ES2246232T3 - SHOWER CABIN. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a shower enclosure (10) comprising at least two adjoining panels (12), at least one of which is at least indirectly attachable to a wall and at least one flexible, hinged, load-bearing, integrally-formed connector (14) that dynamically connects said panels, said connector including a first end segment (16), a flexible middle segment (20), and a second end segment (22), said end segments being moveable between a first substantially planar position and a second position, wherein the planes of said end segments are substantially perpendicular to each other, said middle segment including a flexible plastic material and said end segments including at least a semi-rigid material, all three segments being co-extruded as a single integral linear unit and wherein each of said first and second end segments include surfaces (23, 25) adapted to abut each other and to delimit the extent of movement of said end segments towards each other from a linear alignment of 180 DEG to a substantially perpendicular alignment of about 90 DEG .

Description

Shower cabin.

The present invention generally relates to shower cubicles, and in particular, to a shower cubicle that comprises panels attached to each other by means of elements of articulated and flexible connection.

According to the present invention, a shower cabin comprising:

to)

to the at least two adjoining panels, at least one of which is at least indirectly attachable to a wall; Y

b)

to the minus a connecting element, formed in one piece, carrier loading, articulated and flexible that dynamically connects these panels, said connecting element including a first segment end, a flexible intermediate segment, and a second segment end, which extreme segments are mobile between a first substantially flat position and a second position in which the planes of said end segments are substantially perpendicular to each other, said intermediate segment including a flexible plastic material and including said end segments at minus a semi-rigid material, all three segments being coextruded as a single integral linear unit and in which each one of said first and second end segments includes some surfaces adapted to butt each other and to delimit the degree of movement of said end segments the one towards the another, from a 180º linear alignment to an alignment substantially perpendicular of approximately 90 °.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, each of said end segments is provided with an angular surface adjacent to said intermediate segment, the which together form a V-shaped configuration and preferably each of said angular surfaces diverges with an angle of about 45 ° from the plane of said element of Connection.

It will be verified that said connecting element formed in one piece, load bearing, articulated and flexible, can be used to connect the panels in a linear configuration when they are placed in a 180º alignment, as can be seen in Figure 3, and which can also be used as corner elements of a cabin, connecting two panels at substantially 90 ° to each other, when said end segments are brought into contact so that said surfaces of said end segments abut each other to delimit the degree of movement to about 90º, as the figure shows
Four.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one articulated connection element includes a first end segment that has a first open channel sized to receive one of the adjacent panels, extending a flexible intermediate segment from the first extreme segment, and extending a second extreme segment to starting from the intermediate segment, having a second channel open sized to receive the other of the adjacent panels, including the intermediate segment a flexible plastic material and including the end segments at least one semi-rigid material, all three segments being coextruded as a single unit integral. The intermediate segment preferably includes a chloride made of flexible polyvinyl (PVC). Alternatively, the segment intermediate includes a flexible polypropylene and segments Ends include at least one semi-rigid polypropylene. Panels they can be generally flat or generally curved.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shower cabin includes a pair additional panels, each connected to one of the at least two adjacent panels with the at least one connection element articulated and flexible, and a sealing gasket incorporated in a edge of at least one of the additional pair of panels and operative to substantially seal said additional pair of panels.

Still in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shower cabin includes a pair additional panels, each connected to one of the at least two adjacent panels with the at least one connection element articulated and flexible, and a sealing gasket incorporated in a edge of at least one of the additional pair of panels and operational for substantially seal said additional pair of panels.

Still in accordance with a preferred embodiment of The present invention, the shower cabin includes a shower tray that receives inside or on itself, the lower edges of the panels.

