EP1859718A2

EP1859718A2 - Shower screen arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP1859718A2
Application number: EP07252127A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mike c/o Aqualux Products Ltd. Jones; Neil c/o Aqualux Products Ltd. Harrison
Original assignee: Aqualux Products Ltd
Current assignee: Aqualux Products Ltd
Priority date: 2006-05-26
Filing date: 2007-05-24
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Also published as: GB2438468A; GB0610473D0; EP1859718A3

Abstract

A shower screen arrangement 10 comprises a screen 14 for containment of water in a shower area indicated by a shower tray 12. The screen 14 has two leaves 14a, 14b extending from a support pillar 16. The support allows the user to select either of the screen leaves 14a, 14b to be swung about the pillar 16 to an open position, allowing a user to enter or leave the shower area 12. In one example, the leaves 14a, 14b are a single sheet of material.

Description

The present invention relates to shower screen arrangements.
The present invention provides a shower screen arrangement for a shower area, comprising:

a screen for containment of water while showering, and
support means by which the screen is supported,

The screen leaves are supported by a common support arrangement so that swinging either leaf causes the other leaf also to swing. The common support arrangement preferably maintains a fixed relative orientation of the leaves as they swing. The common support arrangement may comprise at least one common member to which both leaves are attached. Alternatively, the screen leaves may form a substantially continuous screen.
The support means preferably comprises a pillar member, the leaves being supported to swing about the pillar member. The pillar member may provide support for a shower head for the shower area, preferably providing support for a plurality of shower outlets for the shower area. The shower head and/or shower outlets are preferably supplied by water conduits within the pillar member. The pillar member also preferably supports controls for control of the shower water to the shower area.
Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shower screen arrangement in accordance with the present invention, installed on a shower tray;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a shower screen arrangement installed for use and in a closed condition;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the installation of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 corresponds with Fig. 2, showing the arrangement in a first open condition;
Fig. 5 corresponds with Fig. 3, showing the arrangement in the first open condition;
Figs. 6 and 7 correspond with Figs. 4 and 5, showing a second open condition; and
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an alternative installation option.

Fig. 1 illustrates a shower screen arrangement 10, for a shower area indicated by a shower tray 12. The arrangement 10 comprises a screen 14 for containment of water while showering, and support means generally at 16, by which the screen 14 is supported.
The screen 14 has two leaves 14a, 14b extending from the support 16. The screen leaves 14a, 14b are supported by the support means 16 to allow a user to select either of the screen leaves 14a, 14b to be swung about the support means 16 to an open position, which allows a user to enter or leave the shower area 12, as will be described.
In more detail, the screen leaves 14a, 14b are generally rectangular and curved out of their plane, as can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, for example. The inner vertical edges 18 of the screen leaves 14a, 14b are close together, either leaving a gap which is filled by a sealing member 20, or coming into abutment to provide a seal between the edges 18. Fixings 22 are provided near the top and bottom of the edges 18 to support the screen leaves 14a, 14b, which are otherwise unsupported.
The support 16 is in the form of a pillar 24. The bottom end of the pillar 24 is mounted on the tray 12, or passes through the tray to the floor beneath, for support. The upper end of the pillar 24 is fixed, for example to the ceiling (not shown) of the room. The pillar 24 carries mounting collars 26 at heights corresponding with the fixings 22. Each collar 26 is able to pivot on the pillar 24 about a vertical axis, as can be seen by comparison of Figs. 1 and 4, for example. Mounting struts 28 extend from the fixings 22 to the collars 26, thereby supporting the screen leaves 14a, 14b on the collars 26. This allows the screen leaves 14a, 14b to swing on the pillar 24, as the collars 26 turn on the pillar 24.
Comparison of Figs. 2, 4 and 6 shows that the screen 14 can swing from a central, closed condition (Fig. 2) to a first open condition (Fig. 4) in which the leaf 14a has swung away from the tray 12 and the leaf 14b has swung over the tray 12, and a second open condition (Fig. 6) in which the leaf 14b has swung away from the tray 12 and the leaf 14a has swung over the tray 12.
In each of the open conditions of Figs. 4 and 6, the leaf 14 which has swung away from the tray 12 leaves an access opening 30 through which a user may enter or leave the shower area 12. Accordingly, the user is able to choose to enter or leave the shower area 12 to either side of the pillar 24, by opening the screen 14 to the appropriate open condition of Fig. 4 or Fig. 6.
Handles or hand grips (not shown) may be provided on the screen 14, to assist in pushing and/or pulling the screen leaves to move the screen 14 between the closed and open conditions. A gentle detent or friction arrangement (not shown) may be provided to hold the screen 14 in any of the three positions or at intermediate positions.
The pillar 24 provides support for a shower head 32 mounted toward the upper end of the pillar 24 to project out, over the shower area 12. Water to the head 32 is provided through water conduits indicated at 34 within the pillar 24, to convey water from one end of the pillar 24 to the head 32. Appropriate arrangements are provided to allow the conduits 34 to pass the collars 26 without interfering with the ability of the collars 26 to turn on the pillar 24. The pillar 24 carries controls 36 facing the shower area 12, to allow a user to control the shower water being received, from within the shower area 12. Additional shower outlets 38 may be provided on the pillar 24, supplied from the conduits 34, subject to the controls 36, to provide body jets, monsoon shower effects or other shower effects to be selected by a user.
In the installation of Figs. 2 to 7, the shower area 12 is generally rectangular, being bounded on two adjacent sides by room walls 40 and on a third side by a side panel 42. The remaining, longer side of the area 12 is closed by the screen 14 (when in its closed condition) for containment of water while showering within the area 12. The side panel 42 could alternatively be provided at the other end of the arrangement 10. Thus the arrangement 10 can be installed with either end in the corner of the room. Two side panels 42 could be provided, one at each end of the shower area 12, to allow the installation to be positioned part way along a wall, away from a corner.
Fig. 8 illustrates a further alternative installation arrangement in which the shower area 12 is bounded by walls 40 on three sides, so that the arrangement 10 and tray 12 are installed in an alcove. The screen 14 closes the opening to the alcove, when in its closed condition.
Many variations and modifications can be made to the apparatus described above, without departing from the scope of the invention. The screen may be toughened glass or other material suitable for water retention and safety considerations, and may be clear, obscured, engraved or otherwise decorated. The leaves 14a, 14b may form part of a continuous sheet of screen material. The appearance of the pillar 24 may be modified from that illustrated in the drawings, for aesthetic reasons or otherwise.
Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

A shower screen arrangement for a shower area, comprising:
a screen for containment of water while showering, and

support means by which the screen is supported,
wherein the screen has two leaves extending from the support position, and
wherein the screen leaves are supported by the support means to allow a user to select either of the screen leaves to be swung about the support means to an open position which allows a user to enter or leave the shower area.
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the screen leaves are supported by a common support arrangement so that swinging either leaf causes the other leaf also to swing.
An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the common support arrangement maintains a fixed relative orientation of the leaves as they swing.
An arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the common support arrangement comprises at least one common member to which both leaves are attached.
An arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the screen leaves form a substantially continuous screen.
An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means comprises a pillar member, the leaves being supported to swing about the pillar member.
An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the pillar member provides support for a shower head for the shower area.
An arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the pillar member provides support for a plurality of shower outlets for the shower area.
An arrangement according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the shower head and/or shower outlets are supplied by water conduits within the pillar member.
An arrangement according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the pillar member supports controls for control of the shower water to the shower area.
A shower screen arrangement, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.