable wing, in a condition for adjusting the maximum height of the sliding wing;
Figure 9 is an exploded view of a compensating system for compensating the off-plumb condition of the masonry walls;
Figure 10 is a further exploded view showing the system for mounting the rail and related compensating means;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the rail assembling system and related compensating means, in a use condition of the shower box construction;
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the off-plumb condition compensating system, shown in an assembled condition and maximum extension position thereof;
Figure 13 is a view similar to figure 12, but showing the off-plumb compensation system in an average extension position thereof;
Figure 14 is a view similar to figure 13, but showing the off-plumb compensation system in a minimum extension position thereof; and
Figure -15 is a further exploded perspective view showing the clamping system for clamping the water blower column.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the shower box construction according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises sidewalls 2 which are mounted on a supporting base 3 and define an inner space which may optionally include therein at least a water delivery blowing element 4.
At least one of said sidewalls comprises a sliding wing 5 which is mounted on a top rail 6, fixed to the sidewalls 2 and optionally to the masonry wall 7.
According to the present invention, the shower box construction further comprises compensating means for compensating possible misalignments occurring as the box shower construction components are assembled.
More specifically, said shower box construction comprises first compensating means 8 for compensating the sliding wing.
Said first compensating means 8 comprise a profile element 5a glued to the glass panel of the sliding wing 5 and a lever 9 pivoted to the profile element 5a at a first end portion 10 thereof and including a pair of sliding wheels 11 at the other end portion thereof.
More specifically, said sliding wheels 11 can slide inside a sliding guide 12, formed in the rail 6 operating for supporting the sliding wing 5.
The profile element 5a comprises a threaded hole engaged by a screw 13 having a recessed zone, which is in turn engaged in a seat 14 formed on the lever 9.
The screw 13 is a screw head which can be operated by an operating tool, such as a screw driver or a recessed top wrench, through an elongated slot 15 formed on the rail 6, to adjust the height of the sliding wheels 11 with respect to the wing 5 and according to correspondingly adjust the height of the sliding wing with respect to the rail.
According to the invention, the shower box construction comprises moreover second compensating means 16 for compensating for a possible offset or off-plum condition of the masonry wall 7, to which the rail 6 is clamped.
This second compensating means comprises a clamping element 17 which can be clamped to the masonry wall through a spacer 18 by a conventional screw plug 19.
A telescopic block 20 is applied to the clamping element 17 and can be telescopically engaged in a closure element 21 of the rail 6.
The distance of the end portion of the rail 6 to the masonry wall 7 can be adjusted by causing said end portion to slide with respect to the telescopic block 20 and by locking in a desired position the rail 6, through a locking screw 22 passing through an elongated slot 23 of said rail and engaging in a threaded hole 24 of the telescopic block 20.
The shower box construction according to the present invention comprises moreover clamping means 25 for clamping the column 26 of the water blowing element 4 to the rail 6.
Said blowing element clamping means 25, in particular, comprises a peg 27 integral or made rigid with the column 26 and which can be screwed to the rail 6.
Said peg 27 engage in a bushing 29 which in turn can be threaded into a hole 30 of the panel 31, preferably of glass, forming the wall of the shower box construction.
Said bushing 29 is coupled by a coupling screw 32 to said panel 31.
It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In fact, the invention provides a shower box construction including compensating means for compensating possible misalignments of the sliding wing and the room walls where the shower box construction is installed.
The subject shower box construction can be assembled in a very reliable and quick and easy manner, thereby preventing malfunctions and unaesthetic aspect from occurring.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, according to requirements.

Claims

A shower box construction with an improved assembling, characterized in that said shower box construction comprises sidewalls mounted on a supporting base and defining an inner space optionally including at least a water delivery blowing element, and that said construction comprises moreover at least a sliding wing and compensating means for compensating assembling misalignments of the component elements of said shower box construction.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to claim 1, characterized in that said sliding wing is mounted on a top rail clamped to the shower box construction sidewalls and optionally to the masonry wall.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said shower box construction comprises first compensating means for compensating said sliding wing.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first compensating means comprise a lever pivoted to said sliding wing, at a first end portion thereof and including a pair of sliding wheels at the other end portion thereof.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sliding wheel slides in sliding guide formed in said rail operating as a support for said sliding wing.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a profile element of said shower box comprises a threaded hole in which is engaged a screw with a recessed region in turn fixedly engaged in a seat formed in said lever.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said screw comprises a screw head engageable by a tool, such as a screw driver or a recessed top wrench, through an elongated slot formed through said rail to adjust a height of said sliding wheels with respect to said sliding wing and accordingly a height of said sliding wing with respect to said rail.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shower box construction comprises moreover second compensating means for compensating an off-plumb condition of a masonry wall to which said rail clamped.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second compensating means comprise a clamping element which can be clamped to the masonry wall by a spacer element and a screw plug.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second compensating means comprise a telescopic block clamped to the clamping element and telescopically engageable in a closure element of said rail.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance of an end portion of said rail from said masonry wall can be adjusted by causing said end portion to slide with respect to said telescopic block and locking at a desired position said rail by a locking screw, said locking screw passing through an elongated slot of said rail and engaging a thread hole of said telescopic block.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shower box construction comprises clamping means for clamping a column of said water delivery blowing element to said rail.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water delivery blowing element clamping means comprise a peg rigid with said column and being screw engaged to said rail.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said peg engages in a bushing which can be in turn engaged in a hole formed in a glass panel forming the sidewall of said shower box construction.
A shower box construction with an improved assembling, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bushing is clamped, by a clamping screw, to said panel.