In the description of German document 2901371 and in French patent application 81 06977, published under no. 2503230, articulated connection elements are described and flexible, however these connection elements are not provided with means to allow movement between a first flat position of around 180º and a second position of approximately 90º, and therefore do not provide a solution acceptable for interconnecting panels that form a wall of a shower cubicle

Similarly and at the same time, the patent US 5,729,867 describes a connection element formed from a single piece, load bearing, articulated and flexible, which includes a first extreme segment, a flexible intermediate segment and a second extreme segment in which the intermediate segment includes a flexible plastic material and all three segments are formed as a single integral unit, and at the same time the US Patent 5,115,855 describes an extreme joint arranged in a flat panel in which the articulation means are three segments that are coextruded as a simple linear unit; none of these references explains or suggests an element of One-piece connection, load bearing, articulated and flexible, comprising a first and second extreme segments that include integral stop and / or stop means adapted to limit the degree of rotation of said end segments one towards the another, from a linear alignment of about 180º to a substantially perpendicular alignment of approximately 90 °.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described in relationship with certain preferred embodiments and with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it can be understand better

Already with specific reference to the figures in concrete, it is emphasized that the particularities here illustrated are by way of example and for the purposes of illustrative comments on the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are presented in order to provide the which is believed to be the most useful and easily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. To this respect, it is no intention to show the details structural aspects of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawings it will be apparent to those skilled in the art of how the various forms of the invention can be brought to the practice.

Figure 1 is a simplified illustration of a shower cabin constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with panels blueprints;

Figure 2 is a simplified illustration of a shower cabin constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention with panels blueprints and a lower shower tray;

Figure 3 is a simplified illustration of a articulated and flexible connection element constructed and operative of according to the present invention, and used in the cabins of shower of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a simplified illustration of the articulated and flexible connection element of fig. 3 in a bent position; Y

Figure 5 is a simplified illustration of the articulated and flexible connection elements of fig. 3, connected to a wall fixing member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Reference is made below to Figure 1 illustrating a shower cabin 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cabin of shower 10 comprises a plurality of panels 12 made of any resistant material suitable for showers, such as plastic or glass Said panels 12 may be transparent, translucent or even opaque. Two adjacent panels 12 are connected each other by means of at least one articulated connection element and flexible 14 that dynamically connects said panels 12 so such panels 12 can rotate around the connection element 14 between a first linear alignment and a second alignment perpendicular, as will be discussed later with reference to Figure 4. Unlike the known technique, the connecting element 14 is a structural member and is capable of supporting at least a part of the entire weight of the panels 12. Preferably, only one element of connection 14 covering most or all of the length of the panels are required to connect adjoining panels, although it is also possible to use more than one connection element 14, each shorter than the panel length. You can foresee some handles 15 to facilitate the entry or exit of the cab from shower 10.

Reference is made below to Figure 3 illustrating an articulated and flexible connection element 14. From according to the present invention, said connection element 14 it comprises a first end segment 16 having a first channel Open 18 sized to receive one of the adjacent panels 12. A flexible intermediate segment 20 extends from the first end segment 16, and a second end segment 22 extends of intermediate segment 20 and has a second channel 24 sized to receive the other of the adjacent panels 12. The segment intermediate 20 is made of a flexible plastic material and the end segments 16 and 22 are made of at least one material semi-rigid, all three segments 16, 20 and coextruded 22 as a simple integral unit. For example, the segment intermediate 20 may be made of a flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polypropylene, and end segments 16 and 22 They may be manufactured with at least one semi-rigid PVC or with less a semi-rigid polypropylene. The shape of the element of connection 14 illustrated in figure 5 is just an example of the many different forms of connection element 14 that can adopt.

As you will have noticed, each of these end segments 16 and 22 is provided with an angular surface 23 and 25 respectively, adjacent to said intermediate segment 20 and which, together, form a V-shaped configuration, which said angular surfaces serve as a braking system internal and integral, so that when these surfaces rotate a towards each other the mutual stop of the surfaces 23 and 25 themselves delimits and defines the angle between the associated panels 12 to a Approximate angle of 90º.

Figure 4 illustrates the connection element articulated and flexible 14 in a bent position, i.e. bent around intermediate segment 20, to assume an alignment substantially perpendicular between the end segments 16 and 22 by virtue of the stop of said angular surfaces 23 and 25 with each other, said surfaces being preferably provided at an angle of about 45º each.

With reference again to figure 1, appreciate that the panels 12 are preferably subject to some walls 26 to form the shower cubicle 10. However, it you will appreciate that the shower cabin 10 can also be formed only by 12 panels, without walls. Panels 12 can be articulated to said walls 26 with any type of articulation, but preferably, they will be subject by articulated and flexible connecting elements 14. It is done reference to figure 5 illustrating one of the elements of articulated and flexible connection 14 connected to a member 64 of wall fastener according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Said wall fixing member 64 includes preferably a first portion 66 that is firmly engaged in the first open channel 18 or in the second open channel 24, and a second portion 68 capable of being fixed to a wall 26 with suitable hardware, such as a screw 70. A strip decorative 72, which closes under pressure on the second portion 68, It can cover the hardware.

Figure 1 illustrates a shower cabin 10 with panels 12 that start from walls 26 and elements of connection 14 supporting the entire weight of said panels 12. Alternatively, the panels 12 can rest on the floor. Be refers now to figure 2 illustrating a shower cubicle 40 constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, shower cabin 40 It also includes a shower tray 42 that receives the edges lower panels 12.

Said panels 12 of shower enclosures 10 and 40 They are generally flat, and the cabins have a perimeter generally rectangular, however, they can also be used curved panels

For experts in the field, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to the details of the embodiments illustrative above and that the present invention may be done in other specific ways. The present embodiments they must therefore be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not as restrictive, indicating the scope of the invention by the appended claims rather than by the Description above.

Claims (13)

1. A shower cabin comprising: a) at least two adjoining panels, at least one of which it is at least indirectly attachable to a wall; Y b) at least one connection element, formed of One piece, load carrier, articulated and flexible connecting dynamically said panels, including said connection element a first extreme segment, a flexible intermediate segment, and a second extreme segment, which extreme segments are mobile between a substantially flat first position and a second position in which the planes of said end segments are substantially perpendicular to each other, including said segment intermediate a flexible plastic material and including said extreme segments at least one semi-rigid material, all being the three coextruded segments as a single integral linear unit and wherein each of said first and second extreme segments includes surfaces adapted to butt each other and to delimit the degree of movement of said extreme segments the one towards each other from a 180º linear alignment to an alignment substantially perpendicular of approximately 90 °. 2. The shower cubicle according to the claim 1, wherein at least one connection element is structurally capable of supporting at least the entire weight of said panels. 3. The shower cubicle according to the claim 1, wherein said at least one connection element is structurally capable of supporting a part of the weight of said panels. 4. The shower cubicle according to the claim 1, wherein each of said end segments it is provided with an angular surface adjacent to said segment intermediate, which together form a configuration by way of V. 5. The shower cubicle according to the claim 1, wherein said at least one connection element articulated comprises a first end segment that has a first open channel sized to receive one of said panels contiguous, extending a flexible intermediate segment from said first extreme segment, and extending a second extreme segment from said intermediate segment and having a second channel open sized to receive the other one of said adjacent panels. 6. The shower cubicle according to the claim 5, wherein said intermediate segment comprises a flexible polyvinyl chloride and said end segments They comprise at least one semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride. 7. The shower cubicle according to the claim 5, wherein said intermediate segment comprises a flexible polypropylene and said end segments comprise the less a semi-rigid polypropylene. 8. The shower cubicle according to the claim 1, wherein said panels are generally blueprints. 9. The shower cubicle according to the claim 1, wherein said panels are generally curved 10. The shower cubicle according to the claim 5 further comprising at least one element of articulated and flexible connection, as defined in claim 5, attached to a wall fastening member comprising a first portion, firmly embedded in at least one of said first open channel and of said second open channel, and a second portion that can be fixed to said wall. 11. The shower cubicle according to the claim 10, comprising a decorative strip that is fixed to said second portion. 12. The shower cubicle according to the claim 1 further comprising: an additional pair of said panels, connected each to one of said at least two adjacent panels with said at less an articulated and flexible connection element; Y a sealing gasket incorporated to an edge of at least one of said additional pair of panels and operative for substantially seal said additional pair of panels. 13. The shower cubicle according to the claim 1 further comprising a shower tray that receives the lower edges of said panels.